Sacred truths : Called To Inherit A Blessing

For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you. Deuteronomy 15:6

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

God keeps His promises – all of them! He has told us in 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you! God wants to bless and exalt His trusting ones and know of the power and authority He has given them! All things are under Jesus feet and hence they are under our feet also. We are head, not tail, above not beneath. We are royalty, King’s kids, sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. We were called to inherit a blessing and to rule and reign with Christ even in the current time of life because we are seated with Christ in high places. The same blood and Spirit that is in Jesus is now flowing in our veins. And the same mighty power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come, is upon us and flowing through us!

It’s time for us not only do the works He did, which included healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting our demons, and raising the dead, but even GREATER works. The works of the Holy Spirit through the early church was only the beginning of the wonders God wants to do in the earth. The book of Acts has not been completed, the greatest signs and wonders are still to be seen and we are to do greater works and add to the book our own deeds and words! And yes we are to more closely conformed to the Lord in both character and power to be a Church without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27) as well as experiencing and walking in the glory of God and His power!

Yes we are to walk worthy of God who called into His own kingdom and glory and display His power and glory around us through miracles, signs and wonders. God’s word is unchanging:

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Yes, by faith and walking with God in a lifestyle of intimacy, holiness, obedience, and truth we can access the fullness of all God has for us now. Our sons and our daughters shall prophesy, our young men shall see visions, our old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17). We are called to receive divine revelation from the Lord through prophecy, dreams, visions, and trances. We are to walk and live in the revelation of the heart and mind of God. We are to be solidly grounded in the Word of God, not easily moved by passing doctrines, fables and teachings. We are to pray continually and for and about all things, praising God and having favor with all the people We are to live and walk in all of God’s abundance and supernatural provision. We are to be filled with God’s presence and glory in our churches, homes and work place and are to hold, maintain, and pour out the Glory of God into the earth. We are to walk and operate in our God-given authority and power and freely give what we have freely received. We are to be all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word of God with boldness. With great power the apostles give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:31-33).

Chapter 1
The Glory Of The LORD

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:1-2

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12:

God never created His people to live and walk in smallness, unimportance, insignificance, defeat and failure but in victory and power and majesty and His glory! The American Heritage Dictionary defines “glory” as

glo·ry n., pl. glo·ries. 1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown. 2. Something conferring honor or renown. 3. A highly praiseworthy asset. 4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship. 5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence. 6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness. 7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity. 8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. In this sense, also called gloriole.

The word “glory” encompasses many things including greatness, splendor, grandeur, nobility, magnificence, stateliness, , majesty, preeminence, distinction, prestige, prominence, renown, standing notability, fame, celebrity, importance, joy and triumph. Because of Jesus Christ and God’s glory, God’s true children are king’s kids and the inheritors of the whole universe. They are priceless because it cost God the life of His Son to redeem them. All things including all the power, authority, riches and resources of heaven and earth belong to them and they can partake of all of it whenever they want through the avenue of faith and grace and love! God’s word is unchanging:

'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts." Haggai 2:8-9

"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. Luke 15:31

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come-all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

Whatever God’s people are lacking, their heavenly Father has more than just enough for them and it’s all available to them through the avenue of faith. Faith not only makes heaven real on earth but it brings down all the riches and resources of heaven for any need they have and against any mountain or demon that they face. While the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people, our light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon us.

Yes, it’s time for us to arise and shine and let God’s glory be seen upon us including everything that God has and is, and this encompasses unlimited things. It’s time for us to be so filled with the light of God's glory and word that spiritual darkness wouldn't even have a place to hang around. Yes, the more we allow God's glory to consume our lives, the more radiant we will become and the less warfare we will have with spiritual darkness within our own minds and souls. Our light will so shine that, when we walk into an area that is dark, the light of the glory of God will cause demonic power to flee! We'll be like Peter whose very shadow healed the sick. We are called to have such measure of the glory on our lives and even more! We have Jesus Christ living inside of us and He sustains and rules the universe. There is no greater power or riches or glory than Jesus Christ. God’s word is unchanging:

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Yes, we are to walk in a supernatural boldness to proclaim the gospel with signs and wonders backing them up and demonstrate God’s glory in the work place where the lost, sick, and dying are. We are to live in a supernatural joy and see amazing miracles performed by the power of God through our love, faith and compassion. We are to pray for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit everywhere so that many shall be saved, healed, delivered, transformed, and empowered carrying the tangible anointing of the Holy Spirit. We are to move in the power of the Spirit and perform the works Christ has called us to do so that the glory on the latter day will be greater than the former. We are to carry so much of the Presence of God on us that people will fall down under the power because it will be like God Himself stepped in with us. All the workers got saved even though he said nothing! We are to be so saturated, filled and controlled by the Holy Ghost that the lost get in our presence they will feel and see Jesus. God’s word is unchanging:

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!" Luke 5:17-26

Chapter 2
Jesus Is A Giver

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is a giver, not a taker! He is alive and well and in the miracle business ready to meet and help people at the point of their need! When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior God Himself became our provider, protector and a source of all wisdom and strength that we need. By faith we can receive all that God has intended for us to have. Because of Jesus we now can believe for God to supply all of our needs spiritually, physically, and financially. He is able!

Yes, when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He took our name! Our name was sin. Our name was weakness. Our name was fear and poverty and every other evil thing we inherited from Adam. Jesus took those names from us and gave us His own in exchange. That's right! Ephesians 3:15 says that the whole Body of Christ has been named after Him both in heaven and earth. That means you have been given Jesus' Name. Its authority is now ours! We are named after "Jesus, Mighty God, Wisdom, Deliverer, Avenger, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Word of Life, Advocate, Provider, The Great I Am, Helper, Savior, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Savior, Healer , Deliverer, Lamb of God, Lord of Hosts, Root of David, Author and Finisher of our Faith, The Way, Healer, Son of God, Man of War, The Truth, Judge of all the Earth, Advocate, Refuge, Rock, High Tower, Strength, Friend, Brother, Chief Cornerstone, King of Kings, Light of the World, Chief Shepherd, My Strength and Song, Righteous Judge, Son of Righteousness, Resurrection and Life, The Alpha and Omega."

Jesus is now our Jubilee. He has restored us to all the benefits God originally planned for mankind. Because of Jesus, we can walk in divine health and see all our needs are met-spirit, soul and body and financially! We can stand in our faith walk and declare and decree that there is nothing missing, lacking or broken in our finances and every other area of our lives! Through Christ Jesus God says to us today, "Come to Me and get what you need. Don't be shy about it. I've been there. Come boldly to the throne of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Think about it. God is in love with us--so in love, He's given us everything He has! He's given us all the healing, all the wisdom, all the wealth, all the strength we could ever need. Bible victory is ours, and we can believe for God to give us victory in all ways needed spiritually, physically and financially. His word is unchanging:

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9:35

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:11-15

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:32-35

Through the new birth and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit we have become a power house of God to demonstrate to others the power and love of God! Through the battles and storms of life we can still shine, living blameless and without fault by holding fast to the word of God. Through God’s power and life we can live victorious even in the midst of Satan’s onslaughts. His onslaughts of sin, sickness, disease, poverty and death cannot touch us. We live in the realm of life where with God all things are possible through the name of Jesus and standing in faith on God’s word! God’s word is true:

"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' Matthew 7:22

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:12-13

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. Matthew 14:12-14

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

God has highly exalted Jesus Christ and given Him the name which is above every name. His name is above any problem, mountain, sickness, demon, need, foe, enemy, disease or problem that we could face or are facing! Everything must bow at the name of Jesus in heaven and earth! Through the use of the name of Jesus and faith, there is available to believers the exceeding greatness of God’s power, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Through love God has made us new creation full of power and love He has made us invincible champions. And by faith working through love, (Galatians 5:6) He has made us faith giants who can bring spiritual realities into this physical world through God’s word. It’s to be noted that God’s word, not circumstances or people, determines truth. The possession and confession of God’s word, by which heaven and were created by the spoken word, and the mighty name of Jesus brings real change to things in our lives to negatives things that are temporary and subject to change by our faith!

God made this world through spiritual realities. It was the spiritual world that formed this natural one. The spiritual world is much more real than the physical one. While the physical world can be changed by the spiritual world, the spiritual world is never changed by the physical world. But through the Spirit and word of God we have the ability to change this world and our circumstances and experiences just like many before us. God’s word is true:

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. Matthew 21:21

The world was formed or made at God’s command. Likewise, our world can be formed and made by our command of faith. By our command the things that are spiritual realities can become visible in our life. We can use our faith, our heart, our spirit, our mouth and speak the word of faith, the word of God and create change and see mega mountains be moved into the sea! God’s word is true, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4

Faith operates outside our senses. It is born in the heart. Generally, all human beings have the tendency to walk by sight and not by faith. We rely on what we see, forgetting there is a spiritual realm that our eyes don’t see. It does exist and is both real and eternal. Faith connects us to the invisible and eternal world, where God’s government and celestial court is found. Faith moves us out of human limitations and transports us to the threshold of divine glory, where we leave our weakness and feebleness at the feet of the cross in order to be clothed with the invincible strength of the Spirit of God. We leave behind a world of failure and defeat to walk the solid streets of success and prosperity, transform the absurd into something logical, the rotten and despised into something useful and blessed for the world.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews says that faith is the certainty of what you hope for. God will give life to all those pictures that He has impressed on our hearts through faith. Then what you draw with the faith brush here on earth will be accepted in the heavens. Faith is the conviction of the things we cannot see. As well as physical eyes, God has given us spiritual eyes. If we develop them we will be able to see easily the biggest miracles prepared by God in the world of faith. The Apostle Paul said:

"We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18).

Chapter 3
God’s Will Is Prosperity?

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him "and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Acts 7:9-10

"Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. "But God raised Him from the dead. Acts 13:29-30

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 3 John 1:2-3

Walking through the very pages of the Bible, in Genesis, we see that God created man and put him in the Garden of Eden—an actual utopia of blessing. There he lived with Eve in a realm of peace and prosperity. We see that God had given them gold and precious stones—riches—although there was no need for gold in Eden. Then, we see Noah. God blessed him so that he was a man of wealth and substance. We see Abraham, a man who was “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). We se Joseph, who suffered terrible persecutions and trials at the hands of his own brothers, but God took every adversity and turned it into a blessing for him. Through His servant, Moses, God transported the Children of Israel over hundreds of miles of bare desert and across the Red Sea. He fed them and clothed them by a miracle. The Bible says He brought them forth with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. All through the Bible almost every chapter has another example of God providing for His people. And God doesn’t change, He is always the same. “For I am the Lord, I change not;” Malachi 3:6). If He did it for the people of the Bible, He will do it for us today.

The Bible is full of promises about prosperity. In Deuteronomy 28, we find this scripture—“the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods...and shall open unto thee his good treasure.” Does that sound like it is wrong to want financial blessings? Of course not. The Bible teaches, God is the one who gives you power to get wealth. (Deut. 8:18). “The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servants” (Psalm 35:27). The only time in all the Bible where God says “Prove Me” is about money. In Malachi 3:10, the Lord says if we will prove Him by putting Him first, He will open the windows of Heaven and pour us out a blessing that we will not even have room enough to receive.

God will take what we have and bless it to provide what we need! At the marriage in Cana, the host had run out of wine. But Jesus required that he give what he had. He had to bring water and fill up pots before Jesus could meet his need. Once he brought what he had—water—Jesus used it to provide what he needed—wine! Jesus took a little boy’s lunch of a few fish and loaves and used it to feed a multitude.

God can use what we have to provide what we need. God wants to heal us everywhere we hurt. God can also use us through our powerful prayers, daring faith and the gifts of the Spirit. We can preach the message of hope that he preached to the poor and underprivileged that they can have victory and deliverance. They can hope and believe that a better quality of life was not just attainable, but was actually God's promise to every believer. God’s wants to bring restoration and blessing for the whole man body, soul and spirit. He wants to give us salvation, healing and prosperity to multitudes throughout the world. "If we have a need, we can have a miracle." We can flow in prophetic anointing in the Gifts of the Spirit, with healing, miracles and the word of knowledge for others. God’s word tells us:

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28

It has been said God has given us His Master Plan principles?

TRUST GOD TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

GIVE GOD YOUR BEST. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)

EXPECT GOD TO MEET YOUR NEEDS. “…What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

But God wants to meet all our needs, not just financial or salvation of the soul! He wants to bless us out of our socks and make us a blessing to others. But we must learn to hear and heed His voice and be obedient to Him in all things. A car with only one flat tire doesn’t go very far? Similarly if we only have one flat tire in our lives or a serious need that is not meet it will cripple us? But God is able to meet every need and do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask pray or think. His word is unchanging:

I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. Proverbs 8:17-21

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice {and} goodness {and} kindness {and} benevolence will go on {and} endure forever! And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. Thus you will be enriched in all things {and} in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Amplified Bible

Chapter 4
The God Of The Impossible

"The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together, That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-29

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23

Suffering, challenges, trials and problems come to everybody but it doesn’t mean we are to remain in them or be destroyed by them. Faithful blameless Job went through hell with the loss of his children, material possessions, good name, and his health and he didn’t give up his faith in God! As a result God have healed Job and restored to him double all his losses!

Sickness, destruction, and dearth ARE NOT the will of God for His people. IT IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL. Not once in all His earthly ministry did Jesus ever command any person be to sick, although He commanded many to be well, and healed them with His Word. Not once did a sick person come to Him asking to be healed and received the answer, “It is God’s will for you to remain sick for His glory.” There is no place in the Word of God where sickness is declared to be an evidence of God’s favor. The God who healed and delivered Job and restored all his real losses has not and doesn’t change. And He will do the same for all those who trust Him for it. The reward of obedience and faith is health and healing for God’s word is unchanging:

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:24-26

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

Apostle Paul who suffered much for the gospel and was very familiar with the word “trouble” didn’t say it was the will of God to remain in the negative situation but rather to trust God who raises the dead for deliverance. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

Yes, God is a God of healing and miracles but also deliverance and it comes by the anointing! Miracles happen where the anointing is and where ‘the anointed ones’ flow in the anointing! For the anointing is God, Himself, through the power of the Spirit moving to bring and give hurt and lost humanity miracles of salvation, healing, deliverance, blessings and prosperity. It’s the anointing that makes a difference whether few or many people are blessed by it. But the anointing can be lost on the anointed one as the Holy Spirit can be grieved and withdraw His anointing. Hence men are winner or losers depending on how they interact with the anointing, which is God Himself. His word is unchanging:

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.' " Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. "But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; "but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. Luke 4:14-30

Yes, it’s possible not to recognize an anointed one and to miss the benefits of his anointing. Jesus Christ the anointed One had the anointing and stood in the midst of the people in Nazareth and told them "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." But because they were full of unbelief and fleshly the anointing that was on Jesus did them no good at all. What a shame and what a tragedy? The anointed One with an unlimited anointing could not use it for them to bring miracles of healing and deliverance because no prophet is accepted in his own country.

Yes, even in the current time of life men make their choices in life and even to depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons and quench the Spirit and have the Spirit leave them like Samson and Saul did. But the good news is that Samson repented for losing his anointing as a result of disobedience. The bible records:

Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there-about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.

Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.

Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. And his brothers and all his father's household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years. Judge 16:27-31

God is able to restore His anointing on His anointed ones and to restore and reverse all that the enemy has stolen from them. Through the anointing we can be ransomed, transformed, transfigured, renewed, refreshed, revived and restored. Then we can appreciate and act on the truth that all power in heaven and earth has been given unto us (Matthew 28:18). We can fear no adversary, for the Lord Himself has given us the power to tread upon the serpent and the scorpion (Luke 10:19). He has given us the power to cure diseases (Mark 16:18) and to bind things on earth (Matthew 18:18-20).

There is much said today by prominent charismatic leaders about the anointing but only a few who really walk in the anointing. The basic meaning of the word anoint is simply to smear something on an object. Usually oil is involved, but it could be other substances such as paint or dye. This gives the idea that to anoint something or someone is an act of consecration. Anointing -Hebrew - noun Mashyach: 'anointed one' one who is consecrated for a special office or function. In simple terms, the anointing is the presence of the Holy Spirit being smeared upon someone. It is the overflowing life of Jesus which imparts supernatural strength enabling an individual to perform a special task or function in an office he is called and appointed to. In ancient times, God would anoint an individual to function effectively to a particular office. For example, He would choose a person and anoint him to stand in the office of a prophet. He would choose another and anoint him to stand in the office of a priest. He would choose still another one and anoint him to stand in the office of a king.

David, God's chosen one, had the anointing of a king, a prophet and also a priest as seen in 1 Samuel 16:12. David had the anointing of a prophet - "...The spirit of the Lord spoke by me..." 2 Samuel 28:2

David also had anointing of a priest - "...And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings..." 2 Samuel 24:25

So we see in the bible through the life of David that there are different levels of anointing. The first Anointing was "poured-out" and comes from the Hebrew word ‘Sûk.’ And the second Anointing is smeared-on. Mashyach. Smeared on. And the third Anointing is rubbed in. And the Greek word is, "Chrio, or Christos, or Charisma," which is Christ, the Anointing of Christ.

We have first the Anointing that is poured on. Then we have the Anointing that is poured out, then we have the Anointing that's smeared on, then we have the Anointing that's rubbed in. We see David as a prophet Anointing. We see David with a kingly Anointing. And seven and a half years after the kingly Anointing, he begins to move in to the Anointing of a priest. And as far as we know, David is one of the only men in the Old Testament that was allowed by God to function as prophet, king, and priest. He offered sacrifices to God in places where men were forbidden to go, who were not a part of the priesthood. But because he was called and ordained to be a type of what God was going to reveal in the New Testament, the Lord allowed him to be a type of Jesus Christ. He was able to function as prophet, king, and priest. Yes, God is going to have a people in the last of the last days who will function in the earth under the prophetic umbrella, under the kingly umbrella, and under the priestly umbrella. All three functioning together, and it takes all three to have the Kingdom of God in us. We have to have Anointings in our life, prophetic, kingly, priestly, in order to have the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Jesus was born of the Spirit, led and taught by the Spirit, and anointed by the Spirit. He walked in the anointing. When He had been baptized, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the spirit of God descending like a dove by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Soon after, Jesus won the first round and started Him ministry with the anointing. Jesus used His anointing to destroy the works of the devil. He did not use His anointing to build up His own kingdom on earth but to do the will of the Father including healing the sick and delivering those who were oppressed. It is only the anointing of God that can break the yokes. For God’s word is unchanging:

It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. Isaiah 10:27

The Word of God also tells us in Acts 19 that the anointing is transferable. Apostle Paul was full of the anointing where God worked unusual miracles by his hands so that handkerchiefs and aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirit went out of them. Apostle Paul reminded Christians that his speech and his preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit cannot be purchased. It’s a priceless gift given by the grace of God to the body of Christ. But because the Holy Spirit He is God, He needs to be obeyed and respected. God baptizes His trusting ones with the Holy Ghost and fire. The fire of the Spirit is not for our destruction, but for our purification - to render us fit for the Master's use. God’s word is unchanging:

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

In order to be used by God and to see the freshness of the Spirit we need to be refined and purified by the fire of God. We need to have dross, the hardness of heart and things of our life that are not pleasing to God to be burned away. The more we spend time a Jesus feet and seeking Him above all the more He will fill us with His Spirit and His anointing we will be anointed messengers and spokespersons for Him. The anointing brings to light all things that are not of God bring these things into light and destroy them. This anointing from God brings forth, life, and melts all things hindering to God’s work. God wants to consume the lives of His children more and more and cover His children more and more in His Spirit and His anointing. But God will not force Himself upon His children as He doesn’t take away free will and will not enter when not asked. So we have to ask God to move afresh on us.

