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P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736

501-787-6026
Newsletter #263 - Septmber 2000
Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE 02000 SCN

Strength &
Power
In Mark 12: 18 we find the Sadducees, who did not
The word "strength" in this latter verse is "ischus"
believe In life after death. asking Jesus a hypothetical
(is-khoos')in the Greek language. The word means "forcefullness".
question. There were seven brothers, and the first took
Why forcefullness? There is a spiritual war being waged
a wife and died without having children. According to
between God and Satan. Christians had better love the
the law of Moses, the second brother took her to wife
Lord with force and be willing to make a stand for God.
and also died without having children. All seven of the
How can you be assured you have the strength and the
brothers died without having children, and then the woman
zeal to make that stand? Let's turn to the Book of
died also. The Sadducees then asked, "In the resurrection
Ephesians.
_. - tTielefOie~vTfeil- rntf9~·-·s1faTI-nse., "whose wlIeSha1r-'slfeDe ~-- .- ---:---~------.-- --
of them?" Remember. the Sadducees didn't believe in life EpheSians 6:10 Fmally, my b~ethre.n, be strong in the
after death. Let's learn as Christ answered the Sadducees. Lord, and m the power of HIS might.
This verse means that we should draw our strength
Mark 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, "Do
from the Lord. There is none mightier than He. You do
ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures,

neither the power of God?

not have the strength to stand against Satan without the
strength of your Father.
The basis of Christianity is the ability to recognize

God's power and learn how to tap into that power. The
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
world will run over those that don't utilize that resource.

Did this verse say to put your armour on? No! We

Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they

neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the

are to put on the armour of God. That is where there
angels which are in heaven. l§. And as touching the
is sufficient strength and power to stand against Satan.
dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of

Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying,

Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and
'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the God of Jacob?'
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
These men had died in the flesh long before the time

of Moses; however, they are still alive in heaven with

Do you think God is afraid of Satan? I certainly hope
our Father.
you don't. There is nothing for you to fear either, if you
draw your strength and power from our Father. Jesus
Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God
gave us power over all our enemies in His name (Luke
of the living: ye therefore do greatly err."
10: 18-19). Don't ever forget where that power comes from.
Jesus was pointing out to the Sadducees that their
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole
- be+ief··;n·~tffm·-was-·wrong;-·~ aP-setlf-f-rom
armOJ.Jr· Of God, that ye·maybe-able-fo.--w#Jfst.aR4 1ft the
the body is to be present with the Lord (II Cor. 5:8).
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
I don't understand those who preach Christians die and

The evil day is written of in Rev. 12: 12, "Woe to the

go in a hole in the ground when even Satan is still alive.

inhabiters of the earth and the sea! For the devil is come
Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having
down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth
heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He
that he hath but a short time." Be prepared, beloved. You
had answered them well, asked Him. "Which is the first
can be a "can do" servant of the Living God, if you draw
commandment of all?" .
on His strength and power. You should all be very
familiar with the next several verses concerning the gospel
Most of God's promises have a condition attached

armour of God. Don't forget, it is His armour that you

to them. That is that "if' we follow His commandments
should put on. If you are to stand against the fiery darts
we will receive the promise. This is an important ques­

of Satan, you had better be empowered of God. Let's

tion. Listen closely to the answer Jesus gives the man.

continue our study in Matthew with a lesson on our

Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, liThe first of all
subject given by'Jesus.
the commandments is, 'Hear, 0 Israel; The LORD our

God is one LORD: JQ And thou shalt love the LORD thy
Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto Him one pos­
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
sessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed
all thy mind, and with all thy strength:' this is the first
him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and
commandment.
saw. 111 And all the people were amazed, and said, "Is
not This the son of David?"
 They were amazed because their "super preachers"
couldn't accomplish this, but Jesus did. You must have
power over something to cast it out. Jesus had the
power. Where did Jesus get this power? I hope you
don't need two guesses.
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they
said, "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub
the prince of the devils."
The "super preachers" were saying that Jesus was
a servant of Satan, and that was where His power came
from. Wrong again!
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said
unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation; and every city or house divided
against itself shall not stand: 2§. And if Satan cast out
Satan, he is divided against himself,' how shall then his
kingdom stand?
It won't! Satan and his followers are going into the
lake of fire. That is a fact.
Matthew 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils,
by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore
they shall be your judges.
That should shut them up. Jesus, and they, knew
their children didn't have the power to cast devils out.
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of
God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
The only way devils can be cast out is by the
strength and power of the Spirit of God in the name of
Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong
man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind
the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. lQ
He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that
gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.
You can't enter into a strong man's house and bind
him, unless you are stronger than he is. If you are going
to stand against antichrist, you had better know that
Christ is stronger than antichrist and tap into that strength.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner
of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but
the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shalf not be
forgiven unto men.
This is the unforgiveable sin. For one of the elect
to refuse the Holy Spirit to speak through them when
they are delivered up before antichrist is unforgiveable.
I don't think it will happen, because the elect know that
the Holy Spirit is their strength and power.
Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against
the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever
speakth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven
him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
The Son of man was Christ i:1 the flesh on earth.
To refuse the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable for the elect.
Why would Christ bring this up here? He has just
explained that through Him we have power over Satan.
There is no reason to fear. In Christ, we have the
victory.
Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit
good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit
corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Jesus makes this very simple for us to understand.
He takes us back to the garden and the tree of knowl­
edge of good and evil and the Tree of Life. What
happened there? It is the same old story from beginning
to end. The fruit of Christ is good. The fruit of Satan
is evil. The tree is known by his fruit. Test the fruit.
In conclusion, let's tum to the Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, Who was made a little
lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honour, that He by the grace of God
should taste death for every man. 1.Q For it became Him,
for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things,
in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
He Who created everything, even your soul, loved
us enough to send His Son that we might find salvation
through belief in Him.
Hebrews 2:11 For both He That sanctifieth and they
who are sanctified are al/ of One: for which cause He
is not ashamed to call them brethren, 11. Saying, "I will
declare Thy Name unto My brethren, in the midst of
the church will I sing praise unto Thee."
Christ quoted this Scripture (Psalm 22:22) on the
cross as He was being crucified for you.
Hebrews 2:13 And again, "I will put my trust in Him."
And again, "Behold, I and the children which God hath
given Me." 13. Forasmuch then as the children are par­
takers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took
part of the same; that through death He might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Christ suffered death to defeat death, that is to say
Satan. The choice is yours. You can be on the side of
death or Life. Draw your strength and power from God.
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
You don't have to be afraid of death. The truth sets
you free from fear and bondage.
Hebrews 2:16 For verily He took not on Him the nature
of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
11. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made
like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Christ paid an awesome price on the cross to cover
our sins on repentance. That is why He doesn't want
to hear about your sins anymore, after you have re­
pented and been forgiven. Those that do bring them up
again are doubting the promises of God. You are em­
powered through the Spirit of Almighty God. Use that
strength and power in the war against Satan and his.
Arnold Murray