Spiritual Empowerment and Enlightenment

Apostle Allison Smith Conliff preaches based on Ephesians 1:15-23, this sermon emphasizes the need for believers to be spiritually enlightened, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and clothed in the full armor of God to effectively wage spiritual warfare in these last days.When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, he surrendered his God-given dominionSatan, though fallen, still infiltrates God’s spaces, including churchesTaking the name of Jesus automatically puts you on the battlefield, it’s instant, like automatic doors openingSatan doesn’t give new believers a grace period; the battle begins immediatelyHowever, God has given us power over ALL the powers of the enemyYou cannot pick and choose which pieces to wear, it comes as a complete packageYou can’t wear the gospel boots but refuse the helmet of salvationEvery believer called by Jesus is directed into warfareYou must be equipped with:The Word became flesh and came to Earth to intervene in human affairsThe Bible is your manual: “Read, pray, and obey”The Word of God is full of power and authority“We can take up any deadly thing and it shall not hurt us” when God’s Word is at work in our livesYou must be a doer of the Word, not just a hearerPaul prayed for the Ephesians to receive:Apostle Conliff prayed the same blessing over the congregation:Your heart has eyes, it’s the core of your beingJust as your physical heart keeps you alive, your spiritual heart must be guarded“Guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life”Don’t hide unforgiveness in your core beingDon’t let evil come out of that centerBe flooded with light by the Holy SpiritSome people claim Holy Spirit and tongues were only for the early disciples, this is falseJesus said, “Wait until the power comes” (Acts 1:8)Without Holy Ghost power, you cannot be effective, you’ll just be traditional and ritualisticThe power makes the difference between genuine ministry and empty religionHoly Spirit leads and guides us into all truthToo many believers are fake, acting one way in church, another way at work“We act our role in church, but when we go to our workplace, we are like beasts”Where did Jesus go between Sunday and Monday?You cannot serve God on Sunday and leave your Savior out on MondayDon’t be a “Hollywood/Bollywood” Christian, acting out scenes instead of living authenticallyLiving for God takes dedication; it’s not always about feeling excitedWarning about communicating with the dead: If your deceased relatives appear in dreams, that’s not them, it’s SatanReal-life testimony: A 17-year-old girl who sold herself to the devil through incantations, tattoos, and piercings refused deliverance and died shortly afterYour dreams should be sanctified, be alert even when sleepingGod doesn’t make errors, He deliberately placed you in your specific familyEven if your family has alcoholics, bandits, or dysfunction, God knewHe placed you there to be the light in the darknessDon’t fight your family background; God is using you as a beaconWhether born to married or unmarried parents, you didn’t choose, God ordained itManage your finances properly, don’t mismanage what God gives youIf your vessel has holes, God will stop pouring into itDon’t build on government land and expect prayer to protect illegal actionsDon’t hoodwink systems (like social welfare) be true ChristiansIf you’re young and strong, don’t pretend to have ailments to collect benefits“Don’t make your God look bad”“There is no better place to be than serving God. Know the Father through the Son, Jesus, is the only way. We have a hope not only in this life, which is why we live for God with clean hands and a pure heart.”Rec. Date: 4th August, 2024