The Danger of Being Strong

The people who are in the camp, immediately after your supper. Now if you turn to 1 John 2 and verse 14. I have written unto you fathers, because you have known him, that is from the beginning.

I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abided in you. And you have overcome the wicked one. Now, you know in 13th verse it says, I write unto you young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.

So in two consecutive verses, the same thing is said about young men. I write unto you, because you are strong. Now have you met people who say, yes I am strong.

Of course normally we don't claim to be very strong. And very often it is true, that we are not very strong. Now there are certain things, which we strongly believe.

One of those things, as I told you this morning, is in the power of money. When I first heard the phrase money speaks, I was quite amused. I said what? Money speaks? Well you might have been hearing money speaking to you, almost continually perhaps.

So that is one thing which is very strong, a fixation in the hearts of many people. And for the sake of money they will do anything. Now what are the other things, in which we people are strong.

Some people are very opinionative. Their opinions are the only things that exist. Even in the face of failure, they will just pursue their own willful ways.

You know it is very hard to live with such people. They have such strong opinions, which are not really based on reality. So they will fight for their opinions.

There are certain habits which are very strong. I don't know how many of you were smokers before. Put up your hands please.

And how many of you were drunkards before. Will you stand up please. Yes, drink and smoke.

Thank you ladies. I am very glad some of you are standing. Not because you drank before, but because you are honest.

How much money you have spent over those habits. How much time, what a big chunk of your life, and your potential, was lost over those habits. And that habits, you know there are other habits.

There is the drug habit, but I am not going to ask you to stand for that now. Yes, we must see the breaking of the drug habit. Well there are other evil habits, which dominate people.

You know it is claimed, masturbation is just natural. And you must do it. In some parts of the world, that's what people say and believe.

But I have found that young people, that got addicted to that, they became so nervously weak. Their minds were corrupted, no concentration. And I found their spirits were warped.

There is deliverance in Jesus Christ, over the flesh, the world, and the devil. So many of those things, which are very dangerous and harmful, for your bodies, and your souls and your spirits. People today are calling it normal.

It is normal for a girl, to throw away her virginity. It is normal to run, into adultery. Alright.

How this world, the nations of this world, the economy of countries, is just being broken, by adultery. Illegitimate children. Countries that cannot afford, teenage mothers, with these illegitimate children.

So everywhere, the economy of most of the big countries, is in great trouble. And then, there are sociologists that say, that people are going to live in groups, no longer in families. We used to say, it is gang rape.

But now it is, sociologists claim, it is a social evolution. How terrible. So the world calls these things normal, and will not acknowledge, that these things are wrecking, mankind.

Wrecking the personality of people. And as the various, types of, diseases, venereal diseases, increase, and these organisms, are acquiring, great immunity against, many medicines. And then, so there is furious research.

And so much money is being wasted. Yes. The devil's purpose, is to steal, to kill, and to destroy.

So while these various factors, are having a very strong hold, upon the nations today. And some of you, have found those tentacles, to hold you in a death grip, Now, the Lord says, you are strong. What is it? It is a very comprehensive strength.

See, some people are very weak, in their minds today. Much of that weakness, is born out of family discard. It could have been, it could have started, even in the cradle.

When a father and a mother, argue and fight. The baby becomes, begins to develop, wrecked nerves. And they may not show, in the beginning.

But oh, what unhappy families, there are today. How sad, people who fight over money. People who live together, under the same roof.

But never, achieved, unity of mind, or purpose. Oh, how hard it must be. While, you are one flesh, but you are two minds, and two spirits.

How terrible. What kind of union is that? What kind of marriage is that? One proud person, as the Bible says, one sinner, destroyeth much good. One proud person, you know, I have noticed certain traits, in the course of my preaching, in various parts of the country, and other nations.

Certain traits are very strong, to certain cultures. Somehow, the Indian mind, though, I can't see why it must be so proud. Yet, it is very proud.

Now, this is, true of the Chinese mind, true of the British mind, of the German mind, of the American mind. Oh, yes. As I labored in all these places, I have seen, peculiar variations, of pride.

If you ask me, what are they very strong in? Some people are very strong, in their, self-exaltation, which begets pride. Are you free from that? But here, the Bible is speaking about, spiritual strength. In Numbers, chapter 14, you see that the spies, the twelve spies, returned from, searching the land.

And, what was the, of their report? 14th chapter, and, the first and second verses. And all the congregation, lifted up their voice, and cried. And the people, wept that night.

What? These men were sent, as an advance party, to go assess, the military strength, so that, it may make it easier, to overcome. But they brought such a report, that it made the people, melted the hearts of the people, and they began to cry. And, what happened? They murmured, and all the children of Israel, murmured against Moses, and against Aaron.

