Are you scared of the devil?

My dear Partner in Christ,

This is not a charming story! 

It is the true reality!

What you are about to read is based on the Word of God and the Work of His Spirit in our personal life (my wife and me), and how He led us, as we passed through real experiences and situations, while helping people, in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by snatching them from the fire of Hell, the teeth of the devouring Beast, and the grip of the Red Dragon, and bringing them almost dead to the Source of all Life, Jesus Who is the Resurrection and the Life, and Who in fact saved them, revived them, and gave them life again, and confirmed to some of them His eternal life since they truly and heartily trusted themselves into His mighty hands.

Through these experiences, we learned how the Word of God is true and real in practice and our daily life, His Holy Spirit is all-Powerful in all matters whatsoever, the name of His Son is the highest and the greatest name in heaven and earth, and that there is no limit to what He can do in and through us, although weak, vulnerable, tiny, & limited creatures, yet true born-again Christians.

So, it is not only & really about reading real stories or true experiences, but it is rather and more importantly about understanding His Word, getting the lessons and teachings which we all need and have to learn, and growing our faith in Him, so that if we truly believe in Him, in His holy name, in the power of His blood, and in His testimony, we will know that we are in Him & in His hand, and that nothing and no one will be able to pluck us out or snatch us from Him, forever. 

That's His guarantee, and that's His promise!

It is never about US believing in Him...

It is always about us believing in HIM !

===================

OK.

I know that you were reading fast, while you were maybe thinking of… euuuuhhh…

What you will eat for breakfast, or

Who will call you today, or

What happened yesterday, or

What you dreamt during the night, or

How you feel this morning, or

What you children need from you, or

What you will do this afternoon… etc…

So, you didn’t pay attention to all what I just said… Right?

How do I know?

Simple:

Close your eyes…

Yeah, close your eyes…

I am asking you, Please, close your eyes…

Yes, I am asking you, yourself, Please, close your eyes!/

Did you close your eyes?

I presented to you a very simple request & I asked you a very simple question: Just close your eyes! Did you close them?

You know that I love you in Christ, and I know that you love me in Christ,

So, please, close your eyes!

I know you didn’t close your eyes!

How do I know?

Simple:

Because you are still reading what I am writing here…

See?

And you know what?

I know that you are laughing now?

Yeah, I know…

Ok, don’t look to the window thinking that I am watching you…

What? Watching you?

Ask yourself:

Is pastor Fady here outside watching me?

Come on: Do you really think that I am indeed at your window watching you!?

Or, Do you really think that I am indeed not at your window watching you!?

So, am I or am I not at your window watching you?

OK, here is the truth: I AM NOT at your window watching you!

Seriously!

How do I know?

Well, because I am not at your window!

Yeah.... you are laughing again…

How could I be at your window when you live on the second floor, for example… 

And by the way, I don't fly... 

At least, not yet... 

Because I will, one day... 

And, you too...

How do I know?

Well you will see then, when the day will come. I will remind you...

Ok, you don’t live on the second floor…

But, it is so cold outside…

And, I mean, why would I be at your window watching you?

See?

I told you: you didn’t close your eyes, because you are still reading my words here…

Ok, seriously:

Close your eyes…

Done?

(Do not read my words here now! Read them later).

Please, close your eyes…

Ok, yeah, you need to open your eyes, to see, in order to read and know what you should do after you’ve closed your eyes.

I mean, did you really close your eyes before I told you what you should do?

Come on, stop laughing.

Ok. Open your eyes, (or no need to tell you, because they are open, since you are still reading, right?)

But please, promise me to close them when I will tell you in a moment…

Promise?

Ok, promise!

Deal?

Ok, deal.

Here is what you should do, 

Since I am asking you to do it, here and now,

And then, the only first and last thing you should do is: 

CLOSE YOUR EYES, right away:

I want you to repeat in your heart everything that I just said to you in the first paragraph/lines of this present sermon…

No no no, don’t look back…

Remember: now the only first and last thing you should do is CLOSE YOUR EYES.

(I really pray that you are now remembering and repeating everything I just said to you in the previous lines of this message. I trust in your honesty. I really do…)

Ta raa ra, tararaaa raa ra… ta raa ra ra raaaaa, tarararara… ta raa ra , tararaaa raa ra, ra! Raraaa ra ra ra raaaa 

(Jeopardy music, again)

Ok… I think you have your eyes closed now, right?

