Introduction
Chapter 1
The Power Of The Blood
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Chapter 2
Divine Healing!
The power of God began to fall over her flock as she preached. Many people would come to the altar and "fall to the floor" the faces would shine as they praised the Lord. This soon became known as "Pentecost Power". While hundreds flocked to receive the same, many others came to observe or ridicule. Doctors came from different cities to investigate the trances. Unlike the "dead" church order of the late 1800’s, Maria believed in shouting, dancing, singing, and preaching. She believed that emotional displays were important, as long as they were in order. She believed that a lack of physical manifestation was a sign of abandonment of their faith.
Etter continued to study the Word and began preaching His divine will in healing. Soon thousands were won to Christ as a result of seeing others healed. Many received gifts, some for ministry, some for evangelist and some for healing. Etter was the only leading evangelist of the Holiness Movement who embraced the experience of speaking in tongues. http://www.ministryhelps.com/maria-woodworthetter-c-98.html
Chapter 3
Not All Have Faith
Chapter 4
The Holy Spirit, The Spirit Of Truth
Chapter 5
He Gave Them Power And Authority
Chapter 6
Love Not The World
Chapter 7
Confess The Word of God
Chapter 8
He Is Also Able
Chapter 9
He Vanquished Them
Chapter 10
With The Finest Of Wheat?
Chapter 11
God’s Will Is Prosperity
Chapter 12
All That Is In Heaven And In Earth Is Yours
Chapter 13
Sown In Weakness, Raised In Power
Chapter 14
The Lord Is My Provider
Chapter 15
But God?
Chapter 16
Exceedingly Great And Precious Promises
Chapter 17
I Am The LORD Who Heals You
Chapter 18
I Will Restore Health To You
Chapter 19
Seeing Him Who Is Invisible
Chapter 20
These Things The Gentiles Seek
Chapter 21
The God Of Peace
Chapter 22
God Makes My Way Perfect
Chapter 23
With God All Things Are Possible
Chapter 24
In The Power Of God
Chapter 25
Only Five Loaves And Two Fish
Chapter 26
Just As He Walked
Chapter 27
Save Me
"Through It All"
Chapter 28
Freely Received Freely Give
Chapter 29
God Was With Him
Chapter 30
God’s People Have Committed Two Evils
Chapter 31
Wisdom From Above or Below?
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
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
God who is love demonstrated it to the world in Christ Jesus who 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. It’s also true that although we live in a world full of tribulation, problems and even curses God never wants to curse His people; nor does He want them to have a life blighted by curses. Rather, He desires that they should have a blessed life, full of health and prosperity.
As a matter of fact for this purpose Jesus came to redeem those who were cursed and to give them life and more abundantly. He came to save, heal, deliver and make men whole and complete. He came to give them victory over all things. Jesus died on the cross to take away all the curse and sins and bless men richly.
We live in a world full of woes with all sorts of problems, sicknesses and sufferings but Jesus came to set men free from these plagues and to live happily and peacefully. He came to give them miracles and heavenly help in this regard. He is very much alive to their desires and needs. He came to be their sun and shield and to give them grace and glory.
The odds may be against men but Jesus is still the Almighty One. He is all-powerful to turn any situation around, to heal any disease and more than anything to comfort His trusting ones and to give them peace, as they look up to Him and tell Him about all their worries, anxieties and problems and submit all their burdens at His feet who is a God of impossibilities and acknowledge that nothing is impossible with Him.
The Lord desires to bless our lives with His choicest and rich blessings and help us to be a blessing to others, too. He wants to take control of our lives and help us to glorify Him. He who blessed and gave Abraham unlimited riches will do the same to His trusting ones for He is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one.
Yes, in the world we will have tribulation but we can be of good cheer for Jesus overcame the world. Yes, 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? Yes, the Lord has promised to take care of His trusting ones according to His riches and glory! He owns everything! We are moving into a time of restoration for His people and an outpouring of great financial blessings. God’s trusting ones can stand fast and believe that the Lord is prospering them and restoring them, no matter what the world economy looks like, for God’s word is unchanging:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:11-14
Chapter 1
The Power Of The Blood
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
The blood that Jesus shed on Calvary from His back and from His side not only forgives all our sins but heals all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease when we combine it with out confession or testimony. Sickness and disease had no power over Jesus who 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. Because of the precious shed blood of Jesus applied to our hearts and lives we have victory over the enemy and all sickness and diseases as we confess that by Jesus stripes we were healed. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:19-22
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, Eph. 1:3-4
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- 1 Corinthians 1:30
The enemy would have us believe that our present negative circumstances define tomorrow? But that is a lie from the pits of hell for our faith in God and God defines our tomorrow. As a result those who are sick and afflicted in any way can be made perfectly whole and delivered by the power of God for with God nothing is impossible. God’s word is unchanging:
They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them. Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe His word, But complained in their tents, And did not heed the voice of the LORD. Psalm 106:21-25
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. Psalm 126:1-3
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 3:20-21
Although many people do, God’s true children don’t judge things by their natural mind or negative circumstances but by the Word of God and their decrees of how things are to be (Matthew 16:1, Mark 11:23). God has given us the power through the spoken word to change all the negative things in our land and to see it healed and blessed! Jesus gave us His blood, He gave us His name and He gave us His Word. He gave us the authority to rebuke negative things including storms and the devil ourselves. Under the new covenant we say to the mountain ‘be removed and cast into the sea’ and believe in our heart that those things we say will come to pass and we have whatever we say. Hence things seen such as mountain removed result from things not seen, our spoken words.
Through the bible we know and believe of the great things that God has done. And what He has done for one He will do for another! 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. Hebrews 11:1-3
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 11:30-34
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:10-11
It’s a defeatist attitude, full of unbelief about the power of God, to let the enemy win in any way in our lives be it through poverty, loss, sickness, disease or demons. Our words spoke by our mouth frame the world that we live or shall live in, not the devil or negative circumstances. We overcome all things by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony just like Jesus did. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He told him what the Word of God stated (Matthew 16:9):
· '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.'
Just like Habakkuk expressed unshakable confidence in divine deliverance, so can we! God’s word is unchanging:
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:2-4
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19
Through the book of Habakkuk we also see that individuals survive through fidelity to God, even when nations tumble because ungodliness and violence prevail; especially among those who profess the truth. Men tend to forget that God doesn’t overlook injustice and violence to others even by religious ones. Yes, the days come when the cry of sin is heard against those that do wrong and the cry of prayer for those that suffer wrong. And then God sends real judgments upon men through a method of His choosing.
Most men presume on continued prosperity, or that calamities will not come in their days even in our nation. God is the Lord and He does get offended. Though wickedness may prosper a while, yet God is holy, and does not approve the wickedness and will bring judgment even using others. Proud and arrogant ones who are fierce, cruel, unmerciful to take glory to themselves should be aware of God’s wrath. Even though God most times doesn’t execute speedy judgments and evil works and workers and His judgments are delayed, doesn’t mean that they are denied. Men who prey on others will sooner or later be preyed on themselves. God’s word is unchanging:
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:3
So each one of us must walk humbly before God as all we receive is from Him and we must give Him all the glory. We must not be impatient about anything but trust God in and for all things. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we can trust God to provide us an answer in due season. He will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait upon Him to see what He will do. Though the promised blessings might be deferred for a season, they will come at last, and abundantly recompense the humble, broken-hearted, saint who waited upon God. Those who are just and live by faith and persevere to the end shall tread the high places of their enemies. While those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will find themselves in place they never expected to be. Yes, What God has done before He can and will do again. And doom always comes to proud and oppressive ones especially those who touch or hurt His servants.
The sins of men do destroy them as they sink themselves down into destruction and perdition. What is gotten by violence from others, others shall take away by violence. Covetousness will bring disquiet and uneasiness into a family; he that is greedy of gain troubles his own house and it brings the curse of God upon all the affairs of it. Yes, there is a lawful gain, which, by the blessing of God, may be a comfort to a house; but what is got by fraud and injustice, will bring poverty and ruin upon a family. God’s word is unchanging:
"Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also-drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD'S right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory. For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men's blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all. But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." Habakkuk 2:15-20
The good news is that the Lord revives His work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity and trials. Our God is a God of Mercy and in His wrath He remembers to give mercy to His trusting one who flee to Him for refuge and rely only upon Him. Everything that we go through is seasonal and subject to change by God who still makes His trusting ones more than conquerors even when the vines and the fig trees are destroyed. When all is gone, God is not gone and His miracle working power never ceases. His word is unchanging:
"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
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
Yes, we might have seasons when we meet with losses and crosses in the world, but the joy of the Lord is still our strength. And He will make our feet like deer's feet, and He will make us walk on our high hills. The great redemptive work of our Lord covers the complete person—body, soul and spirit. It reaches even into the realm of physical necessities. Jesus said to his disciples, “Take no anxious thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, How shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31–34).
We don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and God is our source of our total supply, our provision, our exceeding great reward and all that we need. Through God's grace and Spirit we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and stand until the victory and our breakthrough is manifested proving the faithfulness of our God. In the midst of all our troubles Jesus is still a balm for every wound, a cordial for every care. He is still a friend who sticks closer than a brother!
Joseph M. Scriven,
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Chapter 2
Divine Healing!
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 15:26
It’s in the realm of the Spirit where all our answers are and not in the realm of flesh. What is born of the intellect remains in the intellect realm. What is born of the spirit is spirit. It has life. The first man was a spirit, who lived and walked by the spirit. But sin caused things to change and man because a carnal man. However Jesus came and reversed all things back to the way they were supposed to be. Now our spirit comes first and then our soul. Our spirit moves into the depths of God before our soul can engage in gear. We engage our spirit in God’s realm first. We lay hold of the realm of God’s Spirit with our spirit, and then engage our mind. Then our mind is able to tap on all the beautiful things that God reveals to us through His word. We must get our spirit engaged in the realm of God's Spirit and live there and not in the realm of our carnal mind. Then we will know and have true peace, joy, health, victory and prosperity.
Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844-1924)[i] a Holiness preachers of the pre-Pentecostal era in her book "Signs and Wonders" wrote much on the subject of divine healing[ii] including:
Divine healing is the act of God's grace, by the direct power of the Holy Spirit, by which the physical body is delivered from sickness and disease and restored to soundness and health.
Have we any promise in the Bible that Divine healing was ever intended to be an attainable blessing to the people of God?
Yes. There are many such promises. We find it given to the people of Israel in a special covenant promise. "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that healeth thee." Ex. 15. 26. "And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." Ex. 23. 25.
Does the Bible prove that any of the people of God ever enjoyed this blessing?
Yes. We read that even before this covenant blessing was promised the physical condition of the people was perfect, which indicates plainly that God had a special interest in their health. See Ps. 105. 37. There were at least two and one-half million people in the Exodus from Egypt, "and there was not one feeble person among their tribes." Moses enjoyed this blessing in a special manner. Deut. 34. 7. So also did Caleb in an unusual experience of preservation and health to an old age. Josh. 14. 10, 11. David personally knew of the benefits and blessings of healing. Ps. 6. 2; 30. 2; 103. 1-4. Whenever Israel lived up to the covenant conditions; they all had the benefits of healing and health. Ps. 107. 20; 2 Chron. 30. 20. Hezekiah had a personal experience of the same. 2 Kings 20. 1-5.
Was this blessing ever promised to anyone else than the Jews?
Yes. It is given in prophecy as a redemption blessing, which, together with all other gospel blessings through Christ, is offered to both Jew and Gentile. Gal. 3. 27-29.
What does prophesy say about divine healing?
There is more said about it in prophecy than we have time at present to read, but I will just quote a few verses, and the rest can be read at your leisure. " Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing." Isa. 35. 5, 6. This very prophecy is referred to by Jesus Himself in Matt. 11. 5, 6, where it was daily being fulfilled, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Another very plain prophecy is found in Isa. 53. 4 "Surely He hath borne our grief's, and carried our sorrows." The fulfilment of this wonderful voice of inspiration is found in Matt. 8. 17 - "Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." It is admitted by all reliable translators and the most eminent Hebrew scholars, such as Barnes, Magee, Young and Leeser, that Isa. 53. 4 in its literal rendering corresponds exactly with Matt. 8. 17. We see, therefore, that the latter is a direct reference to the former. Then the beautiful prophecy of salvation and healing is found in the following verse, viz.: Isaiah 53. 5-" But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." These prophecies all point to the Redemption work of Jesus, which finds its centre in the Cross. The apostle Peter refers to this verse just quoted in the following language: "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Pet. 2. 24. The following references will enable you to see that more is said in prophecy about healing: Isaiah 42. 7; Isaiah 61. 1. Fulfilled in Luke 4. 18-21. Prophecy in Mal. 4. 2. Fulfilled in Matt. 4. 16; Luke 1. 78, 79. These are all fulfilled in redemption.
Do you believe that the Bible teaches divine healing as a redemption blessing?
Yes. Do you not see how plain this is made in the prophecies just quoted and in their fulfilment? Jesus worked in every respect, in His life, ministry, death and resurrection, just according to the redemption plan. His words and deeds are the divine expression of this redemption plan, and we can clearly see that healing for the body is placed upon equality with healing for the soul. Both are obtained upon the same grounds, obedience and faith.
Can a person possess salvation without healing?
Yes, he may. While both are obtained by faith, yet they may not both be obtained by the same act of faith. Jesus will be to us just what our faith takes Him for.
Did Jesus heal everybody?
Yes; all who came to Him in faith. Read Matt. 4. 23, 24 and Matt. 12. 15.
But they did not seem to have faith, did they?
Yes. If you read the references just mentioned, you will notice the people "came to Him" for healing, and "followed Him." At Nazareth, His own town, where He had been brought up, He could do no great work among them, because of their unbelief. At Capernaum, where some of the most remarkable healings were wrought, the people were a believing people. Out of nineteen of the most prominent individual cases of healing in the ministry of Christ and the apostles, there are twelve of these where their faith is spoken of. The rest are mentioned sufficiently plainly to show that faith brought the healing in every case.
Did not Jesus heal arbitrarily, for the sole purpose of establishing His divinity?
No. He healed according to the law of redemption, and because of His great compassion to suffering humanity. Matt. 14.14.
Did not healing cease when Jesus finished His earthly ministry?
No. It was more wonderfully manifested in the ministry of the apostles after the day of Pentecost. Acts 5. 12,16; 3. 1-16; 14. 8-10; 9. 17, 18; 8. 6-8; 19. 11, 12; 14. 19, 20; 9. 33-35; 9. 36-42; 20. 8-12; 28. 3-6, 8. This proves clearly that divine healing is a redemption blessing for the entire Holy Spirit dispensation.
But we are taught that it was only for the beginning of the gospel dispensation. How about that?
The Bible does not teach any such doctrine.
But it does teach that "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." 1 Cor. 13. 10. How about this?
This scripture has no reference to divine healing or any of the redemption blessings, that they shall be done away in this dispensation. If there ever has been a time in this dispensation when it could have been said with reference to the full possession and manifestation of the gospel blessings, that "that which is perfect is come," it was when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost; but we see after this mighty works of salvation and healing, and they were in no sense "done away" with, but were greatly increased. So you see the "done away" argument has no scriptural basis whatever. As long as the dispensation of grace shall last, so long shall the benefits of grace be extended to "whomsoever will."
Well, then, when was divine healing done away?
In the design of God it was never done away.
Do you mean to say that it was perpetuated in the primitive church?
Certainly it was. History shows that for several centuries there was no other means of healing practised in the church.
But what after that?
Just what crowded out all other gospel truths-the superstitions and unbelief of the apostasy. But, thank God, the darkness is past and the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings is shining salvation and health to all who will forsake all their old doctrines, creeds and superstitions, and get back upon the old apostolic foundation, the Word of God.
But how may I know that it is still God's will to heal?
Just as you may know that it is His will to save by His Word. His Word is His will.
But it may be His will not to heal me.
You must go outside of God's Word to find standing ground for such a conclusion; for there is nothing inside of the Bible about healing but what corresponds with our blessed text: "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses." Most people who argue that it might not be God's will to heal them are at the same time taking medicine and employing every possible human agency to get well. Why be so inconsistent? Why fight against God's will. If it is His will for you not to get well, then die. Stop fighting against God.
But does not sickness come from God as a blessing?
No. It never comes from God only in a permissive sense, the same as a temptation comes to us; and sickness is never a blessing to us only as any other temptation or trial may be considered a blessing. The blessing is in the deliverance and healing. Every person who has ever experienced the healing touch of God knows what a blessing to the soul comes with it. Sickness is an abnormal condition of the body and cannot be a blessing from God.
If it does not come from God, then where does it come from?
It comes from the Devil and was always dealt with by Jesus in His earthly ministry as a work of the Devil. The Word of God plainly teaches us that the Devil is the author of disease. Read John 2: 7; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38.
But are there not some other scriptures that teach us that sickness comes from God?
Only in a permissive sense
Does the Bible teach us that God intends to be the Healer of His people without the use of medicine?
Yes. It nowhere commands the use of medicine with prayer and faith.
But how about Hezekiah's figs, the blind man's clay, and Timothy's wine?
It is true Isaiah told Hezekiah to take a lump of figs, but this has nothing to do with the New Testament means of healing. Also it is very evident that the figs did not heal him; but God said, "I will heal thee." Jesus did not use the clay on the eyes of the blind man for any curative power, for He commanded the man at once to go and wash it off. No one has heard of blindness from birth being healed by the use of clay as a medicine since then, or ever before. It is evident that the spittle and clay were used by Jesus as a requirement of submission and obedience from the blind man. The thought must have been repulsive and humiliating to him as the clay was applied to his eyes, but, like Naaman, he submitted and obeyed and received the blessing unspeakable, of healing. Wine was recommended to Timothy as an article of diet, and would not be objectionable to day, in its proper use, under similar circumstances.
Are not medicines recognised in the Word of God?
Yes. Let us read how it recognises them. "Thou hast no healing medicines." Jer. 30. 13. "In vain shalt thou use many medicines." Jer. 46. 11. "A merry heart doeth good (like) medicine" (there is no Hebrew for the word "like," showing that the merry heart is the medicine). Prov. 17. 22. "And the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." Ezek. 47. 12. This latter reference is prophetical of the tree of life and divine healing. See Rev. 22. 2. Thus we see the Word of God places no intrinsic value upon medicine.
Is not the ministry of physicians for the body designed of God, the same as the ministry of the gospel for the soul?
No. The greater portion of the physicians of the land are ungodly people, many of them professed infidels, and were never designed of God to administer drugs and poisons to anyone; much less to the people of God, whose bodies are the sacred temples of the Holy Spirit. The true ministers of the gospel are the ministers for soul and body. "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere." Luke 9. 6. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Mark 16. 20.
But is not the ministry of physicians recognised in the Bible?
