2020-07-29 | KINGDOM ADVANCE

The weapons of our warfare are not just to protect us, they are to advance the Kingdom of God.

 Matthew 16:18 – And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

 The gates of hell cannot hold back the advance of the Kingdom of God!

 Jesus is calling us to advance, to go forward with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 16 – Paul and Silas are advancing the Kingdom with the weapons of the Holy Spirit.

Four Key Weapons of Kingdom Advance

1.      The Power of Prophetic Vision

We need to know where the Holy Spirit is leading us.

The Holy Spirit called us to Matthews.

Acts 16:6 – Now when they had gone through Phyrgia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

Acts 16:9 – And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Acts 16:10 – Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

2.      The Power of Jesus Name

Acts 16:18 – And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

Jesus came to set the captive free and He has called us to partner with him in this ministry.

Acts 3:16 – And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.

3.      The Power of Sacrificial Praise

Acts 16:23 – And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

Acts 16:24 – Having received such a charge, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks.

Acts 16:25 – But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16:26 – Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

The sacrifice of praise opens the door for the miracles working power of God to operate in any impossible situation.

4.      The Power of the Gospel

Acts 16:28 – But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

Acts 16:29 – Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:30 – And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Acts 16:31 – So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

All of us are called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

a.      We pray for boldness.   Acts 4:31

b.      We pray for divine appointments.  Colossians 4:3

c.      We pray for the lost to come to Jesus.   1 Timothy 2:1-4