Mighty Warrior

All through the bible, God has made a habit of encountering men and changing them. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Chris, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold , new things have come." When you encounter God, everything about you is changed. He even changed the names of people to signify the difference that had been made in their very DNA.
In Genesis 17 we find God encountering Abram to establish His covenant. In vs. 5 God says, "no longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations."
In Genesis 32 we find Jacob wrestling with God almighty. Jacob would not let God go without a blessing. In vs. 28 God says, "your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with man and have prevailed."
In Acts 9 we find Saul on his way t arrest any that he found belonging to the way(vs. 2), that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. It was on this road to Damascus that Jesus encountered Saul and blinded him. Saul emerged from this encounter as Paul, an apostle of Jesus.
In Matthew 16 we find Simon, all to eager to stick his foot in his mouth, all to willing to write checks with his mouth that his butt could not cash. Jesus is asking His disciples who they think that He is, in vs. 16 Simon answers, "you are the Christ, the son of the Living God." This encounter with God almighty(vs. 17), this revelation leads Jesus to change his name to Peter(vs. 18), and it is upon this rock that Jesus would build His church.
I had an encounter much like these about a month ago. This was an encounter where God found me, like Gideon, hiding in a wine press. Gideon told God that his family was the least in Manasseh, and that he was the least in his family, but in Judges 6:12, God calls this frightened young man a mighty warrior. It was not until a couple days ago, while having dinner with a good friend, that I realized the truth of what God had done in my life. I told him of my encounter with God and how I had changed as a result. I told him how this change had to be God because it was so unlike me to act in this way. He looked at me and said that this was exactly like me, for God had invaded my very being and changed my name. I was no longer a Christian to frightened to walk in the authority that God had given me, I am a mighty warrior taking the battle to satan.
You will remember in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus changed Simon's name, He said that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. This is not a picture of His church behind some wall, hiding from satan, this is a picture of His church storming the gates of hell to set the captives free!!
Have you had an encounter with God? What is your name?

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The example:

Matthew 4:23-24, Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics, and He healed them.

Matthew 9:35, Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Luke 4:18-19, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of our Lord.

The command:

Matthew 10:7-8, And as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Luke 9:1-2, And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

The commission:

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Church, go use the power and authority that Jesus has given you and preach the gospel of the kingdom!