"He says to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Mat.15:16).

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

Before these words were addressed to the church, they were addressed to Israel. And the church, like Israel, has been chosen of God to be a light of salvation to the unsaved.

" But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation," (1 Peter 2:9-12).

As the people of God, the mission of the church is to show forth, proclaim or announce to the world the praises of Christ who has called believers out of the darkness of sin into light of His love and life. This is the good news the unsaved need to know - that they too can pass from the darkness of sin into the light of Christ's love and life.

Our world has witnessed a population explosion of unprecedented numbers. Thousands of these young people have grown up without a true sense of moral values. They have been victimized by the worst influences in our society; but they are searching for something that is real... something that can make an eternal difference in their lives. One-third of our members are part of this generation and are able to reach their own.

A man, seventeen-years-old came to the altar for prayer. He said that he wanted to quit smoking. We delivered him from cigarettes. He returned to the church. Each time he received ministry and left free. However, the next week, he'd return absolutely oppressed. I asked him if he was taking drugs? He said no. After much probing, he finally admitted that every week he would pick up a prostitute. "You can't do that," I said shocked. "Why not," he replied. It's against the Bible ..." I answered. He responded, "You don't understand, I'm not married and I need to sleep with women."

The young man explained further that the public schools told him in sex education classes that it was okay to have sex... just as long as he would use a prophylactic! The most tremendous problem that churches are facing today, is a lack of biblical understanding about sex. The spiritual interpretation of the demonic imprecations of free sex, is astounding. Jesus said, "flee fornication!" Demons swarm into a body when it is immoral. Not only do the demons transfer between the persons committing the immoral act, but they will receive spirits from both generational lines of the partners! Then, they will receive demons that have entered in from every person that each partner has engaged in illegal sex! This is a problem for our young people as well as most people in church. Most people no longer guard their spirits and minds to insure spiritual purity and freedom. Once demons are invited in, they must be kicked out! Deliverance is so needed in most of our churches.

Parents are looking for a spiritual environment in which they can bring up their children. They want help in teaching the things that really matter. In a recent survey, parents said that the youth ministry was an important reason for visiting the church the first time, and 94 percent said the youth ministry was an important reason for staying in the church. By ministering to the young we are able to reach whole families.

The elderly of our world provide another vital target population. For the first time in our history, there are as many people over age 65 as there are under 18. Often the elderly are lonely, ill, poor or dying. They need the help and fellowship of the church. To be ready for living and for dying, they need Christ. In every local church we have energetic and devoted members who are approaching retirement age. They can reach those of their own age with the gospel.

Even the elderly, in many cases, have dabbled in idolatry, or the occult, or immoral sex. It is not as easy to gain spiritual ground in their lives. Their minds have been bound by the powers of darkness. It takes much intercessory prayer to reach both back-slid Christians and the unbeliever. However, it is not impossible, if Christians are willing to pay the price.

We must minister to various races, nationalities and cultures around the world and to those pockets of people who come to the United States. Some 25 million Hispanics live in the United States, and their number is growing. Migration from the Middle East has reached such proportions that Muslims outnumber both Jews and Presbyterians. ⁽¹⁾

We can reach them when we deliberately seek to understand them. The apostle Paul said, "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21) To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without law". (1 Cor. 9:20-21).

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS

The church is supposed to be a congregation made up of "born-again" believers who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. They meet together to fellowship and learn to carry out the Great Commission. The "church" is not a 'building where Christians meet', but rather, is the local or the corporate body of believers. However, the Bible uses the metaphor of a building to picture the church which is made up of "lively stones" (believers) with Jesus Christ as the Chief "Cornerstone".

The Apostle Paul gives us the analogy in I Corinthians 3:11, "For no other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ." A believer must know Jesus Christ scripturally and spiritually before taking up their spiritual weapons for war. Then Apostle Peter addresses the church as consisting of people to a living mystical organism in First Peter 2:5, "Ye also as 'lively stones,' are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Paul continues this comparison of the church to a living spiritual body in Ephesians 2:21, "In whom all the building fitly 'framed' together groweth unto a holy temple."

It is important to remember that of the one hundred and fifteen times the word "church" is mentioned in the New Testament, ninety times it refers to a local congregation of baptized believers covenanted together as the Body of Christ, but He is the foundation of this church, and every other New Testament church.