I am watching youuuu

I am watching youuuu

(That’s not truuuue, I cannot watch youuuuu)..

No, I am not watching youuuu,

Because I am not at your windowwww…

So, don’t look outside, nooooo…

I hope you didn’t go to sleep again!

It is Sunday early morning, and we should all be already awake and ready to go to church, right?

I hope you opened your eyes back, by now…

Ok: could you really repeat every truth (not necessarily every word) which I shared with you in the start of this sermon?

If you couldn’t, then don’t be sad:

It is normal and human,

Because it is the first time you just read these things/truths/lines,

And, it is obvious that you won’t pay attention to everything you read from the first time.

That’s why I will put my words again in a more helpful way,

Hoping that you will get more of this message,

I really hope that you will clearly take to your heart this lesson to keep God’s Word, not my words, and the rest, more important parts, of this message, not only its start, so

You may engrave His truths & commandments on the tablets of your heart,

So, you may never forget them!

Amen?

What I wanted to share with you is:

Here are my words in a different way,

So, you may put more attention to them,

So, you may see them from another angle,

So, they may appear more clearly to you, and

So, you can more easily memorize them:

My dear Partner in Christ,

This is not a charming story!

This is not an enchanting tale!

This is not a captivating novel!

This is not a fascinating event!

This is not a funny anecdote!

This is not an imaginary experience! 

This is not a scenario from a piece of theatre!

And, this is not only/just a sermon!

This is not a composed discourse!

This is not an invented dissertation!

This is not an idea from my belly/body or brain…

Please, don’t laugh… believe me: it is not really funny!

Sometimes, there are ideas, thoughts, words, & even sermons that come from this “b”/brain or that “b”/belly…

And, they turn to “be” the same!

Really unfortunately very sad!

And you say to yourself: Why did I waste my time reading or listening?

When you discover that both “b”s produce the same result!

Not filling the heart at all! 

They are the same, unfortunately…

Please, don’t laugh: it is really sad that some presentations come from the belly/body/flesh not from the brain…

And what is worse: when you expect things to utter from the wisdom of the brain, you discover that they are equal to the product of the belly/body/flesh…

Exactly as the Lord told Ezekiel how the people of Israel were feeding on the … (the product of the belly/body/flesh)… therefore they will get/reap exactly what they sowed!

And that’s exactly what St Paul said to the Philippians about some people, (even “teachers”, according to so many other verses of Scripture), who rejoice in the glory of their bellies (belly/body/flesh/earthly/perishable), or that all what they produce and utter from them is not the wisdom of the brain, but the filthiness of the belly/body/flesh …

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. (Phil 3:19).

And that’s exactly what the Lord Jesus said about those who put all their hope on the flesh and the food of the flesh, instead of the soul, (the brain), and the eternal spirit, so they, with their flesh, belly/body, and their food, will perish away in the dust of the ground…

So, from which “b” you are getting your knowledge, thoughts, ideas, direction, food, wisdom, & richness?

What is the source of your food, spiritual food?

How do you nourish yourself?

What do you really let in, get in, in your inner “b”eing, your eternal “b”eing?

To what kind of preachers do you listen?

What do you get when you listen (or read)?

What “b” is more important to you?

What is the “b”asis of the sermons you listen to (read)?

Between this “b” and that “b”, you will decide where you will eternally be!

And the wisdom is in the heart of the poet!

Ouf! Was that difficult?

(I hope not).

This is not just a sermon out of my own thinking, wisdom, style, imagination, or way of expressing myself!

This is not another sermon to fill in the gap or the blank!

This is not a sermon to just confirm my presence as pastor in the church!

This is not a sermon to show that I am serving the Lord in His church on Sunday!

This is a sermon which God Himself led me to put before my eyes, and before your eyes, so that you and me may open them and see what is important for you and me, in order to see, do and be…

And I hope you believe me when I say: This is exactly what I want to see, do and be, all that is important in His eyes, to be for and to give to His people, and to be and exist in every sermon I personally prepare...

It is a sermon based mainly and ultimately on:

* the biblical faith in the Lord,

* the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, (Jude 3), 

* the faith that is certainly your and my personal faith in Him.