Yes. Let us read how it recognises them. "But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value." Job. 13: 4. " And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." 2 Chron. 16. 12. "And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." Mark 5. 26. These scriptures show that the Bible gives no very favourable recognition of physicians.
Was not anointing with oil the mode of doctoring in Bible times?
No. While some kinds of oil may have some medical value for some kinds of diseases, it was not at all designed for any such use in connection with the prayer of faith in healing the sick. If anointing was the mode of doctoring, the church would have had no need of instruction in this respect; for it would have been a common practice everywhere by the doctors, and had this been the mind of the apostle, then he would have assigned the work of anointing to the doctors, "Elders are not Masseurs."
Editor’s note - Maria Woodworth-Etter ministry began when disease took five of her six children. Maria had a vision which led her to dedicate her life to the ministry and divine healing. Maria Woodworth-Etter, is called the grandmother of the Pentecostal Movement and was born in 1844 in Lisbon, Ohio. "I heard the voice of Jesus calling me to go out in the highways and hedges and gather in the lost sheep." We have to remember that when sister Etter was called by God, we as a nation did not allow women to vote, let alone preach from a pulpit.
Not having any idea of what she was doing or what to say, Maria would just open her mouth and the Lord would put His Word in her mouth just as He told her. People would begin to cry and either run out or run forward to receive Christ. After this she was highly sought out in her community and soon she expanded her ministry westward and held nine revivals, preached two hundred sermons and started two churches. God honored this woman and made up for her lost years. The power of God began to fall over her flock as she preached. Many people would come to the altar and "fall to the floor" the faces would shine as they praised the Lord. This soon became known as "Pentecost Power". While hundreds flocked to receive the same, many others came to observe or ridicule. Doctors came from different cities to investigate the trances. Unlike the "dead" church order of the late 1800’s, Maria believed in shouting, dancing, singing, and preaching. She believed that emotional displays were important, as long as they were in order. She believed that a lack of physical manifestation was a sign of abandonment of their faith.
Etter continued to study the Word and began preaching His divine will in healing. Soon thousands were won to Christ as a result of seeing others healed. Many received gifts, some for ministry, some for evangelist and some for healing. Etter was the only leading evangelist of the Holiness Movement who embraced the experience of speaking in tongues. http://www.ministryhelps.com/maria-woodworthetter-c-98.html
Chapter 3
Not All Have Faith
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:16-21
The book of Jude is the shortest book in the bible but it has some great truths about the fact that not all men have faith. They are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit and they don’t build themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit and keeping themselves in the love of God. They speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe will come to them for they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in our love feasts, while they feast with us without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. As a result they will be destroyed for being unbelievers for the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. The American dictionary defines the word “sensual” and “senses” as:
sen·su·al adj. 1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory. 2.a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites. b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous. c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual. d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.
senses. n. The faculties of sensation as means of providing physical gratification and pleasure. 3. Intuitive or acquired perception or ability to estimate. a. A capacity to appreciate or understand. b. A vague feeling or presentiment. c. Recognition or perception either through the senses or through the intellect; consciousness.
In other words a sensual person uses his faculties of sensation as means of providing physical gratification and pleasure or to acquire perception or understanding. His judgment is formed by normal ability to think or reason soundly and not by the Spirit of the LORD. He obviously doesn’t trust the Spirit of the LORD to give Him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2, 1 Corinthians 2). 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. And one of the things that the natural man rejects is to “pray in the Spirit” or “pray in tongues” and to “prophesy,” even though God’s word clearly states:
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
To deny tongues and even fight against it makes a person to be an unbeliever and stubborn because scriptures is very clear, ”desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” The devil hates tongues because the power of God is promised to His people that when they began to get into tongues and into the things of God, they begin to see the power of God in their lives. And the devil hates any power outside of his own, just like a typical selfish, jealous and prideful individual. But it’s a fact that all of the New Testament was written by tongue speakers including apostle Paul who said, I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; (1 Corinthians 14:18). Apostle Paul developed the power of God in his life by tongues.
Speaking of power, it was said of John G. Lake, an apostle to Africa, whose prayers were in tongues ninety percent of the time, that the power of God flowed so mightily in his life, that when there was opposition in a meeting, he would point to one and said sit down. The person didn't just sat down; he jumped down. He said when he pointed at a guy the power of God would shoot through his finger at that that guy like a rifle. And the power of God was so strong that when he laid hands on the people, the people don't fall, they get thrown down. He said “the making of my life and ministry has depended on praying in tongues.” God’s word is unchanging:
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
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 1:28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
To the sensual individual who lives by his physical senses, tongues is complete foolishness and he refuses to be brought under the control of the Spirit and power of God but rather live by his carnal mind especially, if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful (1 Corinthians 14:14). But exploits of God’s power are not done by our understanding but are brought forth by our spirit for God is a Spirit and He must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). Yet God’ sword is unchanging:
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. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:15-19
Because Apostle Paul prayed in tongues for long hours in his private life, he was enveloped in the power of God and his speech and his preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that their faith would not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. The miracles of God and the power of God operated in Paul's life when he exercised the gift of tongues with all perseverance and hence he stated, Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:12).
The problem is in our churches today is the lack of effectual fervent, perseverance prayer in the Spirit. And if only the churches would pray in tongues more, especially in their private lives, we would see more of the power of God rather than useless, anemic, important words that we presently hear! Yes, praying in the Spirit brings a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. It moves us into the realm of power, not just in the realm of the intellect. When our spirit prays onto God, it’s God Himself praying through us on our behalf. And because He cannot say no to Himself, all the prayers of the Spirit are answered. Apostles Paul’s epistles were full of the Spirit and prayers because through praying in tongues He soaked himself in the Spirit. He built himself up on his most holy faith, laboring and praying in the Holy Spirit and kept himself in the love of God.
The things in the spirit moving in the spirit, praying in the Spirit and the things of God take faith. It’s foolishness to our natural mind which doesn't understand the things of the spirit. Our mind doesn't understand all the things of God and it must be retrained and educated by the Spirit. Hence God tells us to pray forth in tongues, obey his Holy Spirit and tune our spirit to the Spirit of God and our spirit will be able to flow into the things of God. By praying in the Spirit and going into the Spirit God revealed to Apostle Paul the riches of his inheritance in the saints and the greatness of the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead and set him high above every name, above every principality power and every high things that exalt his name and he set everything under his feet. And that is why he wrote:
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,Galtians 4:19
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. Ephesians 1:15-21
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. Ephesians 3:14-19
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 1:9-11
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; Colossians 1:9-11
Chapter 4
The Holy Spirit, The Spirit Of Truth
"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 16:13-15
Jesus told us that if was to our advantage that He would go away for the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will come to us and guide us into all truth. The Holy Spirit would be to us all that Jesus was to His disciples. We will not have to depend upon our limited wisdom, knowledge, power and resources but upon God’s unlimited wisdom, knowledge, power and resources. The Holy Spirit inside of us is the answer to every financial problem, every spiritual problem and every physical problem that exists. And through prayer and fasting we can find God’s solution to ever problem and be more than conquerors. God’s word is unchanging:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, 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. 1 Corinthians 2:7-13
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:5-6
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10
Revelation, knowledge, wisdom and understanding of spiritual things come not from books or other men but by the Spirit. It’s not perspiration but inspiration by which the Holy Spirit teaches that makes us successful in God and then successful in the world around us. What the eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, are the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. And He has revealed them to us through His Spirit. Yes, 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 from God. Our mind does not receive directly from God. Our mind receives from our spirit. Our spirit communicates in some way to our mind. But our spirit draws from the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit draws from Jesus and Jesus draws from the Father.
If we rule our life by our intellect and not by the spirit we will not operate in the gifts of the Spirit. God’s supernatural realm angels, trances, visions and dreams will not be real to us if we live only in an intellectual world and are ruled by our mind! Miracles occur only when we go into the supernatural realm and bring them into our natural realm and this doesn’t happen by intellect. But miracles do happen when we pray in the Spirit and bring the Spirit down and with it the glory of God!
Our spirit is a receptacle for the Holy Spirit to flow through as we go with our spirit. Our spirit prays forth onto God and enables us to go into the realm of God where we have been raised together in Christ. Yes, we have been seated together in Christ. And our spirit can ascend to the depths of God's presence. It’s a fact that when we pray in tongues just as Jesus promised rivers of living water flow out from us. The more we pray in the Spirit the more we can know and feel God’s presence. And with the presence of God comes the power of God. And where there is the power of God there is change and miracles! And God by His Spirit can changes things even in a moment that years of perspiration and striving in the flesh could not do. That is why it’s important to pray continually in the Spirit.
When we speak forth words, there is a spiritual dimension and a physical dimension. When we pray in tongues, we pray in the perfect will of God. If we by speaking the Word of God in our own language releases great power, how much more when we to speak forth in tongues which is the language 100% accurate that the Holy Spirit. As a result when the Spirit of the Almighty God comes upon us, fills our spirit man and causes our spirit man to speak exactly what God wants us to speak us produce great results. But if we neglect tongues the least of all gifts, we can forget the working of miracles or raising the dead. The gift of the Holy Spirit operates strongly when we move into tongues. We don’t enter and experience the spiritual realm in our flesh. We don’t enter and experience it in our mind. It is only in the spirit realm that we enter into God’s rest through tongues. 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
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. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28
When we pray in the Spirit it just a question of time before the gifts of the Spirit are activated. And when the gifts of the Spirit are activated we give Spiritual gifts to others. 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. God’s mighty power works through us to bless others!
When we pray in the Spirit we are filled with all the fullness of God and we overflow. And our overflowing blesses others because what is in us comes out. And Jesus told us, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things (Matthew 12:34-35)
Apostle Paul who was always praying in the Spirit and filled with the Spirit, asked God in Ephesians 1 and 3, to give God’s people most of all the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Because with wisdom and revelation come all other blessings including being established, blameless and mature. With wisdom and revelation comes knowledge, discernment, righteousness, and fruit that remains. It all comes from the realm of the Spirit and bless the natural realm of man. God’s word is unchanging:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12: 1-2
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 1 Corinthians 6:1-6
We are a triune being just like God composed of our spirit, our soul and our body. And one of the many things that makes us different from any other creature is that we not only have the Spirit of God living in us but we are able to judge and discern things just like God judges and diserns things. God’s word is true:
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, Philippians 1:9
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
When we were born again we received the Spirit of God within us and we received a new spirit. But our spirit man needs to grow by being fed on the Word of God and communicating with God through praying in the Spirit. Our spirit man needs to grow to have the capacity to receive all that God wants to reveal to us. And the more the spirit man grows the more revelation and wisdom and responsibility is given to us because God’s word is unchanging:
"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
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "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 15:1-8
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest." Hebrews 4:1-5
There is a rest in the yoke of God where God does His work through us and we rest in Him. We abide in the Vine, Christ Jesus and He abides in us along with His word. We are at rest spiritually and anointing flows through us. We put aside our yokes and ways which are heavy laden and take His yoke which is easy and His burden which is light. God has done His part. He has give us His best, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit, and His Spiritual gifts. But we must respond to what God has given and to yield and surrender to them. We will not speak in tongues or manifest the gifts of the Spirit or the fruit of the Spirit without our will and participation. We are not robots but are created in the image of God with a free will and freedom to make choices and act on those choices. We alone decide if we will serve God or others. God’s word is unchanging:
"It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' "Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, "in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, "I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; "that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:12-20
Chapter 5
He Gave Them Power And Authority
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Luke 10:1
The wise and prudent think they can learn and know about God simply through studying, and through worldly wisdom, but we know from God's word that this is impossible (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, John 3:3-5). Christ Jesus, became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption and only through Him we can be saved, healed, delivered, set free and blessed. Unless He reveals to us that we must be born of water and the Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Salvation of soul or spirit or body comes through Jesus in whose hands is all authority and power in heaven and on earth and no other (Matthew 18:18). Jesus gave His followers power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere just as Jesus commanded them to do!
The followers of Jesus were not wise and prudent to debate with Jesus about whether it was the proper thing to do. They just obeyed the Master and did what He told them to do. They were not proud, arrogant and stubborn. On the contrary they were humble, meek and teachable. They were hungry for all that God had to offer them. They didn’t allow their limited knowledge to blind them to all the great truths Jesus would reveal to them, like rejoicing in not the spirits are subject to them, but rather rejoicing because their names are written in heaven. These babes were chosen by Jesus according to the purpose and foreknowledge of God, while the wise and prudent ones were passed by! God’s word is true:
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luke 10:17-21
Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:59-62
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." Matthew 4:23-24
Because of the Lord's compassion (Matthew 8:1-4), His desire to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and to do the will of God in all things, Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Yes, Jesus and his disciples spent much time casting out demons which is something theologians with doctorate degrees often miss the things of the Kingdom, while "unschooled and ignorant" men, women, and even children not only know them, but also effectively apply them. They wise and prudent ones have failed to understand that unless they became as little children they would not even enter the Kingdom of Heaven for the Kingdom belongs to the "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). But God’s word is unchanging:
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. James 3:1
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 3:13-18
Wise and prudent ones don’t understand that that good conduct and works done in meekness of wisdom, and not bitter envy and self seeking is what God requires from them. They fail to understand that God's wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy, while the devil’s wisdom is earthy and sensual and full of partiality and hypocrisy.
It’s a fact that the so called church of Jesus Christ has been subjected to a demonic invasion that has robbed it of most of the blessings of the Kingdom including divine health, divine prosperity, divine power and divine wealth. As a result there are churches where Satan has a large measure of effective control and where false doctrine and lack of love and the presence of all kinds of relational and personal sin abound. As a result demonic oppression, unbelief and sickness are present in the lives of many of its members and the true anointing is missing to bring healing and deliverance.
Blind ones cannot see that sickness, disease, lack and poverty which are God's judgments are all around us and we cannot escape them. But there is no sickness or poverty in heaven and there was no sickness or poverty in the garden of Eden when God made Adam and Eve. Sickness and poverty are spiritual problems as a result of a breakdown in divine order. However when through the power of the Holy Spirit the Kingdom of God is restored in our lives and bodies divine healing and health and divine prosperity result. Every divine healing done is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God. God’s word is unchanging:
… "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 15:26
"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. Exodus 23:25-26
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24
Most sickness is caused by demons - either directly or indirectly. Sickness represents the kingdom of Satan in a person's body. And the church for the most part has been ineffective in dealing with demons and with sickness in the name of Jesus. Casting out demons by the Spirit of God, and healing the sick is a demonstration that the kingdom of God has come upon us (Matthew 12:28, Luke 9:2,11,). Jesus told His disciples, "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you' (Luke 10:9).
The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus is King. It is a spiritual, invisible kingdom in the hearts of those who are born again and the influence that they make on their society. It’s also opposed at ever turn by Satan's kingdom (Matthew 12:26). Yes, "the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Satan is called "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4), "the prince of the power of the air" and "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). He operates through a vast hierarchical network of fallen angels, evil spirits or demons as they are variously known, exercises a stupendous influence on the hearts and lives of men, women, boys and girls.
Yes, the existence of Satan's kingdom accounts for the hatred, the wars, the stupidity and selfishness of mankind, the existence of false religions and philosophies and the presence of every kind of perversion and deception on the face of the earth. Satanic influence is very effective because it operates in the background, and is generally not openly displayed. It is almost always covered under another name or philosophy such as communism, Islam and the New Age movement. But God’s word is unchanging:
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
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
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)
As a result of what Jesus did on the Cross-, by faith everything is ours now. Jesus Christ has substituted all things on the cross for us and exchanged it there for us. Our death, defeat and poverty and curses have been nailed to the Christ. On the Cross Jesus Christ not only won real victory and redemption over sin and death and the world, but also over the wicked arch enemy Satan and all his angels who had made the Cross necessary by what he did to Adam and Eve.
The enemy had deceived and entrapped Adam and Eve to sin against God and live a life that was cursed and full of toil and trouble. But on the Cross Jesus Christ did the great exchange. He exchanged His sinlessness for our sins, His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His strength for our weakness, His boundless supply for our needs, His stripes for our healing, His riches for our poverty, His victories for our defeats, His triumphs for our disappointments, His glory for our shame, His Honor for our nothingness, His prosperity for our poverty, His prosperity for our lacks, His joy for our sadness, and His fullness for our emptiness. But all of this is also something that must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit before we can understand and partake of it fully. Yet it is all our birthright and the blessing of the fullness of the gospel of Christ.
The message of the cross and the Gospel is not only that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He is now is seated at the right hand of the Father with all power given unto Him in heaven and earth waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. But the message of the cross and the Gospel is also that as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross, He has now given and shared all that He has with us and He is also with and for us continually. God in Christ Jesus has literally become our inheritance and great reward; as well as everything else which we need, including our healer and deliverer. As result of the Cross, God said about Jesus and of us who have become strong and overcomers:
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
The Cross is also a real testimony of what God’s power can do no matter what the Hell or injustice that the world or the devil will throw at us. For Jesus’ resurrection after a cruel and awful death signifies the real possibility of total and complete victory in our lives, hearts and circumstances as well in the current time of life as we trust in God just like Jesus did. The empty Cross now says to you and I, that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is success, for every weakness there is grace, for every sickness there is healing, for every hatred there is love, for every injustice there is justice and for every poverty there is riches. All of this and much, much more belongs to each child of God because of what Jesus did and won on the Cross. Hence we can by the Holy Spirit understand what the Lord said to Apostle Paul:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Chapter 6
Love Not The World
'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:3
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Man is a triune being made up of a body, soul and spirit and he has the possibility of living in three different worlds, the world of senses, the world of faith and the world of demons. God’s word is true:
"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).
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 3:11-18
The first world of the senses is defined by our senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell. The second world is invisible to most people. It’s the demonic world that affects most people and specifically appeals to their lusts and pride through a wisdom that is earthly sensual and demonic. In the demonic world envy, self-seeking, confusion, partiality, hypocrisy, wars, fights, coveting and every evil things exist. It’s a demonic world that is that is an enemy with God and is ruled by principalities, powers, dominions, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. and affects all our senses directly or indirectly. The third world is the heavenly world and is also visible through the eyes of faith and our spiritual senses. It’s a world of angels, saints and God.
The bible teaches that angels are created beings (Col. 1:16, Ez. 28:14-15) spirit beings (Heb. 1:14) (Ps. 104:4).. Though they are spirit beings they have appeared to men visibly, and even in human form (Gen. 19:1-5, Luke 1:26, John 20:12). Yet they are not glorified human beings or the spirits of the departed (Heb. 12:22023). They do not marry and do not die (Luke 20:35-36). They are greater in power and might than human beings (2 Peter 2:11, Ps. 103:20). One angel killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (Isaiah 37:36). There are various rankings of angelic beings including Archangels (Jude 9, 1 Thess. 4:16), Authorities, Powers and Principalities (1 Peter 3:22, Eph. 6:12). There are angels called Seraphim who surround the throne of God, each having six wings, crying "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord" (Isaiah 6:1-3). There are angels called Cherubim who also surround the throne of God. They are called The Living Creatures (Ez. 1:5-6, Ez. 10:15,20, Rev. 5:6). They have the appearance of a man, yet they have four faces and four wings. There are also four wheels with each of the four faces, the color of beryl (green). The rim of each wheel is covered with eyes (Ez. 1:15-21). It's to noted that Satan was a Cherub (Ez. 28:14). All the angels are commanded to worship Jesus (Heb. 1:6). They are an innumerable host (Rev. 5:11, Matt. 26:53, 2 Kings 6:17, Ps. 68:17).