Those who want to be used by God need to let the fire of the Holy Spirit come and burn all impurities of the flesh. The experience of purification is bitter, but in the end they will be a sweet fragrance in the nostrils of their Beloved Father. Those who obey God in all things will find that the anointing increases and those who disobey God will find that the anointing decreases. The anointing comes on those who are of a poor and contrite spirit and who tremble at God’s word. Pride prevents the anointing from increasing and steals the glory from God and causes it to leave. Anointing ones don’t seek the approval of men but of God. Their reputation is not important but rather their use by the master. But there are many who have a counterfeit anointing that comes from the devil. The bible tells us:

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:11-18

Those who have bitter envy, pride, arrogance, boasting self-seeking, the spirit of contention, their wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. Many are full of the spirit of pride, arrogance, contention, boasting, witchcraft, control, manipulation, domination, rebellion, and stubbornness. Pride is unduly high opinions of one's own qualities or merits. Arrogance is overbearance through an exaggerated feeling of one's superiority. Contention is an assertion made in arguing. Boasting is speaking of oneself in such a manner to impress people. Haughty is proud of oneself and looking down on others. Witchcraft is misuse of spiritual power to control others. Control is the power of restraint. Manipulation is to influence craftily in order to cause others to suit one's purpose. Domination is to have a commanding or controlling influence over. Rebellion is refusing allegiance to an established government, open resistance to righteousness authority.

Stubbornness is not easy to deal with. Stubbornness leads to rebellion, rebellion leads to pride and pride leads to destruction. But submission is the path to humility and humility is that path to promotion. A continuous walk in humility will cause a double portion of God's anointing to flow in an individual's life. Each person makes his own choice as to whether he is led and direct by the Spirit that is from above or the spirit that is from hell. Fear is a companion of pride. One who is prideful is also fearful. But one who leans totally upon the Lord is fearless. God’s word is unchanging:

'Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.' Deuteronomy 1:21

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Chapter 5
Test Yourselves

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:5-8

rep·ro·bate n. 1. A morally unprincipled person. 2. Theology. One who is predestined to damnation. --rep·ro·bate adj. 1. Morally unprincipled; shameless. 2. Theology. Rejected by God and without hope of salvation.

Securists would have us believe that God wrote our names in the Book of Life at the beginning of time and therefore if our name is in it, we are eternally secure . However Revelation 3:5 tells us, "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life." Jesus is talking here of those that overcome not having their name erased from the Book of Life. The importance of being an overcomer is ignored by securists and by those who believe in “one saved, always saved.” Yet God’s word is unchanging:

"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

In the 20th Century there arose a gimmick of "get saved" religion where by repeating or giving ascent to a few scriptures meant the person was saved, and not only saved but ‘once saved always saved.’ Even though the Word of God teaches that obedience of the voice of God until the end brings great blessings and disobedience to God’s word brings curses, many have refused to accept this truth. But the fact remains that stubborn, disobedient believers will not be saved, but condemned by Christ Jesus in the judgment. God’s word is unchanging:

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:1-6

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:15-18

The false ones who espouse the doctrine of demons of once saved always saved conveniently reject the words of Jesus who told all:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:5-9

They conveniently forget that king Saul the anointed one who prophesied with the prophets and had a supernatural miraculous change of heart and was filled with the Spirit of God was rejected by God and the Spirit was removed from him because he rejected the Word of God that was given to him. He committed the sin of omission which many evangelicals have done and still do. He omitted the parts of the Word of God that were not to his liking even though God’s word states:

Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' " 1 Samuel 15:1-3

The end is here…again. At every calendar milestone, self-proclaimed modern-day "prophets" arise to stir up a furor rivaled only by the impending apocalypse they predict. This doom-and-gloom prognostication is not only spread by a few fanatics, but millions of Christians, including some of the most recognized names in mainstream Christianity, are caught up in the latest "last days" frenzy. Seduced by the popular craze, they are driven not to action, but to radical inactivity, ineffectiveness, and lethargy while waiting for the easy-out "end."[i] But the other side of the coin is that there are Christian leaders who are busy spinning their wheels preaching the gospel and going no where because they are doing it all in their own strength and wisdom and are not being led by the Holy Spirit just like king Saul. Saul, the first king of Israel, was not seeking to serve God; he was only concerned about lost donkeys. So when he received the spirit of God and was anointed as king, he was not inwardly prepared. Because of this, he soon lost both.

King Saul was not a bad king. Rather he was an excellent king who had the favor of his people until he died even though the Lord was upset with him and had turned his face from him. Saul was no different than most prominent religious leaders of our day who pick and choose what parts of the bible they will obey. Saul attacked the Amalekites and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword but Saul and the people spared king Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. All this caused the word of the LORD to come to Samuel:

"I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. 1 Samuel 15:11

Sins of omission like King Saul are very common amongst Christian leaders in America today. Many Christian leaders are no different from King Saul as they don’t do specifically what Jesus instructed them to do? Jesus was very clear in His commands:

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:14-20

In the Christian world there are many doctrines of demons including ‘once saved, always saved,’ ‘universal salvation,’ miracles, tongues and the gifts of the Spirit have ceased, and the local church is God’s representative on earth. It’s all hogwash because none of it matches the words of Jesus who said that "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:5-8) .

Those who are overcome shall not inherit all things and to say anything else is to be a liar! And liars don’t go to heaven but to hell. It's only those who abide in Jesus word are His disciples indeed:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. John 8:31

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:4-8

The problem we have today is that too many of God’s people are listening to pastors, priests and preachers who know only slightly more than them. They listen to pastors, priests and preachers who have a form of godliness but deny its power. Pastors, priests and preachers who don’t do what Jesus has commanded them to do! It’s a fact that people need real miracles and healing and not just words that are dead the moment they are spoken because they don’t have life in them. Life comes from God and His Spirit and not from them. Life gives life and not just empty promises of a pie in the sky! God’s word is unchanging:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know- Acts 2:22

"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8

Phillip was not an apostle but an ordinary layman filled with faith and the Spirit of God chosen to serve upon the widows. And if Philip and Barnabas could have a miracle ministry than any pastors, priest and preacher can if he is a true man of God. For the same Spirit that was on Jesus is available to be on all His servants. God’s word is unchanging:

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

The Lord has come not only to forgive all our iniquities, heal all our diseases, redeem our life from destruction, crown us with loving-kindness and tender mercies, satisfy our mouth with good things, execute righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed but to heal the broken hearted, to set the prisoners free, to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness that they might be called the tree of righteousness.

Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich. Hence we are called to:

Preach the gospel (good news) to the poor = Break the power of poverty
Heal the broken hearted = those whose souls are hurt, disappointed and hopeless
Proclaim liberty to captives = deliverance from demonic spirits
Recovery of sight to the blind = recovering vision, clarity and purpose - Break Confusion
Set at liberty those who are oppressed (bruised) = Message of Freedom from all bondage
Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord = to bring and release favor of the Lord.
Proclaim the day of vengeance of our God= Message of judgment to unrepentant ones

On the cross of Calvary when Jesus said, "It is finished!" He had achieved everything that we need for our redemption and salvation - be it spiritual, physical, and financial. He has removed from us all the curses the Adam and Eve had brought upon us by their transgression as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:15-66. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14) By our works we cannot add or remove on thing that Jesus had done for us, except to enter into the rest God’s has prepared for us since the foundation of the world by mixing with faith the good news of the gospel (Hebrews 4:1-12).

The stone at Jesus’ grave site was miraculously rolled away for us as we now serve a resurrected glorious Christ whose power and glory and riches and victory has been restored to Him. It’s just like God to take the useless and worthless things of our lives and to replace it with something priceless. Yes, we get wonderful things from God such as healing, health, wealth and prosperity in return for all the negative things we give up including sickness, diseases, poverty and penury.

Yes, the same anointing that was upon David, Jesus and all the Apostles is to be on all of God’s servants today! Yes, they can have the same Spirit of the LORD resting upon them, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. As a result their delight will be in the fear of the LORD, and they shall not judge by the sight of their eyes, nor decide by the hearing of their ears; But by the Spirit of the LORD with righteousness they shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; they shall strike the earth with the rod of their mouths, And with the breath of their lips they shall slay the wicked. God’s word is unchanging:

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:4-8

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Chapter 6
Are You A Believer?

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Signs and wonders follow those who believe, not unbelievers. Those who believe in Jesus name God gives the right to become children of God and enjoy all the resulting benefits of believing. And it was on Calvary where Jesus Christ made His name. Calvary is the greatest act of love that ever was. God so loved the world that He gave Jesus, who for the joy set before Him of seeing us born again, endured the shame and suffering of the cross. Jesus held nothing back – He gave it all. We were bought with a great price, redeemed by the precious sinless blood of the Lamb. We need not be beggars but believers. John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

Calvary's love brings true life for soul, mind and body for those who believe! God is able to do for each one of us what no other power can do. He loves us more than we know. By faith in His divine promises, we can expect great and wonderful miracles for our God is a miracle worker. God’s word is unchanging:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Galatians 3:11

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:36-39

Yes, we are born again by faith. We live by faith. We fulfill the will of God in our lives by faith. When we’re sick, we receive healing by faith. When we are broke, we get financial increase by faith. When we have trouble, we get help from God by faith. We receive anything and everything that we need from God…by faith - not by works or perspiration but by faith! Faith is simply believing what God says in His Word is true. Faith is trusting what God says more than we trust our natural senses or what other people say. Faith is believing God enough to talk and act as if His Word is true even when circumstances around us would seem to indicate that it’s not.

By faith we resist the devil, who is out to steal our health, our wealth and our blessings by any means. We don’t give to him what Jesus gave to us including divine health and divine prosperity. When devil pressures us with symptoms, circumstances and discouraging lies, we continue to believe God and His word. We keep our eyes upon God and confess His word no matter what. When symptoms of sickness come, we resist those symptoms and speak faith. We tell the devil to go away and we are not accepting the sickness that he wants to put on us because Jesus healed us two thousand years ago. He paid the price for us to be well and the devil can take his symptoms and go to hell where he belongs. We hold fast to the Word of God and absolutely, positively, refusing to give up until we see God’s promises manifested in our lives. We don’t cast away our confidence, which hath great reward. We have patience, that, after we have done the will of God, we will receive the promise for the just shall live by faith and he doesn’t draw back to perdition but believe to see our salvation.

We receive what God has promised us—whether that is healing or any other scriptural blessing—because we believe it not just with our head but with our heart. When we hear lies to the contrary, we don’t buy them. We are fully persuaded of what God says that we act as if it’s true even when natural circumstances look like it’s not. We don’t quit when the going gets tough. But we stand until we see our desired results of what God has promised us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Hence we tell the devil we are healed and delivered and blessed and prospered and our end is better than our beginning. We confidently put the devil under our feet where he belongs and step boldly into a future full of the promises and provisions of God! God’s word is unchanging:

"For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. "I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. "I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 36:9-11

Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. "At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: Daniel 9:20-23

This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. John 11:4

In the village of Bethany, there was a family so loved by the Lord Jesus, comprising of two sisters named Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus. One day, Lazarus fell seriously ill and the sisters who believed in the miracle-working power of Jesus sent word to Him about his sickness. They believed firmly that if Jesus was there, their brother Lazarus would surely recover. But the Holy Scripture says that Jesus deliberately delayed in going to Bethany to visit Lazarus. "So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was" (John 11:6). Meanwhile Lazarus died and was buried.

When tragedies strike us we lament saying, "Why did the Lord permit this suffering into my life?" Even today, many who live close to the Lord Jesus undergo travails. Even Lazarus, the beloved of Jesus, took seriously ill and died. Jesus deliberately delayed two days in going to Bethany, knowing fully well that Lazarus was at the verge of death.

When those of us who are engaged in His ministry, pray for others' needs, there are instant miracles happening in their lives. When those who have experienced the wonder-working power of Jesus in their lives come and testify, we are wonder-struck. But in our own lives, when we tread the thorny paths, Jesus remains seemingly passive. That is what happened in the family of Martha and Mary. Jesus told His disciples, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).

The disciples of Lord Jesus must have been greatly confused. He had said that Lazarus would not die, but he had already died! The faith that they had in Jesus must have shook. Not only Lazarus, but the disciples also must have had an eclipse of their faith and been walking in the shadow of death. Jesus said to Martha, "Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:22), reminding her that all power had been given in His hands. It was true that she was in the valley of the shadow of death! But she was not to forget that the Lord was still with her so that she could see His miracles right then.

Dear friend, there may be a similar situation in your life too. Men may say that you are finished. You may be undergoing sickness and doctors may have given up hope on you. Grieve not! Jesus said, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). Your body will surely revive again. Lifeless body parts will surely function again normally. Your life will blossom again. You will have success in all your endeavors and your home will prosper. Let not your heart be troubled!

Approaching the grave of Lazarus, Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha instantly said to Jesus, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus then confirmed her faith said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:39, 40). He then cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" (John 11:43). The dead man then came out alive. Just imagine how that situation must have been! When Jesus said, "Lazarus, come forth!” those who stood around the grave would have laughed with a scorn, "How can the dead man come alive?" Those who stood around Jesus were filled with hatred, mistrust and were less faithful. Yet His love, compassion and life-giving power brought Lazarus back to life. Today, He will do the same for you, because He loves you.

Dear friend, do not say that there is no one to help you or love you. Has everyone let you down? Are you surrounded by your enemies? Fear not! Even today, He will perform miracles for you. The battle belongs to the Lord! He will fight for you. He will revive your body again and restore all that you have lost. If it is true that He raised Lazarus from death, He can help you as well. Turn your eyes towards Jesus. He will lift you up from the valley of the shadow of death. Let not your heart be troubled! Dr. Paul Dhinakaran http://www.prayertoweronline.org/message/message.asp

They have an expression in the secular world that “nothing is over till that fat lady sings!” Well Jesus Christ has the last say on any matter and it’s not over till He says it’s over. His word is unchanging:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:1-6

We need to pray and say:

Gracious Heavenly Father, “When I am surrounded by problems, trials and tribulations, I fall back from my faith and am filled with doubt and mistrust. Lord, lift me up and let Your light shine in my life. Work great and mighty wonders in my life. I make this prayer through Jesus Christ, my Lord.”

Go To The King

By Rod Parsley

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. —Revelation 19:16

Have you ever heard the nursery rhyme about Humpty Dumpty? "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again."

I always want to stop in the middle of that rhyme and shout, "Wait! Why are you wasting time with the king's horses and the king's men? Why don't you just go to the King?" Many Christians waste time today taking their problems to everybody except the One who has the power to fix them.

Is something broken in your life? Have all your friends and therapists, doctors and counselors, failed at putting you back together again. Don't give up. Don't end up like poor Humpty Dumpty. Bypass the middlemen and head straight for the King! Don't go to your co-workers about your boss—go to Jesus. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords! Why don't you just have a little talk with Jesus today? Turn every situation over to Him, and allow Him to begin to move in your life and put things together again.

Holy Spirit, You are my counselor and guide, my teacher and comforter. Guide me in all truth. Discern and heal my brokenness in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Chapter 7
Surely He Shall Deliver You

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

For those who make their eternal God their refuge and dwelling place and set their love upon Him, God has promised great and wonderful things. He has promised to deliver them from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He has promised to cover them with His feathers and give them refuge under His wings from the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that walks in darkness, or the destruction that lays waste at noonday. He has promised that no evil shall befall them nor shall any plague come near their dwelling. He has promised that they shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent they shall trample underfoot. He has promised to deliver him; set them on high, because they have known His name. He has promised to answer them when they call upon Him; to be with them in trouble; to deliver him and honor them; to satisfy them with long life and to show them His salvation.

Hence we need to pray to the Lord and ask Him to help us not to languish and brood over our afflictions but to trust and hope in His immense power and authority; to give us the grace to always acknowledge the fact that there is no problem that He cannot solve for us; to enable us to place our hope and trust always in Him particularly in adverse situations. We need to ask for His love to always surround us and breakthrough all barriers so that we might taste and see His goodness. His word is true:

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:8-10

The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalm 37:18-19

Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:17-20

We reap what we sow! Our negative attitudes, words and judgments about others bring upon us trouble and sorrow and judgments. As a result we suffer and need to cry to the LORD in our trouble and affliction for we need God's great mercy and grace to be healed and delivered out of them all. When we have enough of trouble and sorrow we will go to the Lord who is the God of all comfort and find His comfort. His word is unchanging:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. 2 Corinthians 1:2-11

Yes, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so so our consolation also abounds through Christ. God doesn’t waste anything in our lives but He works all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Through our trials and testing, we learn not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, and is the one and only Deliverer. We learn not to judge others harshly lest we ourselves be judged harshly. God’s word is true:

"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:30-38

God judges those who judges others and condemns those who condemn others. He is merciful to those who are merciful. The measure they measure to others He measures to them. He gives grace to the humble but He resists the proud. His word is unchanging:

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? James 4:6-12

Judge not, that you be not judged. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5

Because of improper judgments many of God’s people don’t live in divine health or divine prosperity, even though salvation through Jesus enables us to return to the original position Adam enjoyed with God. In that original state, Adam was healthy. No sickness or disease existed in his body, because no sickness or disease existed on earth. Adam enjoyed divine health, a sound mind and every need met before he sinned in the Garden. All he had to do was obey God's command and stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the midst of the Garden. But when the serpent said, "Go ahead and eat from it," Adam disobeyed God and chose a new master (Gen. 3:4-6). At that moment, he lost all the blessings that had been his to enjoy. From that point on, Adam and all his descendants were plagued with hate, murder, poverty and sickness.

But God didn’t leave man to his curses of sin, suffering, poverty, lack and death. He prepared a day of atonement. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29.) He was the last Adam, who redeemed - or purchased back - for us everything the first Adam lost. Through Jesus, we can come into the family of God and have all our original possessions restored! God sent His Word, Jesus, to heal us (Ps. 107:20). He "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17). His word tells us says, "By whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). God’s word is unchanging:

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Chapter 8
Let No One Deceive You

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:15-23

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." Ephesians 5:6-14

If deception of Christians by empty words of deceivers were not possible then Apostle Paul would not warn Christians about it or that because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience and also tells us do not be partakers with them.

And scriptures doesn’t tell us that exposing the unfruitful works of darkness which are done by the sons of disobedience is wrong bur rather children of light are to become aware of them, expose them and to have no fellowship with the perpetrators of evil, lies, deception and wickedness many of whom are goats not sheep! And God’s word is true:

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46

Jesus taught that the goats who did not give him food when He was hungry, give him drink when He was thirsty, take Him in when He was a stranger, clothe Him when He was naked, visit Him when He was sick and in prison would go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Yes, all those who did not minister to the least of one of these are unrighteous. And since Jesus wrote the rules and enforces them, they are in deep trouble.