It is a sermon, a message from the Lord, and from His voice in your and my/our spirits, souls and spiritual “b”rains, which we can only get when we/you and I:

- sit under the shining light of His Word to read it and understand it;

- submit myself to the work of His Holy Spirit in my soul and spirit, calming myself in His presence; and,

- stay there and wait until He leads me and helps me to put everything in my mind/”b”rain, soul, spirit, & heart before Him, on His altar, and,

- spend all my (the needed) personal intimate time of meditation & prayer before Him, so that I may:

- suck every drop of His water of life, without escaping, or failing to notice, what He wants me to: 

- see, do, and be in His plain and clear revelation and illumination from the Inspired Word, in order to:

- say, share, preach in my (rather, his) sermon: what He wants me to say & preach (or write).

Also, what you are about to read in this sermon and series is:

* true experiences where the Holy Spirit was the main center, focus, pivot/axis, source, leader, & power-pushing-controlling-starting-&-ending engine and driver, and without Him, nothing would have been done at all.

* Real stories which my wife and I, as well as believers and pastors I personally know, passed through while helping people, in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by:

- snatching them from the flaming fire of hell,

- seizing them from the teeth of the devouring beast,

- saving, not that we can save them by ourselves, but by taking them out of the grip of the red dragon,

- securing them that is by bringing them, although almost dead, to the Source of all Life, Jesus Christ, Who is the Resurrection and the Life, and Who in fact did save them & gave them life again, and gave to some of them eternal life since they truly and heartily trusted themselves into His mighty hands.

Through these experiences, we learned how:

- the Word of God is true, 

- His Holy Spirit is all-Powerful, 

- the name of His Son is the highest and greatest name in heaven and earth, and,

- that there is no limit to what He can do in & through us, although we are weak, vulnerable, tiny, limited, broken, and unable creatures, yet, true born-again Christians filled by His Spirit.

So, it is not about reading stories or experiences; it is rather about:

- grasping and understanding His Word;

- getting and keeping the lessons and teachings which we all need and have to learn; and about:

- growing and flourishing in our faith in Him...

So that if we truly believe in Him, in His holy name, & in the power of His Holy Spirit, His precious holy blood, and His true holy Testimony/Book/Word/Bible/Scripture, then we will know that we are:

-        in Him,

-        in His hand,

-        in His family

-        in His Kingdom,

-        in His plan and purpose,

-        in His will,

-        in His Book

-        in His Book of remembrance,

-        in His Book of Life,

-        in His Book of the Redeemed

-        in His Book of the Glorified,

-        in His Paradise,

-        in His Heaven

-        in His Father’s House,

-        in His Bosom,

-        in His Throne,

-        in His Army,

-        in His Flock, and last but not least,

-        In His Coming…

And that nothing and no one will be able to pluck us out or snatch us from Him, forever. 

That's His guarantee, and that's His promise!

It is never about US believing in Him...

It is always about us believing in HIM !

I just would like to tell you that we just finished the introduction!

Yeah, that was just the “intro…”

Now, we have to get “in-troooo….”

I mean that, now, we have to get “in & through”…

So,

Here is today's sermon:

The whole subject started when a beloved brother and preacher asked me about the power of the devil and his demons against the believers...

There were many questions asked… so many…

Can demons possess a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons oppress a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons obsess a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons possess only the body (not the soul or the spirit) of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons possess the whole being of a believer, (spirit, soul and body), the “b” and “b”, yeah, the brain and the belly/body/flesh … of a true born-again “b”eliever?

=========================================

This is for the ACES: Keep in mind these 2 names:

“Beelzebub”, &

“Beelzebul”

What do they have to do here?

Are they the same person?

If yes, then why does he have 2 names?

If not, then what is the relation between the two?

You have the right to search in books or online about these 2 names.

However, what I will share with you in this series (it) is not written there…

At least, I didn’t find (it) there.

I am not saying that I am the only “inventor” of what I will share with you;

But that I personally didn’t find, heard, or read about (it) from anywhere else than the Holy Scripture, led by the Holy Spirit of the Lord…

So, if you think you are an ACE: please, answer the above questions.

(It) is not difficult.

I know you can do it.

I am not smarter, holier, or better than you.