Angels are God’s servants. They minister to the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). They protect those who fear God (Ps. 34:7, Kings 6:17). They deliver God's servants (Acts 12:7-11). They give direction to God's servants (Acts 8:26, Acts 10:3). They comfort God's servants (Acts 27:23-24). They also bring God's judgment and destruction (Gen. 19:1-13). They bring a pestilence (2 Sam 24:15-17). They bring sudden death (Acts 12:23). They bring messages from God to people (Luke 2:8-13).
Faith operates outside our natural 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.
All temptation is primarily to look within; to take our eyes off the Lord and to take account of appearances. Faith is always meeting a mountain, a mountain of evidence that seems to contradict God's Word, a mountain of apparent contradiction in the realm of tangible fact- failures in deed, as well as in the realm of feeling and suggestion-and either faith or the mountain has to go. They cannot both stand. But the trouble is that many a time the mountain stays and faith goes. That must not be. If we resort to our senses to discover the truth, we shall find Satan's lies are often enough true to our experience ; but if we refuse to accept as binding anything that contradicts God's Word and maintain an attitude of faith in Him alone, we shall find instead that Satan's lies begin to dissolve and that our experience is coming progressively to tally with that Word.[iii]
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
By faith Jesus was tapped into the ever increasing, flowing river of constant knowledge and revelation from the heavenly world. True men of God flow in the mind of Christ and minister in the mantles of knowledge and live in the same world that Jesus lives. 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
Because of what Jesus did on Calvary, we have been born again and Baptized with the Holy Spirit and God is now our Father, we have a right to fellowship with Him intimately and live by the words that proceed from His mouth which strengthens and leads us to prosperity. We can abide, rest in and trust the promises outlined in God's Word, and anticipate for Him to manifests His goodness in our life! We are connected to our Father's power and we can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing Who strengthens us! Our earnest and heartfelt prayers connect us to the supernatural power of God as we in faith humble ourselves, pray continually and turn from wickedness. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much. (James 5:16).
We have a blood-bought right to answered prayer. The Word of God is our guarantee. We can by prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, make our requests known to Him who hears the prayer of the righteous and answer them. His eyes are on us and His ears are open to hear our prayers. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Psalm 34:15-17). We can be confident that when we pray according to God's Word, we are praying in line with His will and that He hears us and we receive our answers in due season (1 John 5:14).
We were taken out of the realm of darkness where men walk by their senses and have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son and His love. We were translated into God’s family. We are partakers of His divine nature. The same life that was in the Son of God is in us. The same light that was in Jesus is in us. That is part of the new creation. Jesus’ life and love in us is the source of life.
Those who truly belong to God confess that life of God flows through their spirit, soul and body, and brings healing to every fiber of their being. They confess that they are redeemed from the curse of the law, and no weapon of sickness or disease formed against them will prosper. They declare that they are carefully and wonderfully made in God's image. Their physical appearance is a reflection of His glory. They are virtuous, holy, presentable and acceptable in God's sight. They identify with the beautiful image of His Word and increase from one level of glory to the next. They are blessed, prosperous and in good health and receive the confessions of their mouths. God’s word is unchanging:
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:12-14
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 1:3-6
Chapter 7
Confess The Word of God
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:15-18
There is a reason why Apostle John refered to the fact that in the beginnng Jesus was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In the beginning, God SPOKE words to call this world into existence. The Holy Spirit hovered waiting for an assignment. God did not 'think' the world into being, but He opened His mouth and declared what it was that He wanted. And similarly the words that we speak form our world. We form our future by the words that come out of our mouth. Yes, "life and death are in the power of the tongue". Just as a rudder turns the ship whichever way it should go, so too our words turn our lives in the direction of blessings or the direction of curses. "Chose you this day who you will serve. Chose God; chose blessings; chose life". "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." "Wherever your heart is, there too is your treasure." There is tremendous and even instant power in the words we speak.
The Word says that when we SPEAK to the mountain, it has to move. Jesus said this. The mountain might not visibly move overnight - it rarely does because most mountains are the results of years of building it, with our own mouths. Most of the troubles in our lives are a direct result of the words that have come out of our mouths. Most of us do not yet have a revelation of our authority over mountains. But each time we speak to that mountain, using "it is written." or "thus saith the Lord." or "in the Name of Jesus.", these words are taking a huge steam shovel full of that mountain and throwing it into a deep hole. We keep speaking and the mountain is teetering. It is barely able to stand there without crumbling, because our God ordained words have been steadily digging away at its foundation. The foundation has been destroyed and no mountain can stand without solid footing. We put pressure on the circumstances, the mountain - when we speak faith filled words.
Most of us give up trying to get the mountain to move because we lose patience, we lose hope and we lose faith in God's Word. We start looking at our human weaknesses, we start making excuses and we start reasoning out why it must be God's will for that mountain to still be in our lives. Surely God is using that mountain to teach us something. Surely the mountain must be His tool. No! Just when that mountain is barely standing, just when it is getting ready to collapse, to tumble down and to get out of our way, we give up and leave that teetering mountain alone. Only that mountain does not stay in that condition. We literally start reinforcing the strength of the mountain by feeding it with words of our mouth all over again. When we see things clearly someday, we will be shocked and ashamed at how close most of the mountains of opposition were to falling.Yet, God’s word is unchanging:
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 1:15-23
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 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 6:10-15
Yes, Jesus Christ is seat at God 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. Yes, all things are under Jesus feet and hence under our feet. Yes, there is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Jesus cried with a loud voice Lazarus who was dead "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."(John 14:43-44). And because we believe we have to cry with a loud voice and command life to all the things that are dead in our life. And we will see miracles just like Mary and Martha and the grieving friends saw when Lazarus came forth from the grace and they had to loose him and let him go.
Through faith and patience speaking words of life and words of God we will inherit the promises. For God speak and said to Abraham Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Yes, as we speak Words of life and Words of God, we are speaking life and power into our future. We are building foundations for our lives that are rock solid. When the storms of life come, as they always will, our mountain that is established on the Chief Cornerstone of Jesus will not be shaken nor will it fall. We establish our worlds the same way that God did. Just as Jesus did when He came to establish the spiritual world of His church.
The Words of God are alive and full of power and sharper than any two edged sword. Because we are formed in the image of God and because we have the greater One living on the inside of us, our words carry tremendous power and life. There are no words that carry no power. This is why the Bible warns us that we will be judged for every idle word. These warnings in the scriptures are not to be taken lightly nor is it an option we chose as to whether or not our words form our worlds. God’s word is unchanging about reaping what we have sown from out words:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9
God made the physical world based on the pattern of the spiritual world. Before God made the physical God made the spiritual. 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. The things that we see, touch, feel, taste, smell, are not made of things that are visible. They are made of things that are invisible. They are made in the spirit realm and they manifest in the physical realm. The bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, While 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. So there is an invisible world called the spiritual world and there is a natural world called the physical world. The bible says that the spiritual is greater for it is eternal. The temporal world is lesser. It changes and is subject to the influences in the spiritual world.
Before God creates something in the natural, God creates it first in the spirit realm. As God speaks forth in the spirit realm then it occurs in the natural realm. But after Adam fell, the natural realm was not in total harmony with the spiritual realm.
In the spirit world the moment you conceive something, it shows up there. The moment you could conceive or think of a fruit in the spiritual realm, it is created before your eyes. The manifestation is instant. All the five senses of the natural world are patterned after five senses in the spirit world. The inward witness and the five sensations of the inward man are evidences of the touch of the spirit. Example there is a spirit of heaviness. And there is a spirit of joy. That is your spirit sensing the spiritual atmosphere. For example if right now in this atmosphere here oxygen becomes lacking we will all begin to grasp for air and be hard of breathing. So we could sense it with the sense of natural touch. In the spiritual realm, we could sense spiritual oppression. We could sense heaviness or lightness that is there.
Many of God’s people don’t understand that God’s will and desires are ALREADY SETTLED IN HEAVEN forever (Ps. 119:89), but Jesus gave us the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven so that their MANIFESTATION on this earth is CONTINGENT upon OUR binding and loosing -- IN AGREEMENT with His Will (expressed in the Word of God including being totally and completely delivered and healed.) We don’t deny that sickness exists, but we deny it the right to exist in our body, because we have been redeemed from the curse of the law and delivered from the authority of darkness (Gal. 3:13, Col. 1:13). God has sent His word, Jesus and healed us. Hence confessing God’s words brings deliverance and healing to our negative circumstances and bodies.
James 1:21 admonishes us to receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save our soul (and body). Once the Word of God is engrafted into our spirit, it produces results in our body as well. When we speak God’s Word from our heart, then our faith frames our world daily. Jesus made it very plain “a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things” (Mathew 12:35). Every time we speak our faith, it creates a stronger image inside us. When the Word is engrafted into us, it infuses its life into us (John 6:63, Rom. 8:11). The words that we speak makes true in us what is already a reality in the spirit realm where we are blessed, healed, delivered and set free! God’s word is unchanging:
"Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matthew 12:29
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. "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 16:18-19
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Proverbs 4:20-24
Because there is creative power in the words that we speak, for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh, we are to put away from us a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from us. We are to only speak positive words from God’s words and not give a bad report! Just as we would take medicine into our physical body to aid healing by physical means, so we must receive God’s word concerning healing and deliverance into our spirit for supernatural healing and deliverance. And like other medicine, it must be applied on a regular basis. When we are sick and confess that we are healed by the stripes of Jesus, we are calling forth what God has ALREADY given us, even if it is not yet manifested. We are calling our body well according to Luke 17:5-6 and Mark 11:23 and our body must listen and obey us because of the power God has given us.
We must speak God’s word to our individual circumstance or situation and command it to line up with what the Word of God says about us including that we are blessed, we are head, not tail, we are above, beneath, and we are healed and set free. The purpose of knowledge especially of God and His word is not just to have it but to use it so that we can live a life that God desires us to live and to have all that God desires us to have including divine health, divine wealth and divine prosperity! It is true our confession of the Word of God calls for healing which is already ours, but is not in manifestation in our bodies. We confess the Word of God until we receive our required manifestations. God’s word is unchanging:
A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:20-21
"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "And I will heal him." But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. "There is no peace," Says my God, "for the wicked." Isaiah 57:19
Yes, God creates the fruits of our lips and give us peace and heal us. But there is no peace for the wicked who will not confess the Word of God and doesn’t understand that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Yes, we create things into existence into the natural realm from the spiritual realm by the words that we speak. And that is why it is also very important to pray in tongues and to prophesy because we then speak the words that God give us and His words don’t return void but accomplish that for which they are sent. God’s word is true:
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
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
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 5:16-18
Tongues is the least of spiritual gifts, but it’s still a gift from God and all of God’s gifts have great power and the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. God declares that His Word will not return void. We are to return His Word by giving VOICE to it, and He will create the fruit of our lips. Then, it will be LIFE to us and HEALTH to our flesh. Yes, God uses spiritual forces, which are not seen to nullify natural things that are seen and to bring about the changes that we need. Hence we call things that are not as though they were just like God did when He created heaven and earth by His spoken word. We declare ourselves what God’s Word reveals about us, regardless of the circumstances or how we feel about it and we are releasing God’s word and power to make it so just like Jesus did. Yet God’s word is true:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:16-17
Chapter 8
He Is Also Able
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 126:5-6
by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:22-25
No matter what the problem or mess a person might be in, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. His word is unchanging:
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you-The sure mercies of David. Isaiah 55:1-3
God has nothing but blessings and the best of all things for His people in abundance. He desires that they incline their ear and come to Him. Hear and their soul shall live and He will make an everlasting covenant with them, a covenant of peace and prosperity and to do better do better for them than at their beginnings. His word is unchanging:
"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 36:11
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. "Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
"I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Ezekiel 36:25-30
There is no one who will do for them what God will do for them including cleansing them from all their filthiness and from all their idols; giving them a new heart and putting a new spirit within them; taking the heart of stone out of their flesh and giving them heart of flesh; putting His Spirit within them and causing them to walk in His statutes, and keeping His judgments and doing them; delivering them and prospering them; taking all famine away from them and rebuilding and restoring all things. No one can bless and prosper them like the Lord who riches and resources are unlimited. His word is unchanging:
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed." Isaiah 61:4-9
God wants His people to dream big dreams and He will fulfill those dreams for He is God, not man! He who has already given them His best, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit, desires to give them the rest and do exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask or think, according to the power that works in them, the same power that created heaven and earth and raised Jesus Christ from the dead. His word is unchanging:
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
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
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 3:20-32
Because God is a great and wonderful miracle working God there is nothing that He cannot or will not do for those who believe. Nothing is too big or too small for Him to look after and nothing is impossible with God. His word is unchanging:
Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil." 1 Samuel 30:17-20
And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. Esther 10:1-3
"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
Yes, the God who took nobodies like Joseph, David and Mordecai and made them into somebody’s is alive and well and able to do the same for anyone who trusts in Him and walk with Him no matter what the negative situation and circumstance. God’s word is unchanging:
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
Chapter 9
He Vanquished Them
"And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. 'You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.' Deuteronomy 3:21-22
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Psalm 18:13-14
King David, whom God took from following the sheep be ruler over God’s people, over Israel, knew from firsthand experience that the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty belongs to the LORD and all that is in heaven and in earth is His included the kingdom, and He is exalted as head over all. He knew from experience that both riches and honor come from the Lord who reigns over all. And in whose hand is power and might; in His hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Hence David the anointed one, before he became king, told cowardly and fearful king Saul about the mighty Goliath "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
King Saul said to him, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" (1 Kings 17:33-35). David made his confession of faith and put his faith in God and went and took on the Philistine in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom he had defied. The bible records:
And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17:44-51
Victory comes from the LORD through the method of His choosing for those who confess and stand on His word. David used one stone, not a sword, and brought the mighty enemy down. He then had to take Philistine’s sword to kill him and cut off his head with it. David’s vanquish over Goliath was only one of many battles that he was to fight in his life until the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around (2 Samuel 7:1); as well Saul's house and Saul's wives into his keeping, and gave him the house of Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 12:8). David discovered the secret of victory for himself. The bible records:
Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. "And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines." So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations. 1 Chronicles 14:9-17
David secret was that in time of trouble he would inquire of God what to do. And God would tell him what to do to have the victory. As a result of his obedience and faith, something supernatural happened on that battlefield. David described it as the power of God or the anointing of God coming on the scene like the breaking forth of waters. It was like a flood that could not be contained.
And similarly if we will inquire of God what to do in the time of trouble and distress, He will tell us and He will be for us the “God of Breakthrough” for just like Jesus was for others. Jesus told the blind man "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" and to his Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" and they received their needed breakthrough. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:6-7
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. Luke 5:1-7
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:3-8
Chapter 10
With The Finest Of Wheat?
I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. "But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also; And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you." Psalm 81:10-16
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1
"But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt , to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. Deuteronomy 4:20
For those who have been born again and filled with the Spirit of God, God has become their shield and their exceedingly great reward. But they have also become God’s people. His inheritance and God knows that He got the best part of the deal. The American Heritage dictionary defines inheritance as:
in·her·i·tance n. 1.a. The act of inheriting. b. Something inherited or to be inherited. 2. Something regarded as a heritage.
Inheritance is something passed from one generation to another: heritage, legacy, tradition birthright, family possession, estate. It’s money or goods left to one's heirs: legacy, patrimony, bequest, estate, trust. It is a birthright: a right, possession, or privilege that is one's due by birth. For when we were born again and became sons and daughters of God all that He has and is now belong to us and all the we have and are belongs to God. And He has promised to bring us in and plant us in the mountain of His inheritance including divine favor, divine health, divine wealth, divine blessings, divine victories and divine prosperity. God’s word is true:
You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established. Exodus 15:17
"Command the children of Israel , and say to them: 'When you come into the land of Canaan , this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance-the land of Canaan to its boundaries. Numbers 34:2
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. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4
The Scriptures tells us that God’s inheritances come to His people only to those who claim them by faith and wholly walk in His ways. We have an excellent example of this in the life and wonders of Caleb:
Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: "You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. "Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. "So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. "Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.Johsua 14:6-15
Yes, Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel . Those who serve and follow other gods beside the LORD will not be blessed by God nor shall they inherit their inheritance even though the LORD'S portion is His people. For the rebellious and arrogant ones God will give them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels and be destroyed by it. But God will make His true ones ride in the heights of the earth, tread down the high places of their enemies, feed them also with the finest of wheat and satisfy them with honey from the rock. God’s word is unchanging:
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed." Isaiah 61:5-9
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:13-16
Foolish ones don’t understand that is not by their labors or by their works that the riches and blessings of God come upon their lives but by God’s anointing and His Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " Zechariah 4:5-6
Only the Spirit and function of the Holy Spirit can remove every hindrance and obstacle in our lives and make something out of nothing! Only the Holy Spirit does something so supernatural from nothing to something by the Spirit called grace, grace, just like God created heaven and earth out of nothing and sustains it by grace! But we must do our part by cooperating with God and doing whatever He tells us to see our miracles. God’s word is unchanging:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11
Mary told said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And when they did what Jesus told them to do they saw a miracle. For many reasons including ignorance, fear, and unbelief, God’s people are not doing what God’s word has told them to do because don't understand the power in the declarations: "Exaltation will come," and "Decree a thing and it will be established" (Job22:28-29). Our ministering angels carry out our earthly prophetic decrees which line up with the truth of God's word and His will. When we declare "Restore!" "Restore!" Then the angels in heaven are released to execute this decree! God’s word is unchanging:
But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!" Isaiah 42:22
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion , And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel : I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:21-27
Yes, God wants to save and bring restoration to the humble, His people and His church. Yes this is the day of God’s vengeance on our enemies and the year of His favor ones. This is our acceptable year, liberation, Jubilee and our victory! When through our faith we release God to save the humble and to deliver those who are bound exaltation comes to us. When we say, "Restore!" we release God's 'repairer of the breach' anointing (Isaiah 58:12) which causes everything in our lives that is lost and broken to be restored—the thief must repay God's people.
