 Good morning, everyone. Let's start with the word of prayer. Thank you. Thank you, Father God, for this new day, Lord. We submit ourselves unto your loving hands, Father God. We thank you that you have given us the knowledge and understanding how to live our lives through your word, Lord. Help us to use it and be an overcomer, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you. Thank you so much. We are now in chapter 9 where we talk about an overcomer's lifestyle. So we've understood so far that we have authority in Christ Jesus and we must use the authority. We've also understood how the enemy works, his strategies, his tactics. So what kind of a lifestyle should a believer have such that the enemy cannot touch us? So that's what we will discuss. So the first thing is to understand where we are right now. So us being in Christ is already a place of immunity for us. Immunity meaning Satan cannot touch us. So could somebody read for us Colossians chapter 3 and verse 1. So one person may please read that verse and another person. 1 John 5 verses 18 and 19. Colossians chapter 3 verse 1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Okay. Fine. So can you just come again? The same verse. For I want you Colossians 3 chapter 3 verse 1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Okay. Fine. All right. Please go ahead. 1 John 5 verse 18 and 19. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who has been born of God needs himself, keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God and the whole world lies under the sword of the big one. Okay. All right. Thank you. So Colossians 3 verse 1 says if you were raised with Christ. Okay. So basically it's just talking about the fact that spiritually we now have a new life. Okay. With Christ. Christ is seated in the heavenly places and we also talked about how we are now positionally seated with Christ in the heavenly places. So our position or positional reality is we are in Christ. Okay. There are two things but that we must consider when we say that we are in Christ. One is of course the position. The second one is what you know we read from 1 John chapter 5 that when we walk right with our relationship right with the Lord then the enemy cannot touch us. So positionally are we righteous? Yes. But in practice or in actuality when we are living our lives in that manner also in righteousness what happens the verse says that the enemy cannot touch us. Okay. So both are necessary. Both are necessary and both talk about how we are really in Christ spiritually and our life as we live it out we are still in Christ and that way Satan does not have access to us. So that's very important. The second thing for us to understand okay we've understood that the positional reality is important and our walk with the Lord is important that will prevent us from you know the enemy sort of making an entry into our lives. The second important thing for a believer to stay protected is intimacy with God. Okay. So when we say intimacy intimacy is a relationship which is very strong which is very close. So a close relationship with God we all know Psalm 91. So what does Psalm 91 say He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. So it gives us a picture that somebody is staying in a close relationship with God. Isn't it? He who dwells in the secret place. Secret place is a hidden away place. Right. A quiet place where we are spending time with the Lord. So for a believer a place like that what does the passage say? It says it's the shelter. Isn't it? If you dwell in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty in the shelter of the Almighty. So shadow, shelter all this talks about protection. First of all we are in Christ that is our place of protection. We are walking with Christ that is our place of protection. Now intimacy is intimacy something that all believers walk in? No. It's a choice. Automatically a close relationship doesn't happen. One really needs to go after it or make a choice. So as a believer if I make a choice for intimacy the Bible says we will be protected. Okay intimacy is a place of protection. Now another time in the Bible where we notice a close relationship that man had with God without the entrance of sin is the Garden of Eden. Isn't it? So in the Garden of Eden we know that God came. He communed with man. He fellowshiped with man. So there are certain qualities of that first fellowship. When we look at that we recognize that it was a safe place actually for man. So what are the features of that initial communion of man and God in the Garden? Now we see that God had a relationship and man acknowledged the relationship. So even today when we recognize that we have a relationship with God, we pursue that relationship it's good. That talks of intimacy. Then what else was there in the Garden? One of course was relationship. But the other thing we notice is there was submission before Adam and Eve disobeyed. There was submission. So whatever God was saying Eve were walking in obedience to that. So that also it was protection for them because sin never entered as long as they were obedient to God. So relationship is one but submission is the other thing that kept them safe. And continuing to look at what happened then was also responsibility. Responsibility is God gave them things to do so he told them okay Adam Eve you take care of the garden tend the garden. So the first job if you want to call it that mankind ever had is gardening. So God told them okay you both be gardeners. So there was a responsibility which was given to them and not just to tend the plants but he also said protect the garden. So it was actually their