Yes, Jesus taught that all His words were not to be ignored or there would be serious consequences. He also told us to beware of men who would come as wolves in sheep’s clothing and would teach the doctrine of men as commandments of God (Matthew 16:9). He also taught:

· 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.' "

· 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

· 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "

Yes, these are the keys to proper ministry and Christian living for God’s word is unchanging:

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.' "

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. "For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:6-12

The enemy and men are great liars and deceivers and love to appeal to the lusts of men including mouthing words that sound nice and appear to true but have no basis in fact. In order to ensnare those who are gullible, even the righteous, the eloquent words that men speak about something must appear to be true and must have an element of truth in them. It’s a well known fact that if something appears too good to be true, then it’s not true. Even though many pastors and preachers have promised a hundred fold returns for money sowed into their ministries, very few, if any, of the sheep can testify that they have had a consistent hundred return fold from their giving into a particular ministry. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

"I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' "How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, "who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal. "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

"Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor. "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD. "So when these people or the prophet or the priest ask you, saying, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' you shall then say to them, 'What oracle?' I will even forsake you," says the LORD. "And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' I will even punish that man and his house. Jeremiah 23:25-34

Even though quite a few pastors and preachers prophecy false dreams and vision and cause God’s people to err by their lies and by their recklessness, God did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit the people at all. And God will in due season punish those are false and those who listen to their lies.

We are to check everything that we hear about God and His word with His written word, the bible, and with the Holy Spirit. If it is really His word then there must be a confirmation with two witnesses and with miracles, signs and wonders - otherwise it not from God but from man or the devil.

It’s to be noted that Jesus never taught that worship:

· Enhances the sense of unity

· Ministers to one another

· Teaches and reinforces spiritual truth

It is a fact that many songs sung in the Christian church are doctrinally unsound such as “I am a poor wayfaring stranger.’ True Christians are anything but poor. By faith all the riches and resources of heaven are available to them here in the current time of life. And Jesus promised everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for His name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29).

Yes, some of the so called Christians songs are very depressing and have a form of godliness but deny its power. Just because you sing lustily in the flesh for an hour in the church doesn’t mean the power of God will come down, no more than masses of people singing in a local bar! For the anointing to come down in any place, someone must be in tune with God and open to the anointing. Then God can express Himself the manifestation of the gifts of the Sprit.

I have personally seen the anointing of God come down in a church through an anointed singer and the senior pastor did not know what to do with it! When the anointing was manifested, Jesus healed the sick, cast out devils, gave liberty to the captives, delivered the prisoners, comforted the mourners, healed the brokenhearted, and gave justice to the oppressed. He didn’t use the time of collect the offering or talk about the churches building program but He ministered to the poor and needy? Of course when you measure yourself by yourself, you are doing things right? But when God and others measure you by His or their standard, you have probably missed the mark? God’s word is unchanging:

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 1 Corinthians 14:26-29

Chapter 9
Freely Give Us All Things

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:28-32

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13

According to Jesus Christ, if we lack things in our life it’s our fault because we don’t ask. Our Father God has everything that we need and more than enough of it. And He delights to give good things to those who ask Him especially the Holy Spirit and “The Kingdom.” Of course our enemy, the devil, will try to do everything to stop us from asking, including showing how unworthy we are of anything. And then he will even try to steal from us what God has given to us. And many people, even God’s people, just freely let him steal their health, their riches, their good name and other gifts that God has given them. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

The kingdom of God is not only righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit but is also divine health, divine favor, divine blessings, divine prosperity, divine health and divine victory! And it’s all wrapped up in Jesus Christ who became poor so that we might be rich. It’s a fact that we are immensely rich because we have Jesus Christ and He is priceless. He is our all our, our brother, our friend, our Lord, our reward and our all. He is the best thing that we ever have or will have! And there is no one like Him or greater than He is. God’s word is unchanging:

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

But the other side of the coin about lack is that we cannot treat what God has given us freely unwisely and be unfaithful with the different gifts. One day we will give an account to God for all the gifts and giftings that He has given us. So we need to ask the Father for wisdom and discernment to handle the wealth and gifts that He give us and to use them all wisely. God’s word is unchanging:

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Genesis 41:38-44

And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. Exodus 23:8

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:8-11

We must be filled with the Spirit of the LORD and be discerning and wise just like Joseph was if we want God to promote us and to use us greatly. We must discern good and evil and not be perverted and corrupted by others including the enemy. We must have an understanding heart to judge God’s people and to understand to discern justice and the unsavory. Yes, we must cry out for discernment, and lift up our voice for understanding. God’s word is unchanging:

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Proverbs 15:21

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. Proverbs 19:25

"And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23

Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:18

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:29

Yes, we must discern between the unclean and the clean, between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Otherwise we will find ourselves in the judgments of God for supporting the unclean and wicked ones. We must discern the times we live in as well as God’s seasons and timings in life. And we must not be undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful or we will find ourselves in places we never expected to be. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

Chapter 10
Head Not Tail

Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near now and kiss me, my son." And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: "Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the LORD has blessed. Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!" Genesis 27:29

"And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them." Deuteronomy 28:13

When Isaac, the son of Abraham, the father of faith, blessed Jacob, he expressed the will of God for His chosen ones of prosperity, protection and prominence. If God didn’t want His people to have the best in everything, He would not have given them the best His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Everything else that God gives His people is only gravy on the table of abundance. If poverty was God’s will for His people He would not delivered and blessed and made head, not tail Naomi and Ruth and He would not have healed Job and restored to him double all his losses! But God’s word is unchanging:

So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. “The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:10-12

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” Ruth 3:18

The story of Ruth in the bible is not just the story of two desolate and poverty stricken widows who God Himself gave full rest, refuge, redemption, reward and renown, but a testimony of what God wants to do for each one of His children. God wants to make each one of His children rich and to bless them mightily in all things. For His word is unchanging:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

God loves His own very deeply. He is not concerned for the future because He knows the future. It is bright and beautiful for those who are His. He is not going to allow anything to come between them and their promised future. He is not fickle or unreliable. He doesn’t change. What He has promised is written in Gold. They are pure like the Ten Commandments He has given to men on tablets of stone. They are unchangeable. The road of life might be rocky and full of pitfalls but God Himself is on the road with them. His word is unchanging:

“Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. “Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. “But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

“For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. “You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars.

“So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. “No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.

“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. “And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. Exodus 23:20-28

God has made a covenant with His people to be their God and a God to them. He has made a covenant to be their provider, defender, helper and everything they need. He has promised to abundantly bless and prosper them if they will listen to and obey His voice and walk in His ways. For His word is true:

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15

The Helper, the other One, whom Jesus sent in His name will guide them into all truth. He will speak to them what He hears from the Father. He will tell them of things to come. He will glorify Jesus by taking of what belongs to Jesus and sharing it with and giving it God’s true ones. For all that belongs to Father now belong to Jesus and hence they belong to God’s true children.

All of heaven riches and resources are theirs because God, Himself, is their shield, rock, refuge, strength, friend and their exceeding great reward. They are to be of good cheer. For in the world they have tribulation but their brother and friend Jesus Christ has overcome the world. For God’s word is true:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus Christ overcame the worst that the world, the flesh and the devil had thrown at Him. He is literally the Victor and the “more than a conqueror.” As a result all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth including the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty. For all that is in heaven and in earth is the Lord’s including the kingdom of God and He is exalted as head over all. As God’s word is true:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” Daniel 4:34-35

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6

Jesus Christ is the ruler over the kings of the earth and He has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.

To Jesus Christ belong the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; as all that is in heaven and in earth is His. Both riches and honor come from Him and in His hand is power and might; to heal, deliver, make great and to give strength to all. Hence He desires and wills and works to make His trusting ones also the victory and more than the conquerors in all things.

As a result, God’s true ones are not to be concerned about the obstacles in their path. They are to take each one as it comes and do what they do best—stand! They are to take authority over it and persevere until it is out of their path by the Spirit of the Living God. For God’s word is true:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- Ephesians 6:10-18

The answers of life are not in men’s wisdom or the world’s system. It is not in the abundance of what one possesses. It is in Jesus Christ, His truth and His wisdom and person in one’s spirit. This closer walk with God and His person brings a person into a position of unity with Heaven that is yet untapped and totally miss-understood.

God doesn’t want His teachers and preachers to point to themselves but to God. He wants His sheep to turn to Him and He will give them their marching orders. Then, they will find victory in battle and they will do the right kind of service to Him. They all have a part in His great plan and purposes. Yet, God is left with a weak and hurt people. This will not be forever. He is coming through to strength His people and unite them in a way unprecedented in the history of the church. He has ordained it from the beginning. The church, His body, will learn to learn and hear His voice and follow their true shepherd. This day is coming and all will see it.

But His true ones are not to be shy. They are to ask God what they will and He will do it because He loves them so much. He has promised to do whatsoever they ask in Jesus name. They can come to His throne boldly and He will hear their prayers and He will deal with their concerns. For they have His promises, His person and Him. Hence they can walk in the assurance of God’s Presence in their life. For as God walked with Noah, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Elijah, and Jesus so now He walks with them. God in Christ Jesus has given to us His P’s. The P’s of His presence, promises, person, power, protection, provision, prosperity, providence and promotion:

His Presence - God is always with His own. He has commanded them to be strong and of good courage and not to be afraid, nor be dismayed. For the LORD their God is with them wherever they go and His presence goes with them to give them rest and victory.

His Promises – Every promise and every line in the bible is theirs including that no weapon which is formed against them shall prosper and those who rise against them shall become a nonexistent thing.

His Person - God is a Good God who is for them, with them and not against them. He is on their side no matter what they are facing. There is no searching of His understanding. His ears are open to their prayers and His eyes are upon the righteous to bless them.

His Power – When God’s true ones have His presence, promises and power they can trust Him to use His power for their good in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Just like God did for Jesus on Calvary when He raised Him from the dead, gave Him victory over all His enemies and seated Him at His right hand.

His Protection - God is the shield and exceeding great reward of His true ones, as well as He is their rock, refuge, strength, tower security and inheritance. He will bless and promote His own and He will deliver and honor them.

His Provision - God has promised to meet and supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and He unlike others is able to keep His word.

His Prosperity – God is not poor or stupid and neither should His children be. He is their security and inheritance and provision in the deserts of life. He is their hiding place! He will move out every mountain and deal with every enemy and dispel every lack in their life. Their prosperity will come upon them as the dawning of a bright and new day. They will not be able to contain their joy and ecstasy at the provision and security He is providing. He will multiply back to them a hundred fold all they have done for Him.

His Providence - The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and though he fall God will not allow him to stay down but will lift him up.

His Promotion – God has promised that for those who set their love upon Him He will deliver them and set them on high because they have known His name. He has promised to make them head and not tail and above and not beneath. They shall call upon Him and He will answer them. He will be with them in trouble and deliver and honor them. With long life He will satisfy His true ones and show them His salvation.

As a result, the psalmist stated it very well about those who put their trust in God alone and not others for their deliverance:

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever- Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! Psalm 146:5-10

For after all is said and done God has not changed. He still is a miracle working God who gives the best to those who ask Him for the best. He gives His all to those who give Him their all and believe Him for His all. His word does not change to His true ones:

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:2-9

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Chapter 11
Honored or Lightly Esteemed

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 'Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?' "Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:27-30

Anybody can walk in the flesh, not the Spirit, and by sight, not by faith! People do it all the time and it doesn’t honor God! As a result God doesn’t honor them because they despise Him! Dr. Larry Ollison in his article Revelation Knowledge vs. Sense Knowledge writes

Mankind was designed to live in a world where nothing is impossible. But without God’s ability flowing in our lives, we have learned to see anything above man’s ability as impossible. If mankind cannot come up with a solution or a cure in his own intelligence, we say, “It’s impossible!”

Luke 18:27 says, “The things impossible with men are possible with God!”

God wants us to walk with Him, in the spirit realm, in the realm of faith. This is the realm where omnipotent power speaks words into being and substance. It is the realm of God who calls the things that are not as though they were! Adam was an under-ruler for the One who had framed the worlds out of the things which are not, by faith in His own Word, as we see in Hebrews 11:3.

Adam was the father of all men, and his sin caused a state of separation from God for the entire human race. Everybody who is not “born-again” is under the curse of being separated from God. That’s why Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of God we must first be born again!

We have to learn once again to partake of God’s nature. We have to live as God originally designed for us to live. We must live by FAITH!

Hebrews 11:1 says “Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

As Christians we must learn to live by the revelation of God in His Word and by His Holy Spirit. That’s called walking by faith and not by sight. When we walk by faith, all things are possible.

In Mark 8:23, Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

So we have a choice to make. Do we live in this world with our sense knowledge and be restricted by what we see, or do we live in the realm of revelation knowledge by faith with God where all things are possible? The choice is ours.

Amongst us today there is the church of the Spirit those who worships God in Spirit and in truth and then there is the church of the flesh those who are taught by the flesh lies from the pits of hell including once saved always saved. Jesus told us that the wheat and the tares would grow together and He would separate them at the end. True Christians are led and taught by the Spirit. They hear and discern the voice of Jesus on a daily basis and serve him alone. They don't deny what God has not denied including apostles, prophets, miracles, healing and gifts of the Spirit. They see and experience the supernatural power of God in the now in the current time of life.

In the church of the Spirit the faith of the believers is not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. They preach not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. They have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that they might know the things that have been freely given to them by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. These spiritual ones judge all things yet they themselves are rightly judged by no one for they have the mind of Christ. Spiritual people eat the solid food of the Word of God - all of it. They by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. They understand that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. They boast not in men but in God for all things are theirs; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come-all are theirs. And they are Christ's, and Christ is God's

God’s word is unchanging:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:1-6

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

Yes, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and we are now sons of God accepted in the Beloved, Yes through faith and the laws of sowing and reaping God is able to make all grace abound toward us, that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. And though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Yes, the prayer of faith will save the sick and bring forth prosperity and exaltation for the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. God’s word is unchanging:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:5-11

Over my life time I have been to many churches and have heard many sermons and they have been all lies. You cannot give to others what is not real to you. Preaching presumptions and half-truths that are not real to you are lies which only deceive people as you are not being real and cannot impart reality to others. You must experience and receive miracles yourself before you can talk about them and give them to others. Most pastors live in the flesh and do things in the flesh such as being pedophiles or thieves or raping the women in their churches just like the sons of Eli! They are not overcomers but are overcome!

Jesus is Christ is the door to an open heaven so that we can boldly go to the throne of grace and receive from God whatever we need including the ministering of angels and the reality of the supernatural. We live in the Laodiceans age where Christians are deaf, blind and dumb and are being led by deaf, blind and dumb pastors who don't see or hear the supernatural and cannot talk about it. They must hear the words of Jesus who told them:

"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ' These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelations 3:14-20

Yes, Christians must heed and do the words of Jesus and open the door to Him so that He can come in to them and dine with them and them with Him. For only to him who overcomes He will grant to sit with him on His throne as He also overcame and sat down with His Father on His throne. Just because you are a pastor you cannot add or remove things from the word of God as many of them do. They ignore the word of God that clearly tells them:

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:1-18

Chapter 12
The Kingdom Of Heaven Suffers Violence

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:5-10

One of the great malaises in the church of Jesus Christ is prayerlessness. Jesus told us that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. He encouraged us to it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. He gave a promise “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. So if God’s people are not healthy, wealthy, rich and prosperous, it’s probably their own fault because all the riches and resources of heaven have been made available to them. All that belongs to Father belongs to Jesus and hence it now belongs to them. They can have His entire kingdom here on earth just for the asking. Whatever they have need of God has more than enough of it. Silver, gold, diamonds, power, victory, glory, honor, majesty, and wealth all are the Lord’s (Exodus 19:5, 1 Chronicle 29:11). All that is in heaven and in earth is the Lord’s; His is the kingdom, and His is exalted as head over all.

Many Christians talk and preach about the parable of the prodigal son but they haven’t got a clue what they are talking about. The prodigal son enjoyed his wealth and priveleges and when he blew it he returned back to his father who restored all things to him and even made him a party. Most Christians are like the foolish son who never went astray and didn’t enjoy what they Father had given to him. God’s word is unchanging:

"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. "So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' " Luke 15:25-32

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Luke 1:68-75

The name of Jesus Christ is far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And God has put all things under His feet including sickness, defeat, poverty and lack and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body. So if it is under Jesus feet and we are His body it is therefore under our feet! And if it’s under believers’ feet then why do we allow negative things to raise their ugly heads in our lives? Because we really don’t believe that is all under Jesus feet. We are like the prodigal son who ended up in a pig’s pen even if his father was filthy rich. But then he came to his senses and realized what his father had and returned to his father and his negative circumstances changed. How many of God people suffer needless in poverty, want or lack and with sickness or disease? Too many! How long before they will look at themselves and say as the prodigal son who when he "came to himself" said, "I will arise and go to my Father!" God is waiting with opened arms to receive every penitent child! God is waiting with opened arms to touch, heal, deliver, and bless His children. They can rely on Him to do what He has promised to do! We need to understand the reality of all the victories that Jesus won on the cross of Calvary. God’s word is unchanging:

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-31

Yes, the Word of God tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and we can be made whole through our faith in the finished work of Calvary where Jesus Christ wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Sin, sickness or any other curse doesn’t have to rule and reign in our lives because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree") that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14).

Jesus has provided for our healing, Spirit, Soul and Body in the atonement. All of the provision of the cross must impact the body of Christ. Jesus Paid the Price for our Healing - "By His Stripes" (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24) Hence we are anointed and sent to: Preach the Good News to the Needy, Bind up the Brokenhearted, Proclaim Freedom for the Captives, Release the Prisoners from Darkness, Proclaim the Year of the Lord’s Favor, To Comfort all Who Mourn, To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18)

God is alive and well and present today! Jesus is still healing people! The presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit is a precious gift that we can experience and see many lives are being changed as desperate people come and find God's grace and mercy flowing to them bringing healing and encouragement. The anointing increases as we are press in for more of God! Then we can see God save people, heal people, deliver people, baptize in the Holy Spirit, bring encouragement and strength through the gifts of the Spirit. Many can receive from the Lord healing for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs and live lives that are whole and successful.

God is love and freely gives everything we need, both for our material and for our spiritual existence. But because the blessings of God’s spirit are so freely given, we often take them for granted. If all people had open and receptive hearts, they could see and hear God’s voice at all times and in all places. But we have lost this awareness. Through prayer, we learn to appreciate spiritual gifts, gifts that are at least as important for life as air and water, heat and light. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. For when we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and King by the faith God gave us, the victory now resides in us and God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask, or thing. As God’s word is unchanging:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

It is a fact that according to the power that resides and works in us, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and give us one hundred percent victory, one hundred percent of the time, in one hundred percent of the situations. After all He is God, not man! It is also a fact that Jesus, now as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is no longer poor or weak anymore as He was when He walked the earth as man. He is now once again unlimited in power, riches, strength and might. But the best news is that God wants to use all of His power, riches, and resources on our behalf and meet our needs: If we only will believe Him and trust Him to do it for us; If we will only humble ourselves and on a bent knee give Him our all and ask for His all. Then we shall know the truth of God’s word which states:

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Chapter 13
In The Comfort Of The Holy Spirit

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3

To be a true Christian we must not only know the word of God, the bible, but also Jesus Christ, the Word, and to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit just like the New Testament church did. They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and were multiplied. Mind you they were not drunk 100 % of the time with the Spirit as some I know. They didn’t deny miracles, salvation, healing and deliverance but experienced them. However we have today amongst us "Bible deists" who are guilty of worshiping the Bible rather than God. They have no experience or very little with the Holy Spirit and are deceived that they know Jesus Christ, never mind the Father God.