Yes, we can let the angelic hosts overcome every demonic power or stronghold and every assignment that is aimed against our inheritances! Yes we can throw it down! We can take authority concerning our kingship over every power that resists. Yes, restoration happens when we declare, "Restore!" "Restore!" "Exaltation comes!" And we will see breakthroughs in every area of our lives including receiving our inheritance and stepping into our destiny. We will experience prosperity in our businesses; even the number of businesses increase. Yes, the Lord will rebuke the enemy who brings sickness and disease by stealing, killing and destroying. He will turn all the negative things around in our lives and give us justice where there is injustice, make the wrongs right and the crook straight.
Yes, when we ascend the courts of heaven and petition the Ancient of Days to come and pronounce judgment in our favor. We will receive supernatural intervention by God when events are out of our hands because a higher court system has come into place when we approach His throne and present our case to Him. Yes, we can begin to bring justice and mercy for the poor and needy, the afflicted and the widow, with the Word of God in our mouths. He gave us authority to set the captives free, in Jesus' Mighty name! God’s word is unchanging:
"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
Chapter 11
God’s Will Is Prosperity
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
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
Because Jesus Christ, the Word, was given to us we can be prosperous and successful in all things as we abide in Him and in His word and do whatever He commands us. He is a God who desires that we prosper in all things and be in health, just as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). The wealth of the heavens and universe is in the Word and the Word dwells within us as God’s children. Everything we need and desire, for it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom and to shower on us all of His goodness and mercy. His word is unchanging:
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 112:1-3
The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘prosperity’ and ‘prosper’ as:
pros·per·i·ty n. The condition of being prosperous.
pros·per v. To be fortunate or successful, especially in terms of one's finances; thrive.
Biblical prosperity means great riches, honor, silver and gold in the current time of life. We have an example of biblical prosperity in the life of Hezekiah:
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 2 Kings 18:1-7
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20
Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 2 Chronicles 32:27-29
As a result of his God given prosperity, King Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. So true prosperity is not just our soul being prosperous but also our whole man body, soul and spirit?
The devil, who is a liar and a thief and is jealous of man, doesn’t want man to be prosperous, rich and wealthy but poor and sick. Through a religious spirit he has lied to many of God’s people that abundant prosperity is not God’s will because he knows that whatever a person believes for he or she shall receive. And as long as person believes a lie he will not know the truth. The devil doesn’t want God’s people to know that Jesus endured absolute poverty and degradation for their sakes. Imagine if they believed that it’s their divine call and destiny to have abundance in all things and to be blessed in spirit, soul, mind and body? Imagine if they prayed and believed God that the healing and restoring power of God will come upon every area of their life, upon their spirit, upon their soul, upon their body and upon their finances? Imagine if they would break every curse and command every evil thing and every bad circumstance to flee from them? Imagine if they prayed that every attack spiritual emotional physical and financial would turn into victory right now? Imagine if they prayed and received an anointing that would break every yoke and destroy every bondage and wile of the devil? Why God’s people by grace and faith would be living and walking in divine health and prosperity here on earth and no demon would want this to happen?
But the truth is that all that belongs to God belongs to Jesus and all that belongs to Jesus belongs to God’s people, heirs of salvation and brothers and sisters of Jesus. The truth is that all good things of heaven, including salvation, the baptism of the Spirit, divine health and abundant prosperity, come by faith from a God whose thoughts towards His children are good and not evil. From a God who made His sons and daughters to be royalty, kings and priests, who are reigning with Him (Revelation 1:6 & 5:10)!
Which normal parent delights in seeing his children poor, destitute, naked and sick? None! And neither does God. He delights in seeing His children blessed, be made perfectly whole, and minister like Jesus in the power of the Spirit with miracles, signs and wonders. Now all this is something that must be made real and true by the Holy Spirit or the carnal mind will not accept it. But God’s word is unchanging:
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3
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
Jesus Christ, who made all things, became a man for our sakes that we through His poverty might become rich, spiritually and financially. But Jesus Christ was not financially poor on earth just because He was born in a manger. The three wise man had given His parents expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) which was at their disposal. Later during His ministry Jesus had his own house. The Bible records:
Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). John 1:38-39
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities-Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. Luke 8:1-3
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Luke 9:58
Yes, Jesus had many of donors who gave to His ministry and He had no place to stay in a local area problem, for the Samaritans cancelled His meeting and He was not welcome in the city as they did not receive him . (Luke 9:52-53) But Jesus who sometimes have as many as 120 people traveling with him bought food for the disciples (John 4:8) and had a treasurer Judas, who was a thief (John 12:6). And Jesus was also extremely rich as God had anointed Him with the Spirit in unlimited measure and angels miraculously ministered to Him whenever needed (Matthew 4:11).
When Jesus was betrayed and arrested according to the plan of God, Jesus could have asked His Father, and He would have provided Him with more than twelve legions of angels, but then the Scriptures would not be fulfilled. Jesus didn’t have a problem turning the water into wine at the wedding (John 2:6-9)or giving Peter and friends net breaking boat sinking loads of fish (Luke 5:4-7).
Yes, the disciples of Jesus, Peter and Andrew, James and John, and Matthew, were not poor. A study of Caperanum, the home of Jesus Christ during His Galilean ministry after He left Nazareth reveals this. Capernaum was also the home of Matthew, the tax collector; Peter and Andrew the fishermen had left Bethsaida and had settled in Capernaum, and there was James and John there in Capernaum also.
Matthew, as the tax collector, certainly had accumulated assets from his duty of tax collection, particularly along the busy Via Maris which brought a great deal of trade to Capernaum, and a tax on products, particularly fish would have given Matthew a substantial income.
The home of Peter has been excavated and is relatively unquestioned. It was a multi-roomed home with two courts, probably two stories with 14 rooms opening onto the two courts. Peter and Andrew, James and John were fishermen, and fish was a productive product on the busy market where caravans transversed from Damascus and Caesarea Maritime on the Mediterranean Sea. Dried fish was sold to be delivered all over the area.
Jesus Christ definitely was not anemic, impotent, and poor like many of God’s people who are bound by religious spirits and in a Satanic cycle of poverty rather than God’s cycle of prosperity unable to get or perform miracles! Yet God’s word is unchanging:
The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, 1 Samuel 2:7-8
Yes, the LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. God doesn’t have a problem in making His people rich and prosperous. Jesus Christ suffered on the cross intense pain and shame to set us free from sickness and poverty. By His stripes we were healed in every sense of the word. Jesus was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) including sickness and poverty. He is still the great Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Provider and Miracle Worker. It’s Satan, our arch enemy, who wants God’s people to suffer spiritual, physical and financial insufficiency and be sick and weak for he is a thief, a murderer and a destroyer (John 10:10). God’s word is unchanging:
Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."
The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13:10-17
Yes, the devil kept this woman sick for eighteen years and Jesus delivered her from her bondage. And because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever He can and will deliver any one from any bondage. There are many forms of bondage besides sickness. A person could be physically well but be bondage in his finances. But God who owns the cattle on the thousand hills and all the silver and gold will deliver him from his or her bondage (Isaiah 61:1-5). The lack of money is a great bondage but Jesus delivers from all forms of bondage. Contrary to what some people believe money is not the root of all evil. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil! Money is just a means of payment. It’s is neutral. What a person does with money makes it either good or evil. What is important is does a person possess money or does money possess the person?
Now the devil wants God’s people to be blind and ignorant about God’s desires for them to be healthy and wealthy and powerful. The devil is not stupid and he knows that whatever part of the Word of God is rejected by God’s people it will not become a reality in their lives. So he causes many religious folks to believe that sickness and poverty are the will of God and that prosperity and wealth and prosperity are from the devil. But all this is nothing but a lie from the father of all lies – the devil. Poverty is like an infectious disease. It is like a virus Satan brings upon the Body of Christ. He has infected many individuals, families and whole churches with the "poverty virus". As a result for them poverty and sickness have literally become a way of life.
But the truth of the matter is that Jesus had died on the cross to give us 100% victory over all things including to set us free from sickness and disease and poverty. He doesn't want us to be even 1% sick or poor. He gave His blood for us. He purchased us. We are His own and all that belongs to Jesus belongs to us- all of it! That is the reason why Jesus wants us to live a 100% healthy life. Every sickness in our life and poverty is defeated by the blood of Jesus. Jesus gave His blood -- He died naked on the cross -- to set us free from sickness or poverty. Every financial lack in our life is defeated by the blood of Jesus. He wants us to live 100% wealthy and healthy lives. And All we have to do is to receive and confess God's Word concerning our health, healing, blessings and prosperity and to act according to it. God’s word is unchanging:
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18
"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 7:11
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
Chapter 12
All That Is In Heaven And In Earth Is Yours
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
The power and the glory, the victory and the majesty and all that is in heaven and in earth is the LORD and He has given it to His blood bought children who are to receive it by faith and spend it for the furthering of His kingdom. Poverty and sickness are to be rejected by God’s people as from the devil. They are to seek from God His richest, honor, power and might for it’s God who gives every good thing. Yes, God’s children must take a step of faith and to believe God to reverse and restore all things to them including their health, wealth, good name and power just like they took a step of faith to be saved. And the good news is that the very moment they pray, God gives them the answer. That very moment God hears them and He commands His angels to bring the answer to them. However they are living in a spiritual warfare where a war goes on and their enemy, the devil, will try to delay the answer from coming through to them. He does this by many means just as Jesus warned us:
"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 13:18-23
Yes through thievery, tribulation, persecution, deceitfulness and cares of this world the devil robs the Word of God that is sown in the hearts of God’s people so it becomes unfruitful. He doesn’t want them to stand on God’s word that is unchanging:
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
"As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore." Isaiah 59:21
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:31
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
Jesus came to give us abundance in all things. He restored our right to sit at the royal table together with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He came to bless us, not to curse us. Prosperity is one of the many blessings God wants us to have. It’s not the only blessing just like Salvation is not the only blessing. God’s has many blessings of different kinds for His people. God’s word is unchanging:
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27
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"), Galatians 3:13
We need to remember that it is not God's will for us to be poor or sick because He delights in the prosperity of His servants. By His death and resurrection Jesus has set us free from every curse of the law and every evil thing connected to it. Jesus fulfilled every word of the law on our behalf. As a result we are joint heirs with Christ! We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. And the Word of God is your passport to every blessing heaven has to offer. And heaven offers ... "abundantly above all that we ask or think". And poverty is a curse not a blessing! God’s word is true:
"And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you. Deuteronomy 28:29
"You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. "You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. "You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. Deuteronomy 28:38-40
Through sacrificing the life of His only begotten Son, Jesus, God has provided our deliverance from destruction caused by poverty and sickness. Poverty and sickness are part of the curses of the law and Jesus has purchased our freedom from the curse of the law. Through lack of knowledge and generational curses many of God’s people have become poor and sick but Jesus Christ is still the Healer and Deliverer. God is on our side and He wants us to be healthy and wealthy but it’s the devil who doesn’t want us to believe and receive this truth. Yet 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
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20
Chapter 13
Sown In Weakness, Raised In Power
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, "and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. "For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. "But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Mark 4;26-29
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:41-44
Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to seed that someone scatters on the ground. Then, day by day, the seed grows into a mature plant, which eventually produces grain ready for harvest. Jesus noted in His parable that the growth happens even when the sower is sleeping, “he himself does not know how. "For the earth yields crops by itself.” Growth itself still remains a deep mystery, ultimately rooted in God, the author and sustainer of life.
Sometimes the growth is so prodigious that it has an almost miraculous quality to it. Consider the mustard seed, Jesus declares. It is “is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
Similarly when we claim a promise in the word of God for our need and sow and water it in prayer, we get miraculous results which benefits all. Our needs results in something being sown in weakness, and is raised in power. Hence apostle Paul knew the importance of prayer for those who have become Christians and stated:
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. Ephesians 1:15-21
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 Ephesians 3:14-21
God didn’t create us to live in the world alone depending on our own efforts and wisdom devoid of His wisdom, miracle working power, and the love of Christ. Hence Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus that God would give “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. ” And Paul prayed with great boldness and assurance that 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. Paul knew that “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
God is never too busy not to hear the prayers of the righteous and is always very excited about moving for those who prayed. Nothing is too big or too small to bring to God for Him to deal with. Prayer can do all things – for God can do all things. Nothing is impossible for Him! Where the need is greatest, His power will be greater. He can perform all things for us as well. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways and lean not to our own understanding, He will direct our steps. God will save, heal, deliver and guide as we look to Him in faith and obedience.
Jesus who was going about doing His Father’s will started and finished each day with prayer. So above all God’s people must pray about everything for prayer really changes things and makes real and true the promises of God including:
"And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, "that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. "And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' "Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. "And you shall answer and say before the LORD your God: 'My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 'But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. 'Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. 'So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 'He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, "a land flowing with milk and honey"; 'and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me.' Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. Deuteronomy 26:1-11
"Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, "and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken." Deuteronomy 26:18-19
There is no one like the LORD who loves deliver and promotes His trusting ones just like He delivered Daniel from the den of lions and destroyed his enemies along with their families in the same then of Lions. He is the one about whom David testified, I cried out to God with my voice-To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah (Psalm 77:1-3).
He is the God of all and unlimited power, mercy, grace, goodness and love! He is the God who loves justice, righteousness and truth! He is the God about whom the children of Israel sang and said, "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. (Exodus 15:1-6). Yes God has no problem with His right hand dashing the enemy in piece! Men refuse to consider the fact that what God has done before He can and will do again - He will destroy those who do not believe. God’s word is unchanging:
"Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. "But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." 1 Samuel 12:24-25
"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. Matthew 21:40-42
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
Yes God can and does marvelous and great things for those who believe and for those who don’t believe. The difference being the end outcome is positive or negative! In essence we are the strongest when we are the weakest because have to totally depend upon the LORD. And the opposite is true we are the weakest when we are the strongest because we depend totally upon ourselves instead of God. And that is why Apostle Paul stated:
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now 1 Corinthians 4:10-13
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
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
Chapter 14
The Lord Is My Provider
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. Psalm 23:1-3
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
For those who trust in the LORD He is the all sufficient One, including their provider and healer. In Psalm 23 we find the seven names of God:
1.JEHOVAH-RA
2.JEHOVAH-JIREH
3.JEHOVAH-SHALOM
4.JEHOVAH- TSIDKNELL
5.JEHOVAH-NISSI
6.JEHOVAH-RAPHEGA
7.JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
In verse we have The Lord is My Shepherd- "SHEPHERD"-JEHOVAH-RA (Jehovah the Shepherd). If the Lord is our shepherd, then we own this Psalm 23 as ours. And as our LORD He forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, and satisfies our mouth with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we don't lack in anything. HE is our Provider - JEHOVAH-JIREH. God’s word is true:
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided." Genesis 22:9-14
Whatever we need God will provide. 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? We shall not want… JEHOVAH-JIREH (JEHOVAH is our Provider). When we know the Lord as our 'Shepherd' He will be our provider, all sufficient-one. Therefore, we shall not lack or want anything because nothing is impossible with God
And because JEHOVAH- SHALOM, The-LORD-Is-Peace, He makes us to lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside the still waters. The sheep are very happy. Lying down in Green pastures and still waters (not turbulent waters) all speak of peaceful conditions. God’s word tells us that Isreal was in turbulent condition. The Midianites surrounded them. At that time, they cried. God gave a deliverer called 'GIDEON'. The Word of God records:
Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die." So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Judges 6:23-24
'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: 'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Jeremiah 33:14-16
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word “saved” as:
Save v. saved, sav·ing, saves. --tr. 1.a. To rescue from harm, danger, or loss. b. To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem. 2. To keep in a safe condition; safeguard. 3. To prevent the waste or loss of; conserve.
Yes, Jesus Christ is our Salvation and He rescues us from harm, danger or loss, He keeps us in a safte condition and prevents the waste or loss of things for us as we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. God’s word is true:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:1-4
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "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 91:10-16
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…JEHOVAH-TSIDKENILL. Hence He restores my soul; He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. He delivers us and honor us and satisfies us with long life and shows us His salvation.
And then we have JEHOVAH- NISSI – The-LORD-Is-My-Banner or God My Standard of Victory.
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; Exodus 17:8-15
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. Psalm 23:4
The Amalekites came against the Israelites after they crossed the Red sea. But when Moses went up the Mountain Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands Joshua defeated the Amalekite with the edge of the sword. As we pray in the Spirit and stand on the word of God, Our Lord who suffered on the cross and His hands were lifted up with two nails, we will defeat Satan through our Heavenly Joshua, even through our Lord the HOLY SPIRIT for the LORD Is Our Banner our Victory. His word is unchanging:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
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
And because of His anointing we shall know JEHOVAH- RAPHEGA - The Lord the healer. He turns the bitterness of life into sweetness. God’s word is true:
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 15:26
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5
Yes the Lord is our healer of all things that the enemies of life bring upon us be it physical sickness, broken hearts, inner hurts or disappointments. God’s word is true:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:16-17
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: 5
"All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD Is THERE." Ezekiel 48:35
The Lord will be with us forever. He is a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. For there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn (Psalm 46:1-5). His word is unchanging:
"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Number 6:24-26
"And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. "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 7:13-15
Chapter 15
But God?
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24
"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
When Joseph was sold as a slave to the Egyptians, he didn't have a dime to his name. He didn't even have his freedom. He'd been sold as a slave. But, right in the middle of his slavery, God gave Joseph such wisdom and ability that he made his owner prosper. As a result, the man put Joseph in charge of all his possessions. Later, Joseph was put in prison. There's really not much opportunity for advancement in prison, is there? But God gave him insight that no other man in Egypt had. That insight landed him a position on Pharaoh's staff. Not as a slave but as the most honored man in the entire country next to Pharaoh himself. He rode along in a chariot and people literally bowed down before him. During a worldwide famine, Joseph was in charge of all the food. Now that's success and prosperity? God was with Jesus "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. And since God hasn’t changed He can and will do the same for all those who trust in and look to Him. But the how God will do it is His business not man’s!