I am the least among you…

Well, this is the right position to “be” in order to grasp the “Inner” secrets and mysteries of God,

Where they are hidden in His heart, and

Where only His Holy Spirit can reach (in), and

From where, He tells you about…

Do you remember who was so close to the heart of Jesus?

Do you remember to whom exactly God reveals His secrets?

Ok… I don’t want to get too far (or deep)…

==========================================

So, let’s get back to the many questions:

Can demons control the will of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the thoughts of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the imagination of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the words of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the works of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the feelings of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control the actions of a believer, a true born-again believer?

Can demons control any part of the life of a believer, a true born-again believer?

What exactly can the devil do to a believer, a true born-again believer?

I pray and I am confident that in this sermon and series, you will get a clear biblical answer to these and other questions.

We know from the Word (you will receive, see and get, in order to verify, many verses from the Scripture, as you will continue to read in this series) that the devil and his demons can:

- affect,

- infect,

- infest,

- excite,

- incite,

- influence,

- stir,

- enrage,

- scare, & last but not least,

- throw all kinds of:

. wrong and evil thoughts

. lies,

. words,

. false teachings,

. arrows,

. stones,

. shots… and can hit humans with all what they (demons) are and live in eternally, such as:

. sufferings,

. screams,

. cries,

. sorrows,

. helplessness,

. hopelessness,

. brokenness (not humbleness),

. pain,

. hurt,

. doubt,

. fear,

. maliciousness,

. revenge,

. filthiness,

. disobedience,

. carelessness,

. heartlessness,

. failure,

. emptiness,

. lostness,

. meaninglessness,

. purposelessness,

. agony,

. torment,

. tears,

. insignificance,

. sadness,

. curse,

. negativity,

. sicknesses, and last, but not least,

. death, etc…

And all that, in the:

·       Spirit,

·       Soul,

·       Thoughts,

·       Being,

·       Person/personality,

·       State,

·       Mind,

·       Existence,

·       Essence,

·       Reality,

·       Nature,

·       Seed,

·       Entity,

·       Substance,

·       Core,

·       Marrow,

·       Brain,

·       Body/belly/flesh,

·       Heart, and last but not least, in the:

·       Life of any human, descendant of Adam and Eve, since unfortunately, our forefathers sold us to the old sneaky cursed Serpent which stung the human race, from the beginning in the Garden of Eden, and unfortunately, its poison spread inside out in all of us: in summary and short,

·       It is called: SIN, with all its results!

And to make it even worse, Satan and his demons can have access to any human’s life to:

INDWEEL, THAT IS TO POSSESS, live, abide and freely act in any human, since the door of humanity was broken from the start, and there has been no power at all to resist against or defeat the ravaging attack of this very strong enemy!

With all the above, and before we go any further or farther,

In no way, there is any possibility for all the kingdom of hell to indwell or possess a true Christian, a true born-again Christian, or a true believer (if we think of or look at the Old testament believers).

Although the devil and his wicked army can deceive, disguise, imitate, beguile, manifest, appear, and interact with humans, all humans including the true believers, and can tempt them all, yet again:

It is impossible for any of these wicked cursed enemies to live, abide, dwell, or totally or completely control a true believer in Jesus Christ, a true born-again Christian, even only in or on his body, as they do in & on unbelievers.

The Word of God is the two-edged sword which precisely cut straight in this matter when it clearly states who the true believers are, where they are, and who is in them:

1 Corinthians 3:16,

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

II Corinthians 3:17-18,

“Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 6: 14-20, 

14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?... 

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit…

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

John 10: 27-30,

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

And…You will read and find so many other proofs from the Word of God as you will continue to read and discover…

Next time…

So, to follow in the next episode…

You are and will always remain in Him…

So, never forget who you are in Christ!

Never forget that Christ is in you, by His Holy Spirit Who will abide in you and stay with you forever!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AND ABIDES WITH YOU FOREVER 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AND ABIDES WITH YOU FOREVER 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AND ABIDES WITH YOU FOREVER 

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16).

Jesus said, “…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

(Matt 28: 16-20)

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen

Never hide your Most-powerful Sword of God in Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit Who reigns in you forever.

See you in the next episode of this important series…

However, you have a homework to do:

Read Romans 8, and send me what you understood about the work of the Holy Spirit in the true believer.

This is a very critical chapter which will help us understand better the next episodes

Your partner in His Eternal Victory,

Fady