For Bible deists, Christ cannot speak or be known apart from the Bible. So they merge Christ into the Bible and preach the Bible in the place of Christ. These people are also guilty of overemphasizing the importance of knowledge. When we make the goal of our lives to know the Bible, we exalt knowledge over experience—a tragic mistake. Yet, the truths of Scripture can only be fully known through experience. God never said that “Intelligence was the basis for entrance into the kingdom of God”? Rather Jesus told us:

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23-24

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:4-8

It’s important to abide in Christ to hear and obey His audible voice in our inner man or by dreams and visions. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had supernatural encounters with God that were outside of the bible but became part of the bible? Similarly not all experiences with God are recorded in the bible or can be discounted as invalid! The Bible is not "a book of abstract truths about God," but "a guide into the supernatural realm of God’s power" , "a guide to dynamic encounters with a God who works wonders." It was given to us that we might "hear God’s voice and respond to that voice with life-changing faith." We should have the experience of people in biblical times, who heard God speak "through an audible voice, dreams, visions, circumstances, fleeces, inner impressions, prophets, angels, and other ways as well as through scripture." The book of Acts represents normal Christianity, and it is filled with accounts of supernatural communication. Accordingly, the very same things should happen to us.

Bible deists believe that production of the Bible was the Spirit’s greatest work. They believe that the Holy Spirit exalts Christ by composing a book." They believe that the central message of the Bible is not the Holy Spirit and his gifts, but Jesus and his resurrection. Accordingly, the Bible defines the scope of God’s revelation to us, and provides the means for us to achieve knowledge of God. The Holy Spirit does not communicate to men independently of the Bible. All of this is bunk because the Spirit’s greatest work was not only the creation of heaven and earth but the resurrection of Jesus Christ without which there would be no need for a bible. Jesus Christ and His gifts including the Holy Spirit and His gifts inseparable because the bible tells us:

Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23

Christ divided His spoils of war at Calvary with the strong, His bride, the church, in whom He has appointed first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and varieties of tongues. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, has put all things under Christ feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. It’s the church experiencing the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, having the eyes of understanding enlightened, knowing what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which is preeminent and important not a dead knowledge of the bible. Just like faith without works is dead so is love without any experience with God. God’s word is unchanging:

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. Revelations 2:1-5

Bible deists believe that the New Testament itself supersedes the signs and wonders recorded in the New Testament, including the "sign gifts" of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit’s primary work is to create the Bible, the fundamental purpose of the dramatic events its records is to confirm the unique value of the Bible, not to provide a precedent for further activities of the Holy Spirit. Vine is therefore a "cessationist." The gifts were given to the church for a limited time, and for a very specific purpose—to help launch the Christian church and provide a written guide for future generations. When the written Word was completed, the sign gifts ceased. What bible deists believe is all lies that have no basis in the word of God. The word of God doesn’t say or teach that apostles, prophets and gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Rather it states we are not to be ignorant of Spiritual gifts and are to pursue them:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthains 12:1-11

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 corinthians 14:1-5

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:37-40

Bible deists remove things from the word of God which in itself is sin. The truth of the word of God is that there is revelation continues beyond the Bible just like Jesus promised:

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15

Bible deists deny that God has further things to say to his people. But God continues to reveal himself to human beings. The supernatural manifestations we read about in the Bible—prophecies, dreams, miracles, and so on, extend beyond biblical times on into the Christian era and right up to our own day. Accordingly, we should not be "Bible-bound." We should not limit our knowledge of God to what the Bible says. Just as people did in biblical times, we too can hear "the voice of God" and do the greater works that Jesus promised we would do. God’s word is unchanging:

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20

Chapter 14
Blessed Greatly

So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. "The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. "And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. "Now my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 'but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.' "And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' "But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house. Genesis 24:34-40

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

There is no great virtue in being poor, sick, needy, afflicted or defeated except if we draw near to God and seek Him to change all things for us as He has done for many others including Abraham! God is not sick, poor, afflicted and needy and neither should any of His children be. It’s the devil "who is the thief who has come to steal, and to kill, and to destroy just like he did in the life of Job. Jesus Christ has come that men may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly just like He reversed and restored all things for Job. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:10-13

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

It’s to be noted that no matter what Job went through he held on to his faith in God that God would deliver him and heal him! And he was not put to shame. It’s also to be noted that God’s power is greater than the devil and He has to power not only to heal and deliver but to restore. Yes it’s important what believe what God can or cannot do because we receive everything good or bad “according to our faith!” Jesus Christ Himself told us the importance of holding onto the word and promises of God about anything:

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Matthew 13:18-22

Yes there arethose who when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word give up the word unlike Job who stated

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! If you should say, 'How shall we persecute him?'- Since the root of the matter is found in me, Be afraid of the sword for yourselves; For wrath brings the punishment of the sword, That you may know there is a judgment." Job 19:25-26

Job didn’t give into fear but knew that his Redeemer lives and he wasn’t disappointed. The LORD redeemed and restored Job back to perfect health and great wealth and gave him double what he had lost! And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and He can do anything but fail His trusting ones! God’s word is unchanging:

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:29-34

Under an inferior old covenant or Old Testament Elisha had no problem using His anointing and faith in God to get miracles be it parting the river Jordan, healing the salted water or getting his adversaries destroyed. The bible records for our profit and instruction of the miracles Elijah and Elisha did:

Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. Then they said to him, "Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send anyone." But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send them!" Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren." And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' " So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. 2 Kings 2:8-25

Elijah and Elisha had no problems using their anointing and faith to have their needs met, including parting the river Jordan so that they can walk to the other side without getting wet? Elisha healed the water so shall be no more death or barrenness. Just like Jesus cursed a fig tree and commanded it to die, Elisha pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD on the forty two youths who mocked him for being bald. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled them.

The Word of God is full of examples of God’s people who used their faith to subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword, out of weakness be made strong, become valiant in battle, turn to flight the armies of the aliens. Jesus who used His faith to bring heaven on earth taught His disciples that "According to your faith let it be to you." (Mark 9:29). God’s word is unchanging:

"Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26:53

And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Mark 1:3

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Jesus didn’t have a problem with angels ministering to Him in His hour of need. The only reason He didn’t pray to the Father to provide Him with more than twelve legions of angels was because the will of the Father was to be fulfilled in this particular circumstance. Otherwise He would have asked for the angels who are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. Many of God’s people are not blessed and are defeated in different situations is because they have not availed of the angels that are available to help them in their hour of need like Abraham did when he needed a wife for Isaac.

God sent His angel with Abraham’s servant to prosper his ways to find a wife for Isaac and angels are available today to help each child of God including defeating their enemies. The bible records of what angels can do:

And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. 2 Kings 19:35

An angel of the Lord saved King Hezekiah who had cried to the Lord about his enemies and said:

… "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. "Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, "and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands-wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. "Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone." 2 Chronicles 19:15-19

Now God, who is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one, will do for His trusting ones even this day whatever is required to save, heal, deliver, bless and prosper them if they will use their faith, call upon the Lord and put no restrictions upon Him. He will do for them what He did for Peter who was thrown into prison by King Herod:

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." Acts 5:17-20

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.

Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 0 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." Acts 12:5-11

Twice Peter was put into prison by King Herod and twice the angel of the Lord delivered him miraculously out of prison. God who is the God of the supernatural has no problems using His angels to bring miracles and victories to His trusting ones. He will do whatever is required to help and heal them because they are His servants. It’s was ironic but God who used an angel to deliver Peter from Herod also used an angel to kill Herod. God’s word is unchanging:

Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:23

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:11-12

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 3:22

Chapter 15
And Not Being Weak In Faith

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 4:16-25

God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did, expects His children to do the same just like Abraham did! Abraham, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." Abraham was not weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. And h did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And Abraham received his promised son and became a father of many nations! God’s word is unchanging:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:1-6

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:14-16

The American Heritage dictionary defines the word ‘whoever’ as:

who·ev·er pron. 1. Whatever person or persons.

When the children of Israel came out of Egypt they lost faith in God and grumbled about all they had to endure in the wilderness and it displeased the LORD for they spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread" The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Then the people were sorry for their grumbling, and they asked Moses to pray to God for relief from the snakes. Moses prayed and was directed in a vision to make a snake of bronze and set it high on a pole. Anyone who was bitten had only to look upon the bronze snake, and the poison of the snakebite was made harmless. The bible records:

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Numbers 21:8-9

Now, there were some who still grumbled and murmured, “If Moses would provide an antidote or some medicine against the poison, that we could believe, but what effect can a bronze snake have on real snakebites?” So in their unbelief, they refused to turn to the bronze snake, and they died. In the same way, God in Christ provides release from the deliverance from all kinds of things including sin, sickness, poverty and defeat for whoever turns to him in faith. Those who refuse to believe because they cannot understand the work of the Master with their minds will perish. They will perish from the poison of their own unbelief. The brazen serpent is type of Jesus Christ crucified. Just like the brazen serpent was to be lifted up so was Christ to be lifted up. What was to be done by the people who were bitten—they were to look at the serpent? And so sinners and sick and poor people must look up and believe in Christ to receive their salvation, healing, deliverance and whatever they need. God’s word is unchanging:

This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Psalm 34:6-7

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.' Exodus 3:14-15

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. Isaiah 9:6-7

The Holy Spirit inspired Apostle Paul to tell us about the great mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory (1Timothy 3:16). Yes, Jesus Christ was given to us to be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He literally is our shield and great reward and everything that we need! To benefit from all that He is we must appreciate who He is and what He does ESPECIALLY FOR US!

Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer

The enemy, the devil caused Adam and Eve to sin and rebel against God and lose all the blessings of the Garden of Eden and suffer the curses of sin. Through Christ God has made forgiveness and redemption a reality for His people when Jesus took on the cross our sins upon Himself, dying in our stead and suffered in our places so that by His stripes we might be healed (1 Peter 2:24). He became poor so that we might be rich. The Lord who redeemed the children of Israel with an outstretched arm and with great judgments out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and rescued them from their bondage, continues to do the same for all who put their trust in Him ( Job 42:10-17, Psalm 34:4-10, 91:1-16, 121:1-8, 146:1-10, Acts 7:9-10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-10, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 5:5-10)

Jesus is our Healer And Deliverer

Everyone who knows anything about the ministry of Jesus knows that He healed and delivered many, many people. He even gave financial miracles. He healed out of His compassion and love. The Bible says that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Thus Jesus is still a God of compassion and love demonstrating the nature and character of God. He still saves, heals, delivers and prospers today! "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil, in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:14-16).

Jesus is the Lord, the Judge of All the Earth, and returning King

Jesus Christ appeared to Abraham as the Lord and the Judge of All the earth who said He would bless Abraham and He would judge Sodom and Gomorrah. And so He made Abraham great and made Sodom and Gomorrah to be a nonexistent thing. He continues to do bless some and curse others even current time of life (Matthew 7:1-2, 23;29-38,Galatians 6:7-8, Jude 1:5, Revelation 2:20-23)

The first time Jesus came, He was born in relative obscurity. The next time He comes He will come with power. Actually, there are more prophecies in the Bible about the second coming of Jesus than about the first! "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Jesus is our Baptizer in the Holy Spirit

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to ask the Father to send the Comforter. "Comforter" is another name for the Holy Spirit. Shortly after the Ascension, while the disciples were still in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon them. This fulfilled the words of Jesus, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit came upon numerous followers of Jesus resulting in the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 12, 14). The power and anointing of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a reward. It is for the purpose of promoting Jesus and bringing salvation, healing and deliverance to God’s people.

Jesus is in the Now

Through the Holy Spirit Jesus is in the now in the lives and hearts of His people moving and doing miracles on their behalf. The Holy Spirit is the Other Helper that Jesus promised to His sheep (John 14:23-26) He teaches, guides, instructs, helps, anoints, and heals them (Luke 5:17, John 16:7-15, 2 Corinthians 13:14)! Whatever Jesus Christ has done for others He can and will do again because He is the same yesterday, today and forever! God's will is prosperity for all of His people. God invented and used the word ‘prosperity’ when dealing with His servants and ‘poverty’ when dealing with His enemies (Genesis 26:12-14, 30:40-43, Deuteronomy 28:29, 29:9, 30:5,Joshua 1:7-8, 1 Kings 2:1, 1 Chronicles 29:23,2 Chronicles 13:12, 14:7, 26:5, 2 Chronicles 31:21, Job 26:10-12, Psalm 25:12-14, 35:27, 68:6, Proverbs 28:25, Jeremiah 33:9, Malachi 4:2-3) According to Psalms 107:20, 103:3 and Isaiah 53:5 we are healed, whole and complete from the crown of our head to the soles of our feet in the name of Jesus! We declare that we have the mind of Christ and the only spirit we hear is the spirit of the living God who lives inside of us and speaks to us from within! Jesus' faith was living proof that God desires people's lives to overflow with every benefit of His great love, whether it be salvation, deliverance, healing, prosperity or restored relationships. This level of living is exactly what He intends for us. The kingdom of God has come and the will of God is being done in the our lives in the name of Jesus! According to Matthew 18:18, we can bind depression, hopelessness, hardship and every other satanic and demonic force that would seek to come against us and cast it out of our family and lives and we can loose healing and wholeness in our body and our finances and the fruit of the Holy Spirit to rest, rule and reign in our family in the name of Jesus!

Jesus Christ Is Lord of The Church

All things were made through Jesus Christ and without Him nothing was made that was made including His church of which He is the chief cornerstone. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). God has also given in the church some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Since the church of Jesus Christ has not ceased to exist all this ministries and positions are still alive and well in the church which is called and chosen to do God’s will not their own (1 Peter 4:1-2). And in accordance with His promises God still pour out His Spirit upon His church ( Psalm 72:6, Jeremiah 3:3, Ezekiel 34:26 Zechariah 10:1Acts 4:29-33) which has been commissioned to go and possess and conquer the land (Mark 16:15-20).

God promises salvation, healing and prosperity in His Word, but it is only for those who believe. It is only for those who have faith in His Word and those who believe that He did not lie and then act on that belief. Jesus died for the sins of the world, but only those who believe in Him will reap the benefits of His death and resurrection. God only responds to faith. Doubt and unbelief does not move Him. That’s why Satan continually tries to put doubt in the minds of men. Where there is doubt, there is no faith. And according to Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”

Chapter 16

Love In Deed And In Truth

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20

Believers who have succeeded in walking in love have endeared themselves to God. They have won His heart and cannot but make a mark on the earth. David was described as a man after God's heart. He loved God deeply, therefore God said concerning him:

I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:20-24

In David God located a man who was truly in love with Him and anointed him. Those who are truly the greatly anointed men of our time are men with a love connection with God and with others. Those who claim to love God, must be reflective also in their love for men, otherwise their claim of love is a lie. No one can claim to love God when he does not love his neighbor. Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and we know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. God's word is unchanging:

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:14-18

The sad part is that many deceived religious ones are waiting for others whom they hate to change and repent and God is waiting for them to change and repent.The forgot that their love for men is a pointer to the depth of their love for God. That is why they must guard their heart against hatred, jealousy, envy, bitterness and other vices; because every evil they habour against someone gets them in trouble. Unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, and the likes disconnects them from the flow of eternal life. God’s word is unchanging:

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31

Those who sin willfully after they have received the knowledge of truth will not receive grace but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which devours God’s adversaries. While those who think they have an option to live life as they choose with out paying the resulting consequences of judgment from God are greatly mistaken. For there are consequences even in the current time of life, such as a shorten life span, suffering, poor health, financial losses, and other negative things. Heaven is not short of anything including health, wealth and wisdom while men suffer these kinds of losses and lacks. Men do not understand the fear of the Lord even though God’s word states:

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. Psalm 34:11-16

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off their remembrance of them from the earth. Judgment delayed by God is not judgment denied. It is just God showing His mercies and His grace for people to repent and to change their ways. But inevitably through what is called the Act of God such as war, famine, pestilence, storms and other disasters judgment does come to people and when they least expect it. For the words of Jesus are true:

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

"Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'

"But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 'And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.' " Luke 13;1-9

Unless people repent sooner or later they shall perish. Sooner or later the keeper of the vineyard shall cut down the tree which is not bearing fruit and is just wasting space. God is patient, loving, kind and but even this has its limits. Every thing comes to and end and there is a new season or a new time. For God’s word is true:

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

God does send the devil sometimes so that we can learn to overcome evil but He also sends the devil so that He can whip us when we are not in the will of God. What we need to do is look behind the devil, who is only a vessel of dishonor, and see God who rules over all! In all circumstances God has promised us victory over the devil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. (Romans 16:20). If we are not having real victory over the devil it’s because we have given room to the devil. We cannot cast out unclean spirits from others if we ourselves have unclean spirits? God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:25-32

And Jesus came 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:18

Jesus has given us authority and power over the devil’s power and all negative circumstances. And if we are not observing all that Jesus has commanded us, including about not causing offenses to others, we will not be able to overcome the devil but he will overcome us for God’s word is unchanging:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Matthew 5:21-25

God will use the demons to make us pay for a sin of the will of not observing what He has commanded us to observe. The prison here is spiritual bondage to sin and the curse, administered by the demons. Jesus came “. . . to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (Isaiah .61:1). Willful disobedience throws us back into the prison that Jesus delivered us from. Jesus bore all sin; He also bore the penalty for all sin, except willful disobedience. Notice that there is “no more a sacrifice” for that sin. We should have “a certain fearful expectation of judgment.”

Many of us have been lied to about the cleansing of the blood. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John. 1:7) The blood cleanses the one who walks in the light of the Word, not in the darkness of willful disobedience. Willful disobedience will bring certain judgment. We will pay the penalty for this sin here and now. David sinned willfully with Bathsheba. When he repented, Nathan the prophet said, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin,” but he also said, “The sword shall never depart from thy house.” This proved true, for David lost three sons and many people. His own son Absalom won the sympathy of the people and usurped the kingdom. David had to flee for his life. We do not spank our children for failure or mistakes, but for willful disobedience. God’s word is unchanging:

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

"But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

"Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matthew 18:23-35

Everything we need has been made available to us through Jesus who is our all sufficient one (Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 2:7). We have power (authority) over the power (ability) of demonic forces (Luke 10:19). Although we cannot stand against the Enemy in our own power (Ephesians 6:10) but our authority is through Jesus. Hence we can command the devil to cease all His attacks against us through our authority that is in the name of Jesus. We can demand the Devil submit to the Word, to loose his hold and to stop his operations against us and our loved ones. The Enemy doesn’t want us to use our right of the New Covenant of Faith to demand, forbid and permit but God’s word is unchanging:

Yes we don’t have to tolerate sickness, diseases, poverty, lack, oppression or depression but we can take authority over it. We can do what God’s word commands us to do;

Chapter 17
Marriage Is Honorable Among All

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:22-28

Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

The institution of marriage was established and ordained by God (Genesis 2:24). Therefore "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27). He created "the woman for the man" (I Corinthians 11:9). Therefore, "marriage is honorable". "Children are a heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward." (Psalms 127:3). In order to provide for continuation of the species, God created within male and female the potential for bearing children. The first commandment given to Adam and Eve was to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." (Genesis 1:28). Marriage between male and female provide the structure for conceiving and raising children. Compliance with this command of God is a physical and biological impossibility in same-sex unions.

Regardless of how men define marriage, we must define it as God defines it. God's standard always prevails over the whims of men.

1) Deut.12:8 "Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes."

2) Deut.13:18 "When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God."

3) Prov.21:2 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

4) Prov.16:25 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

5) Prov.30:12 "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."

6) Acts 5:29 "We must obey God rather than men.