Jesus Christ the express image of God was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power, went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him ( Acts 10:38). Just like God, Jesus was a giver not a taker! A true parent gets His joy out of giving his children what they need. Similarly God gets His joy out of giving His children what they need. Jesus Christ who is the expressed image of God loved to call His disciples ‘children. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! Mark 10:24
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12
Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. Luke 15:11-24
Jesus used the story of the prodigal son to tell us how we as God’s children had left our Heavenly Father and went into the world to live defeated desolate lives. But when we returned back to our Heavenly Father He had restored all things to us including the best Robe and a Ring on our hand and Sandals on our feet. We have now become heirs of Salvation and as a result all that belongs to the Father now belongs to us: As a matter of fact we live in the finest hour of the Church of when the Father God is restoring all things to His people including the best Robe that their Father gives them when they come back to Him which is the Mantle of Anointing of His Holy Spirit. It’s similar to the Mantle that our Father-God gave to a great man of God, Elijah, who worked miracles with it, doing great things, especially bringing down the Fire of God from Heaven. So that everybody would know who the Lord of Lord was and is. It’s a similar anointing that Jesus received from the Father when John the Baptist baptized him in the river Jordan. While He prayed, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said
"You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." Now Jesus Himself began His ministry. (Luke 3:21-22)
Then the Word of God tell us that Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was for forty days tempted by the devil, proved by God, eating nothing. After the devil had ended every temptation, and departed for a while, Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went throughout the entire surrounding region. Then Jesus came to Nazareth where He had been brought up and as was His custom, went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read and 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; (Luke 4:18)
Well, this is the same Robe or mantle of anointing that our heavenly Father wants to give us, so that we can do the works of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit and in dependence on Him. So that we can heal the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and set free those who are oppressed, just like Jesus did when He as God in human flesh walked on earth two thousand years ago. For Jesus words are true:
"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)
The Robe the father gave the prodigal son can be compared to the "coat of many colors" that Israel gave to his son Joseph, the same Coat their Heavenly Father presently gives us. God's word records:
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors." (Genesis 37:3)
The Robe signifies a Mantle of the Holy Spirit's 'Anointing' on them. The different colors on the coat signify the different aspects and attributes of the 'Anointing;' such as salvation, healing, blessings, prosperity, provision, position, power, responsibility, authority, sonship, kingship, royalty, good things, deliverance, miracles, wealth and riches. We have an example of this recorded in the book of Kings of two great men of God, Elijah and Elisha, and what they accomplished with their Mantle. Elijah gathered on Mount Carmel the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who ate at Jezebel's table and all of the children of Israel. He told them what God would say to many of us today:
If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 1 King 18:21-22
Elijah called upon God at the offering of the evening sacrifice to confirm that he did things at God's command that they people might know He is the LORD God who has turned their hearts back to Him. God’s word records:
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:19-39)
Elijah obtained a great victory that day and ordered the false prophets to be destroyed. Thereafter he Elisha who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, Elijah passed by him and threw his Mantle on him. and Elisha became a man of God just like Elijah. Elijah also used his mantle to struck the water; so that two of them could cross over on dry ground. Later Chariots of fire took Elijah home but Elisha took up the Mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. The Word of God records
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. (2 Kings 2:13-14)
Similarly all of God's children can accomplish today with their mantle of the Holy Spirit, before the Lord returns great , wonderful and miraculous things. They, as born-again Spirit filled Christians, are not to underestimate the mantle of the Holy Spirit that our Creator God has given to them in response to their faith and persistence. Real men of God like Elijah and Elisha appreciated it and used it in their daily lives. Hence, God's people should do the same in their lives, especially using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit such as; the word of wisdom and knowledge, the gift of faith and healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. God's word records:
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:11-13)
Who is to say but God alone, what Gifts their Father-God will give them and has become available to them, once they have received the mantle or anointing of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, when they begin to drink of the Holy Spirit? For God's word is true:
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39
God's people need to have rivers of living water flowing out of them so that God’s people can water the dry and thirsty land around them. So that God's word will be true:
Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, Isaiah 32:15-18
The prodigal son received a new ring from His father signifying His right to use everything that belong to the Father. Similarly now, our Father-God places on our finger a new signet ring, His own signet ring, which gives us the power and authority to change things in our lives, other people’s, and entire nations, that cannot be reversed by anyone or anything through the use of His name. For Jesus said to you and I:
"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
"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. John 14:13-14
"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
In the name of Jesus there is life, healing, blessing, prosperity, miracles, good things and change and all we have to do is to use it. By it we can command and decree good things into existence, in Jesus’ Name, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit. For everything is possible to Him that believes and uses and trust that name.
Well Jesus’ seventy disciples returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:18-20
It’s not only the things that we do in Jesus name that counts but how we walk with Him who is our friend, Lord, savior, healer, refuge, provider and our Father God. God’s presence and power in this generation in America have not been demonstrated and shown to others. As a result we now have generation X who knows nothing about God and His miracle working power and works. But our Father-God is calling His Entire Remnant, on whom the Spirit of God is stirring, to put on their signet ring and rise up and do a work in this generation.
In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the LORD, 'and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,' says the LORD of hosts." (Haggai 2:23)
By faith with the King’s signet ring on our finger, we can speak, act, decree and change things on behalf of God himself, and in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, just as the Lord Himself said to the prophet Jeremiah:
“See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:10)
God wants us, in the power of the Holy Spirit and with His Word and the authority that is given because of our signet ring, to change things in our lives and those around us. He literally wants to give us His four R’s: Rest, Refuge, Redemption, and Renown as He has already given us His 4 P’s: His Presence, Promises, Person and Power. For as a good God, who is with and for us today, He wants to use His power for our good and has given us exceeding great and precious promises, that through these we may be partakers of the divine nature. Because all the promises of God in Him are ‘Yes,’ and in Him ‘Amen,’ to the glory of God through us. Since we have these promises we should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God and serve with our total abilities and all of our heart and not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We have all, in Christ Jesus, obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as Jesus was also a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises through faith we can subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises and even stop the mouths of lions and others. God wants to take the signet ring of power and authority from the others, including Principalities and powers, and return it to us, just as in the days of old with Mordecai:
So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman. (Esther 8:2)
The prodigal son also received new sandals from his father. Similarly our Heavenly Father now places new sandals on our feet, which are the shoes of the gospel of peace to proclaim the good news of the Gospel to others. So that they can be healed, set free, redeemed, blessed, delivered, no longer oppressed and can have real power and authority over the enemy. With the new sandals on our feet, we can go forth proclaiming and demonstrating in the power of the Holy Spirit, the power and wisdom of our God.
Chapter 16
Exceedingly Great And Precious Promises
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His 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 you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:1-4
God gave us precious faith not to be admired or to be shown on Sunday but rather to be used every day to see needs met and things changed even in the storms of life. When a shipwright builds a vessel, does he build it to keep it in stock? No, he builds it for the sea and the storm. When he was making it, he thought of tempests and hurricanes; if he did not, he was a poor shipbuilder. When God made a believer, He meant to try him; and when He gave him exceedingly great and precious promises, and told him to trust them, He gave such promises as are suitable for times of tempest and tossing. His Word of promise is meant to be tried and proved. God’s covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated. Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use when whenever our time of need comes:
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
Joseph the son of Jacob who was betrayed and rejected by his brothers, not only received a coat of many colors from his father, but he also received a signet ring from Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and placed it on Joseph's hand, then he clothed him in fine linen garments and put a gold chain around his neck. Joseph then became second to the Pharaoh to be command things in Egypt.
Similarly we like Joseph, the son of Jacob, can wear our coat of many colors or the anointing mantle of the Holy Spirit and use our signet ring to do great exploits for God. We, as Spirit filled men and women of God, should gladly and daily wear our coat of many colors, appreciating and treasuring the many different colors of this coat.
We should invite the Holy Spirit, not only to have full and total control of our hearts and lives, but to move unhindered, unrestricted and unlimited in us. We should wear daily, the signet ring that our Heavenly Father has given us with pride and use its authority often to destroy all the works of the devil around us.
Unfortunately, in Joseph’s life we see his brothers have stripped him of his coat due to their extreme jealousy. We should be wise enough definitely not to let others or the devil steal our coat or dampen its colors, or take away the authority that comes with our signet ring, given to us by our Father-God.
We should not let anybody stop us from doing good works, with signs and wonders and the power available to us, moving every mountain and casting out every demon, especially with the new kingship anointing that our Father-God gave us when we returned to Him.
The story of the prodigal son does not end here. There was another older son who worked in the field, who was faithful and true to God, who chose to love and serve Him to the best of his ability. However, this other son, did not take advantage of his possessions, wealth and inheritance as the son of the King.
When he came near the house and heard music and dancing, he was told by one of the servants that his brother had come back home, safe and sound and his father had received him back, killed one of the best calves and had a party to celebrate his return.
But the faithful son was very angry with all of this and wouldn’t join the party even though his father came out and pleaded with him. “ He 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.’ (Luke 15:29-30)
We see again in this parable, the goodness of our Father-God. How He came out and pleaded with his son who had remained faithful and true. However, the son is very upset and angry that he didn’t get a new robe, a ring nor have a young goat.
Likewise, there are many faithful Christians in the House of God in America who will seem to be left out in this latter rain and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They have missed the benefits God has for them attached to their inheritance as His servants.
Well, our Heavenly Father said some very important words to His People in this passage, that are resounding throughout Heaven and only now are becoming real to many of His Children in the body of Jesus Christ because they have not totally understood all encompassed in their inheritance.
“And he said to him, ’Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours, (Luke 15:31)
Any earthly son or daughter knows that what belongs to his earthly father also belongs to him and he can use and enjoy it. So why are we not claiming and using All that is ours and belongs to our Heavenly Father here on earth today?
We should examine the word ‘All’ and its application to our life and circumstances because we need the Holy Spirit to make this truth real to us and show us how it practically applies to our daily lives.
'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 15:32)
This is also important to us and shows us the love and concern of our heavenly Father for any one of His sheep that has been lost and now is found.
So today, in the new millennium and a new move of God’s Holy Spirit, when others are being blessed with great anointing, ministries, wealth and riches, we can by faith go to our Father and lay claim to those same anointing, ministries, wealth and riches. We also, by faith with patience, and by meeting the conditions set out in God’s Word, can inherit and possess these promises and gifting in our lives, making a real difference in the world around us.
You ask, how is this possible? It’s possible because “the just shall live by Faith.” Everything that we are, that we shall become and that we receive is by Faith, and always in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Didn’t our Lord say?
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” ( John 16:23)
We really need the wonderful Holy Spirit, who is our friend, comforter and guide to show us all that the phrase “that day” means. This phrase “that day” appears so many times in the Bible, it is in reality made by the Holy Spirit to mean “this day.” As God’s word is true:
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. (Psalms 102:13)
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14)
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
When we as Christians, turn back to our Father-God, we enter into the “Kingdom of the Son” and become “partakers of the inheritance of the saints.“ (Colossians 1:12,13)
However the body of Jesus Christ in America has missed an important condition for being blessed because many of us have done our part. Yes, we have asked, believed and fasted, but we didn’t do the right kind of fast. We did not ensure that strangers, fatherless and widows were provided for and protected. Even though God’s word states:
'Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
"For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David.
"But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself," says the LORD, "that this house shall become a desolation." ' " Jeremiah 22:3-5
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. ' " James 22:3-5
In other words, we have show partiality to the mighty and have not been “fruitful in every good work” especially, social works and correcting injustice. Many of us, even are pastors and church leaders, have been playing church and haven’t been doing the real fasting spoken of in Isaiah 58:
"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell. (Isaiah 58:6-12)
While we all want the blessings of God on our nation, lives and churches yet we have not fulfilled the conditions. For God is always concerned about the poor, lonely, broken hearted and outcast, and wants to move with compassion through us so that they can be ministered to and delivered from their evil and painful circumstances.
Our Father’s gifting, riches, power in the Robe, Ring and Sandals are not given so that we can spend them on ourselves. But so that we can spend them on a lost and hurting humanity, thereby propagating and demonstrating the Good News of the Gospel in deeds and actions and not just words. When we as Christians, realize what kind of real social works and concern please the Lord and deal with the injustices in our lives and in those around us, getting involved even when it hurts or costs us something, God will open the windows of heaven and do great things in and through our lives, that we never imagined possible. Then, the following promises will become true in our lives:
“And the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” (Deuteronomy 14:29)
“The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 30:9)
“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.” (Psalms 91:14-16)
The Word of God is a covenant or contract between God and us. We are now heirs to all the promises that the Lord made. All the promises in the New and Old Testaments are ours, to claim and stand on. In the covenant with Abraham God promised He would make us great and give us many personal blessings as long as we would obey Him totally. While this truth does not apply to everyone on the earth, it does apply to all those who are of Abraham’s seed and true children of faith. God fulfilled and keep His Word to Abraham and He will do the same for us because the Word of God records:
"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. (Genesis 24:35)
Similarly, God who saw and knew that Joseph’s brothers, because of envy, sold Him into Egypt. Yet, God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, and then He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Solomon, David, Hannah and many others were blessed by God in many ways and Jesus Himself also, said to us:
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)
Go To The Deeps Of God’s Promise
Charles H. Gabriel
Go to the deeps of God’s promise;
Ask freely of Him, and receive;
All good may be had for the asking,
If, seeking, you truly believe.
Go to the deeps of God’s promise;
And know of His wonderful might;
Whatever would be a true blessing,
For Jesus’ sake, comes as thy right.
Go to the deeps of God’s promise;
The blessing is never denied;
He loves, and remembers His children,
And every good thing is supplied.
Go to the deeps of God’s promise;
And claim whatsoever ye will;
The blessing of God will not fail thee,
His Word He will surely fulfill
Go to the deeps of God’s promise;
There’s wideness of meaning untold
In the promises given His people,
And the treasures they ever unfold.
Chapter 17
I Am The LORD Who Heals You
…"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 15:26
"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 has created man in His image and that includes the right to make choices, to think freely, to rule freely. And even though the LORD is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and for ever and a great and wonderful healing God, man has the right to choose and remain sick. And God will not go against this right! But it doesn’t change the fact that God is able to take away from His trusting ones all sickness and heal them of all diseases. His word is unchanging:
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24
Yes, using our faith we can be healed of anything and everything! Faith is used not only to obtain good and marvelous things from God but to keep our adversary, Satan, when he comes in like a flood and tries to overwhelm us by his onslaughts, at bay. As a result through faith we can not only have great victories over Satan but great victories from God from standing on His promises and quoting His word. Our feelings and inadequacies have nothing to do with God. He doesn’t look at or consider them but only at our faith. Even though there are many hindrances to faith, but when we are tempted, or a delay has come, we and still and wait upon God who is faithful and true and has promised to deliver us and answer our prayers. His word is true:
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. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1Corinthians 10:13
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 11:31-34
Yes, we are of little faith and we do limit God as to what He cannot or will not do. But a child doesn’t stop trying to learn to walk because he falls and stumbles many times? No he will keep on trying until he is able to walk and walk for quite a while. There are times in my life where God has answered some prayers instantly and others prayers He did not answer. There have been times where God healed a sickness and diseases miraculously and other times I have had to rely on medical doctors and medicine. So just because God doesn’t heal miraculously or within our set time frame doesn’t mean that God isn’t in the healing business? And it doesn’t mean that our faith is perfect. But Jesus did say:
"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. James 14:12
Salvation-soteria is defined in the bible as being established in "protection, preservation, prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance and the ministry of angels." But salvation is a personal thing. Each person must work out his or her own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:14). But due to the complexities of man each person is not always established in “protection, preservation, prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance”. Nevertheless God is able to ensure that spirit and soul and body preserved sound and complete. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) especially as the brethren pray one for another (COL 1:9, 1THES 5:25, 2THES 3:1, HEB 13:18, JMS 5:16) and help one another (ACTS 4:34, 1COR 16:17, PHIL 2:30). Yes, the whole body of Christ has a responsibility to help and heal those in the body who are weaker in faith, spirit and body (1 Corinthians 12:12-28,1 John 3:16-19). We all are our brother’s keepers and must support each other through prayer, financial giving and encouraging works.
God has more than enough for anything we need - be it salvation healing, salvation, baptism with the Holy Ghost, deliverances from bondages, miracle ministries, or anything else. And through faith kingdoms are subdued, righteousness worked, promises obtained, the mouths of lions stopped, the violence of fire quenced, the edge of the sword escaped, strength comes to weakness, become valiant in battle, and turn to flight the armies of the aliens. So we are not to take our faith or the use of our faith lightly as prayer and faith accomplish things which are impossible with men but not impossible with God. And Satan knows all this and he does everything to try to prevent God’s miracles and answers from becoming a reality from using sin, discouragement, persecution, oppression, sickness, diseases and other negative things to stop the Christian from believing and trusting God. Secret sins can and do destroy faith and hinder a person from receiving healing and other deliverances as well.
The devil also knows that if a person becomes self righteous or hurts other people that will prevent God from keeping His promises to him. Many people are quick to see the faults of others, but are blind to any faults of their own. With this spirit, one cannot have faith for healing, for deliverances of any kind --- God will not give faith to a self-righteous person. Many people pass through many healing lines and are not healed not because of lack of faith, but because they have not confessed their faults to God. They have not been honest to find out what was the root cause of their sickness even though God’s word tells them:
"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. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26
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
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
Yes, people, fools, get sick because of their transgression and because of their iniquities and when they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, He saves them out of their distresses. He sent His word and heals them, and delivers them from their destructions. Hence the Word of God states:
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. James 5:14-16
Those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (1 Timothy 3:5) are wonderful ground for the doctrines of men and demons to take root in their lives and for the devil to bring all kinds of negative things in their lives and pretend that it is the will of God when it’s all from the pit of hell including poverty, loss, sickness, diseases, sorrow and grief. Those who do not believe in the miracle-working power of God and deny that there is any such power cannot be true sons and daughters of God because He always was and is a miracle working God. Such unbelievers who are full of erroneous teaching and do not possess the power of God in their own lives, make excuses for themselves by adjusting the teaching of the scriptures to their own thinking. Peter tells us these kind of wicked people wrest the scriptures to their own destruction. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation-as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:15-18.
He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, "making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." Mark 7:6-13
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
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
A note on healing:
"All things are possible to him that believes."
We aren't waiting for God, God is waiting for us. (God never has 'doubt' )
What would it take for you to believe that God would heal you ?
For some,... just knowing that God is NOT the author of pain is a big enough step.
If Jesus ALWAYS did the will of his Father - then why did Jesus heal ANYONE ? (Unless, of course, it IS the will of God ).
You see,... if 'god' made people sick, then Jesus was 'undoing' God's work.
And still,... why didn't Jesus make ANYONE forcibly ill - and say stuff like "... oh, you need to be more humble, so I will make you ill - and somehow, you will come back to God."
JESUS NEVER DID THAT.
In fact, this is what scripture says repeatedly,...
"He went about healing ALL that were oppressed of the devil" ( not 'oppressed of God', but the devil
It also says "He healed ALL manner of sickness and disease."
The only places in scripture where people did not get healed, was because 'they' did not believe. And it is the ONLY thing required to receive from God.
Make no mistake about it,... it is the absolute will of God that you be healed of ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease.
Now, the real question is,... do you BELIEVE that, or not?
We aren't waiting for God, God is waiting for us. (God never has 'doubt' )
What would it take for you to believe that God would heal you ?
For some,... just knowing that God is NOT the author of pain is a big enough step.
If Jesus ALWAYS did the will of his Father - then why did Jesus heal ANYONE ? (Unless, of course, it IS the will of God ).
You see,... if 'god' made people sick, then Jesus was 'undoing' God's work.
And still,... why didn't Jesus make ANYONE forcibly ill - and say stuff like "... oh, you need to be more humble, so I will make you ill - and somehow, you will come back to God."