And what did they say? Would God that we had died, in the land of Egypt, or would God we had died, in the wilderness? Of course, they got their wish, later on. But, look at that. When God was expecting them, to possess, the promised land, what did they, do? They brought an evil report.

They said, we cannot, take the land. 27th verse, they said, it is indeed, the 13th chapter, 27th verse, Now it is indeed, a land, which floweth, with milk and honey. But, the walls, are very great, the people, are giants, and all these other tribes, lived in the mountains, look at that litany, of defeatism.

31st verse, we are not able, to go up against the people, for they are stronger, than we. Now, very often, that's what we think. See, the world is getting, very strong.

I tell you as a preacher, I may have said that. What right have I to say that? Of course, the world, will get stronger, and wickedness, will wax, stronger. But, what have we got? The resurrection, power of Jesus.

You cannot imagine, what that strength is. Nobody, has explored it. And we, who call ourselves Christians, we just stand, and gaze.

We don't acquire, we don't possess. Why don't we go to God, and say, where is this resurrection power? To completely, in my own body. In my thoughts, in my motives, and ambitions.

Where is this resurrection power? To overcome, these wild forces. What are those forces, behind man-made Gods? Surely, they cannot stand, before the power of the resurrection. My dear friends, we don't see our strengths, we don't see the power, the sources, and resources of power, placed at our disposal.

But, we are only thinking, of the power here, power there, every spirit attacking us, some evil spirit coming upon us. You know what you should pray in future? Lord, before our meeting begins, let these demons depart. That's a normal thing, that's a normal prayer.

Before the messenger of God goes there, hell must be in confusion. The devils must be, in fright. There must be chaos, in the camp of the enemy.

There must be confusion, in the confusion of the enemy. My dear friends, we don't recognize our strength. These people, what did they recognize, the strength of the arm of God? No.

What did they understand, from the, red sea dividing? What did they get from it? Nothing. You know, very often, many people, who say they are converted, are just like that. You know, when people tell me, about their fears, and what might happen, and all the disasters, that could hinder, I say to them, what about all the deliverances, God gave you in your life? Why don't you expect those deliverances? I don't understand, the mind of many people, who call themselves Christians.

They are only seeing defeat. They are only seeing, fear and defeat. They are not strengthened, in the inner man, by God's spirit.

I write unto you, young people, because you are strong, and you have overcome, the wicked one. So, dear friends, the Lord gives, what happened to these people here? There was Caleb, 30th verse, 1330, and Caleb still the people, before Moses, let us go up, at once, and possess it, for we are well able, to overcome it. Yes, put you before a mountain, put you before a river, put you before a hard situation, you must say with faith, we are well able, to overcome.

We don't say that. Oh my, full of fears, no, no, no, no, we are not doing any justice, to our Saviour. We are not bringing any honour, to His name.

We don't seem to understand, the power of the resurrection. It is fear that dominates. But, faith and fear, never can dwell together.

So, in the whole camp, there were just two people. Isn't that very sad? You know, we talk about democracy. We see democracy here, in action.

So, democracy won, that day. The majority said, no. Ten people said, no.

Only two people said, we can go. That was Joshua and Caleb. My dear people, isn't that sad? So, don't think, democracy offers, all solutions, for moral problems.

Tomorrow, you might have, some strange law, in this country. There are too many, people, girls who are unmarried. So, you must have two wives.

Now, I don't know the balance, between male and female in India. I think, men are in excess. But, suppose such a law comes.

I know, there are many people, who would say, we want four. They will say, our religion, guarantees us four. Listen, my dear friends.

Four or forty, your evil heart will never be satisfied. That wicked heart of yours, but, democracy today, is making some, most wicked laws. Almost everything, is being legalized.

Murder, abortion, killing old people, euthanasia. I don't see, what law can exist, when you can kill old people, you can kill babies. What exists between? The law of the jungle, exists between.

What is that law of the jungle? The fittest survives. The man or person, who swallows all the rest, they survive. Well, democracy, is being used for that today.

But, you may be in the minority. You may be in the minority. But, that does not matter.

We just heard of Daniel. One man, can shake a country. One man, can change the laws, unrighteous laws.

One woman, one woman, one woman, can save a nation, from extermination. But, what kind of weaklings, we are producing. And we call it, the church.

And every Sunday morning, all you have to do, is to hold many milk bottles, and distribute it, or find some way, by which you can have, milk bottles, hanging over every pew. We don't bring strength, into the church. We don't bring prayer, into the church.

We don't bring holiness, into the church. We don't bring faith, into the church. All that we bring, on Sunday morning, is tired, weary bodies, but, with an artificial smile.

Now, my dear friends, that's not the church. That is a bunch of people, with one foot in the grave. That's all.

Now, my friends, turn back, to that portion of scripture. I write unto you, young people, the word for the word of God, abideth in you. Some people, go from crisis to crisis.