When a man and a woman enter into the covenant of marriage, they are taking on one of the highest vocations that exist upon this earth. The offices of ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ bear more weight upon the success and failure of a person’s life than almost any other office they will hold. And although one may have understood this years ago, maybe even decades ago, one’s marriage never remains stagnant, but always presents itself with new challenges, blessings, and warnings.

Marriage is sexual - Marriage is a sexual union. We must be careful not to get our categories mixed up. Sex is a gift, and like any created gift, it can be enjoyed properly, or perverted, misused, and taken and used as a club upon another. And so, the writer makes two points back to back.

The Marriage Bed is Undefiled – Understood and handled rightly, sexual union for a husband and a wife is a glorious gift; and in that context, there is nothing to be ashamed about. There, in the protection of the covenant walls, the cultivation of physical love is a great protection (1 Cor 7:2-3) and a place of mutual pleasure (Song of Solomon 7:10ff).

Fornicators and Adulterers God Will Judge – Sexuality is an incredibly naked thing, and affects the entire person, not only his or her body. Therefore, violators of the covenant of marriage will receive the strongest rebuke from the Judge. Fornicators are those who engage in sexual activity absent a marriage covenant. Adulterers are those who engage in sexual activity contrary to an established marriage covenant. The bottom line is that there is no ‘wiggle-room’ for those who are trying to establish their own standards.

Marriage It is not used to legitimize fornication or adultery. Let's define adultery.

1) Adultery is when a person who has an honorable marriage seeks and obtains sexual activity outside of that marriage.

2) Ezekiel 16:32 defines adultery. It says, "A wife that committeth adultery taketh strangers instead of her husband!" Same could be said of the husband.

3) Romans 7:3 "So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man."

The people of Jesus' day were seeking to legitimize adultery through marriage. Jesus didn't tolerate it.

1) Matthew 5:31, 32 "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."

2) Luke 16:18 "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."

3) Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

Neither does the Bible recognize same sex marriages as anything but fornication.

1) Romans 1:26, 27 "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

2) We note that those who approve of such actions fall under God's condemnation as well. Romans 1:23

a. KJV "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

b. ASV says "who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them."

c. ESV says, Romans 1:32 "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

D. Scott Meadows in his article THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES bring out some very important biblical key points:

A. The universal obligation of it. "Let each one of you," no matter how good you are or how bad your spouse. All husbands are entitled to their wives' respect, whether they are wise or foolish, intelligent or slow, skillful or clumsy. All wives are entitled to their husbands' love, whether beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, submissive or rebellious.

B. The particular application of it. "In particular," each and every husband and wife should apply this to their own particular case.

Summary of Duties.

A. Every husband's duty. To love his wife. This is not the only duty but it includes all others. He should love her as himself. This is both how (the Golden Rule) and why he is to love her (because they are both really one, loving her will result in blessings to him).

B. Every wife's duty. To fear (Greek) or reverence (KJV) or respect (NKJV) her husband, both for his person and his position. This necessarily includes love, because if she loves him, she will try to please him, and avoid offending him.

Remember this is your Creator's counsel, clearly articulated in both the Old and New Testaments, and by both Paul the apostle to Gentiles (Eph. 5:23 ff.; Col. 3:18 ff.) and Peter the apostle to Jews (1 Pet. 3:1 ff.). These two duties (husband-love, wife-respect) are not exhaustive, but are mentioned particularly either because they are the most common failures of each or because they include all other duties. Another explanation is that respect is what husbands need most, and love, what wives need most, from their spouses (Doug Wilson). God counsels not only that we may have eternal life, but comfort here and now. A godly marriage is a bit of heaven on earth. Reviewing these duties should humble us for our past failures, and challenge us to future improvement.

THE DUTIES BELONGING TO BOTH ALIKE

1. Living with Each Other. He must "leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife" (Gen. 2:24), and she must "forget her own people also, and her father's house" (Psa. 45:10). He must "dwell with his wife" (1 Pet. 3:7), and she must not "depart from her husband," even if he is an unbeliever (1 Cor. 7:10). The other duties of marriage require living together, as regular sexual relations, which they both owe each other (1 Cor. 7:3-5). The OT prohibits husbands from going to war during their first year of marriage (Deut. 24:5). This shows the importance of living together.

2. Loving Each Other. This is both the husband's (Col. 3:19) and the wife's duty (Tit. 2:4). Love is the great reason and comfort of marriage. This love is not merely romance, but genuine and constant affection and care for each other "fervently with a pure heart" (1 Pet. 1:22). Marital love cannot be based on beauty or wealth, for these are passing, and not even on piety, for that may decay. It must be based upon God's command which never changes. The marriage vow obliges "for better or for worse," and married persons ought to consider their own spouses the best in the world for them. Marital love must be durable, lasting even after death has severed the bond (Prov. 31:12). This true-hearted love brings true content and comfort in its train. It guards against adultery and jealousy. It prevents or lessens family trouble. Without it, the marriage is like a bone out of joint. There is pain until it is restored.

3. Staying Faithful to Each Other. Every man should have (sexually) his own wife, and every wife her own husband (1 Cor. 7:2), and only their own. Imitate the first Adam who had but one wife and the second Adam who has but one church. The marriage covenant binds you to your own spouse as the dearest, sweetest, and best in the world. The slightest infidelity, even in the heart, may lead to full-blown adultery. Without repentance, adultery destroys both earthly happiness and reasonable expectation of heaven. It almost dissolves marriage, and in the OT was a capital crime (Deut. 22:22). Be careful to avoid temptations to this sin. The man who is not satisfied with one woman will never be satisfied with many, because this sin has no boundaries. Faithfulness also involves keeping each other's secrets. These must not be disclosed unless there is a greater obligation. Telling your spouse's secrets is bad when accidental, worse when the result of temper, and the worst when it is motivated by hate.

4. Helping Each Other. The wife should be a "helper comparable to her husband" (Gen. 2:18), implying they should both help each other. They should carry these things together:

A. Their work. If she works at home and he works outside, both their work shall be easier. For motivation, let him give attention to all of Proverbs, and her to the last chapter especially.

B. Their crosses. Though newlyweds expect only pleasure in marriage, trouble is bound to come (1 Cor. 7:28). You may face loss of worldly goods, harm to your children, afflictions from both friends and enemies. Spouses must be friends to each other through thick and thin.

C. Their commitment to Christ. Live "as being heirs together of the grace of life" (1 Pet. 3:7). The highest end of marriage is to promote each other's eternal happiness. Cooperation here is very important. His knowledge must aid her ignorance, and her zeal his discouragement. When the husband is home, he must instruct and pray with his family and sanctify the Sabbath, but in his absence, she must look to these things.

5. Being Patient with Each Other. This duty we owe to all, but especially to our spouse (Eph. 4:31-32). There are many temptations in marriage to become impatient! Hot tempers ignite civil wars indoors, and no good ever comes of them. Both need a meek and quiet spirit. Learn to hold your peace to keep the peace. Withdraw until the storm is over. You are not two angels married, but two sinful children of Adam. Wink at lesser faults, and be careful in confronting greater ones. Acknowledge your faults to one another and confess them all to God. Yield to one another rather than to the devil (Eph. 4:27).

6. Saving Each Other. 1 Corinthians 7:16 insinuates that our great duty is to promote the salvation of our spouse. What good is it to enjoy marriage now and then go to hell together? If you let your spouse be damned, where is your love? Both should inquire into each other's spiritual state, and use the means appointed to improve it. Chrysostom said, "Let them both go to church and then discuss the sermon together." If both are Christians already, then they should do what they can to help each other to become thorough saints. Speak often of God and spiritual things. Be fellow-pilgrims to the Celestial City.

7. Maintaining Regular but Moderate Marital Sex. "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4). Marital sex is designed to remedy impure affections, not excite them. You cannot follow every sexual folly you can imagine with your spouse, just because you are married. Owning wine gives you no permission to get drunk. Be moderate and sensible. For example, you might abstain for a time to give yourselves to prayer (1 Cor. 7:5). Even in marital relations we must show reverence to God and respect for each other. True love does not behave rudely.

8. Looking Out for Each Other's Interests in All Things. Help each other's health, and be sick together, at least in spirit. One should not be rich while the other suffers want. Advance each other's good reputation. A husband naturally and rightly cares for things that are of the world, how he may please his wife, and the wife does the same (1 Cor. 7:33-34). This brings honor to their faith, comfort to their lives, and a blessing on all they have. They should be bosom friends, laughing and weeping together, with nothing but death separating their interests.

9. Praying for Each Other. Peter warns against "their prayers being hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7), which suggests they should pray for and with each other. "Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren" (Gen. 25:21). We should pray for everyone, but especially our spouse. The purest love is expressed by earnest prayer, and prayer will preserve love. Seek times for prayer together. Mr. Bolton prayed twice privately, twice with his wife, and twice with his family, each day. Prayer elevates Christian marriage above heathen marriages and the cohabitation of animals.

THE SPECIAL DUTY OF A HUSBAND: LOVE

Love is the foundation of all other duties toward her. Everything flows from this. Without love, every performance of duty toward her seems hard. Tenderness, honor, care, and kindness are merely the beams from the sun of love.

1. The Dimensions of a Godly Husband's Love. The love of a husband to his wife is peculiar to this relation. It is distinct from parental love and from animal lust.

A. The ground of it. Your are married to her and God commands husbands to love their wives. This alone will last forever, since she may become less attractive in many ways.

B. The extent of it. You must love both her body and soul. Therefore you should choose a wife that is physically and personality/spiritually attractive to you, or you do her disservice.

C. The degree of it. Above his love for all others, including his parents and children, and certainly above any person outside the family. "Always be enraptured with her love" (Prov. 5:19).

D. The duration of it. "Always" (Prov. 5:19 quoted above), not only in public but in private, not for a week or month or year, but until death. Your love should daily increase through old age. You had her beauty and strength, so why not her wrinkles and illnesses? Inner loveliness usually increases as outer loveliness decreases. There are many biblical reasons for a husband's perpetual love.

2. The Pattern of a Godly Husband's Love.

A. Jesus Christ's love for His church. "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church" (Eph. 5:25). "Nourish and cherish her, just as the Lord does the church" (5:29). While we cannot attain equality with Christ, yet the quality of our love should be the same as His. How, then, does Jesus Christ love His church?

1) Genuine, without hypocrisy. His love was so real and intense that He died for the church.

2) Free, without conditions before or expectations after. He gave Himself to cleanse His church, implying she was no beauty beforehand. The husband must draw love from her by his own love. True love is more about bettering the object loved than enriching the subject.

3) Holy, without impurity. Christ loved the church "that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word" (5:26). This teaches the husband to labor diligently to further the sanctification of his wife.

4) Great, without comparison. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). This is what Christ did for His church (5:25).

5) Constant, without change. Even until He presents her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle" (Eph. 5:27). Many times has Christ been put off by them, and yet He continues to love them. Husbands should copy His example. No bad behavior on her part is grounds to stop loving her.

6) Active, without neglect. He "nourishes and cherishes her" (5:29). He must do his utmost to supply all her needs, whether for support, or constant friendship, or a nurse for her illness.

B. The husband's love for himself "So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies" (5:28). "Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself' (5:33). Now although this pattern is less than Christ's love for His church, yet it is easier to comprehend.

1) Tender. We handle our own sores and griefs more tenderly than anyone else. "No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it" (5:29). Wives are like crystal glasses, easily broken if not tenderly handled. Women are more liable to fears and passions and griefs.

2) Cheerful. No man is so ready to help a man as himself. Best friends sometimes fail you but you help yourself. So be ready to help your wife. If a cloud arises between you, dissipate it by your love. You will not stay angry with yourself very long. No mediator should be needed.

3. The Demonstration of a Godly Husband's Love.

A. In word.

1) He teaches her. "Dwell with her with understanding" (1 Pet. 3:7). She should "ask her own husband at home" if she wants to learn something, and not speak in the church (1 Con 14:35). Woe to the husband that lacks either the will or the skill to teach his wife! He ought to acquire it in either case. Otherwise she will probably curse him forever in hell!

2) He reproves her. "Love will cover a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8), so he should overlook many faults. Just as a sword dulls with constant use, so does reproof. Yet true love sometimes requires rebuke, but it must be given with the greatest wisdom and tenderness imaginable, not before strangers, rarely before the family, mainly for sins, seldom for anything else. Give commendation first, and explanation afterward. Reproof should be short, like a very swift and slight slap (of course this is pure simile; a husband should never strike his wife). If the potion is too hot, it does more harm than good. Follow Job's example, when he said merely, "You speak as one of the foolish women" (Job 2:10). Mild reproof is the most likely to induce her sincere repentance (Prov. 25:15).

3) He encourages her. Praise when she does well. This is important because it will help her to realize the sincerity of your love when you must reprove, and make reproofs more convicting.

4) He comforts her. Especially when she is hurting emotionally or physically. Elkanah's tender reasoning with Hannah brought her to dinner (1 Sam. 1:8-9). A husband's kind word is like medicine to his wife. Do not underestimate it.

B. In deed.

1) He provides for her. It is mainly the husband's duty to provide for his wife (Exod. 21:10). She should help as she is able. The "honor" a husband must give to his wife as the weaker vessel may well refer to maintenance (1 Pet. 3:7; cf. Matt. 15:6; 1 Tim. 5:3). He should make provision for her not only while he is living, but also after he is gone, as Christ did for His church. If He can, he should also give her "some pittance in her own disposal" (exact quote) so she can exercise charity and encourage servants and children in their duties.

2) He shows great tenderness to her. This is especially shown in his protection of her from dangers, temptation, harm, reproach, contempt, and his sympathy with her in troubles.

3) He is a good example to her. Wives usually follow their husbands to hell or to heaven. His example is a greater influence than he may realize. Solomon calls him "the guide of her youth" (Prov. 2:17). Therefore set the pace in piety, seriousness, charity, wisdom, and goodness. She will learn to pray from your prayers. Your life will be a rule or law for hers.

4) He grants her reasonable requests. Remember David granting Bathsheba her request of the throne for her son (1 Kings 1:15-31), Isaac granting Rebekah her request of a godly wife for Jacob (Gen. 27:46; cf. 28:1), and Jesus Christ granting the reasonable petitions of His church. A husband should be anticipating her requests, and giving her before she asks. He should seek her advice, as Elkanah and Abraham did (1 Sam. 1:23; Gen. 21:12), and yield to her when she is right.

5) He trusts her in domestic affairs. "The heart of her husband safely trusts her" (Prov. 31:11), especially if she has enough sense to guide domestic affairs, as she ought to have. A husband has more important things to do than direct the household servants. She may occasionally consult him so that if things do not turn out well, she may escape blame. But generally he should move in his sphere outside the home, and she in hers, within the home. He should fetch honey, and she should work it in the hive.

6) He exercises authority toward her. The all-wise God invested the first husband with authority (Gen. 2:23), and this was not taken away in his fall (Gen. 3:16). The light of nature and the gospel requires this (Est. 1:22; 1 Cor. 11:3). Only proud and ignorant women dispute it. But a husband must use it:

a. wisely. He can only keep authority by a truly spiritual, serious, and manly behavior. It will be hard for her to reverence him if he does not reverence God. If he is light or effeminate, he will lose it.

b. mildly. Remember that though his position is superior, their souls are equal. She is your companion, therefore you cannot rule her as a king does his subjects, but as the head does its body. Eve was not taken from Adam's head or foot, but from his side, near his heart. His attitude must be friendly, his language sweet, his commands sparing and respectful, and his reproofs gentle (Col. 3:16). Do not think the way to keep a wife under authority is by intimidation. If meekness of wisdom will not prevail with her, then you are undone in this world, and she in the world to come.

THE SPECIAL DUTY OF A WIFE: RESPECT

This is her special qualification. If she has all beauty and learning but no respect for her husband, she is not a good wife. Creation suggests it. She was made after the man (1 Tim. 2:13), from the man (1 Cor. 11:8), and for the man (1 Cor. 11:9). This order was not by man's doing, but God's. Even after the fall the divine order stands: "He shall rule over you" (Gen. 3:16). The New Testament confirms all this (Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:16). Even if she is the sweetest thing and her husband the meanest, she still has a duty to respect him. First, she must fix in her heart that her position is inferior to his, and then she will be able to fulfill all [that] respect implies with ease and delight. It is not fitting to set the rib above, or even on the same level with, the head.

1. The Description of a Godly Wife's Respect.

A. She highly esteems him. "All wives will honor their husbands, both great and small" (Est. 1:20). Ponder the excellence of his person, and value it properly. And if he is not accomplished, then she should consider the excellence of his place as "the image and glory of God" (1 Cor. 11:7). You esteemed him when you chose him as your husband, and you should continue to do so. Remember Michal's disrespect to David and her punishment from God (2 Sam. 6:16, 23). Her family and neighbors will respect her about as much as she respects her husband, so in honoring him, she honors herself.

B. She dearly loves him. This respect is composed of love, which is also the wife's duty (Tit. 2:4). Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel left parents, friends, and country entirely out of love for their husbands. A young woman named Clara' Cerventa was married to Valdaura whose body was so riddled with disease that no one else would touch him, but she dressed his sores with all care, and sold her attire and jewelry to maintain him. Finally he died, and when comforters came to her, she told them she would buy him back again with the loss of her five children if she could. She can beget her husband's love no better way than by her reverence toward him.

C. She diligently pleases him. The word "respect" in Ephesians 5:33 is literally "fear." She should maintain "chaste conduct accompanied by fear" (1 Pet. 3:2), for one without the other is inadequate. This fear is not servile, but a sincere desire to please and refusal to offend him. "I will do my utmost to please him, though I do not fear his hand, but his frown. I would rather displease the whole world than my husband."

2. The Pattern of a Godly Wife's Respect.

A. The church's respect for Christ. "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:22). "Just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (5:24). Her submission is to be like the church's ideal submission to Christ.

1) In everything. In things great and small, agreeable and disagreeable to her. Only when he requires what God forbids or forbids what God requires is she to refuse submission. She may reason with him in things inconvenient to her, but if he will not be persuaded, and there is no sin in the case, she must submit to him.

2) Free, willing, and cheerful. The service Christians do to the Lord is with goodwill (Eph. 6:7). So the wife should submit to her husband as if there were but one will in their two hearts. Leah and Rachel followed Jacob like his shadow (Gen. 31:16). Sarah's reverence was sincere, as she called her husband "lord" (Gen. 18:12), and this is an example for Christian wives (1 Pet. 3:6). Therefore a grudging obedience is unacceptable, and usually springs from her unmortified pride and self-conceit. Even if he is severe, it is better for you to do your duty, and leave his judgment to God.

B. The body's respect for the head. "For the husband is the head of the wife" (Eph. 5:23). All members of the body realize the head is useful for their good. The hand will accept a wound to protect the head. Whatever the head decides to do, the body gets up and follows as long as it can. This is the way the wife should honor her husband, second only to God. It is ludicrous for the head to go one way and the rib another, for a soldier to command his general, or for the moon to pretend superiority over the sun. Only if the husband is insane is this altered. "The man has authority in his house unless he is verbum anomalum; that is, a fool" (Luther).

3. The Demonstration of a Godly Wife's Respect.

A. In word. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34). If she really respects him, it will show in what she says. "On her tongue is the law of kindness" (Prov. 31:26; cf. 15:4).

1) She speaks respectfully of him in his absence. No wife is too great or good to imitate Sarah's godly example of giving her husband a title of respect like "lord" (1 Pet. 3:6). A wicked woman refers to her husband as "the man" (literal Hebrew in Prov. 7:19). Would that this was the worst thing wives call their husbands behind their backs!