The church is referred to as "the Body of Christ" of Jesus Christ and is shown in I Corinthians 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence." The church is also shown as the dwelling place for God. The Holy Spirit indwells permanently each Christian and the corporate body of Christians in the church.

The Greek word for "church" is 'ekklesia' ~ "A group of people called from their homes or places of business to assemble together."

The church is spiritual if her members are spiritual. The church is "evangelistic" if her members are soul-winners. There can be no distinction between the church and those who compose the church. However, truly the church was instituted by Jesus Christ to be a militant spiritual power to change the hearts of unregenerated people.

Every church should be a "lighthouse" that has a deep and constant concern for the welfare of others. It is spiritual place that should have unselfish devotion of the best interest for the community, city, and nation. The church should have a love that has a readiness to serve another with no thought of personal profit. It is reasonable to think that Christians would love the church as Jesus Christ does. Church people must be less concerned of checking the perfection of another and concentrate on showing love for people's souls. Pray for them and God will help them!

AWESOME SPIRITUAL POWER

It is true that Jesus Christ left awesome spiritual power to His church. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen" ( Matthew 28:18-20).

This "Great Commission" is our marching order in evangelism. It is worldwide in its scope, sin-deep in its reach, heaven-high in its hope, and eternity-long in the duration of its results.

POWER - The ability of performing belongs essentially to God, who is all-powerful (omnipotent). In the KJV the term 'power' has the sense of ability, strength (Genesis 31:6; Psalms 22:20; Isaiah 37:27); a right, privilege, or dignity (John 1:12; Acts 5:4; 1 Corinthians 7:37; 9:4), in Greek: dunamis; absolute authority (Matt. 28:18>, same Gk. as above); the exertion or act of power, as of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:19, Gk.-kratos). ⁽²⁾

BINDING THE STRONGMAN

Jesus said in Matthew 12:23-33, Satan is not going to allow anyone to destroy his work without putting up very strong counteraction. His control must first be neutralized before Christians can release his captives. Jesus asks this penetrating question, "how can anyone enter a strongman's house and carry off his possession unless he first ties up the strongman?"

Then Jesus told us that we could enter his house. (Matthew 12:29) The King James Bibles reads, "bind the strongman". Indeed, binding the strongman is the first basic PRINCIPLE of spiritual warfare. In fact, before any warfare can be won against: opposing powers, principalities, wicked rulers and evil spirits to make them release the church, nation, cities, individuals, or family... the strongman must be defeated. ⁽³⁾

The most powerful spiritual weapon is binding the strongman. Jesus said, "Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever ye shall loose on earth on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, if any of you shall agree on earth as touching (concerning) anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them." ( Matthew 18: 18-20).

Once Satan's power is bound, Jesus enters freely enters into his house and carries off Satan's possessions. The territory is delivered and Satan loses control.

The Greek word for "spoil" occurs in two forms, 'Diapazo' and 'harapzo', which denotes "an intensive spoiling, plunder and snatching away." In Luke 11-22, the Greek word, 'Skulon', conveys "arms stripped from a foe". Putting it simply, Satan is stripped of his weapons, (Luke 11:21,22). The Greek word, 'Deo' means literally tie or fasten, to arrest or paralyze. Everything that he has stolen, is then reclaimed. In other words, Christians that aggressively bind the power of demons, prohibit them from the carrying on their assignments.

Gary Kinnaman develops this theological foundation for binding and loosing: "The use of the phrase binding and loosing did not, in fact, originate with Jesus. It was a frequent expression of first century Jewish rabbinical dialect. According to Alexander Bruce, in The Expositor's Greek New Testament, to bind and loose (Greek, deo and luo) meant simply "to prohibit and to permit (or establish)". The Jewish religious authorities at the time of Christ retained the right to establish guidelines for, or keys to, religious practice and social interaction. ⁽⁴⁾

But deo (to bind, tie) also expresses supernatural control. In Luke 12:15-16, Jesus rebuked a Jewish leader, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie {Greek Luo, loose} his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound {Greek: deo, bind} for eighteen long years, be set free {Greek: Luo, loose} on the Sabbath day from what bound her." ⁽⁵⁾

The Jewish leaders in the day of Christ understood only the natural part of binding or loosing, and He was showing them through the encounter with the woman bound by infirmity that binding and loosing had a supernatural side. Notice that Jesus said specifically that it was Satan who bound the woman.