JESUS NEVER DID THAT.
In fact, this is what scripture says repeatedly,...
"He went about healing ALL that were oppressed of the devil" ( not 'oppressed of God', but the devil
It also says "He healed ALL manner of sickness and disease."
The only places in scripture where people did not get healed, was because 'they' did not believe. And it is the ONLY thing required to receive from God.
Make no mistake about it,... it is the absolute will of God that you be healed of ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease.
Now, the real question is,... do you BELIEVE that, or not?
Chapter 18
I Will Restore Health To You
Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. 'Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; Those who plunder you shall become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: "This is Zion; No one seeks her." ' Jeremiah 30:15-17
The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:24-26
God is not only the Great Healer, Deliverer and Provider, but He is also the Great Restorer. For after all He is the one who raised Jesus Christ from the dead after the world had done its worst to Him and restored everything back to Jesus. God’s word records:
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:30-32
Calvary is a proof of God’s love for man in that God has restored man to fellowship with Him through the blood and death of His only innocent begotten son. Calvary is also proof that there is nothing that God can not defeat nor destroy including demons and death. Mind you Calvary is also proof that God brings judgment on those who deserve it just like Jesus prophesied. God’s word records:
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " Luke 19:41-46
God’s other ministers the Romans governing authorities an avenger to execute wrath on those who practice evil destroyed and leveedl Jerusalem and the temple as well as the nation of Israel. Nations, people and individuals, do not consider that there are real consequences for their evil works even in the current time of life. But God’s word is true:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.
Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Romans 13:1-4
Now some men readily want to forgive everybody for anything and everything so that they would be forgiven for anything and everything and not have to face the consequences of their sins and deeds and be restored back to health or wealth with out pain, sorrow and suffering. But real life does not go this way. When King David sinned he suffered and had a broken and contrite heart. As a result he stated:
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart- These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Psalm 51:1-19
Men would do well to heed the words prayed by King David that God does not want sacrifice nor does He delight in burnt offerings. The sacrifices which are acceptable to God are a broken spirit, and broken and a contrite heart. For such as these God will create in them a clean heart, renew a steadfast spirit. He will not cast me them away from His presence, nor take the Holy Spirit from them. He will restore to them the joy of His salvation and uphold them by His generous Spirit. Nevertheless God’s word remains true:
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
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. 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. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:14-18
Apostle Peter retained the sins of Ananias, and his wife Sapphira who sinned a sin leading unto death. God’s word records:
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Acts 5:1-11
Some people pay for their sins and deeds even with their lives, as Ananias and Sapphira did when they allowed Satan to fill their heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Men must be carefully for the evil deeds and actions which they commit in their lives especially in dealing with God or His servants, case in point being Miriam. God’s word records:
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!" So the three came out. Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.
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. So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. "Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!"
So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!" Then the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again."
So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. Numbers 12:1-15
God’s true anointed prophets and friends are not to be touched by any one or else there will be severe consequences for their foolishness unless they repent and heed the words of Jesus who said:
"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.
"Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:22-26
All these things are in the Word of God for the benefit, profit and example of men. Those who fail to heed the Word of God have no one else to blame when they find themselves in situations and predicaments they never expected to be. God does not restore fools who ignore His words and His voice. But to those who obey God’s word, walk in His ways, and listen to His voice God will restore all that which the cankerworm had eaten. Case in point is Joseph and Job. Both men who had suffered tremendous losses due to no fault of their own: God’s word records:
"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
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. 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 42:9-13
God delights to restore all things in abundance and to make the latter days of His true ones better than their beginning. But the choice is up to each man as to whether he shall have profit or loss, promotion or demotion, restoration or destruction.
Chapter 19
Seeing Him Who Is Invisible
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. Hebrews 11:3
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27
No one is going to have true success in life if he does see the invisible realm of God more real the visible and if he or she does not look to Him who is invisible for all His directions, counsel and guidance. Those who see and live for the things which are seen are losers already before they even start for they ignore the reality of the Word of God which states:
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:13-20
All things which were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers were created through Jesus Christ and for Him who sustains all things by the power of His spoken word. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and the head of every thrones, dominions, principalities or powers. Those who fail to understand this truth are only spinning their wheels going now where. They definitely are not pleasing God but only themselves and others - which is an absolute waste of time and life both in the present and in eternity. For He who is the Judge of all the earth and who blessed Abraham and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah is going to judge them even in the current time of life. For God’s word is true:
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously." Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. Psalm 96:9-13
The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head. Psalm 110:4-7
Men have a real choice to make in life. They can be His friend or be His enemy. The choice is theirs even for those who are called by God’s name. For God’s word is true:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 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 10:22-31
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
These Things The Gentiles Seek
"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:30-34
Jesus was very clear in His teaching that He would give to His trusting ones all the things that the gentiles seek! Well what do the gentiles or unbelievers seek today? Money, wealth, prominence, fortune, cars, boats, houses, fame, a good time, excitement to say the least! Jesus said For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
So what does the devil do to those who heed the words of Jesus today? Well Jesus also clearly gave us the answer:
"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 13:18-23
In other words the devil steals the word, bring tribulation or persecution of the word, or causes the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the word. The jealous devil has many agenda’s including making God to be a liar and to ensure that people don’t see the words of Jesus fulfilled in their lives! Of course he is a tricky devil and the bible tells us clearly:
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
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. 1 Peter 5:8-11
Now the other good news is that nothing is impossible with God no matter what the mountain, enemy, defeat, or sickness might appear to be! God can change and deal with all things. We see this after the death of Jesus where the disciples of Jesus were disheartened and disillusioned for having trusted in the words of Jesus. The bible tells us that Jesus Himself appeared and spoke to them:
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. "Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. "When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. "And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:13-27
The disciples were not put to shame for trusting in Jesus expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. They were later to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit and power and go around doing miracles, signs and wonders showing that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
The Cross is also a real testimony of what God’s power can do no matter what the Hell or injustice that the world or the devil will throw at us. For Jesus’ resurrection after a cruel and awful death signifies the real possibility of total and complete victory in our lives, hearts and circumstances as well in the current time of life as we trust in God just like Jesus did. The empty Cross now says to you and I, that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is success, for every weakness there is grace, for every sickness there is healing, for every hatred there is love, for every injustice there is justice and for every poverty there is riches. All of this and much, much more belongs to each child of God because of what Jesus did and won on the Cross
And Jesus unlike many other foolish ones didn’t deny the Old Testament which is still today part of Scriptures. But Jesus resurrection showed us that God can take the worst thing that ever happened to us and make it the best thing that ever happened to us just like He did for Jesus! As a result of the victories of the Cross and the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit we now have an exceeding greatness of God’s power available towards us who believe. For the God’s word is true:
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, “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 1:17-23)
We are to rest in all that Jesus Christ has accomplished on Calvary. Jesus Christ has substituted all things on the cross for us and exchanged it there for us. Our death, defeat and poverty and curses have been nailed to the Christ. On the Cross Jesus Christ not only won real victory and redemption over sin and death and the world, but also over the wicked arch enemy Satan and all his angels who had made the Cross necessary by what he did to Adam and Eve. The enemy had deceived and entrapped Adam and Eve to sin against God and live a life that was cursed and full of toil and trouble. But on the Cross Jesus Christ did the great exchange. He exchanged His sinlessness for our sins, His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His strength for our weakness, His boundless supply for our needs, His stripes for our healing, His riches for our poverty, His victories for our defeats, His triumphs for our disappointments, His glory for our nothingness, His Honor for our shame, His joy for our sadness, and His fullness for our emptiness. But all of this is also something that must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit before we can understand and partake of it fully. Yet it is all our birthright and the blessing of the fullness of the gospel of Christ.
The message of the cross and the Gospel is not only that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He is now is seated at the right hand of the Father with all power given unto Him in heaven and earth waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. But the message of the cross and the Gospel is also that as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross, He has now given and shared all that He has with us and He is also with and for us continually. God in Christ Jesus has literally become our inheritance and great reward; as well as everything else which we need, including our healer and deliverer. As result of the Cross, God said about Jesus and of us who have become strong and overcomers:
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
As a result of the cross, in Christ Jesus, we are rich, victorious and have a new life in Christ Jesus, as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. The empty Cross now also stands as a reminder and says to the world and to all the demons of Hell “You did your worst, but God gave His best. Now things are no longer the same, because Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be submitted to Him. He has also now given us the power to subdue all His and our enemies through the use of His name and Word and dependence of the Spirit. Hence we can by the Holy Spirit understand what the Lord said to Apostle Paul:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Our strength and victory comes from God Himself and all the victories He had won for us on the Cross of Calvary. Although in the annuals of time and history, our Creator God died on the Cross-on Calvary, but He didn’t stay there. He arose triumphant and victorious over everything, over the worst that the devil or others could throw at or do to Him and to us. Because of the cross of Christ, God has reconciled all things to Himself whether things on earth or things in heaven for Jesus having wiped out all the enemies of His people and especially the requirements that were against them, He has taken it out of the way having nailed to the cross. It is when the power of Christ rest upon us, because of our weakness, that we are truly strong. For it is then that we rest upon the Lord and walk in the power of His might and Spirit and not our own. As we by faith tap into all the riches and resources of heaven which are now ours by Christ Jesus because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross two thousand years ago we become more than conquerors.
We are to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. It is be noted God's own act that put us in Christ, and we are to abide in Him. The fact remains that Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, ready to use His power on behalf of the good of His true children; to make them more than conquerors in all things that the world, the flesh and the devil would throw at them. For His word is unchanging:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "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 disciple John 15:1-8
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
“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 God Of Peace
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." John 20:19
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
God has made us spirit, soul and body and we are supposed to function in the spirit world all the time. But ever since man sinned, the soul of man has degenerated into a mere natural function and we have neglected the spiritual function of our soul. We need to be able to know how to move into the spirit realm and how to get back into the natural realm. God made us to be spiritual beings that also live in the natural world. In the natural world we have five senses to relate to the natural world. The sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of taste and the sense of touch. These five natural senses relate to the natural world. They are senses that are part and parcel of our physical body. We also have the spirit man. Our spirit was created to relate to the spirit world. We have taught before that there are five spiritual senses. Just as in the natural, so is the same in the spiritual. In fact, the spiritual came before the natural. There is the spiritual sense of sight, spiritual sense of taste, spiritual sense of smell, spiritual sense of hearing, and spiritual sense of touch.
Regarding the spiritual senses, the bible talks about the eyes of our understanding, the inner eyes of our spirit and seeing with the eyes of our spirit. The bible talks about hearing the Word that causes faith. He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. He is talking about spiritual hearing. There is a spiritual sense of taste. O taste and see that the Lord is good. Spiritual sense of smell is found in Phil. 4 where the offerings that Paul received from the Philippians were a sweet savor onto the Lord. There is a spiritual sense of touch. There is a spirit of heaviness and there is a spirit of liberty. With our spirit, we relate to the spirit world. With our physical bodies, we relate to the physical world. How our mind is set determines whether we can move into the anointing or not. When our mind is set on the things of the Spirit, we are in a position where we can yield to the things of God. When our soul breaks into the spirit realm, it’s easy to break through. It just takes a yielding of the soul to the things of the spirit to break into the spirit realm. It looks hard but it’s easy. The renewal of the mind takes time. But the yielding of the mind is instantly decided by our will. To yield is an act. To renew is a continuous process.
What God wants from us is to obey first then understand. Whatever happens to the soul determines how much our soul can move in the spirit. When our mind is not set on the spirit world, we are just in the natural world. It takes a lot out of us to get into the spirit. But if the spirit realm becomes a realm that we are acquainted with, we can move in the spirit and in the natural world quite easily. And in the spirit realm is where we find peace.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom (both adjective and substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," "prosperity," well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. Yes, God wants peace and prosperity to be within our walls and palaces. He wants His people and His church to be sound, healthy, wealthy, and prosperous and have favor with God and with men. And this is not done for them not by the works of the flesh but by the anointing and grace of God which He freely gives to those who believe Him for it!
The touch of God, the fire of God and the presence of God does more for us than anything else in this universe. And it’s the pearl of great price that Jesus talked about, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46). It’s God Spirit and presence that is important and moves out the mountains in our lives through grace and not other things. God’s word is unchanging:
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " Zechariah 4:5-6
Only the Spirit and function of the Holy Spirit can remove every hindrance and obstacle in our lives and make something out of nothing! Only the Holy Spirit does something so supernatural from nothing to something by the Spirit called grace, grace, just like God created heaven and earth out of nothing and sustains it by grace! But we must do our part by cooperating with God and doing whatever He tells us to see our miracles. God’s word is unchanging:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11
Mary told said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And when they did what Jesus told them to do they saw a miracle. For many reasons including ignorance, fear, and unbelief, God’s people are not doing what God’s word has told them to do because don't understand the power in the declarations: "Exaltation will come," and "Decree a thing and it will be established" (Job22:28-29). Our ministering angels carry out our earthly prophetic decrees which line up with the truth of God's word and His will. When we declare "Restore!" "Restore!" Then the angels in heaven are released to execute this decree! God’s word is unchanging:
But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!" Isaiah 42:22
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:21-27
Yes, God wants to save and bring restoration to the humble, His people and His church. Yes this is the day of God’s vengeance on our enemies and the year of His favor ones. This is our acceptable year, liberation, Jubilee and our victory! When through our faith we release God to save the humble and to deliver those who are bound exaltation comes to us. When we say, "Restore!" we release God's 'repairer of the breach' anointing (Isaiah 58:12) which causes everything in our lives that is lost and broken to be restored—the thief must repay God's people.
Yes we can let the angelic hosts overcome every demonic power or stronghold and every assignment that is aimed against our inheritances! Yes we can throw it down! We can take authority concerning our kingship over every power that resists. Yes, restoration happens when we declare, "Restore!" "Restore!" "Exaltation comes!" And we will see breakthroughs in every area of our lives including receiving our inheritance and stepping into our destiny. We will experience prosperity in our businesses; even the number of businesses increase. Yes, the Lord will rebuke the enemy who brings sickness and disease by stealing, killing and destroying. He will turn all the negative things around in our live and give us justice where there is injustice, make the wrongs right and the crook straight.
Yes, when we ascend the courts of heaven and petition the Ancient of Days to come and pronounce judgment in our favor. We will that receive supernatural intervention by God when events are out of our hands because a higher court system has come into place when we approach His throne and present our case to Him. Yes, we can begin to bring justice and mercy for the poor and needy, the afflicted and the widow, with the Word of God in our mouths. He gave us authority to set the captives free, in Jesus' Mighty name! God’s word is unchanging:
"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
Chapter 22
God Makes My Way Perfect
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 18:3-32
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:23-25
As Christians, what we need is more of God and His Spirit and wisdom that He gives and less of ourselves and our ways. We don’t know the mind of God and as matter of fact we don’t know much at all. We can only receive by faith all the gifts that the Father has for us and others including the gift of faith and wisdom and then use them. We must learn to speak the words that God has whispered in our hearts, and understand that He watches over His word to perform. Then we can rest in Him to do what He said He will do. God’s has promised that there will be seedtime and harvest but he has not told us when? Our responsibility after the seed falls into the ground and dies, is to continue in faith ‑yes, even in wavering faith ‑ believing that the seed of His Word will not fail to produce a bountiful crop even a hundred fold.
We must not be clever, but we must be clear. Our message is the simple Gospel, not higher consciousness. We are not helping people to get God right, but to get right with God. The Holy Spirit alone opens hearts and minds not us. But we must learn to hear God’s voice and we must learn to obey it. Not the voice of dull religion. Not the voice of our fears and prejudices. We don't have to know everything ‑ God does. We must trust His perfect knowledge. And if we tune into His voice and obey it, He will see to it that we are used in His great purpose.
We need to learn that the Holy Spirit is not a force but a person with whom we can fellowship and interact freely at all times. The Holy Spirit does not possess us. He honors our choices. He indwells us, and prompts us with such things as an upwelling of divine compassion. We must somehow learn to follow the prompting of compassion. God is in it.
Yes, the Lord is a shield to all those who trust in Him. And no one is more powerful than the Lord who rides the heavens to help His trusting ones. He is the shield of their help and the sword of their majesty! As a result their enemies whoever or whatever they might be shall submit to them, and His trusting ones shall tread down their high places. They have God’s unchanging word on it:
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, "As I live forever, 1 If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the heads of the leaders of the enemy." ' "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people." Deuteronomy 32:39-43
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. Psalm 18:16-20
The only one who is perfect in the universe and His work is perfect is God whose ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice. Righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). And you don’t want to get in His way when He whets His glittering sword, and His hand takes hold on judgment. He will render vengeance to His enemies, and repay those who hate Him. He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people. And no one will stand against Him. Yes, what God has done before He can and will do again. His word is unchanging:
"For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?" Deuteronomy 4:7
"And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, "that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. "And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' "Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. "And you shall answer and say before the LORD your God: 'My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 'But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. 'Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. 'So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 'He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, "a land flowing with milk and honey"; 'and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me.' Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. Deuteronomy 26:1-11
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
Yes when God trusting ones cry out to the Lord because of their affliction and oppression, He hears their voice and delivers them with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with signs and wonders and brings them to a land of plenty and prosperity. Yes, they are to ask the Father in Jesus name and they will receive that their joy may be full. God does these kind of things for His friends. Yes, they did not choose Jesus Christ, but He chose them and appointed them that they should go and bear fruit, and that their fruit should remain, that whatever they ask the Father in Jesus name He may give them (John 15:16). God’s word is unchanging:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "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 15:1-8
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. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4
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, including every demon, diseases, sickness, and oppression ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). God’s word is unchanging:
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. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Now Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria. 2 Kings 6:15-19
Yes, for a true believer of Christ, the Spiritual world is the real and greater world than the natural world. But this is something that most carnal ones don’t understand or avail themselves off – God’s great and wonderful miracle working power. Yes, God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:27-27). More things are achieved by praying in the Spirit, in tongues, that bring real changes on earth than any other method known to man for it’s God Himself praying through His people bring His kingdom and will on earth! Yes, there is rest and victory in Jesus in, through and by the Spirit of the LORD. God’s word is unchanging:
At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. "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 11:25-30
Satan, I renounce you, and I take back all the ground that I ever yielded to you. God is my source of wisdom, knowledge, guidance, victory, strength and power. In Jesus name I declare total and complete victory over every enemy! You familiar spirits, leave me, in the name of Jesus. Lord Jesus, I belong to You. You have saved me and redeemed me by Your blood. I have need of no spirit other than The Holy Spirit. Forgive me for having sought from other spirits that which should only come from You. I renounce and separate myself from all familiar spirits, however acquired. I call upon You, Lord, to deliver me from the lies and deceptions of familiar spirits, all the works and wiles of the enemy and to heal me of all their works and all things. Teach me Your truth and Your ways. It is my earnest desire to walk in Your will and to glorify Your name. Amen.