2) She speaks respectfully to him in his presence. Beware of

a. interrupting him while he is speaking, or saying ten words to his one. Silence commends a woman's wisdom more than speech. The wise woman uses words sparingly.

b. using disrespectful words or tone. Strive for "a gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Pet. 3:4). Do not be afraid that this will make your husband worse, but trust in God's wisdom (1 Pet. 3:1; Prov. 25:15). Remember God hears and will judge you for every idle word (Matt. 12:36). Ideally, both the husband and wife should be slow to passion, yet where one must yield, it is most reasonably expected of the wife. No woman gets honor by having the last word. Some women argue that their tongue is their only weapon, but the wise know that their tongue is set on fire by hell (Jas. 3:6). See how Rachel spoke rashly to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die" (Gen. 30:1), and as soon as she had two, she died (Gen. 35:18)! On the other hand, Abigail behaved prudently with a very bad husband, and was raised to honor. If respect will not prevail with him, anger never can. That is why the husband and wife ought to agree never to shout at one another.

B. In deed.

1) She obeys his directions and restraints. Sarah obeyed Abraham, and she is a worthy model (1 Pet. 3:6). He said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes" (Gen. 18:6), and she did it promptly. The wife is bound in conscience to obey her husband in everything that is not contrary to the revealed will of God, and even in this case, she should refuse respectfully. For example, she cannot consent to omit Bible reading, or prayer, or sanctifying the Lord's Day, although he command it ever so sternly. The house is her proper place; she is its beauty; there is her business and safety. Only urgent necessity should call her abroad. The prostitute's feet did not abide at her house (Prov. 7:11). She must live where her husband judges best. Wives are to "love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers ["keepers at home," KJV; Greek, oikouros, meaning caring for the house, working at home, keeping at home and taking care of household affairs, Strong's Concordance], good, obedient to their own husbands" (Tit. 2:4).

2) She asks his counsel and hears his reproofs. Rebekah would not send Jacob to her brother Laban without consulting Isaac (Gen. 27:46). Sarah would not discard Hagar the servant without consulting Abraham (Gen. 21:10). The Shunnamite woman would not receive a prophet into the house without advising her husband (2 Kings 4:10). Her hardest task is in hearing a reproof lovingly and thankfully, especially if she has a proud and contentious spirit. But she should remember she has her faults, and no one can see them better than her husband. So to answer him harshly for reproof shows great ingratitude. If she really respects him, this will be a much easier pill to swallow.

3) She maintains a respectful and cheerful attitude at all times. She should not indulge irritability or gloom when he is happy, nor be giddy when he is sad. She should try her best to make him delight in her. Let her express contentedness in her goods and position, and a sweet disposition so he will enjoy being at home with her. Let her study how he likes his meals, his clothes, and his lodging, and conform to his pleasure, because even in these small things many sharp arguments may arise. She must never let her familiarity with him breed contempt. His love must not make her forget her duty, but rather increase her efforts. His fondness must not decrease her respect for him. It is better to obey a wise man than a fool. Most husbands are liable to reform if their wives respect them properly. Likewise, most wives can be won to respect by his wisdom and affection.

Chapter 18
The God Of Our Salvation

By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs; You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice. You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, And the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing. Isaiah 65:5-13

God is a good God Who is in the salvation, not destruction, business. His great salvation-soteria includes being established in "protection, preservation, prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance and the ministry of angels. "He is able for those who believe to change all things around and bring total salvation, healing, deliverance, restoration and prosperity in Jesus’ name. He can and will do what no other can do even impossible things! He Who created and sustains heaven and earth and raised Jesus Christ from the dead, by awesome deeds in righteousness His will answer His trusting ones. His word is unchanging:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

"But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause- Who does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without number. Job 5:8-9

When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:1-6

God is the best at whatever He does! And there is no Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Defender, Avenger, Provider, Rock, Refuge, High Tower, Strength and Friend like the Lord Jesus Christ! And God always wants HIS children to inherit all HIS promises and He has many of them! And He is available and approachable 24 hours a day or any time when His sons and daughters desire to come to Him and find mercy and grace to help in time of need!

The Lord always is and will remain for His trusting ones their Savior, Friend Healer, Deliverer, Defender, Avenger, Rock, Refuge, Reward and Shield. The Lord is an unchanging God. He will not leave them nor forsake them. Once He has promised them something, He will not go back from His word. They can put their entire trust in the Lord and rest in Him and wait patiently for Him to move on their behalf. They can believe in His promises and He will lift them and exalt them. His word is true:

Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret-it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalm 37:1-11.

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places." Deuteronomy 33:25-29

With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

For those who love the LORD their God, walk in His ways and hold fast to Him, the Lord delivers and the Lord protects them. He drives out their enemies before them and they dispose of them. He heals them and sends His healing anointing to them. He opens the windows of heaven and pour His financial blessings on them. He blesses and prospers them and expands their territory and causes them to eat the good of the land.

God who is immensely good and rich has wonderful conditional promises for His people that if they will do their part He will do His part. He is especially concerned when His people are poor and needy and has told them to approach the throne of Grace to find mercy and grace in time of need.

God is a good God who can be trusted no matter what is going on in the world. He is not like the others. He is good, faithful, true and compassionate! He is the salvation of the righteous and their strength in the time of trouble. He shall help them and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. He desires and wills that His children have total and complete victory in all the battles of life and be more than conquerors and overcomers. He doesn’t want them to just get by but to live in victory and prosperity and abundance. His wants to fight for them and to triumph gloriously on their behalf against all their enemies.

God’s seasons are not at the command of mortal men. Just because at the first stroke of the flint does not bring forth the fire, doesn’t mean there will not be a fire? God’s delays are not His denials. For His trusting true ones God always hears their prayers and will answer them in due season. Hence they have need of perseverance and endurance for the miracle answer will come from the God of miracles. They need not fear but are to let their hands be strong for God will save them and they shall be a blessing. As God’s power and resources are unlimited and not dependent on their limited power and resources.

Poverty, like a snowstorm, attempts to destroy our life. In our worldly life, financial discrepancies, Debt- burdens penury... perplex us. According to Ecclesiastes 7:12, "money (wealth/riches) is defense" Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, " money answers everything." That is why God is ever ready to save us from the terrible whirlwind of poverty by providing us with financial strength for He is our refuge and strength in time of trouble. His word is unchanging:

"The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men." Psalm 11:4

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8”31-32

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 Peter 5:6

Victory is given only in battle and not outside of it. God has promised to bring His true children through everything including poverty, lack, afflictions and want and not keep them there. He has an answer and solution for every problem His people face and need that they have. But it’s not a standard solution for God is not limited in any way as to how He will work a miracle for them that will bring glory and honor to His name. If they could solve the problem or work out a solution they would not need God and they wouldn’t know what faith in God will achieve? Andre Crouch wrote about this in his song entitled “Through it All.”

Yes, without the troubles and the storms we would never know what faith in God can do. Through it all we can learn to trust in Jesus, learn to trust in God, learn to depend upon His word! The battles of Life are fought and won not by human logic or reasoning but by the obedience to the Spirit of the Lord, to the same Spirit that was on Jesus and is on His true ones.

Through it All

I've had many tears and sorrows

I've had questions for tomorrow

There have been times I didn't know right from wrong.

But in every situation - God gave blessed consolation

That my trials come only to make me strong.

I thank God for the mountains

I thank Him for the valleys

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I'd never had a problem

I wouldn't know that He could solve them

I'd never know what faith in God can do.

Through it all -- through it all

I've learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all -- through it all

I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Chapter 19
The LORD Of Hosts Was With Him

Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. Then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here!" Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city. Then David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:3-9

David a shepherd boy who became king and in the process developed and fought with many enemies including king Saul, was not a manipulative and controlling individual unlike many religious leaders I have known! It was stubborn, egotistic, rebellious Saul who was into control and manipulation and was concerned about himself, not others! God’s word tells us about Samuel’s prophecy and Saul’s change of heart:

"Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. "And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. "You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do." So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 1 Kings 10:6-10

Saul, the first king of Israel, was not seeking to serve God, he was only concerned about lost donkeys. So when he received the spirit of God and was anointed as king, he was not inwardly prepared. Because of this, he soon lost both. King Saul, even though God have him another heart and prophesied among the prophets, had disobeyed God in not listening to the voice of the Lord as given by God’s friend and true man of God Samuel. Prophet Samuel said to King Saul,

"The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' " 1Samuel 15:1-3

Saul did not do exactly what the Lord instructed him to do in destroying all of God’s enemies per His instructions. Saul in his egotism, selfishness and greed spared the King and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and was unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless was utterly destroyed. So the Lord told Samuel:

"I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." 1 Samuel 15:11

It also grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. Now some will find it strange and surprising that God wants to and speaks to people about what is on His heart. But God who created the universe and everything in it including all its emotions, words, and vocabulary created the word friendship and trust. True men of God not only have the ear of God they also listen to His voice and know what is on God’s heart just like Samuel did.

Now King Saul, also an anointed one who prophesied with the prophets and had a change of heart given by God, did not know what was on God’s heart or else he would have done things He had done. Typical of egotistical man even when Saul was wrong he was still right. God’s word recorded:

Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." 1 Samuel 15;13-15

But a prophet plus God is greater and carries more power and weight with God than any earthly King. So Samuel said to Saul words he never expected to hear. For those who reject God’s words will find themselves rejected:

"Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on." So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. "But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."

Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:16-23

It does not pay to argue with God or a true man of God and to ignore God’s word which says:

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

Those who do things in secret and not out in the light are walking in darkness. They have sinned and have by not obeying the word of the Lord and being accountable, honest and true men full of integrity and truth. They do not fool God nor His true servants. For Saul also told Samuel something that didn’t fool God because He looks at and knows the heart:

"I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. "Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 1 Samuel 15:24-26

Then King Saul not only sinned in rejecting the word of the Lord, but he made another foolish mistake. He put his hand onto a real man of God who was God’s friend and prophet. This is something that even Kings can not do. God word records:

And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent." Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God." So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me." So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." But Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. 1 Samuel 15:27-35

Samuel did the job that King Saul did not do and he hacked King Agag before the Lord. Samuel and the Lord had turned their face from Saul until the day of his death. God was sorry that he made Saul King over Israel. But life had to go on and He would raised up for His people a man after His own heart, who would do all His will. So the Lord said to Samuel:

"How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 1 Samuel 16:1

So Samuel did what the LORD instructed him to do and went to Bethlehem. God’s word records:

And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:8-14

Many of God’s people get into serious trouble in the area of partnership, be it in marriage, business, ministry or a church. For they miss two important ingredients for success. The first is to hear and to discern the voice of the Lord. The second is to understand that God does not see as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. A true Man of God does not judge by what he sees but by the Spirit of the Lord. He is not be fooled by smooth words and suave appearance of preachers, performers and con artists. Neither should any of God people be deceived or fooled but should obey the word of Jesus who said:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15

"But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:17-22

God’s true ones just like Jesus, Stephen and others trust in the Spirit of their Father who speaks in them and not in others. They appreciate God’s word which states:

"Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, "the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." Matthew 12:39-40

"Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Luke 12:15

The enemy, even in the House of God, feels sure he has all the answers and holds all the cards. The answer is not in man it is in the Lord. But the man must cooperate or he is a good as dead because the enemy is very present waiting to come in. He does not have to come in we can resist as Joshua did. We can be as victorious and fight until the bitter end. The enemy is not as secure as he appears to be. It is all in one’s mind if they will just see. God’s people are to open their spiritual eyes and see who is their Lord and master. It’s not the enemy it’s the Lord.

The Lord loves His people with a pure love and he desires to take them from where they were to a place that they have never been before. But they must desire to have His best in their lives and dance with the Lord. King David danced and sang and there were those who laughed at him. But he who laughs last laugh’s best and that is always the Lord! God has all His special answers waiting for His people if they will only walk with Him and listen to His voice as prophet Samuel did. God has all the answers and though they don’t fit right now, they will and when they do they will say—they knew it all along it would be that way.

The enemy has an answer but it isn’t the right path. He is liberal and deceiving pointing another way. If God’s people are not careful they will follow his direction and they will be easily led like lambs to a slaughter. They are not to be fooled by his smooth words and suave appearance for he is very deadly and definitely not their friend. They are to walk in Jesus Christ who is the real truth and they will not be dishonored, dismayed and defeated for the enemy is no friend to those who walk by the Spirit of the Lord.

Chapter 20
A Covenant Keeping God

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:6-10

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter into a covenant relationship with Him. From the scriptures we see God's promises for those who enter into this covenant as well as what He expects from man in order to uphold our part of the covenant. The key here is that it takes two to make and keep a covenant. Our salvation is not all on God neither is it all on us (He gave His Son, He forgives when we repent...). Although God is faithful to always meet His part of the covenant, man is not always faithful. When we disregard our part of the covenant we have made with God, the covenant has been broken.

We see in the Old Testament for a picture of how God handles those who break His covenants. First, He patiently gives time for repentance. He sends prophets with a word of warning for the people to turn back to Him. Then, if there is no repentance, He sends forth judgment. It is the same today with us. God extends grace to us to give us time to be conformed into the image of His Son, so that we may be spared His wrath. We can also see in the Old Testament that when Israel was in rebellion against God, he referred to them as adulterers. He uses the same terminology when referring to rebellious members of the church in the New Testament.

Looking in the New Testament, we see an important revelation from God about how he views covenants. He indicates that a covenant between a man and wife is to be honored (Matthew 19:8); however He also says that one can freely walk away from this agreement when adultery is present (Matthew 5:32). When we turn from God through disobedience and rebellion, He considers us adulterers. At that time we have chosen to break the covenant, thereby absolving God from His part of the covenant. Thankfully, due to God's grace and mercy, He does not immediately cast us away from Him in these times. However, if we refuse to repent and change, we place our very salvation in jeopardy for God’s word is unchanging:

But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5

"Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelation 2:20-23

God has also promised in His word for those who are in covenant relationship with them that He will bless them and multiply them and bless the fruit of their labors and be with them where ever they go. He has promised to take away from them all sickness, and afflict them with none of the terrible diseases of the world but will lay them on all those who hate them! He has warned their enemies that they would be in danger of hell fire. His word is unchanging:

Many people are sick and poor not because God doesn’t love them but because they are living under God’s judgments for not reconciling with those whom they have offended. For God is a faithful God who not only keeps covenant with His trusting ones and blesses them but He also judges and deals with their enemies in the current time of life just like Jesus promised:

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8

It is a fact that the teaching of most denominations are not only against the Word of God but they fail to heed the words and teaching of Jesus about the reality that God will avenge His trusting ones speedily even in the current time of life. They fail to understand what Jesus taught that those who don’t abide in the vine shall be cut off and thrown into the fire to be burnt. God’s word is unchanging:

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45

Those who cause the Holy Spirit to be grieved and to leave them just like He left Saul will find their state to be worst than before for seven other spirits more wicked than the first shall they enter and dwell there, in spite of the doctrine of demons of once saved always saved. There is no sickness and poverty in heaven and God is able to heal and prosper each and every one of His children. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13

The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. Psalm 111:7

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little," That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught. Isaiah 28:10-13

Jesus Christ didn’t go around blessing every one but He did go around healing all those who were sick? It's hard for some sick people to believe God for their healing when they believe that God made him sick. If God makes people sick and also heals them, what’s left for the devil to do? When Jesus was here on earth, He healed the sick everywhere He went. Why would Jesus be healing the sick if God His Father was making them sick? The scripture says in 1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Here the Bible clearly says that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, not to destroy the works of His Father. 1 Peter 2:24 says that Jesus died on the cross so we could live and He bore stripes on His body for our healing. Jesus accomplished His mission in victory. He conquered sickness and death for you and for me. James 5:15 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up.” In general, Satan destroys and brings sickness. Jesus heals and gives life. And the choice is ours.

Jesus also cursed the false ones and told them that their day of judgment was coming. ‘Woe to you’ doesn’t mean ‘Something good is going to happen to you?’ Rather it means trouble, affliction, hardship and distress is coming for Jesus warned all men that they would reap whatever the sowed. As a result some would be blessed and others would be cursed for God’s word is unchanging:

"Judge not, that you be not judged. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! "See! Your house is left to you desolate; "for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' " Matthew 23:27-39

Chapter 21
God’s Purpose is Peace and Victory

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Luke 1:67-75

God’s word tells us that Apostle Paul exhorted of us of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Yes, it’s God’s will that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence and serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life..

Through His Word, we know what God's will is for us in every area of our lives, including our health. God reveals His will for us is to be well and whole, just as it is His desire that all might come to know Him. He wants His people to be well, in their spirits, in their hearts, and in their bodies. The blood that Jesus shed upon the cross provided for our salvation, which includes both our physical and spiritual health. His death was the price that had to be paid in order for us to be set free from the bonds of sin and death, of sickness and disease. With His resurrection came true life for all those who will come to Him. Not just life-after-death, but the overcoming life that begins the very moment we invited Jesus into our heart. And as we plant the seed of God’s word in our heart and nourish it by spending time with God we receive a bountiful harvest of what we desire including health, wealth and prosperity. God’s word is unchanging:

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:11-15

We don’t look at any negative conditions that may surround us for they are a deception of the enemy to keep us from our inheritance including healing and prosperity. Rather we swing the sword of the Word of God against the enemy and look instead to the life-giving promises of God, boldly claiming them out loud and standing on them in faith. God’s word is unchanging:

"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. "Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. "But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. "You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. "I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exodus 23:20-27

Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be. "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places." Deuteronomy 33:26-29

It is God’s will that we be delivered from the hand of our enemies. It’s His will that we indeed obey His voice and do all that He speaks, and then He will be an enemy to our enemies and an adversary to our adversaries. It is His will that we serve the LORD our God, and He will bless our bread and our water. And He will take sickness away from our midst and put it on all those who hate us. God’s word is unchanging:

"And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. Deuteronomy 7:15

God’s will for us is not judgments or prison but blessings and prosperity for God has expressed His will for us in His unchanging words:

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him." For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:1-3

So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

It’s not God’s fault if His people have not claimed and used their inheritance when they became sons of God but have chosen to live in poverty and desolation? It’s their fault for allowing the devil to steal from them the great, precious and wonderful promises that God has given them! God’s word is unchanging:

Chapter 22
I Am Gentle And Lowly In Heart

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 1 Peter 5:2

Many of us have experienced abusive pastors or religious leaders who have believed that a gift from God or some anointing has made them better than others, and they abuse the power and position that has been given to them in love. True ministry must be done in the same spirit that Jesus ministered to others. He who is gentle and lowly in heart never verbally beat his disciples into any form of submission to achieve His own stated purposes. Jesus Christ who was meek and mild had numerous occasion to rebuke and tell off impetuous Peter who didn’t always control his tongue, but He didn’t! Hence Peter learned by experience what the true shepherd was like and told all religious leaders, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.”

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word overseer as:

o·ver·se·er n. 1. One who keeps watch over and directs the work of others, especially laborers. 2. A supervisor or superintendent.