It is untestable that the Jewish leaders were furious with Jesus for telling His disciples that they had the authority to bind and loose since they were not part of the prescribed Jewish religious/political system. They felt that He was giving them authority that He had no right to give. They did not understand He was giving them authority in the unseen realm in heavenly places. This is the realm where the real binding and loosing occur and from which all things on the earth can be bound or loosed... disallowed or allowed." ⁽⁶⁾

CHRISTIAN AUTHORITY

Christians receive their authority from Jesus Christ, and all authority is vested in Him. Every believer can take to heart... "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation ... And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons ..." (Mark 16:15-17). Knowing one's spiritual authority and how to use their binding power, enables one to enter into spiritual warfare with faith to overcome.

Believers in Jesus Christ have every advantage to defeat demons. The Word says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you," (Luke 10:19). In addition, Jesus gives Christians power to use His name in Matthew 28:28... "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto me, Therefore go..." He gave us the legal right of absolute authority. His power is, "Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come," (Ephesians 1:21). His power is above all power. In prayer, we bind Satan... WE DO IT! Not Jesus! ⁽⁷⁾

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

The warfare is revealed in Ephesians 6:12: principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual forces of wickedness in high places (heavenlies); and "whatever", in (Matthew 26:19).

The things to loose from the Devil's power according, to Luke 13:12: nations, states, cities, communities, geographical areas, people, churches, families, individual members of family, relatives, professions, vocations, businesses, education, finances, physical health, and mental health. We war against the powers of darkness that tie, and destroy the plans of Satan, commanding him to loose all controls from his powers. This spiritual power is the greatest force in the universe because its source of power is God Himself. Psalms 62:11 says, "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this... that power belongeth unto God." This spiritual power can do things no other controlling influence can do.

In the King James Version of the Bible, there is often little distinction made between "power" and "authority". That they're quite closely related is seen in the fact that authority is valueless without the power to enforce it. Power is primarily to God, but may be applied to any holder of power, whether human or superhuman. The "powers" mentioned several times in the New Testament, often referred to angelic beings believed to exercise their powers - both on earth and in "the heavenly places". According to the scriptures, these have been overcome by Jesus Christ. ⁽⁸⁾

OVERCOMERS MUST KNOW

Christians must be taught about supernatural powers before they enter into warfare. Author, Peter Wagner tells of two Presbyterian ministers in Ghana who underestimated the enemy. "One of them, contrary to the warnings of the people in the area, ordered a tree which had been enshrined by Satanic priests to be cut down. On the day that the last branch of the tree was lopped off, the pastor collapsed and died. The second minister commanded that a fetish shrine be demolished. When it was destroyed, he suffered a stroke." ⁽⁹⁾

Satan does have convincing supernatural power to unbelievers. One reason is that he has spiritual power over unbelievers. The Bible without hesitation, reveals that Jesus Christ's power is superior to all the power of Satan. Amazingly, God's Word also discloses that Christians' are able to overcome all the powers of Satan and his minions.

Christians to be able to stand in authority, must be sure of the victory of Jesus. These two stories that are cited above by Wagner, are sad testimonies. I believe these stories show more than Christians just underestimating the power of Satan. These men demonstrate that, like many Christians who are willing to engage in supernatural warfare, they are 'going to war' without the proper training to be victorious.

Wagner goes on to write: "as the Fuller Seminary community heard Timothy Warner say recently, "Welcome to war!" but if the power of the enemy is underestimated, the opposite outcome can occur." "However," he writes, "under the Blood of Jesus, the language of war is used to refer to the struggles and ultimate victory of Christians and the Church, under the leadership of Jesus Christ, himself." ⁽¹⁰⁾

HEAVENLY PLACES

This is what spiritual warfare is about. Jesus must be the center of a person's life. One must know Him from the power of the Word of God, and because of His triumph, His people can win their war. The Scriptures reveal Him in 'power and authority' - "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seet him at His own right hand in the heavenly places," (Ephesians 1:10).

How wonderful! Nevertheless, look at this. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6). This is awe-inspiring! What an incredible spiritual advantage, our warfare takes place from this vantage point! We are already sitting in heavenly places in this life with Jesus Christ! Therefore, our warfare is in our security and confidence of His power. Our victory not only depends on this knowledge of His position and the knowledge of our position in His authority, but victory also depends upon our training to effectively use His authority and our weapons.