Father God, You are the wonder-working God. I come boldly before Your throne of mercy and grace seeking healing for my body, blessings in my finances and total victory over every enemy. Deliver me from every bondage and enemy. Heal me from every infirmity. Guard me from all forces of darkness. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness by Your precious blood. Remove every fear from my heart and let Your divine light shine in my heart. Grant me the strength of Your divine spirit and strengthen me.
Lord Your word says that You are the God that heals us of all our diseases, all our sickness, redeem us from destruction, gives us victory over all our enemies and satisfy us with good things and my enemies would flee from me seven ways. You said that You would take my sickness away from me, bless me coming in and going out and I would thread the high places of my enemies. Your word says that You desire above all things that we prosper and be in good health. Therefore I know that it is Your will for me to be in good health. Therefore, in the name of Jesus, I come against any s spirit of infirmity and spirit of poverty that is trying to overtake me, and render it helpless in the mighty name of Jesus.
Father in the name of Jesus, I bind every spirit of sickness and disease, every spirit of infirmity, and every other demonic spirit that the enemy is trying to use against my life in any way. By the authority of Jesus Christ, I pull down every stronghold of the adversary against my body, and command him to flee from every area of my body, as well as my life and my finances, in the name of Jesus. Satan I render You helpless, powerless, and ineffective against my body and my finances in the name of Jesus. For greater is He that is in me that he that is in the world, therefore You will not overcome me, for I have overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of my testimony, and I say to You “ BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH I AM HEALED, BLESSED AND MADE PERFECT, WHOLE AND COMPLETE!
Heavenly Father, we come in faith believing that Jesus Christ is healer. We are created in your image and we speak as you speak. We command bones in the feet and legs to be strengthened so that the lame may walk. We speak to sores, cankers, diseases, infirmities, cancers, growths and tumors and decree by the shed blood of Jesus Christ that they are healed! We praise you Lord God that is so. Amen.
Father, You said if we had faith the grain of a mustard seed, we could speak to the mountain and it would be removed. So I speak to my mountain of sickness, poverty and lack in my life and in the name of Jesus Christ, I command it to be removed, uprooted, and cast into the sea. In the name of Jesus, I command it to die at the root, and never to spring up again. By the authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I claim total restoration of every organ, every cell, every part of my body, and in the name of Jesus my body will function in perfection, the way God made it to and for my finances that my storehouse be filled to the brim and be overflowing . I loose great and wonderful miracles of healing and restoration and blessing of every kind spiritual, physical and financial for me my family my loved ones my special friends and for your people in Jesus name.
Father, I thank You for hearing my prayer. I thank You for interceding for me, and not letting Your word return void. I thank You that You watch over Your word to perform it, and that Your word will always accomplish that which You sent it to do. Father in the name of Jesus, I receive my healing, my deliverance, my blessing and prosperity this day and I praise the name of Jesus for all of it. In Jesus name, I pray all this and give you all the praise and glory and honor for what You have done, are doing and shall do! Amen and amen!
Chapter 23
With God All Things Are Possible
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:25-26
"For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:37
But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Luke 18:27
To God the creator of life and of heaven and earth, the things which are impossible with men are possible with Him. As a result the angel of the Lord told a virgin named Mary who didn’t have a husband:
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. "For with God nothing will be impossible." Luke 1:30-37
Even though in the natural it seems impossible to men, with God all things are possible especially when the Holy Spirit gets involved. It’s the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead after the world and the devil did their worst to Him and restored all things to Him including His glory and honor proving that "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." And the same wonderful Holy Spirit is alive and well today and He is able to do the impossible including making the lame to walk, the blind to see and the terminally ill to be healed just like He did through Jesus and his seventy disciples. God’s word is unchanging:
"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." Luke 4:18
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20
The power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was on Jesus and the gifts of the Spirit. 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. 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)
When the Jesus departed from his disciples he did not pour the Spirit out onto them the same day. They needed a period of special inner preparation before they were ready for this gift. If God’s people receive God’s blessing without expecting it and without being inwardly prepared for it, they will appreciate neither the gift nor will they hold onto it for long. So God’s people must desire and seek after the Baptism of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Because it’s a spiritual thing, there is only one way to make spiritual warfare and that is to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, receive the gifts of the Spirit, and use them including discernment, tongues and prophesy. Without the use of the gifts of the Spirit there cannot be any spiritual warfare, miracles, healing or deliverance because 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
However there is a spirit that is related to the spirit of fear that deceives and influences people to have doctrines of demons. Such proud and arrogant possessed ones think that carnal knowledge is the way to walk in the Spirit of the Lord. Such people are devoid of miracles in their lives and the operation of the gifts of the Spirit including speaking in tongues. They cannot hear or heed the voice of the Spirit except the voices of familiar spirits. They are self righteous and full of themselves and other spirits and are very contentions, argumentative, unteachable and unyielding. They refuse to see that they need to be delivered from familiar spirits and their lies and influences.
Yes, some Christians refuse to accept that afflictions and sickness are oppressions of the devil and they can be healed off them. Yes, there are those Christians who say that only Jesus Christ is important and nothing else and they are suffering for Jesus sake, His suffering. Even though by Jesus stripes they were healed and He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. They literally don’t fellowship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They don’t know and experience the love of the Father or the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Their faith is composed on solely knowledge of the written Word of God. They forgot that the new birth is not known solely by knowledge but solely by experience. Yes, through the avenue of faith, they believed on Jesus, called on His name and were saved and He gave them an experience call the new birth or being born again. They didn’t go on to being Baptized by Jesus Christ, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit with fire and tongues of fire, because it’s an emotional experience which doesn’t make sense to their carnal mind. But being born again is an emotional in body experience and so is the Baptism of the Spirit and operating in the gifts of the Spirit and is not based solely on intellect!
Then there are others who have experienced the Baptism of the Spirit and only relate to the Holy Spirit solely on the basis of power, gifts, shaking, electricity, someone falling down under the power. While others relate to the Holy Spirit in the context of the work He does for us, or the times He gives us a word of wisdom, knowledge or prophecy, we grieve Him. But the Holy Spirit is a person who wants to be loved, accepted and fellowship with us as a unique person just like each one of us wants to do as a unique person and not just some creature or entity. Understanding the Person of the Holy Spirit, having an encounter with Him, worshipping, respecting, embracing the Holy Spirit and loving Him in His function are the keys that will bring His power and anointing on our lives. We need to have on going visitations and relationships with the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tell us is to worship “God”—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the Godhead. We must worship each of them and that means we should relax and enjoy worshipping the Holy Spirit. We must fellowship with the Holy Spirit and not grieve Him. God’s word is unchanging:
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
Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 1 Corinthians 10:20
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 4:30-32
Yes, when we are full of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, it will come out of us including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and not uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy. As God’s word is unchanging:
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 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. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:11-17
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
If we have an intimate bond and relationship with the Holy Spirit we will be able to know and do many things that are humanly impossible because it’s what God does through us that matters and not we do in the flesh. We will be surrounded by God’s presence and glory and people will know and experience not only that something is different about us but God Himself. That is why the bible records about healing and Peter’s shadow:
And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:14-16
Yes, we must honor and give proper place in our lives to our my Wonderful Counselor, the Spirit of Truth and be totally dependent upon Him for everything including guiding us into all truth and delivering us from lies of men and demon! We must consciously acknowledge His presence in everything that we would and ask Him to possess us and direct us so that we will walk Him in all things. Then we will know the blessing of partnership with the Holy Spirit as we bring the saving, healing, delivering power of Jesus to the world. We need to present ourselves, all of us to the Holy Spirit and line ourselves up with Him. We have to keep asking Him to help us; we can't accomplish the purposes of God on our own, apart from His guidance. God’s word is unchanging”
"If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17
"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
Chapter 24
In The Power Of God
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24
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
Jesus Christ came to give us power, His indwelling power over all things! Power that is released through faith and through prayer and works by love. Power that was demonstrated by Apostle Peter who said to a lame cripple man:
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Acts 3:6-9
Jesus who lived and walked in the power of the Holy Spirit told us that He came to give His church power not only truths and redemption. God’s word tells us:
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49
"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 1:8
So if God’s people don’t have miracle working power it’s not God’s fault but theirs because God has promised to give them power! However in many cases power doesn’t come except through prayer and fasting! God’s word is true:
And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. "So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:14-21
It’s true that faith can move mountains but sometimes there are other matters that must be dealt with first by prayer. Prayer is talking to God and it’s a two way communication. God who knows and sees all things know what is the real problem and He must give wisdom or revelation on how best to deal with any matter! Praying without waiting on God and listening to what He has to say on any matter doesn’t accomplish much even though the Lord is our help and deliverer. Yes we can call out to Him in our distress and He shall deliver us from trouble if we listen and obey Him and no other! As the Psalmist said Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless (Psalm 60:11).
And it happens in this sinful world, many evil people rise against us even when we walk in the righteous way. We face people who accuse us falsely and others who try to harm us because of jealousy. Sometimes we are afflicted by sickness and infirmities that make our lives miserable and pathetic. In the midst of all these afflictions, the Bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Yes, we must first seek God faithfully, walk in His strength and power and none can stand against us. If we fail to seek the Lord and depend on our wisdom, understanding and power, surely we will run into trouble. It is the Lord alone Who can preserve us from all evil and dangers (Psalm 121:7).
And when the Holy Spirit abides in us, He will bless us with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He will put our adversaries to shame. The Bible says, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15). The Lord is near to us and He will help us. He will destroy our enemies and give us victory. He is your Helper and Deliverer (Psalm 70:5). We need to call upon God and see His delivering power manifested in our life.
Without fervent prayer and fasting there is no victory and we see this in the life of Moses when He battle the Amalek! The bible tells us:
Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Exodus 17:8-13
When Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. And the same is true with prayer! Victory is proportional to our prayer and fasting and Jesus constantly prayed in His ministry both morning and evening!
Only Five Loaves And Two Fish
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
It has been said that “ A little is much if God is in it” especially as God is a God of miracles and multiplication! Jesus proved this as recorded in Matthew 14:15-21 when there were a multitudes of people in a deserted place who were hungry. Jesus tested His disciples and said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." He said, "Bring them here to Me." Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men. So if we give something to God He can and will use it and multiply it and bless many!
Now the other fact is that Jesus wasn’t born rich He was born poor. But Jesus Christ made His parents rich and many people rich not just financially. The bible tells us wise men from the East came to Bethlehem of Judea and when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11). The bible also tells us that 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
Jesus became poor so that we might become rich spiritually, physically and financially! He came to make us whole body, soul and spirit. He came to bring us all kinds of blessings that are defined in His word:
"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
There is no one who can bless like God can and He has an established track record about it including blessing Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Joseph, Moses, Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat! He has blessed those who have put their total trust in Him and have done things His way. It’s to be noted that "self"-reliance is NOT ACCEPTABLE to God. He is in control and He will orchestrate His creation to bring all His children to the position of worship, trusting in Him and giving Him all the glory and praise! HE IS IN CONTROL and that His hand is on all our affairs! God’s has the ability to look after all things surrounding us but His word is unchanging:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:5-10
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1: 9-12
There are those foolish ones who think that in virtue of their gifting or special anointing they are better than others which is not true. God loves all of His children each and every one of them equally and they are all special and important to Him! And Jesus clearly told us , "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12).
No matter what negative circumstance we might be going through God remains a miracle of God and prayer is our link to the miraculous. It is the tool God uses to bring change into every situation. Our covenant with God promises including “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing you will receive” (Matthew 21:22) and “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).” There is great power when two or more agree.”
God’s Word is our final authority that the need we have will be met. Psalm 107:20 says, ‘He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.’ God wants us well and Jesus has come to bring wholeness to our bodies. We can expect His healing power to flow through our loved one’s body and drive out every weakness, sickness, disease and infirmity. Jesus ‘took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses’ therefore it has no right to dwell in our bodies any longer in Jesus’ name. We can stand in God’s covenant promises for every need in our life to be met. He is our abundant supply, our Provision and our Provider. And we can be comforted by the following facts:
Nothing is impossible with our God. He made the earth by His own power, and by the same power, wisdom, and understanding, God formed each of us. Think of the mysteries of life, the miracle of the human body and the complexity of the way it functions. Psalm 139:14-16 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Though He is all-powerful, it is God's nature to respond to us in love. He wants us to know Him and to return His love through our fellowship with Him. When we reflect on His majesty, we realize how deeply He cares for us. He is the Maker of the universe, yet we are the ones God wants to have a relationship with through His Son, Jesus.
And we can by faith be blessed in our relationship with God. Faith in God is acting on what God has said.
God told Noah to build an ark, and this took great faith. Noah acted on what God said, and he saved his household.
God told Moses to bring His people out of bondage. Moses acted on what God said, and by faith he brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey.
Jesus told Peter, "Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee,"
Matthew 17:27. Peter acted on what Jesus said and the tribute was paid.
Living by faith in the promises of God is living a life of victory. God has said it; I believe it and that settles it. If we will do the little things, God will do the big things.
God has given us His Holy Word, and we can act on His Word and receive help spiritually, physically and financially.
Just As He Walked
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
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:3-6
Unlike many false prophets, preachers and teachers today, Jesus Christ was not a liar, a deceiver, a controller or an abuser. He was not only a true man of God, a son of God, but a man of integrity! In other words He was nothing like the many false Christian leaders we have today especially in the “Third Wave” who are demonized and need deliverance and true salvation!
It’s to be noted:
"The first wave was the Pentecostal Movement, the second, the Charismatics, and now the Third Wave is joining them. The Third Wave being, of course, those mainstream evangelicals, now aware of the possibility of the power of God, but not wanting to identify with Pentecostalism." (C. Peter Wagner, as quoted in The Trojan Horse, p. 244) “While its proponents claim old-fashioned Pentecostalism as its heritage, the doctrine of the Vineyard movement’s Third Wave theology, as well as that of their up-and-coming stepchild, Promise Keepers, represents far more. It is a doctrine of extra-biblical extremism that focuses on seeking sensually-oriented experiences and utterances directly from Almighty God. Most often, the "prophet" names the individual these utterances are directed to and he sees visions in which personal appearances by Jesus and other well-known Bible characters are not uncommon. Outlandish and unbelievable extremes, practices and conduct, all in the name of the moving of the Holy Spirit, have sprung from the aforementioned, humble, early practices of Promise Keepers’ mother church.”
“Third Wave Vineyard tacticians, as well as Promise Keepers’ public relations departments have perfected invasive techniques in order to reach into otherwise biblically balanced denominations and infiltrate them with this doctrinal "leaven" by refocusing their spiritually naive victims on the propaganda calling for unity, harmony and the church’s need for "real men." This is a well-planned, strategically designed conspiracy to doctrinally invade those of extremely dissimilar theological positions. Their hope is that these target groups will swallow the hook of "Doctrine is no big deal. Let’s just love Jesus and unite for Christ." Their plan is to bring to bear on all groups—Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal, Protestant and non-Protestant—the teaching and extra-biblical philosophy that enslaves, excites and drives them with an evangelistic fervor. Thus an influx of Vineyard-type speakers and Third Wave-influenced ministers and materials has been invading otherwise conservative Bible-based churches on the false and deceptive premise of Promise Keepers.” (Phil Arms, op.cit., p.245-246,)
Many of the Third Wave leaders talk about Christian wealth transfer but practice an ongoing third wave demon transfer says Don Koenig of thepropheticyears.com[iv].
The whole idea that there will be a wealth transfer from the world to the Church is preposterous. What do they think the world will be doing while we take away their wealth and what in the world would we do with the wealth of the world anyway? Get rid of poverty? Where does it say the Church will do that in scripture? Actually these people will take new found wealth to build more and larger circus tents for their “third wave” freak shows?
There is no such concept of a wealth transfer to the Church in scripture it is totally contrary to what the scripture teaches.
These “third wave” self appointed, apostles, prophets and healers are proud presumptuous deranged people or they are greedy con artists and liars.
The “third wave” apostles, false prophets and healers appeal to people’s flesh and that is the only reason they have a following. They certainly do not hear the true gospel from these people and they do receive any sound Christian teaching.
These are the people Jesus was talking about in Matthew chapter 7: 21-22. They tell Jesus did we not prophecy in your name and cast out Devils in your name and do great works? But, Jesus will say to them depart from me you workers of inequity I never knew you
James Jacob Prasch in his article The Delusional World Of Mark Stibbe & St Andrews Chorleywood[v] give us a sordid glimpse of the deception and demonization in the Third Wave:
Welcome to St. Andrew’s Chorleywood, The UK Platform For The Promotion Of Sexually Perverted Deceivers From Paul Cain To Todd Bentley.
After Its Latest Fad The Question Must Be Asked: Is St. Andrews Merely A Spiritually And Doctrinally Deranged Church Or A Lunatic Asylum With A Cross On The Roof?
It was the predecessor of Mark Stibbe, Anglican vicar at St. Andrew’s Chorley Wood , David Pytches, who promoted the ‘Kansas City Prophets’, (now proven by scripture and history to be false prophets), with his wild book ‘Some Said It Thundered’ in which he lauded Bob Jones and Paul Cain.
The fanciful false prophetic predictions of a great British revival for October of that year made in the Name of The Lord by Jones, Cain and their pastor Mike Bickel and the late John Wimber made in August of 1990 came to nothing. More mosques have been built in Britain than churches in the last 18 years since their promised ‘latter day rain’ and as with the failed Alpha courses the UK has only witnessed steadily increasing moral and spiritual decline including a Church of England headed by a member of a Druid sect and favoring same sex marriages and the lesbian and homosexual ordination urged by Desmond Tutu.
Pytches, Sandy Miller, Nicky Gumbel, Terry Virgo, Gerald Coates, and RT Kendall all quickly jumped on the ‘Kansas City’ bandwagon, but the assured revival never materialized; the diametric opposite transpired instead. Lakeland meetings were also mimicked in Dudley, England and predictably endorsed by Gerald Coates who tried to copy the failed Pensacola revival in London.
Lakeland is the most recent sequel but Kansas City was the prequel. Indeed, the gross distortion of The Book of Joel by the Kansas City false prophets, by means of abandoning biblical exegesis and embracing pure Gnosticism in the mystical subjectivist interpretation of Joel, saw the Babylonian invaders whom God will destroy retro-identified as ‘The Triumphant Church’. The participants at the Docklands fiasco saw the locusts of Joel’s apocalyptic vision identified as the demon cohorts of hell in Revelation chapter 9 , re-identified as the ‘Kingdom Now’/ Manifest sons participants in the conference. The mishandling and distortion of scripture was religious madness that set the stage for the next failed revival from Toronto, Canada led by John & Carol Arnott. This was likewise followed by the demise of its American clone at Brownsville Assemblies of God that ended in a massive church split and public financial scandal, but likewise no revival despite an avalanche of big talk and hollow promises.