responsibility to protect it from intruders but what happened they couldn't manage that role. Satan came he deceived and they let it happen. So we notice that as long as they were in a close relationship with God and they were simply doing what God told them to do. So applied to us today. So we are in a strong relationship with God. We are walking in obedience to God. Okay God called me to be in this season of life a student. God called me to be a parent. God called me to be a spouse whatever and doing what I am supposed to do automatically there is protection. Satan can't mess with you. If you are just walking in these normal things. Isn't it? So that itself is showing us that you know you have to just walk aligned to whatever God is calling you to do and that will protect you from the attack of the enemy and one more important thing which was in the garden was God gave them dominion. So they held dominion in the garden. Dominion authority. So they could exercise authority. You see how God told Adam okay you now name all the creatures so he had the authority. God gave them. It's your responsibility. You lead, you call and then he gives everyone name. So he is using his dominion he is using his authority in that manner and things are going on very well. So the same thing lies for us today. What does God call you to do? If you just position yourself there. Position yourself in a close relationship with God. Submit to God. Do what God is calling you to do. Use your dominion. You'll be safe. Okay and that's the lesson that we read. So automatically you could say that even when there was no so called weapon to protect themselves. Did God give them any guns or swords and say okay protect yourself? He didn't because it was not needed. So before there were weapons. These are the weapons that they had. Just fulfill your role and it's only later that we see in scripture that you know we talk about the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus and all. So weapons came for protection later on. But when we are in that place of intimacy, obedience, submission, recognizing our dominion taking up our responsibility. Satan cannot even touch us. That's what we read. So it's very simple for us to stay protected from the enemy. If we are able to do just these basic things. Of course we'll come to other things that one can do to be protected from the devil. So okay fine. We understood by virtue of the fact that we are positioned in Christ. We are walking with Christ. We are in intimacy with God. We recognize our role and responsibility we are protected. The next important thing is to be consecrated. Okay. Consecrated. Again consecration has to do with submission. And again and again we dealt with James chapter 4 and verse 7 which says submit to God. So it simply means that everything which is a part of us, we surrender to God. For example our thoughts okay. And we say God I give my thoughts to you. I dedicate my thoughts to you. So then what do we do? We make sure that every thought we think is a pleasing thought to God. Okay. So then what happens? My thought life is consecrated. It is dedicated to the Lord. So if my thought life is consecrated everything moves from the thoughts. So thoughts then become my actions. My actions you know reflective of my behavior. My behavior repeated becomes my lifestyle. Isn't it? So everything is starting from here. But I have dedicated my thoughts to the Lord. And that is again submission. So I submit to God. And then I resist the devil. So when I am submitted the enemy cannot find a loophole. So whenever we dedicate or we say okay I dedicate my resources. I dedicate my time. So everything that we have we can actually dedicate it to the Lord. That's what we see in scripture. So and we said this earlier when we talked about spiritual influence. Anything which is dedicated becomes an expression of that spirit. Remember even when people sacrifice they do dedications other gods. What happens that object becomes an expression of that God or that person you find right? We see that manifestation of demon spirit. So many things happen. Why? Because they dedicated that individual. Same way we are doing the opposite. I am dedicating myself, my resources, my body to God. And that way Satan cannot touch us. Now what are the things that can protect me and help me be an overcomer? I must also put on the weapon. Now what's happening in the world? We have an active enemy known as Satan. He's the adversary. He wants to attack everyone. So to protect myself I need some weapons now. It's not like the garden situation anymore because Satan now he has you know he still has time on the side and so God wants us. He God knows that we need some weapons. So in Ephesians chapter 6 we talk about the armor of God. So what are the parts of the armor of God? They have been listed and for a believer we have to put on all the parts of the armor. So it says put on. Which simply means that just because I am a believer I am not automatically protected. You know as I step out. But it's only when I put on the armor that I can walk protected. So that means not all believers are protected isn't it? We may come under the attack of the devil. So what are the parts of the armor? The helmet of salvation. Helmet of salvation the meaning is in my mind I understand that I am saved and what is it to be saved isn't it? So to be saved means I am in the kingdom of God. To be saved means that every blessing of the cross is mine. So all that I understand so when I understand that any believer who understands these things can the enemy fool them easily cannot. So that's what helmet of salvation means. So my mind is aware. I walk