The Triumphant Church
So, i've just finished reading this book, on the recommendation of an Evangalist, and I have found it to be excellent. I have learnt more about Christianity and how to apply it than I ever would just reading the bible.
Some of the things it contains have blown my mind such as the following:
This world is ruled by Satan and not God. According to the Evangalists Satan took Adam's place when he sinned, and presides over it until the return of Jesus Christ. God sent his only son to earth and showed us the way, and that is as far as he is going in offering salvation to us. When people complain that God shouldn't allow wars and famine and crime, the answer is simply, meh! He's given us humans all we need to know through his word.
Born again Christians only have their spirit saved throough being born again. According to the book they believe there are three parts to a human, and their mind and their soul are still up for grabs by Satan and the saving of man's soul is an ongoing process throughout life
They also believe in three heavens; the atmospheric heaven, second heaven, and the heaven of heavens.
When confronting evil, a Christian has only to stand against it, not to fight or to struggle, simply to stand and say no. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7)
A person should only think "right thoughts" and "wrong thoughts" let the devil in. Your mind must be so filled with the Word of God that your mind will side in with your spirit.
The authority of Jesus Christ can be used to cast out evil, and people don't realise this according to the book, one simply has to say "in the name of Jesus Christ" as they have the authority to say so and the word Christian means Christ-like, i.e. acting as Christ would act. Jesus Christ defeated Satan, and he remains defeated, even if he might try to say other wise. Joint-seating with Christ is a position of authority and triumph over Satan.
Demons can speak through the possessed, the person's body or soul becomes the demon's "house." It doesn't take the gift of discerning of spirits to hear that because the possessing demon uses the person's vocal chords to speak in the natural realm.
Two things that were particularly key for me was the need to check every experience against scripture, just because you've had a vision, don't just accept it and run away with it and begin to build doctrine on it and teach it wherever you go. Compare it with the Word of God and see if it lines up, so the instruction to tell your story is found in Mark 5:19: Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee
And that one should have witnesses in any experience Matt. 18:16: By the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established.
There is a concept of the evil day when Satan will come to test, try, and tempt you, and you will have to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might so you can take your stand of faith against him. Sooner or later, each of us has to stand our ground on the Word against the wiles of the devil for ourselves. And if we don't do it, it won't be done.
This has given me security in my own experience and what I was told.