A supervisor or superintendent is not a king, never mind a benevolent dictator? He is an employee who has been given the task to keep watch over and direct the work of others. However he should heed the words of Jesus who told us what would happen to bad supervisors:

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

"But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51

Since the “once saved, always saved” teaching is a doctrine of demons, then any unfaithful Christian leader can find himself cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20

In his book, Churches That Abuse, sociologist Ronald M. Enroth ( Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1992) identified 10 sets of features he found in abusive churches: control-oriented leadership, spiritual elitism, manipulation of members, perceived persecution, life-style rigidity, emphasis on experience, suppression of dissent, harsh discipline of members, denunciation of other churches, and the infliction of painful exit processes. An overview of the churches described indicates that control was obtained over every aspect of temporal life—ranging from dress codes, the space between parishioners in pews, the kinds of cookies eaten, the assigning of marital partners, the destruction of marriages, the separating of families—to the point that the readers see that individuals were led to replace their conscience and internal accountability with leader-dominated dictates that reflected that man's personal desires. (Few were woman pastors, and most of the pastors were self-appointed rather than ordained. Mind you, quite a few ordained pastors had been put in jail for other crimes including murder and rape.)

A common protest thrown at those who take a stand for the truth is that we are not supposed to judge. However there are innumerable verses in the Bible dealing with false teachings and refuting the errors. Hebrews 5:14 tells us that mature believers, those who are of “full age,” are those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern (judge) both good and evil.” Jesus Himself said: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). In 2 Timothy 2:17 Paul not only warns of the heresies of two men, he also names them. He also states “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). “That you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3).

For the record, Jesus taught His disciples to beware of false prophets, who would come to them in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they would be ravenous wolves. The false ones will be known their fruits. Those who reject and deny what God has not denied including apostles, prophets, gifts of healing, miracles and speaking in tongues cannot be true prophets, but rather false ones. Those who rob, rape and use the sheep to build their own kingdom rather than those of the sheep cannot be true shepherds. For God’s word is unchanging:

“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:15-16

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4

True shepherds of the flock of God serve as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to them, but being examples to the flock. Unfortunately as seen by the many religious scandals in America true shepherds are very hard to find.

But there are those foolish religious leaders who teach “Judge not, that you be not judged” or “touch not my anointed?” But if you don’t judge a religious leader how can you be a fruit inspector? You cannot! No, God’s word is unchanging about the whole counsel of God:

“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ Acts 20:27-35

Take heed, watch and remember are not passive verbs but active verbs and is something that God’s word instructs all of God’s people to do. They have a divine calling to be fruit inspectors. For God’s word is unchanging:

“Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:32-33

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:13-17

No, Jesus Christ was not very kind and nice to moneychangers in the house of God. Rather He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. He gave an example what His true disciples were to do also! To be like Jesus is to do what Jesus did? God’s word is unchanging:

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? “Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? “Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? “How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:5-12

“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, “who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” Luke 20:46-47

Being dumb and stupid and not taking heed and being beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees is not something that would please Jesus or God? Otherwise Jesus would not warn His disciples about the false ones and their deeds and teachings! God’s word is unchanging:

Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance," When they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, "He permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm." Psalm 105:11-15

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:30-32

The Word of God tells us Miriam, the wife of Aaron, spoke against Moses and she really put herself in a lot of trouble with God. The bible records:

Then He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?"

So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. Numbers 12:6-9

Because Moses was faithful in all God’s house God spoke to Moses face to face and treated him differently from others who only heard about God. Now many presumptive idiots who think that because they are in leadership they are automatically the anointed ones like Moses was and anybody who speaks against them is going to be zapped by God and lose their life. But the Word of God tells us that we are all anointed ones and God’s word states:

“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:150

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15)

Foolish ones, including religious leaders, fail to appreciate the fact that when they harm of God’s true apostles or prophets by word or deed they harm themselves and cause the judgment of God to fall on them. A prudent person would do well to ensure that he or she harms no one and obeys God’s word that states:

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Chapter 23
Ruled By The Spirit

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:11-14

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:18-21

Unlike others God doesn’t force things upon people. He is a Gentlemen who respects their choices and wishes. However He has given them not only His Son Jesus Christ and His wonderful Holy Spirit but His word which details His will for them including not to let sin reign in their mortal body, that they should obey it’s lusts!

We are to be filled with Spirit of God and not with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness and are not to be backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful! (Romans 1:29-30). We are to be doers of the Word not hearers only and to walk in the Spirit! God’s word is unchanging:

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:12-14

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25

Yes we are to make choices even on a daily basis to put to death our members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience! We are to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouth (Colossians 3:5-8) and are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and are to demonstrate His character, His love, His kindness and His patience. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:12-18

"The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. "Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you."And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. "The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. "And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. Deuteronomy 28:8-13

When our character, deeds, works and actions correspond with the word of God, then we have the right to expect the blessings of God upon our lives and land! Then we will know the truth of what David said:

The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Phillipains 4:6-8

The carnal mind is enmity with God for it cannot please God. The mind is a battlefield which the enemy tries in infiltrate with many things including negative thoughts and dreams. But God’s people can put on the mind of Christ and think and meditate on whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. Nature abhors vacuum. Our mind is never on break; it is either charged with concerns of things of this life or overtaken with affection for the kingdom. Rather than being anxious and concerned with the things of this world, it is be concerned with the things of God and of His kingdom, so every other thing can be “added to you.” God’s word is unchanging:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Luke 12:21

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:15

The brain is always engaged, either positively or negatively. All we need to do is to make our choice on what occupies our mind and it should be the word of God. Prosperity is promised to those who delight in the word of God and meditate on it day and night. When we mediate on something it goes from the realm of the mind which is just usually intellect ascent to the realm of our heart where it becomes faith and moves the mountains out in our lives when it is authoritatively spoken out. Yes, when the word of God is mixed with faith and acted on God’s miracle working power is released to bring about great change. The power in the Word is only released through the process of meditation. Until we ponder on the truth contained in the Word, get an understanding of that Word, and act on it, we cannot display miracles, signs and wonders. God’s word is unchanging:

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

The word meditate means "to consider deeply, to reflect upon, to revolve in the mind." It is akin to the physical process of food digestion. Food when eaten undergoes three major processes before the nutrients in it can benefit the body. They are: digestion, absorption and assimilation. Often we think that the taste of food in the mouth and its weight in the stomach is all that there is to food. But until these three processes take place, food taken in offers no value to the body.

Similarly, until the Word of God we hear or read is broken down to assimilable forms and we contact the gems in it, our life can not be bettered by it. The meditation process is what breaks down the Word into assimilable forms, equipping us to walk on the highways of the miraculous. It’s the word of God that breaks into pieces the different rocks in our lifes. God’s word is true:

"Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:1-4

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24-24

Chapter 24
Write The Vision

I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!" Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:1-7

Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2

What amazes me about many false pastors and preachers is they write their own rules and doctrines and then are surprised that God doesn't believe in them or follow them? As a result many shall find themselves in places they never expected to be for God gives grace to the humble and contends with the proud. And many of them are sure not humble! They don't seem to understand the purpose of ministry as demonstrated in the life of Jesus. The Word of God has given us God’s vision or definition concerning ‘the purpose of ministry’ by the five fold ministries in the church of Jesus. And it’s very clear:

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are not called to do their own thing, to build their super ministry, but to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Yes, God is concerned that we call come to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. To do or give any less to God’s people is to rob them of their birthright and inheritance for which apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers will give account on the Day of Judgment.

‘The mission of ministry’ is to be like Jesus who in love ministered to everybody without exception and without being a respecter of person. Jesus Christ, who was no different from you or I, except He was filled with the Spirit from birth and anointed with the Spirit for ministry at the river Jordan, by the power of the Spirit, was able to meet whatever need the people had including casting out demons, healing sick bodies and miraculously feeding five thousand men, not including women and children.

It’s to be noted that Jesus started and finished each day with prayer, even long hours of prayer. And to God the heart of man, including that of the person who ministered, was more important than outward appearance or character. As a matter of fact Jesus never taught about excellence in ministry. He just ministered to the people! He had a servant heart and came to minister and not to be ministered too. He taught that faith in God will do the impossible, with God nothing is impossible, and according to your faith it will be done for you. He also taught on the importance of heeding His words:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:21-27

A pastor, who had visited heaven and talked with Jesus there, told the real story of a man who died and went to heaven, expecting Jesus to welcome him at the gates of heaven. He waited there three days before an angel told him that it is pointless for him to wait there since Jesus won’t see him. He was puzzled because he had done a great work for Jesus. He had initiated a Christian businessmen fellowship that encircled around the globe. There are chapters in every city and town in almost every country. There are meetings, magazines for Christian testimonies, souls were saved – surely he had done a great work for God. But the angel asked him one question. When he started the work, did he really get the idea from God or was it from himself? He pondered for a long time before he admitted that it was his own idea. The angel showed him his book of records and he was shocked at seeing the consequences of his actions. “You mean I did that?” was all he could utter repeatedly. His work was actually drawing many Christians from their true callings when they jumped on the bandwagon he started.

To do things such as prophesying in Jesus name, casting out demons in Jesus name, and doing many wonders in Jesus name not in God’s timing and will is to practice lawlessness for which apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers shall not enter the kingdom?' Also Jesus Christ, the epitome of love, did not have much patience or was kind and benevolent to the religions and political leaders of His day. He called King Herod who wanted him murdered a fox. The bible records:

On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You." And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' "Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Luke 13:31-34

There are real consequences in life for the things that we do or don’t do. Dr. Paul Dhinakaran relayed about one of these consequences:

Once a woman suffered severely owing to some illness. A Pastor requested my father (Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran) to offer personal prayers for her. My father visited this woman's house and prayed fervently for her. The Lord revealed the reason for her illness. At once my father looked at the woman and said, "Sister, you don't have to suffer like this anymore. The Bible says in Matthew 6:14, 'For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.' Do you have any brothers?" That woman responded saying, "Yes I do have brothers." Then my father continued saying, "Dear sister! You have not followed the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have been unfairly hoarding the possessions and land documents of your dear brothers. They are suffering greatly and are terribly in want of money. Please handover all their documents and make them happy. Surely God will heal you and make you happy too." That woman resented this statement because she did not want to give up the possessions of her brothers that were under her control because she craved for worldly honour, respect and power. Therefore, suffering with that illness she passed away.

Jesus the epitome of love and character didn’t go around blessing people with words. He didn’t bless the religious and political leaders of His day but cursed them. ‘Woe to you’ doesn’t mean something good is going to happen to you. He called them all kinds of names including hypocrites, murderers, serpents, brood of vipers, liars, blind guides, sons of hell, etc. He told them they would not escape the condemnation of hell (Matthew 23:15, 33, Luke 11:24-25, 23:38-31) and they didn’t!

But when it came to the poor and needy Jesus attitude and approach to such as these was completely different. The bible says of Jesus ‘A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust’ (Matthew 12:20-21). He demonstrated His love for them by His miracle deeds. He healed the blind and cleansed the lepers. He was and is very kind and compassionate towards those who are poor and needy and need a miracle. When he saw a bereaving widow whose only son had died, he had compassion and brought the son back to life and presented him to his mother (Luke 7:12-15). When He saw a great multitude, He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick (Matthew 9:36, 14:14). When the blind men asked for healing, He had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him (Matthew 20:30-34).

The Word of God tells us in Isaiah 11:1-5 that Jesus was totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, direct, help and anoint Him, as well as to do the miracles. The power of the Lord was present to heal all (Luke 4:18, 5:17). Everyone who came to Jesus was healed by Him! He had a perfect track record in the area of healing. He unlike others never made an excuse why some were not healed. He didn’t collect the names of people who were healed to show them off or to build a mass mailing list, or see and use them as usable commodities as some Christian ministries do? Jesus’ anointing was unlimited or without measure for the purposes of healing and delivering all that came to Him. And we can all have the same anointing for all that belong to Jesus belongs to the Father, and what belong to the Father belongs to Jesus and what belongs to Jesus belongs to us (John 16; 14-15)? And this includes Paul, Apollos and others. God’s word is unchanging:

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.(1 Corinthians 3:5-15)

It’s to be noted that ministry is not to facilitate the vision of the house and its evangelist or pastor. Ministry is not to get rich off the sheep. Ministry is not to purse a secret hidden agenda for prominence, fortune and fame like Judas who betrayed Jesus for his greed (Matthew 26:24, Luke 6; 16, Luke 22:3). Yes Judas healed the sick, cast out devils and fellowshipped with Jesus and also stole money from the treasurer and was a betrayer and traitor! Unlike others even of our day, Jesus did not just teach or preach but He did real works such as cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, cause cripples to walk, and rebuked religious Pharisees who didn’t do such things! What Jesus lacked in any area of His life He made up for it by the power of the anointing. Prayer, knowledge of the Word of God and the anointing were the only things Jesus needed to minister to the poor, hurting and needy people. And He did a very successful job!

Because the bible teaches that seedtime and harvest shall not cease (Genesis 8:22) and what we give shall be measure back to us (Matthew 7:22, 23:32), those who are in the ministry must sow the Word of God in the lives of others and do practical works such as opening the eyes of the blind and healing the cripples like Jesus, Philip, Barnabas and Paul did. The bible records:

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:12

Yes, what God has done for one minister of the gospel He will do for another? He will work with them and confirm the word through the accompanying signs.

Jesus was neither blind nor stupid about the truth that not all will be saved. He told a new disciple to let the dead bury the dead and he was to follow Him. He purposely spoke in parables so that all would not be converted (Matthew 13:14-15). He did not appear to his murderers because He didn’t want them to be saved but to reap what they had sown. But Jesus explained in private all things to His disciples and gave them miracles like a net breaking boats sinking load of fish when they had fished all night and caught nothing or a gold coin from the mouth of a fish for Peter to pay the taxes when Peter foolishly said Jesus paid taxes. Jesus healed and delivered and anointed all His disciples and they lived in divine health and divine prosperity. He also gave them the Baptism of the Spirit and the anointing and boldness. God’s word is unchanging:

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:29-33

Although God inhabits the praises of His people, Jesus never conducted a mass prayer and praise meeting for the multitude? I wonder why this was so? Jesus never taught on Church structure or leadership - rather He warned to beware of false prophets and religious leaders? Jesus never said He would send pastors and preachers and the Greek version of the bible to be our teacher? Rather He stressed that the Helper, Guide, Counselor, He would send in His name would lead them into all truth and teach them all things, bring back to their memory all that He had said, and they were to trust the Holy Spirit completely just like He did! He also told us to do what He had commanded us to do? God’s word is unchanging:

Chapter 25
Mercy And Justice

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17

The basis of our judicial system is not only whether a person is guilty or not guilty of a crime but the reason he did the crime. Hence we have terms as reckless behavior, negligent behavior, first degree manslaughter, second degree manslaughter, justifiable homicide and acquittal. The Court usually considers the evidence in a light most favorable to the accused. The elements of the crime of manslaughter in the second degree, each of which the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, are that at the time and place alleged: 1. The defendant caused the death of person. 2. The killing was reckless. 3. The killing was not excusable or justified.

A person is reckless with respect to circumstances when the person consciously and unjustifiably disregards a substantial risk that such circumstances may exist. The difference between reckless behavior and negligent behavior is primarily measured by the state of mind of the individual Any reckless killing of one human being, including an unborn child, by the act or procurement of another is neither murder nor manslaughter in the first degree, nor excusable nor justifiable homicide, is manslaughter in the second degree.

A person can be charged with a crime and be acquitted because there was not sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t guilty but just that he could not be proven guilty. In the court of law it has been established “Where a person commits an act without being conscious thereof, the act is not a criminal act even though it would be a crime if it had been committed by a person who was conscious.” But when evidence has been given to to show that the defendant was conscious at the time and place of the commission of the alleged offenses for which he has been put on trial and committed the offenses he must be found guilty and sentenced accordingly. God’s word is unchanging:

Because the earth’s government is on God’s shoulder (Isaiah 9:6, Romans 13:1-4) and has been patterned or the copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5) in judging things we must consider is not only whether a person is guilty or not guilty of a crime but the reason he did the crime. Each one who has been born again and filled with the Spirit of God has been made a king and priest unto our God. As a king we execute authority and judgments over things including people. As a priest we show mercy and intercede on behalf of others. And not all sins are forgiveable by us even though many Christians believe in unconditional forgiveness and forgive people unconditionally for anything and everything. But the bible tells us that woe comes to those who don’t repent:

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." Luke 17:1-4

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:12-14

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 1 John 5:16-17

Apostle Paul received mercy and forgiveness because he did things it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. He also received mercy and forgiveness because Christians lovingly prayed for his conviction and salvation. And that in Him first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life

Love is the new and greatest commandment that God has given us today. And we are now commanded to love one another. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. We are commanded in the Word of God in Romans 13:7-9 to Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. or the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." We are also told in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. We are also told in 1 John 4:8-11 that He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Most offenses that we do to others result from the lack of love, including the fact that we don’t love ourselves, don’t love others and don’t believe that God loves or cares for us. As a result we kill or murder people with our words and or deeds. God’s word is unchanging:

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:15-18

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:15-21

The lack of God’s love in our hearts and lives and to others through us, is a major cause of many of our sins and offenses to others for which we need to repent and receive love from God because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5). Otherwise we shall know the judgments of God just as Jesus promised:

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Matthew 5:20-25

"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

In dealing with others who have caused us offenses we must loose the love of God upon all our enemies and adversaries who don’t know what they are doing. We must forgive and release them from their sins. But for those that consciously sin against God's will, we must pray for Holy Spirit conviction upon them that they would turn and repent. Otherwise we should loose God’s righteousness and judgment of psalm 59 and 109 upon them as per the Word of God in Matthew 18:15-20. If we don’t loose righteousness and justice on unrepentant ones, then they will continue causing unrepented offenses to others and we will be guilty for their sins and share in the judgment of God that follows. God’s word is unchanging:

Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. "Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul." Ezekiel 3:16-21

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

But all this doesn’t change the fact that God overlooked times of ignorance, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. His word is unchanging:

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:24-31

Chapter 26
A Bondservant Of God

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 2 Corinthians 12:12

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; Titus 1:1

We have today many preachers of the gospel but few ministers of the gospel, especially with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds and who have come to serve like Jesus did, who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. True men of God are never be appointed by any man or college, institution or church based solely on their own initiative, separate from the direction of the Holy Spirit. True men of God are anointed ones called and chosen by God Himself. True men of God don't have to say anything about who they are but the anointing that is upon them speaks for them and it’s demonstrated by character, miracles, signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

Yes, true men of God are God made, not man made! They exist with the purpose of the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:11-16). God’s word is unchanging:

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Yes, true men of God walk in love and have spiritual gifts, especially prophesy - speaking edification and exhortation and comfort to men. True men of God don’t deny the gifts of the Spirit or fight with those who do. They preach the whole counsel of God and lay down their lives for the brethren and not take their lives nor their money, talents or time! God’s word is unchanging:

"For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:27-35

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:3-8

True men of God don’t do anything through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind esteem others better than themselves. They look not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others. They make for themselves no reputation but are bondservant, and walk in love and humility. They imitate Christ and are not the clone of others! They have an attitude of servant hood always seeking "the profit of many that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:32-33). They are taught by God and not by men (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-15, 1 John 2:20, 27). They allow tribulations to help build character and produce perseverance and hope (Romans 5:3-5). God’s word is unchanging:

"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold" Proverbs 22:1

”But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, and the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

True men of God have the Spirit of the Lord resting upon them, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. They judge not by the sight of their eyes, nor decide by the hearing of their ears; but with righteousness they judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. They strike the earth with the rod of their mouth, and with the breath of their lips they slay the wicked just like Jesus did. Woe to you doesn’t mean something good is going to happen to you? And that is exactly what Jesus told and cursed the false ones.