with a renewed mind. Then breastplate of righteousness. Breastplate of righteousness is protecting some very important parts of our body that help us function for example breathing so important. Heart beating so important. So my chest is that area is very important. So in warfare what would the enemy want to do? Attack chest because there are some really important organs there. But God says let's protect the important parts of who you are your heart with the breastplate of righteousness. What is the meaning? The meaning simply is I understand that Christ became sin for me so that I can become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So when I have that understanding my heart is protected. Satan cannot keep accusing. I'll be like enough. I already know who I am. Satan you can't do this to me. So that is breastplate of righteousness. And breastplate of righteousness is also walking in a right relationship with God. So when I'm doing the right thing is it easy for Satan to accuse me? Of course not. That is also for my own protection. So I am protected. Helmet is there breastplate is there. Belt of truth. Belt of truth. What is that? You see when the Roman and we are talking about the Roman armour. So you must you can look it up. I'm sorry I'm not projecting a picture here for you but you can Google it and you can see how the armour actually looks. They had a belt to hold everything in place. Okay. So today there is something that holds everything in place in our lives. What is that? The truth of God's word. So if I have the truth of God's word again any believer who knows the word of God. He knows right from wrong. He has a you know discernment that he has gained by studying the word of God. Can Satan prick them easily? Cannot okay. So that is my protection. I know the word and I'm living by the word. Satan cannot easily attack us. Shoes of the gospel. Shoes of the gospel means to again have the knowledge of salvation but be able to take it to others and share it with others. Okay. So we tell others about Jesus. We bring others to the knowledge of the Lord. That is also our protection because you see we have understood, we have tasted and seen but now we have come to a place where you know we are excited about the message. What will happen if a believer is not excited? An unexcited believer can the enemy do something? He can and in fact he likes if we are discouraged, if we are bored, if we are lazy right? He likes such believers because a part of the weapon is missing over there. Right? But when we are excited about the truth excited to share about Jesus. He knows I cannot do anything to this person. They are very well aware of what Jesus has done and they also want to share it. So the gospel of peace when we have shoes of the gospel of peace that also protects us and you have something known as the shield of faith shield is you hold it in your hand and if you look at the Roman armor you will see a round you know shield which they kind of grasp it like this. Yeah and when they hold it in front what happens? If there are arrows generally yeah it's a defense. So if there are arrows they come hit it either the arrow will get damaged or it will be redirected away from the person. So what is God saying? You know one of the important things for a believer is faith. When we lose faith Satan can come in. Faith is so important imagine if Abraham, if he somewhere along his journey he stopped believing. God told him you will have a son you know you, Sarah and you will bear a child. What if he stopped believing he is the father of faith right? We learn faith from him. He did not believe he would have never seen the birth of Isaac and many other promises would be unfulfilled but thank God he had a weapon and that weapon is faith. Never stop believing. Never stop believing in the word of God and then the enemy cannot attack us but the moment we bring down our faith again you see the chest area or anywhere that Satan may attack that is keeping him away the shield. A believer who believes right? I think that's what they call as believer right? Because that's a job description we are supposed to believe in who God is what he is saying. Satan cannot attack. You are holding your faith everywhere and the arrows can't touch us. So having a heart of faith always build up your faith in God and you will be protected. So till now we read about the defensive weapons or yeah defensive weapons or defensive part of the armor. Now there is one offensive weapon defensive means I protect myself but offensive means I go after the devil. I go after the enemy. What is that offensive piece of armor? Which is the part that I have not talked about? The sword of the spirit which is the word of God. So if I want to chase the devil I want to run after the devil what should I do? I need the word. That is the sword of the spirit. I take the word and I attack the devil right? So whenever I use the word you can imagine the lie of the devil just gets crushed. It's gone. It disappears so that is the power of the word of God which is why God is saying do you want to fight the devil be immune against the devil overcome the devil keep the word in your heart. Keep the word in your heart in your mouth and when you speak it the enemy is destroyed right? So powerful. So protect yourself yes but also we should know how to chase the devil and destroy him and that is through the word of God. So Paul used all these parts to help us understand how a Christian walk should be. We are very aware Christian aware of what salvation is aware of the word of God and that way we will overcome the enemy. The next part here that will help us stay strong against