Oh, I was about to die, last month. Last month. And, next month, what happens? Same thing again.

Some binge drinking, or some kind of activity, which creates, another crisis. So, many families, pass from crisis, to crisis. Is that a case, of the word of God abiding in us? That is mental Christianity.

So, you know it all, in the mind. Now, all the children, that have grown up in the fellowship, are subject, to that great danger. Mental Christianity.

I want you to learn, faith here. And, I want you to, put the word of God, in your heart. You have been told already, that you must meditate on God's word.

Now friends, the word of God abideth in you. If I abide in you, and my words abide in you, If I abide in you, and my words abide in you, When you ask anything, it will be done unto you. If I abide in you, and my words abide in you, So, if the word of God, abides in you, Oh, your prayer is so powerful.

I do not know, how many prayers, going from your heart, are going to achieve great things. Don't be discouraged, if you don't have instant replies. I never got discouraged.

You know, I never knew, that God had such great things. I never, you know, when I was a student, I never knew, I was very good at geography. I never even heard of Arunachal Pradesh.

Probably, it didn't exist at that time. It was Assam. Now, when the word of God, is going to those remote regions, I can't say, that I planned those moves.

One day, I met, people from Burma. And they are going to take, faith with them. They came, in the midst of danger.

In spite of danger. And surely, God is going to bless them. Now, my dear friends, when the word of God, abides in you, faith grows, faith abounds.

Faith is nothing but, the word of God, being converted, into flesh and blood. Into real action. That is the word of God, which abides, when it abides.

When temptation comes, the word of God, which abides in you, ejects it. That is the word of God, abiding in you. When fears come, when relatives express, all kinds of coming tragedies, the word of God, abiding in you, expels those fears.

What a wonderful thing, to tell young people. Young people, you are not distracted by the dollar. You are not distracted by your Ph.D. You are not distracted by your physical beauty.

You are not distracted by all the allurements of the world. But for the word of God abides in you. What a thing to tell young people.

But is that true of you? My little children, my dear young people, my dear young people, because the word of God abides in you. I am writing to you, because you have overcome the wicked one. This is a settled fact.

You are winning this truth. This is a futuristic plan. It is a fact.

Yes, you have overcome the wicked one. How wonderful. See, how many things trip up people, young people.

One bad example, in a pulpit. One preacher, who does not live up to what he preaches. You can go around saying, everyone is a big humbug.

That's all. That's all. You don't overcome the wicked one yourself.

Somebody's weakness has become your excuse. Your big excuse. People's weaknesses have been turned by me to excuse myself.

Then, I would never have stood. I would have looked at this man, that man. Oh my, my, he raised the dead.

But alas, what kind of man is this? I would not have figured at all, figured out for Jesus at all. I would not have come out for Jesus at all. See, some people are specialists in digging up the weaknesses of others.

My dear friend, become a specialist in digging up the dirt from your own heart. Become a specialist from your own heart. So and so is doing this.

So and so is doing that. I look at Jesus. I only look at Jesus.

And every time I come to Him, I am lifted. But when you look at people, you sink deeper and deeper. That is why I tell leaders, My dear man, you are not fit to be a leader.

You have not proved yourself. You are just a nice, fine man. You may be alright in an office environment.

But in the battlefield, you hardly count. You are not ready to bear the scars of battle. Oh my! I write unto you, young man, because you have overcome the wicked one.

What did Jesus, our Lord, tell us? In this world, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

So our Saviour is going to turn you into an overcomer. Let us cast off this environment, this cloud of fear. And let us look at our Saviour who says, Be of good cheer.

You too will be like me. You too will be an overcomer. You will be.

Let us pray. Let us tell God, Oh my Father, let me not be a defeated, fearful person, always pointing my finger at some approaching calamity or some other person's weakness. Let me look at Jesus.

Let me possess your resurrection power. You are the one that makes people overcomers, weaklings into overcomers. You are the one that turns cowards into heroes.

Oh Lord, Oh Lord, can't you turn me also into one that overcomes? Oh blessed Father, why are people who name the name of Jesus living always in an environment of defeat? Why are they saying, Oh, I am afraid of this, I am afraid of this, what is going to happen? Why are they not saying, my Lord is able? Why are they not saying, the God of Daniel will not leave me? Peter will strengthen me. Oh, forgive us, Lord. We want a different level of Christian living.

Cleanse us, Lord. Cleanse us of all unfaith. Oh, we want to be overcomers.

We want to win over the wicked one. We want him to flee as we advance in Jesus' name. Oh, gracious Father, we need your touch, we need your covering, we need your conducting, we need your leadership.

We need the resurrection and the resurrection power in action. Have mercy upon us. We ask in Jesus' almighty name.

Amen. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus and the love of God and the fellowship and power of the Holy Spirit be with you, dear people. Amen.