Endless Life Festival Europe: Day 1, First Session by Apostle Emmanuel Iren: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Priority of Teaching

In Acts 19, there was a principality in Ephesus called Diana. Paul did not hold constant vigils challenging her. He did not produce teachings on fourteen things to understand about principalities and powers. He just went on preaching the gospel. The Bible says, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

The only way to get the gospel to prevail in a territory is by preaching the gospel. Everything else is temporary. If you cast out demons from somebody, they're still in the territory. The way to truly take over a territory for Jesus is to preach the gospel there. The greatest spiritual warfare comes on account of the preaching of the gospel.

There is no greater deliverance than understanding who Christ is, what he has done, and who you are in him. There is a kind of victory that will only come on account of knowledge. If you cast out demons from somebody and there is no new habitation of truth established, they come back. A clean, swept, empty house invites seven more worse than the first.

Christianity Is Described in Family Terms

About 400 years ago in Scotland, the Church of England was persecuting Presbyterian believers. A woman was on her way to a secret meeting of believers when she was stopped by a soldier. She couldn't lie. In that moment, she received an inspiration and said: "My older brother died, and I'm going for a meeting with all the siblings in my father's house."

They let her through.

She was not lying. Jesus is the older brother who died, left a will — an inheritance — and she was going to meet with other heirs in her Father's house. Paul prayed that we would know "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints." That is a will. And he died for you to have it.

Until you have learned to deal with God as Father, you don't know God. Christianity can be described in family terms. Whatever other metaphors we use — they are secondary. The entire Bible, read without bias, leads to one conclusion: this is the story of a father and his family.

The Limits of the Label "Christian"

The word "Christian" was coined by unbelievers — initially derogatory. They saw a group acting like Christ and called them Christians. The church accepted the label with pride, just as they now wear crosses. But when it comes to strict revelation in Christ, the Bible doesn't call you a Christian. It calls you "in Christ." There is a difference.

"Christian" describes external behavior — which every genuine believer ought to have. But what makes you a believer is deeper than behavior. What makes you a believer is internal. The external behavior is a fruit, not the root. And this is why some have concluded that since Buddhists and Muslims also try to behave well, there are many ways to God. There is more to it than that. Lifestyle evangelism alone — simply being a person of integrity — cannot communicate that God became man, died for your sins, and rose after three days. That is a message that must be spoken.

You have been immersed — baptized — into Christ. There is a difference between imitating someone and having the same life that person has now animating you from the inside.

Religion in Christianity

Is Christianity a religion? Yes and no.

Yes — James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit the orphans and widows in trouble and to keep oneself unspotted in the world." There is a religion in Christianity. A person who truly knows God will be marked by regular prayer, fellowship with other believers, and generosity. If you don't have a lifestyle to match, there is every right to question the authenticity of your faith.

But to call Christianity a religion in finality is to reduce it. Many who quickly say "Christianity is not a religion" are trying to escape accountability — they don't want to come to church, don't want a pastor, don't want the structures. That is avoiding accountability, not understanding.

The religion in Christianity is a fruit of something deeper. It does not produce salvation. It evidences it.

Prayer as Conversation

A lot of people struggle to pray because they have been sold something mechanical. Religion taught you to close your eyes when you pray — but nowhere in the Bible are you told to close your eyes. Ironically, most people in Scripture lifted their eyes to heaven when they prayed. Religion taught you to speak in archaic language: "Lord, thou art..." That is King James English, not the language of heaven. Jesus said it is the heathen who think they will be heard for their much speaking.

Prayer is conversation. You probably are not struggling to listen right now the way you struggle in prayer sometimes. That is because this is a conversation. You can pull up a chair and say, "God, here is what happened today. Here is what I am struggling with." Tell him. That is how it works when you understand the family dynamic. You don't come to impress. You come as a child.

Salvation: The Utter Helplessness of Man

Salvation is about two things: the utter helplessness of man and the sovereign intervention of God. The true understanding of salvation begins where your power ends.

A rich young ruler comes on the scene: impeccable in character, industrious, wealthy. He asks what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus mentions the commandments. The man has kept them all from youth. Jesus says: "Sell all you have, give to the poor, then come and follow me." He turned away sorrowful.

Jesus was not establishing a poverty requirement. He was exposing the man's self-sufficiency — the thing standing between him and God. "You are not vulnerable enough. You are not needy enough. Blessed are the poor in spirit — theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

When the disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" — that was exactly the point. Nobody, by their own strength.

The Greek word Jesus used for needle in that passage was the word for a medical needle — even smaller than the sewing needle you might imagine. He meant impossible. Not difficult. Impossible. Then he said: "With men it is impossible. But not with God."

Isaiah the prophet found himself in the throne room and cried, "Woe is me — I am a man of unclean lips." This was a prophet, a man of God. In the language of the moment: I am going to die. The high priest Joshua in Zechariah 3 stood before God in dirty clothes while the accuser of the brethren was present to prosecute him.

Good luck presenting your own efforts.

He Died for All Your Sins

1 John 2:1–2 — "If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."

In the Old Testament's Greek translation, "propitiation" is the same word translated "mercy seat." In the ark of the covenant, the ten commandments sat below — and the mercy seat covered them, with blood sprinkled on it. By the commandments, you don't qualify. But there is a mercy seat, and blood has been sprinkled on it.

He died for your sins. Once and for all time.

He was bruised for your transgressions, wounded for your iniquities. The chastisement of your peace was upon him. By his stripes, you are healed. Your sins and iniquity he will remember no more. As far as the east is from the west, he has separated your sins from you.

So when you are praying and something rises up to remind you of something you did wrong — that is not God. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free.

He Settled All Satan's Claims

Colossians 2:13–15: He forgave all trespasses, wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

• The spirit that used to cause delayed marriage — disarmed.
• The spirit that used to cause delayed pregnancy — disarmed.
• The spirit that frustrated career efforts — disarmed.
• There is no strong man in any family stronger than what Christ did at the cross.

Salvation is the real deliverance. He has delivered from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of his dear Son, having disarmed principalities and powers. He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies — and they cannot stop what is happening. The wedding will take place and they cannot stop it. The children will be born and they cannot stop it. You will be promoted and they cannot stop it.

Picture your sins nailed to the cross. Picture the enemy disarmed. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Walk forward in boldness, in full assurance of faith — because every accusation against you has been silenced forever.

Lord Jesus, I believe with all my heart that you died for my sins once for all time, and you rose again the third day for my justification. I place my trust in you. I receive your Holy Spirit into my heart. I am born again. Thank you for accepting me into your family. Thank you for being my Father. Your spirit has empowered me to live for you and walk with you forever. In Jesus' mighty name, amen.