the enemy's attack is faith. We also talked about it as a shield but it's so so important that without faith we will not be able to do exploits in the kingdom of God. You remember Jesus he said if you have faith as a mustard seed what can you do move the mountain. So if I want to be an overcomer I've got to be a believer but a believer whose heart has faith. So with faith the enemy can bring a mountain but I can uproot the mountain isn't it? So faith is very important and it will protect us it will help us move forward with God and you know that is something that we can never compromise on. So faith is we saw how in the armor it's a defensive weapon but it is also an offensive weapon because as I'm telling you if you use your faith you are destroying the works of the evil one and always build our hearts with the faith that comes by hearing the word of God. So how do you build faith? Okay faith is good we all know faith is good how can I get this faith exercise meaning what go out and exercise in the sun which exercise do we want okay I think what Prince is saying is you use your faith each time right then you get stronger okay that makes sense okay so a lot of people hear the word again and again and again but still they lack faith correct that is the answer which will give you the points hearing hearing by the word of God that is the exact answer but I'm saying we must understand what it means okay hearing the word is yes we know the word but you gotta really receive the word yet believe the word isn't it meditate the word you remember the parable Jesus said you gotta understand the word is the seed but if the person who is listening does not understand then it doesn't benefit that person so it's not just hearing you know sometimes we think ha just hear hundred times here here here nothing goes inside then there's no faith no nothing is being built but if I want faith take the word think about the word understand the word isn't it digest it's like sugarcane anybody eaten sugarcane how do you eat it they're showing the action how they eat it yeah you chew it up but how do you eat it till the end or mango like you just relish it right till all the juices everything nothing is left there are people who even like licking their hands sometimes because they don't want anything left of the fruit so hearing hearing by the word of God is like that where we take the word understand it no receive what the word is releasing okay strengthen our hearts fully put our hope in the word so that way what happens that's when faith is being built up there are other things also we can do with the word you listen to the word understand it and all but then you could pray the word isn't it we can pray the word like just tell me any prayer that you pray from the word of God okay for example paul you know when he prayed for the churches he prayed something like may you have the spirit of revelation may you be enlightened so we see that in the word so when I'm trying to hear that word and faith is coming into my heart like okay there is enlightenment revelation available God give me that revelation so when I start praying that word that word works for me so that's how you use the word to build faith I must hear it I must understand it I must desire it I must pray it then what else we can memorize it isn't it we can speak it we can confess it where for example my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches and glory that is the word what does it say it says God will provide so when I'm thinking to myself about my lack about not having enough or going through financial crisis I say I declare God is my provider God has a covenant of provision for me isn't it he said that according to his riches in glory so I will have an abundance what's happening word got into me now what is coming out of me okay that's when I'm really moving in faith now I have built faith in that area by meditating on the word so that's how this faith is developed so faith is both a defense Satan can't get us easily if you have faith in your heart but it's also an offense so when he sees a believer oh look at the way he's confessing declaring oh no let's run away from here so faith becomes a weapon that you face the enemy with so build faith build faith about you know what God has promised for your future build faith about your family build faith about your identity so in our apc app I don't know how many people have seen it but we have an app you can download it from the play store and then in that if you go there is something known as A to Z declarations okay so that is something that like even I am practicing to use during my prayer time so from there I read those declarations that you know I'm healed by the stripes of Jesus so what am I doing I'm releasing my faith with my words so what's happening that's an overcomers lifestyle because it's word is going into me and now the word is coming out from a place of faith so when we live with that it becomes very difficult for the enemy to touch us is it making sense everyone is it helping should I explain or should I just go quickly alright that's good fine so how is the online batch doing here okay alright so some answers have come in I hope you can all hear me now Kennedy I see your message there but I'm assuming by now you can hear me properly some comments meditate God's word and pray sincerely to overcome that's true okay can we can hear and Kennedy you're saying pray for the right things and believe that they will come true and cast out all doubts out of your mind when it comes to faith this is a way we can exercise our faith oh of course coming to the exercise okay thank you Viku you can also hear