COMMANDING BY HIS WORD

Before and after His resurrection, Jesus unleashed spiritual power and even nature obeyed his will. Jesus commanded by His word. He spoke, and by His word, water was made into wine. He blessed the bread and the fishes and they were multiplied. He spoke, and by His word to dead Lazarus, he came out of the grave. Jesus commanded demons to leave a writhing victim alone and to come out of him. The demons obeyed. The person was loosed that same hour, these and many other works of Jesus show His spiritual power in action.

In the beginning, God spoke the word, and the universe came into existence! At, and after the resurrection, Jesus displayed the power of appearing and disappearing and the power to rise unaided at His ascension. Jesus is truly the "King of Kings. "Lord Jesus, You have been exalted by God and given a Name which is above every name; that at Your name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. You are the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world will become Your throne, and You shall reign forever and ever", ( see Philippians 2:9-11). ⁽¹¹⁾

The above Scripture came dramatically into focus for me when, during ministering, I used it in spiritual warfare. Many years ago, in Miami, Florida, when I arrived at the church, the people were all standing outside. They said they were afraid because a Satanist had come to the church and had told them that he was there to challenge my power. Pathetically, most Christians believe that these demon- possessed people have more powers than they actually do. Therefore, these Christians were terrified and some had even gone home. "What should we do?" they asked in fear. "Should we call the police?"

"Of course not, follow me, we are going to have an Elijah experience with Jesus tonight", I replied.

We sang songs praising Jesus, we lifted our hands, the collection was taken and then I preached the Word of God. I felt the anointing rise powerfully when I gave the altar call for the salvation. The first person to come forward was the Satanist. He was dressed in black and was scary to look upon.

"What do you want Jesus to do for you," I asked?

"Nothing", he replied, his face frozen, staring at me with deadly piecing eyes. "I saw the advertisement in the newspaper that you were a former occultist and I came here to challenge your power."

"I don't have any power", I said, noticing a glint of victory in his cold eyes and an increase of his defiant mood. "But I know Someone who has more power than you."

"Oh really," he snarled, "just who would that be?"

I glanced out to the congregation. Fear was still apparent on every face. You could feel tension cutting through the atmosphere. Some looked as though they were ready to run out the Church at a moment's notice.

"Jesus!" I replied firmly. "The Word of God says, in Philippians 2:9-11 that "Lord Jesus, You have been exalted by God and given a Name which is above every name; that at Your name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. You are the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world will become Your throne, and You shall reign forever and ever." I pointed my finger at the antagonistic Satanist and said with authority, "I command you to bow your knee to the name of Jesus Christ!"

The stunned Satanist fell to his knees, his face flushed while the story on his pale face revealed the question, what happened to me? He remained on his knees in absolute shock , while every Christian in the church stood to their feet and shouted and cheered praises to God. Jesus Christ had made a touch-down!

"Thank You, Father. We praise Your Holy Name Jesus. Mighty Warrior, King of kings, Lord of lords, His name is Jesus!

These Christians had witnessed light meeting arkness and the powers of the light of Jesus had overcome the darkness of Satan. Soon, the Satanist struggled to his feet and raced out of the church in terror of Jesus Christ. This is the power of the Church of Jesus Christ

The Word of God says, "The righteous shall stand in Christ's divine power. We are more than conquerors in Him..." (Romans 8:37). We are not impressed by the power of Satan and we don't give him any credit; rather, we wrestle against another's (satan's) kingdom. ( I Corinthians 15:24, and II Corinthians 10:4-5).

Christ is already seated at His place of supreme authority, "Far above all principalities and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all," ( Ephesians 1:21-23). ⁽¹²⁾

RECEIVING THE POWER OF GOD

Paul gives us the central secret of Christian power in Ephesians 6:10,11 - "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power 'Put on the whole armor of God', so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Christians are unconquerable in the Lord and have the protection of his power when they put their spiritual armor on. Victory occurs when confidence is placed in Jesus. Then defenses against the guile of Satan are possible... he must deceive his potential victim to harm him.

When a sinner comes to Christ, he receives power to become a son of God. After Salvation, he can receive extra power from God. Acts 1:8 and 2:38 describe this extra endowment of power as the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Galatians 5:15, along with I Peter 2:11, show how to clean up lives. It takes a holy life to successfully war against the powers of darkness.