Jesus was tapped into the ever increasing, flowing river of constant knowledge and revelation. True men of God flow in the mind of Christ and minister in the mantles of knowledge. They live and move in the ever increasing, flowing river of constant knowledge and revelation. Since the Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father and the Son, true men of God are not afraid to worship the Third "Person" of the Godhead as well as God the Father and God the Son. True men of God who have the strongest anointing have developed an intimate relationship and exchange with Holy Spirit! True men of God love and execute justice just like Jesus did. The bible records:

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up." John 2:13-17

True men of God call forth those things that are not as though they were. True men of God ask God to send angels to work in their life and ministry. For true men of God heaven, the second heaven and the realm of the invisible would are real to them. Heavenly glory along with the spirit of prophecy touches their lives and they have divine wisdom and revelation to see and experience God in the reality of the supernatural. True men of God prophetically call forth reinforcements in the angelic realm and bring healing to many in the ministry who are under attack. Angels were important in the ministry of Jesus and visited Him so often at vital times in His life. They ministered to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and after His forty-day fast. They imparted divine strength and life to Him.

True men of god honor healing and preach healing and get healing! True men of God honor salvation and preach salvation, and get salvation. True men of God honor and talk about the supernatural or angels, and miracles happen and angels show up. God’s word is unchanging:

“Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” Psalm 103:20

This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Psalm 34:6-7

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:19-20

Yes, it’s the angels job to go and carry out God’s word and deliver God’s trusting ones from destruction and in bringing them healing. We need angels in healing because many sicknesses and diseases today are caused by demons. So we need angels to come and war and take authority over the demonic realm. Yes angels do heed “the voice of His word,” the word spoken by God’s saints on the earth. They heed His voice as it comes through His saints who declare His word on the earth. According to Jesus’ words, what we do and don’t do can bind and release heaven. Whatever we loose in heaven is loosed on earth, or whatever we bind on earth is bound in the heavens (Matthew. 16:19). So as we proclaim decree and prophesy God’s will in our lives, a church and in a region, the angels carry out His word concerning His activities on the earth. Yes, angels are commissioned to carry out the word that God’s servants speak and prophecy.

Yes, true men of God have an anointing on them to release signs and wonders, not just physical healing and miracles. Because we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, we need to see into the invisible realm and use all the ministering angels who are at our disposal. We have authority to release angels to work on our behalf through prayer. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:14-17

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:11

And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" Matthew 26:51-54

Yes, Elisha, as a true man of God, didn’t trust in what his natural senses felt or saw; his mind wasn’t on the temporal but on the eternal. He was aware that he had a greater army on his side. And in the same way those who are for us are greater than those who are against us. We are called to a life of signs and wonders and we set our mind on things above rather that the temporal, God will open the eyes of our heart to the invisible realm. And just like the angels came and minister to Jesus they can come and minister to us. We can ask the Father at any time to provide us with more than twelve legions of angels, as we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. But the good news is that Jesus, the Great Commander of the Hosts is above all things that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers He is the Lord of the armies, the Chief, the commander of the army of the Lord. He is also the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and God of Gods. God’s word is unchanging:

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians. 1:16

Chapter 27
God Is Love

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 1 Corinthians 13:4-9

Love is demonstrated by action and not by words alone. So many Christians use the word “love” so flippantly and say “we love you!” But they demonstrate no action to back up their words and they love you as long as you do what they want or agree with whatever they are espousing!

But God demonstrated His unconditional love for people by giving His only Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Holy Spirit to those who responded to His love! God did just say “I love you” but He demonstrated by His sacrificial giving! We know love, because Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren otherwise we are not brethren but sons of disobedience.

Christians who have this world's goods when they see their brother in need, they don’t shut up their heart from him, demonstrating that the love of God abides in them. They love not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And those so called Christians who don’t love their brethren in deed and in truth abide in death.

Yes, whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Unfortunately for them most so called professing Christians are not Christians and they have proved it by not being full of God’s love and demonstrating God’s love in deed and in truth! God has called His people to walk in love and understanding. He wants them to be unified and in agreement because that is when they are most effective for the kingdom. But the enemy stirs up strife and confusion through foolish words from an uncontrolled tongue. God’s word is unchanging:

An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:27-28

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:10-18

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Yes divisions including between a man and wife hinder our prayers when we don’t walk in love and understanding. Our prayers are answered when we walk in the power of agreement and unity. We are called to walk worthy of our calling with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are called to balance the gift of the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. God’s word is unchanging:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:19-26

Yes, the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, we must also walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh!

God has never planned nor intended that the gifts and fruit of the Spirit lay dormant in the lives of His people. When He gave them His only begotten Son, Jesus, and His wonderful counselor the Holy Spirit, He had planned that they would walk in love and adorn their lives with the single fruit of the Spirit including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. He had willed that they should be 'filled with the fruits of righteousness' (Philippians 1:11). They should be 'neither barren nor unfruitful' (2 Peter 1:8). "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." (Ephesians 5:9)

God has given His people the fruits of the Spirit only with a view to fill us with the qualities of goodness, righteousness and truth. The gifts of the Spirit and the fruits are to go hand in hand together with love being the unifying force because God’s word is unchanging:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." Ephesians 1:4

"Let love be without hypocrisy." Romans 12:9

"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith."1 Timothy 1:5

Yes, the fruits of the Spirit come from love born out of a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. That is why God works on us to develop in us a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith so that the great fountain of Love will spring in us, only if Love is genuinely born in our hearts, the fruits of the Spirit will emerge in us. A man with mere 'Gifts' is not an effective man. Only with two wings can a bird fly; the loss of even a single wing will hamper its flight.[ii]

We are not perfect if Gifts and Fruits don’t work together in unison in our Spiritual life. We need to allow 'love' to flow from our minds by the power and anointing of the Spirit. We need to continually walk and live in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Yes we need for God to fill us with His Spiritual 'Gifts' and decorate us with the 'Fruits' so we can minister by the Spirit to a lost, hurt, and dying humanity that is need of the demonstration of God’s power. God’s word is unchanging:

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ has authority over all the evils. Many times, the devil brings sicknesses to us. He enters into our body and dwells in us. Lord Jesus Christ came into this sinful world to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He destroyed the devil on the Cross of Calvary and overcame him. According to Philippians 2:10, "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." God wants the might, which was in Jesus, to be in us too! When Jesus sojourned on this earth, He gave His authority to His twelve disciples and asked them to go and heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out demons (Matthew 10:8; Luke 9:2). As He said, they received His authority and performed miracles.

Yes, the power of God operating through a yielded vessel walking love can do in a split second that years of perspiration cannot do including healing a broken heart, removing cancer from a sick body, giving sight to the blind, and setting free the oppressed and possessed. Yes, Our heavenly Father gives His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). We need to pray earnestly that the Lord should grant us a mighty anointing of His Holy Spirit and help us to shine as a witness for Christ in the days to come.(Acts 1:8 & 2:17).

We can also receive God's Spirit and do His ministry with signs and wonders. We can come to the creator of Heaven and Earth, our Almighty God and surrender ourselves completely. We can ask Him to heal all our physical, emotional and spiritual ailments. Relieve us from all the bondages of the flesh. Fill us with His Holy Spirit in Jesus name and grant us His strength and might so that we can be a channel of blessing to others. And meet and supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Our God is an embodiment of great love and compassion. When we fear and obey Him, He will grant us rich blessings. He knows our heart's desires and yearnings. He will fulfill all our desires. We can pour out all our cares and worries at the feet of Lord Jesus. He loves and cares for us. He intercedes for us to the Heavenly Father and meets all our needs. God will always remember us and save us from destruction.

My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:5-8

Chapter 28
"Be Strong, Do Not Fear!

Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. Isaiah 35:3-7

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

God who created and sustains the heaven and the earth is more than enough to be the Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Strength, Rock, Refuge and Stronghold in the day of trouble for His trusting ones! As a result they have nothing or no one to fear because the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary and His understanding is unsearchable. He also gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. God‘s word is unchanging:

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. Psalm 18:30-32

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:11-18

Concerning the devil there are two extremes that many of God’s people take. One is to see the devil in every bush! And the other is not to see him at all. But he is a real adversary who walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Apostle Paul used the terms “the wiles of the devil” and “we do not wrestle.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines wile and wrestle as:

wile (wºl) n. 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare. 2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure. 3. Trickery; cunning. --wile tr.v. wiled, wil·ing, wiles. 1. To influence or lead by means of wiles; entice. 2. To pass (time) agreeably.

wres·tle (rµs“…l) v. wres·tled, wres·tling, wres·tles. --intr. 1. To contend by grappling and attempting to throw or immobilize one's opponent, especially under contest rules. 2. To contend or struggle.

Wile also means “A clever, often devious means for achieving an end: trick, maneuver, bluff, contrivance, device, beguilement, feint, gimmick, ploy, ruse, sleight.” In sport to wrestle implies direct bodily contact with the opponent. It means to struggle hand to hand against an opponent: grapple, fight, scuffle, tussle. One of the wiles of the devil with results in real contact is to bring sickness upon a person and financial losses just like he did to Job. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, "when the Sabeans raided them and took them away-indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, "and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:8-21

The devil, who is a believer and believes God’s word and what He does, told the Lord “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” He acknowledged that the Lord was the source of Job’s blessing, protection and even health. So when he did his evil things and Job didn’t curse God, he told the Lord “But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face! The bible records:

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause."

So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. "But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:3-10

The other important term that Paul uses concerning our bout with the devil is “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth” for the devil loves to play mind games as well as use different tricks, bluffs, beguilements, ploys or ruses such as bringing real fear and affliction to a person. Many Christians are seduced in their minds by the devil’s wiles! But God’s word is unchanging:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy

Yes, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind and we are to swing the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, against the devil telling him what God’s word says about a matter and not what things appear to be like. When he brings sickness upon us we tell him “by Jesus stripes we are healed and God is our healer.” When he brings troubles and problems upon us we tell him “the Lord is our deliverer and a very present help in time of trouble.” When he brings fear and doubt upon us we tell him “God has not given us the Spirit of fear and He makes our way perfect.” As a Christian, there are fights of faith we must fight in this life by declaring that what we have not seen is ours (Romans 4:17.) Despite the pressure, we must make a confession of faith and maintain our confession, that we are a success, we are the healed of God, and we are rich in Jesus Name and live our life to the fullest in victory. Hence are some suggested confessions:

Lord, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for my deliverance from blindness, sickness, diseases, debt, oppression, shame, sin, lusts, lack, poverty, defeat, despair, failure and unbelief and that you have given me faith, hope, prosperity and love which is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. Your Word says that I am to owe no man anything but to love him. Your word says you have become unto me all things. As I continue to build my faith in this area, I fully expect to receive much unexpected income(s), answers, miracles and debt cancellation and great and wonderful healings and miracles and deliverance and blessings including financial breakthroughs. I confess for the glory of God in Jesus name I am wealthy and prosperous and victorious and more than a conqueror in every area of my life. I confess that all my needs are met and my storehouses overflow with abundance and that I am a great and true and holy man of God.

In Jesus name I come against all oppression in my life and declare that I have supernatural protection against the onslaughts of the enemy. In the name of Jesus I command the angels of God to go now and bring to pass my financial and physical soundness and wholeness and blessings and provisions and prosperity. I confess I am a wise and faithful and good steward; therefore, I walk in manifested abundance and debt-freedom daily. Your Word says that You delight in the prosperity of Your servants. As I serve You with my finances, I declare that I have my harvest of debt-deliverance right now. Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I confess that right now I'm out of debt, my needs are met and I have plenty more to put in store. I walk in abundance and good health daily. Lord, Your Word says that it is Your will for me to prosper and excel in every area of my life. Because I am a faithful and wise steward over my finances, the wealth of the wicked is being transferred into my hands. I know what to do with it because I place You first in all things. You direct my path and give me wisdom to manage what You have placed in my hands. As a believer, I am blessed to be a blessing until all families of the earth have been blessed. I am a distribution center. I am a money magnet. Money cometh to me now! I command unexpected and expected income to come my way. Lord, I receive Your blessing-Your power to get wealth-right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I declare that I have a blood-bought right to answered prayer. The Word of God is my guarantee. Father, by prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, I can make my requests known to You. You hear the prayer of the righteous and answer them. Your eyes are on me and Your ears are open to hear my prayers. I am connected to Christ Jesus, and I am anointed. In everything I do I am more than a conqueror. Because I abide in You, and Your Word abides in me, I see the manifestation of answered prayer. When I speak Your Word, it does not return without accomplishing what it was sent to do Amen and amen.

Lord, I thank You that I walk in favor with man and with You. Wherever I go and whatever I do, Your favor goes before me. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much. Therefore, I believe I receive what I pray for right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I do not neglect my great salvation-soteria. I declare that I am established in "protection, preservation, prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance and the ministry of angels." I do not fear. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Every tongue that rises up against me, I will condemn, for it is my heritage. I loose my angels to bring me great wealth, perfect health, great anointings, total victories, houses, lands, cars and boats and every good thing and especially my miracle ministry.

Thank You, Lord, for being my help in the time of trouble. When I call, You answer me. You are always with me. You deliver and honor me. No evil ever comes near my dwelling. With a long and prosperous life You will show me Your salvation.

I declare that the healing power of God is flowing through my body right now. I declare that every organ, tissue, cell and system in my body functions in the perfection to which God created it to function. I command all infection and abnormality in my body to cease and die and pass out now never to return in Jesus Name. Divine health is restored into my body in Jesus Name. I rebuke every ear deafness blindness sickness disease and spirit of infirmity and command it to go away and not come back in jesus name I speak the Word of God in Jesus name that by Jesus stripes I am healed and it will not return to me void.

I am established in Your Word. I declare that I am preserved from trouble. I overcome trouble by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. I am established in righteousness through Jesus. As the redeemed of the Lord, I declare this to be so right now. In Jesus' name, I command and loose Your angels to go forth now and bring these confession to pass in my life. I believe and I have received the manifestation of these promises and your great and wonderful miracle working power.

Chapter 29
They Were Filled With Rage

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Arise and stand here." And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. Luke 6:6-11

God through His word wants people to be born again and filled with His Spirit and to be vessels or channels of blessing to others to demonstrate His healing people! But some people choose to be filled with rage, anger, bitterness, hatred, and other negative emotions and rave and rant against God and even His people.

It’s sad but that is the reality of life and we see this in the bible when Jesus who came to do good to save life healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees were so enraged that they wanted to kill Jesus.

Yes there are people who want to murder you because they don’t like being convicted by your life, your words and your deeds. They are children of the devil, murderers about whom Apostle John wrote:

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:10-18

Just like in the days of Jesus, and even in the days after His accession there are educated evil and wicked people who don’t like being convicted by the Holy Spirit through the life, deeds and words of a believer! We see this clearly in the life of Stephen:

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8

The bible tells us Stephen was an ordinary Christian brother, of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who was appointed to serve tables in the daily distribution for widows. He was not part of what is called the five-fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor (Shepherd) or Teacher (Ephesians 4:11-15, 1 Peter 5:1-3). He was an ordinary lay person and a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and power who did great wonders and signs among the people. And the bible doesn’t tell us that Stephen was not a man of prayer but rather of wisdom and words of scripture!

His speech to the council recorded in Acts 7 telling them “"You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, "who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it" cut them to the heart and that hearers gnashed at him with their teeth because they were so demonically influenced or possessed that they did what was inhuman!

Stephen died as the first Christian Martyr being full of the Holy Spirit, gazing into heaven and seeing the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" And when his enemies heard this they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. So if Stephen was used greatly by God so can any Christian layman! The idea that only members of the five-fold ministries can be used by God is nonsense! And Stephen proved it!

And it’s a fact that most Christians are devoid of power because they don’t understand or appreciate the life giving power that resides in them! God’s word is unchanging:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

God’s presence, mighty power, wisdom, discernment, love, miracles should be a constant reality in the lives of God’s people to meet whatever need they have or face! They are to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father. Because of the mind and life of Christ in them they also laborer fervently in prayers for other Christians for their deliverance and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

People try all kinds of new things seeking health and happiness, but to no avail. Only Jesus can satisfy the soul, calm the storms of life and establish our goings. Only God can supply all of our needs spiritually, physically and financially and we can rest in Christ who changes not and enjoy His peace. His word is unchanging:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

The Holy Spirit, the Helper, has come to be to us all that Jesus was to His disciples. He has come to guide us into all truth and to give us God’s best in everything. He wants to be a friend and Helper to us just like Jesus was to His disciples. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, the personality in the order of the Godhead. He is in charge of the affairs of the kingdom of God and is the Chief Executor of divine programs on the earth. He is the Motivator, Energizer and Operator of every revealed plan or vision from God. He is the Revealer of the hidden treasures of the kingdom of God. He holds the key to the inheritance of the saints of God. He is the most valuable asset to Christian living. He is the central figure in any breakthrough in life. He is the only One worth leaning on. He has come to reveal wisdom, knowledge, abilities, enablements and mysteries to us to show us our significance, value and power. He has come to reveal our God-nature to us and cause us to live in a new dimension. He has come to comfort us! He’s our invisible Partner, who causes things to work for us that won’t work for others. We are to trust Him with everything big or small and aren’t to do anything without Him! He gives us the mind of Christ! God’s word is unchanging:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to instruct, minister and reveal truth to us. His wisdom is supernatural and as we yield to His wisdom we become successful and prosperous and victorious. He pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and enables us to live a life of love towards God and others. However He can be grieved when there is envy, bitterness, strife or unforgiveness. He can be grieved when we reject the truth or allow ourselves to be deceived. These things prevent Him from giving us the answers we need for our life. Though His anointing and giftings we can do all kinds of things. God’s word is unchanging:

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:12-15

God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:3-4). We must appropriate and walk in the exceedingly great and precious promises of the word of God and not allow the wicked one to come and snatch them away from our hearts or when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word stumble, or allow the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, so that we become unfruitful but rather through patience and endurance hold on to the word and bears fruit and produces the benefits of the word (Matthew 13:18-23). It has been stated that:

True victory comes when we believe that God has already moved and given us everything that we need in our new born-again spirits. The Lord doesn't have to come and place His mighty hand on us for us to get healed. He has already placed the same power on the inside of us that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20). That's more than enough power to accomplish anything we need. It's already present. Therefore, asking God to give it to us is actually an expression of unbelief. That unbelief stops the power that is already in us from flowing out into our physical bodies.

We don't have to ask God to heal us. We need to believe that, "by his stripes we WERE healed" (1 Pet. 2:24). It's already been done. We don't need to be healed. We need to release the healing we already have.

Every born-again believer in Christ has this life-giving power of God in his spirit. Not every believer renews his mind and can release that power into his physical body. In that case, he has to have someone else who can release God's power, come and lay hands on him. When that happens, the believer by-passes the blockage that is in his own mind, and the power of God flows to his body through someone else's renewed mind. The Lord does this because He loves us, and doesn't want us to suffer just because our plumbing is stopped up. So, He gives us others to help us get past the blockage of our own unrenewed minds.

It's not God's will for us always to receive in this way. It is a temporary method at best. We can't always count on someone else, who can flow in the supernatural power of God, to be around. The superior way is to open up the flow through us by the renewing of our own minds. We will not only receive, but then we can become channels for the Lord to flow His power through to others.

We need to reach a place where we are praying for miracles for others, but walking in the blessings ourselves. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you were so blessed that you never needed another miracle from God!