us so exercise what Prince said is faith often you put it into practice so any muscle that you exercise what happens it becomes strong okay that all of us know great so let's exercise our faith muscle also now what else is going to make us strong against the enemy prayer prayer at intercession so do you remember there was a time when Peter came he was talking to Jesus and Jesus told him about the mistake he would make in the future that you know he would fall he would deny Jesus but Jesus said I have prayed for you right because Jesus knew that Satan is trying to create an issue which will come up later but that should not destroy Peter's faith that's what Jesus wanted so which weapon did Jesus use he said I have prayed for you Peter I have prayed for you so when we pray what is happening protection isn't it so we are praying about our life our ministry can challenges come they can come but we are still protected because prayer what does it do we have talked about it you know it foils the attacks of the devil it destroys the attacks of the devil sometimes when we pray we can also prophetically know what Satan is doing you know especially when we you know there are times when we sense isn't it maybe about our family member or somebody we just sense and we pray for them but that might be the exact time when they are going through something what is God doing God is helping us bring that protection on their lives in the same way over our own lives when we pray you pray for yourself you overcome the devil you can even demolish the attacks which Satan creates see when we think about Satan know it's like this in Bible times they would forge weapons they would make weapons like you can imagine somebody is taking a piece of metal and you know they are heating it up and they are bending it they are polishing it and they are making it into a sword just think about it like that so when the enemy is forging a weapon he is getting ready he has a plan in his mind this is what I am going to do so and so so he is making a weapon you see when I am praying what happens what he is making also can be destroyed you understand so that's how it works and that's why prayer is so important when we are praying we can destroy before he forms it or let's say he forms something there is a strong hold some demonic spirits are already at work but when I pray I can also go and destroy what is formed alright so this helps me overcome the devil so be a person of prayer and Satan cannot attack or we will rather overcome fasting fasting is also very important it helps us today many of you are fasting so I just want to encourage you fasting also brings protection on our lives against the devil and we overcome Satan through prayer and fasting so we know that in Daniel chapter 10 Daniel was fasting and at that time what happened there was an answer to prayer which needed to come to Daniel but there was war in the heavenlies isn't it the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece they were stopping the answer to come to Daniel but when this happened how is it that Daniel could overcome he is in devotion in prayer and fasting so when he was in prayer and fasting what happened it's amazing we are here praying and fasting but through our prayer and fasting God is moving things in the heavenlies so an angel was sent so an angel goes fights these principalities and the answer comes through so these are all weapons actually God is given the weapon of faith the weapon of prayer the weapon of fasting so when a believer develops these things in their life what happens you know Satan is no match like Satan is no match to what God is doing so we must remember and practice these things in our daily lives and it will really help us overcome the enemy so yeah there are other things about fasting which I mentioned here which we dealt with earlier in prayer and intercession what are the other benefits of fasting fasting will help us deepen our hunger for God so that is the result which it gives so when I fast in the natural my spiritual hunger or passion or focus for God will increase and fasting also helps me overcome my flesh I gain more strength or power over my flesh so my will is strengthened to do what God wants me to do and fasting also helps eliminate doubt and unbelief so let's remember that a right relationship with God knowing who we are in Christ having an intimate relationship with God just taking up the responsibility which God has told us to do you remember the time when David he was supposed to go to war but he was not at war right he was in his house and that led him to sin isn't it so being at the wrong place when God wants you to be in your responsibilities also like an open door they're giving the enemy a chance so just take on the responsibility which God has given a walk with it put on the weapons and live a life which has faith prayer fasting all this automatically will keep us safe from the enemy so if there are no questions we can pray and close for today if there are questions yes of course we can take it up alright so let's pray then and I just want to request one of you to please pray Father we thank you for this time Lord and we come before you again in the name of Jesus Lord and I surrender each one of you in your hand Father what we learned today says in Lord help us give us knowledge understanding your word Father and we can understand your word Father Jesus thank you for everything Lord Jesus in Jesus name I pray amen amen amen thank you everyone please work on your assignments and I'll see you in the next class God bless yeah but you can work on it now also no no no no no extension the last date is the given date