Our text places the capstone on our spiritual power. Jesus is shown as the Lamb of God. "Lord Jesus, You are the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. You died for my sins according to the Scriptures. In You I have redemption, through Your Blood, the forgiveness of sin. Worthy are You, the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. . . To Him Who sits on the throne, and to You, the Lamb, the blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever," (See Rev. 5:6-14). ⁽¹³⁾

Let us examine what happens if we fail to do our part. Reading Philippians 2:12, we see what God expects us to do: "Wherefore, my beloved, ye have always obeyed not as in my presence only, but how much more in my absence; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Why should we fear and tremble? Is it because of a possibility of losing our salvation? Is it possible to lose our "God consciousness" even as through an unsanctified mind and lusts of our body? One could choose to do so. We must control them, and we can through the power of God.

The purpose of this power is twofold: to clean out the chaff from our lives and to be a witness to lost souls. This spiritual power, man's spirit has received, gives him the ability to dominate his soul and body. All a man must do to win is to say "no" to appetites and lusts and to the thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God. In doing this, he will be the victor. The thoughts of an "unrenewed mind" are contrary to God's thoughts. ⁽¹⁴⁾ (See Isaiah 55:8; Eph. 4:23). We receive thoughts from God or from Satan.

The Bible tells us to, "Avoid every kind of evil" in I Thessolonians 5:22. The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:4, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly) but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds: casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

This Scripture proves that we are given the power individually to dominate our thoughts, mind, intellect, ego and soul. Ephesians 4:23 says that, "we can be renewed in the spirit of our minds." In I Peter 1:13, we are told to, "gird up (bind them) the loins of our mind. These and other Scriptures show us that we can dominate our souls through the spiritual power we now have in the inner man. "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble," (Proverbs 4:11-12).

STUMBLING CHRISTIANS

Many Christians are content to live with demon powers controlling their lives and their families. Sin has become a friend. They do not resist temptation. "... I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, so your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ," ( II Corinthians 11:3).

Many enjoy living for the gods and things of the world and the flesh. A basic problem in the Church is that it is full of uncommitted Christians. Some are full of rebellion, spiritual and sexual perversions, adultery, lust, incest, fornication, oral sex, whoredom, homosexuality, deception, hate, unforgiveness and every bondage under the sun.

The big three in destroying Christians are sex, money, and power. One is sufficient to destroy. Focus your attention on Jesus and His authority and ability to conquer. The Spirit of God gives us spiritual weaponry that can defeat all the lusts of the flesh and of the mind and make us victorious Christians. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land," (Job 1:10).

Paul the Apostle, in I Corinthian 9:27, shows us that we also can bring our bodies under dominion of our spiritual man. Spiritual power makes this possible. This same power is spoken of in Ephesians... spiritual power in the inner man. This can bring his whole person into subjection to the Spirit of God. ⁽¹⁵⁾ We must believe it for it to be possible to bring it about. It is God's will for us to live holy lives, ( I Thessalonians 4:3).

God would never have told us to possess our vessels if it were not possible. Are your body and soul mastering you, or are you, by spiritual power, mastering them and making them work to serve you? If you do not have the ability (power) to clean up your life, then do your first works over again, (Revelation 2:5). ⁽¹⁶⁾ "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers," ( I Timothy 4:16).

Go back to your initial experience of salvation and examine it closely. Make sure that you have fully repented and surrendered yourself to God. Repentance to God, is a sorrow that results in action according to God- given procedures and in a return to God and His ways, (I will go your way Lord"). Acceptance of God's forgiveness, occurs by faith, receiving the gift of forgiveness that God has given you solely by His work on the cross. "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Romans 5:1) "... peace through the blood of his cross... " ( Colossians 1:20).

If you have not received the Holy Ghost, then begin to seek Him. This will make a difference, and Matthew 3:11 shows us the Baptism of the Holy Ghost will burn out the chaff from our lives. Pray until you find that you really have "God Consciousness."

If you cannot control your bodily lusts, then you don't have your mind under control either. If the body and the mind are in control of your life, then you need to pray through and get a greater experience in your inner man. "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way," (Proverbs 4:14-15).

Your power must come from within. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew then for the Gentile," (Romans 1:16). ⁽¹⁷⁾