Indeed, as one who himself believes in the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit when practiced scripturally, the consecutive failure of these counterfeit moves of Gods to deliver what they falsely promised was predictable, and in fact inevitable. Abject theology leads to abject spirituality. Doctrinal bankruptcy equates to spiritual bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City False Prophets hyped and promulgated by St. Andrew’s Chorleywood to no end have publicly fallen from grace. Bob Jones was debunked as a sexual predator with vulnerable women while Paul Cain was publicly disclosed to be a drunken pervert with a life long history of alcoholism and homosexuality.
Well David Pytches - Thunder indeed!
Elim's Ian Bilby, and his worship leader, the cheer leaders of the Toronto deception in New Zealand were likewise found in publicly exposed serial adultery with as many as 20 women.
No revival ever materialized from Kansas City, which was the first link of the twisted chain of carnal and demonically inspired folly that has so discredited, damaged, and divided the church courtesy of St. Andrews Chorleywood who championed these false prophets with David Pytches and his ludicrous book.
Neither did any revival emerge from Toronto or Pensacola. Those freak shows are long over as is their attempted UK imitations in Sunderland and Marsham Street, London. Despite this, just as the Elim denomination continues to try to resuscitate the Toronto failure in its magazine, under the leadership of Mark Stibbe, St. Andrews Chorleywood continues promote John & Carol Arnott at their “School of International Ministry”. They seem to teach everything from “dream interpretation” to biblical groundless nonsense that is essentially New Age practice absurdly put into Christian jargon.
Now Mark Stibbe has promoted the ‘Third Wave’ sequel of Toronto and Pensacola in Lakeland, Florida . Lakeland pastor Stephen Strader admits it is the continuation of the Toronto and Pensacola phenomena.
According to various news reports, The Florida District Attorney believed Pastor Stephen Strader to be as guilty as his brother Daniel, but obtained a RICO conviction on his brother Daniel, now in prison until 2036 after defrauding elderly Christians out of $3 million dollars. Strader was convicted as a professional racketeer under RICO laws. RICO anti racketeering legislation is used in the prosecution and sentencing of professional gangsters engaged in various forms of organized criminal activity. These are the Strader brothers.
Strader brought in a criminally convicted Canadian homosexual pedophile named Todd Bentley to conduct his counterfeit revival. Bentley was imprisoned for the homosexual molestation of a seven year old before being commissioned to lead the Lakeland pandemonium. Bentley has meanwhile filed for a separation from his wife which by Canadian law is the first step to divorce. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Bentley has a history of adultery excluding him from ministry that has been covered up and has once again become involved in a yet another improper extra marital relationship. Yet it is this same Bentley that Wendy Alec of the so called 'God Channel' has defended labeling those critical of him and his carnal antics as being of the devil, and it is this same Lakeland hoax that Mark Stibbe and St. Andrews Chorleywood promulgated aggressively.
Bentley was exposed on national TV in the USA on the ABC Nightline broadcast for being unable to medically document a single claimed healing. Some of those pronounced healed at Lakeland have however since been medically documented as deceased, and a statement by Arnold Palmer hospital likewise contradicts claims of a resurrection from the dead as bogus.
That the ‘Fruit of The Holy Spirit’ according to Galatians is ‘ekreitei’ “Self Control” not the lack of, never mattered to proponents of Toronto or Pensacola. That such Fruit is also ‘gentleness’ does not matter either as Bentley kicks old ladies in the stomach and baptizes people in the name of ‘Bam’. Christ’s own clear and unambiguous warning to avoid those like Bentley who claim His physical return before the ‘parousia’ and revelatory visitations from a healing angel named ‘Emma’ (there are no manifestations of angelic beings as women or as agents of healing in God’s Word) could hardly matter to someone like Mark Stibbe.
It is well know by police and social services that pedophiles frequently profess a religious conversion in prison as a parole stunt and then seek work in scout groups, schools, youth camps and churches in order to get near children. Although Bentley fits this profile, we do not have any evidence of any recent homosexual pedophilia by this self-disfigured heretical freak, however current verified information certainly exists in the public media about his taking his wife to court for a separation and his more recent history of adultery.
But even if he did undergo an authentic regeneration and become a Christian, many ask why he would then say The Lord led him to cover his body with an array of disfiguring tattoos that give him the appearance of a rather freakish goon? Even if his sexual perversion was prior to becoming a Christian as he claims, that is not true of his openly confessed mentor, sexual predator Bob Jones, whom Bentley lauds and endorses. Jones preyed upon women sexually in lewd acts as a ‘prophet’. Why would anyone serving Jesus endorse the ministry of a sexually immoral preacher who misused Christian ministry to perpetrate his perversions and who according to The New Testament has no biblical right to be in ministry as he is not above reproach?
These are the deranged antics of Lakeland we are speaking of and these are the kinds of people we are talking about; an assortment of perverts, swindlers, drunks, homosexuals, demonstrable false prophets, and even a tattooed criminally convicted pedophile child molester turned adulterer filing separation procedures against his wife. This is the whacky world of Mark Stibbe.
It’s evident from their agenda, their words, and their deception the leaders of the Third Wave don’t have the best interests of the sheep at hand. They are happily filled with greed, pride, lies, and false doctrine. Those who follow these Svengalis…those who have been preyed upon and duped with lies are the ones, are also under the influence of demons. The leaders of these insidious movements such as The Third Wave are tools of the Devil. They have an evil nature and possess extreme craftiness. Whether delusional or just plain evil, whether they believe their own lies or see no lies, just profit and power…they are the masterminds. These hypocritical liars spread demons, to those vulnerable enough to believe them. The bible tells us about them:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 1 Timothy 4:1-2
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:10-16
Save Me
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD-how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? Psalm 6:1-5
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:30-32
In the bible the words salvation, deliverance and even healing are synonymous . If you are dying of terminal illness and the LORD heals then you are delivered from that sickness? If you have great financial problems and the creditors are going to seize everything that you have and the LORD makes a way where there is no way for your deliverance they you are saved from destruction? Contrary to the thinking of many theologians and even preachers, God is very practical and He provides real help, salvation, healing or deliverance where needed for those who cry out with an honest heart saying "Lord, save me!" just like Peter did when he tried to walk on the word doing what Jesus did!
The bible is full of prayers by the Psalmist who cried out save me, deliver me that were answered!
Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalm 3:7-8
O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
… Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. Psalm 7:1-10
In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Psalm 31:1-4
It’s a fact that salvation, healing and deliverance comes from the LORD God who made heaven and earth and has the power and ability to overturn and change all negative things in their lives just like He did many times for the children of Israel!
God with His mighty right hand drove the nations out before His people whom He planted in their land. He afflicted the peoples and cast them out. The children of Israel did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was His right hand, His arm, and the light of His countenance, because He favored them. And God who hasn’t changed can and will do the same for His trusting ones who call upon Him for help, salvation and deliverance concerning any enemy, physical, spiritual, or financial.
What God has done once before He can and will do again for His trusting ones just like He did for David, Daniel, Jehoshaphat or Hezekiah. They have His word on the matter:
As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:16-17
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. Psalm 57:1-3
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:6-8
It’s easy to praise and thank God when the salvation, healing and deliverance are manifested. But it’s another matter to praise and thank God while we are waiting for the manifestations of salvation, healing and deliverance. And yet we are encouraged in God’s word to praise and thank God in our troubles and negative situations? God’s word is true:
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. Colossians 3:14-17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Andre Crouch in his lyrics "Through It All" talks about thanking God for the mountains, thanking Him for the valleys, and thanking Him for the storms He brought me through and what faith in God can do:
I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Chorus
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.
I've been to lots of places,
I've seen a lot of faces,
there's been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
I thank God for the mountains,
and 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 God could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.
Freely Received Freely Give
For thus says the LORD: "You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money Isaiah 52:13
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16
Unlike many Christian ministries today which covet the money, talents and resources of people, when Jesus and the disciples healed, delivered and did miracles for the people money, rank, position and power had nothing to do with the gospel. Jesus and the disciples freely gave as they freely received; as best expressed by the word of Jesus and Peter:
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Matthew 10:7-10
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Acts 3:6-9
The emphasis among the early disciples was on sharing and collecting money for the poor and not for the glorification and enrichment of one particular person. As is done in so many TV ministries we have seen in the last generation in America. For God’s word is true:
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 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. 1 Corinthians 3:3-7
It is not he who plants nor he who waters who are important, but God who gives the increase. Also Love, not religion, prominence, fame nor doctrine, is the golden rule which dictates the plans and purposes of ministry for edifying and building up the sheep and not robbing, raping and using them. For God’s word is true:
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Galatians 6:2-6
What matters is not that the ministry of men are successful but that God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven and that His sheep are saved, healed, delivered, set free, bless and prospered. So that God not man will get the credit and the glory. For God’s word is true even this day:
'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 'You shall have no other gods before Me. 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.
For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Deuteronomy 5:6-11.
Jamie Buckingham a well known Christian writer in his article “ He is saying something to us through the PTL scandal. The question is: How will we respond?” wrote in 1987 some very profound remarks that need to be considered even today in light of the many religious scandal with the prominent ones in America:
There are certain times in history when "God comes down." Charismatics like to think of Pentecost as one of those times, when the gentle breath of the Holy Spirit blew upon the church and filled it with power. But we need to remember the Holy Spirit is not only pneuma, which is the New Testament concept of a gentle, lifting spirit. He is also ruach, which is the Old Testament word for a roaring, seemingly destructive wind. Evangelicals and fundamentalists, while denying the miraculous power of the pneuma, understand the purpose of the ruach.
In this case, humans conspired to enter into rivalry with God. God was called "The Name." They said, "Let US make a name for ourselves." They conspired to take away the Name from Him. The result: God came down, for He will not share His glory.
Today's generation is characterized by countless Christian leaders who have named their ministries after themselves. There is nothing wrong with name identification. The problem lies in the super-star syndrome many attach to themselves. When I asked the head of one of the nation's largest ministries to whom he submitted, he quickly said: "To God."
I shudder at the personal arrogance and lack of accountability among leaders--which is one of the major causes of faulty lifestyle and lavish spending. I know of only one man, among the heads of America's largest ministries, who submits his personal life to peers who are not in his employ or enamored with his position. I believe God is calling leaders, not just the televangelists, but all pastors and lay leaders, to be personally accountable to peers. The temptations are too great to grow prideful or to become deceived. Today's shaking is forcing leaders to turn to one another.
I shudder at the fund-raising techniques used by most major ministries of America. Most of the direct mail letters sent out play fast and loose with truth. How can God bless a computer- generated letter, signed by an automatic pen, telling the recipient that the leader is praying for him at that very moment? How can God bless a televangelist who goes on the air and tells people he has used up all his money and desperately needs more contributions--while he and all his family are driving $50,000 automobiles and living in very expensive homes?
We must be careful in judging. Oral Roberts, in standing up for Jim Bakker, made a point of saying he was going to forgive him, because he (Oral) wanted to be forgiven also. That is the essence of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1: The spirit by which we judge others will be used by those who judge us.
Now, once again, God has come down and is walking among us. He is not pleased that we have tried to satisfy our individual obligations to minister by giving to large ministries. We give to Jerry Falwell to build a home for unwed mothers, to PTL for a home for handicapped children, to Jimmy Swaggart so he may support Assemblies of God missionaries, to CBN's Operation Blessing to feed the hungry. All are worthy ministries. But God wants each of us involved. We should be taking these people into our homes, we should be evangelizing--not hiring a televangelist to do it for us. God is forcing us back into our local churches, the only place where real ministry--personal ministry--can take place.
Television has been the greatest means of spreading the Gospel since the invention of the printing press. But with great opportunity comes great accountability. This is a time of accounting. God is checking the books. Those who love to appear in public are being judged in public. Once again, it seems, God has entered the temple to overturn the tables of the moneychangers. His breath is blowing across His kingdom, cleansing and purifying. The end result will be as always: to form a people in the image of His Son and to bring glory to Himself.
All this is happening for one reason: to reveal the sovereignty of God. He is, after all, "a consuming fire....removing what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain" (Hebrews. 12:27).
Richard Roberts announced on Television Sunday August 23, 1998 that God was moving in many churches because of the word that the Lord gave his father Oral Roberts about Miracles are coming back in big way. But the Roberts never talked about how the City of Faith failed? How the accreditation of their law school failed? How they went 40 millions dollars into debt after Oral Roberts forgave and defended Jim Bakker for robbing and using the sheep? Richard and Oral Roberts did not talk about the Miracles that they lost?
Richard Roberts did not talk about how he went to bat for Dan Strader the Son of Pastor Karl Strader who was sentenced to 45 years for crimes he did commit? Richard Roberts did not talk about how he did nothing for the victims of the Strader's even though he was asked to help them and to remove Karl Strader from being on the board of Oral Roberts University?
Was this not hypocrisy and double standards from so called men of God? Didn’t God speak to other men today beside Oral Roberts? Are not the word of prophet Micah true today?
But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who abhor justice And pervert all equity, Who build up Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with iniquity: Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money.
Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us." Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest. Micah 3:8-12
Did not the Roberts sin by showing partiality and favoritism to the high and mighty like Jim Baker and the Straders of Lakeland? I personally sent my draft manuscript the Strader Affair plus many personal letters to all the prominent religious ones in America; Dr. Billy Graham, Dr. Bill Bright, Kenneth Copeland, Oral and Richard Roberts, Paul Crouch, Pat Robertson, Scott Ross, David Mainse, General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask, District Superintendent Don Lunsford, Dr. Benny Hinn, Dr. Rodney Howard Browne and many others. I explained to them that I had documented that wolves in sheep's clothing were raping, robbing and murdering the sheep in the house of God and what God's word said about justice including chapters 1, 57, 58 of Isaiah. But not one of them would do anything about this matter. But they did help the aggressors and not the victims?
Unfortunately, as documented by the Strader Affair there were many who were deceived but very few who were doers of the Word as defined by the History of the Revival of 1992-1995 6. Karl Strader taken from a web site:
In February of 1993, Karl Strader, pastor of Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland, Florida, and his wife, Joyce, were in Hawaii for a Worship '93 conference, where Norvel Hayes prophesied that a tremendous great wind of the Spirit was about to come to them. Joyce Strader wrote in Ministries Today (July/August 1993, p. 38), "We arrived home Saturday night. That Sunday morning Carpenter's Home Church began a planned one-week series of meetings with South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne But God had a surprise for us. The meetings went on for four weeks -- with thousands flocking to the church to see and taste the new move of God.... But God never intended for it to last only a week. Full-blown revival has come to Central Florida and Carpenter's Home Church."
During the first few months of 1993, Rodney Howard-Browne spent a total of thirteen weeks at that church, and Christian leaders from many parts of the United States, including Richard Roberts, chancellor of Oral Roberts University, came to the meetings to observe and participate, and minister in the new anointing. Charisma (Aug 1994, p. 24), stated that people flew in for these meetings from Africa, Great Britain, and Argentina to see what was happening.
The effect of this so called revival in Carpenter’s Home Church and its lasting impact on the community as documented by this book included the robbing, raping and murdering of innocent God fearing elderly by people by the Straders. The assistant State Attorney’s remarked, at the trial of Daniel Strader, that there are other things in life besides the pursuit money such as justice is something that Oral and Richard Roberts did not consider important.
The Roberts never talked about what the media talked about in Florida including: investors knew him as the son of a well known local pastor. Strader 35, is the son of Karl Strader, Pastor of the Carpenter’s Home Church in north Lakeland. A 1979 telecommunication graduate of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. the younger Strader formed Interstate in 1985.. Daniel Strader, 36 was arrested on Friday May 20, 1994, at his father’s beautiful home, on a lake, across the street from an 18 hole golf course, for what the State of Florida alleged that Dan did.
He was the son of the Pastor and a devout Church member of Carpenter’s Home Church. Also a former insurance investigator and a self-made and self-proclaimed investor with a once-thriving insurance practice. The State Attorney office of Florida would give a picture of a confident pitchman whose financial world was in shambles. Interviews with investors by the media revealed that Strader offered attractive double digit interest rates on their so-called investments which turned out to be a sham.
The Investors solicited by Dan Strader were told many things about where their money was being invested, from real estate to insurance companies or stocks or bonds, but ended up instead in a company run by Dan Strader, Interstate Financial Services or in his personal pocket or bank account. All the while, Dan Strader was telling others that he was paying the interest with income from company owned properties. While it mainly came in from other gullible investors who believed the Pastor’s son and this so called man of god and graduate of Oral Roberts University who prayed with and preyed on them, while he talked about Christ and quoted Bible verses.
Investigators would later show that Dan Strader’s five of the properties he had purchased for investors with their funds, were actually in Strader’s own name. Many of his so-called investors or victims, were his insurance clients or members of his father’s church. Dan and Pastor Karl Strader also told the parishioners of Carpenter’s Home Church, Lakeland, Florida that Dan faced real threats and dangers because of threats from his investors. Although, this was never established as a fact, by the Straders or by the court.
Many people in and around Lakeland, Florida, especially preachers and retired elderly, were really upset that they were conned out of their life’s savings by the son of a prominent Assembly of God, Pastor. Karl Strader once told others that his original calling was to serve God in Russia as a missionary, and started to learn the Russian language in order to fulfill his calling. Too bad, Karl didn’t go to Russia, so many people would have been spared the pain and agony of knowing and working with him!
Dan Strader said about the arrest and all the rumors that he was innocent and it was all a misunderstanding. This was a theme that was replayed by Dan and his family for the next two years. On Sunday, May 22,1994, Pastor Karl Strader, 64, of Carpenter Home Church in Lakeland, Florida, paraded his complete family including in-laws in front of the congregation and told them that the media and government were not hearing the full story of his son’s plight.
This circus parade of the Straders was to repeat itself over the next two years, because the Straders thought they were special in the eyes of God and man. Little did they know what the community around them, religious and business, really thought and said about them. Words such as crooks, hypocrites, Pharisees, thieves, liars and murderers and wanted nothing to do with them. All along the Straders couldn’t figure out why the ten thousand seat church had only a fraction of the people, the turnover of members and adherents was the highest of any church in the states, and church was in financial trouble all the time.
Karl said, he was perplexed by the picture of his son portrayed by the investigators and in the media reports. He also stated, that they have pictured us as a part of the family we don’t know, for his son is a warm, loving, kind, very human person, a person who trusts God and after 36 years was caught in a web drowning. Nothing was farther from the truth, as Karl Strader’s spoken words were, as the mountain of evidence and testimony of real elderly victims, would later show.
In the circus parade, Pastor Karl Strader stated what was to be his standard response for the next year about Dan Strader, “ All we ask is a fair trial and opportunity for him to make restitution. His heart is very tender towards God. He is seeking the Lord. There never has been a time when he hasn’t sought the Lord to my knowledge. We’re all looking for a supernatural deliverance, for God is a God of miracles.” Well Dan received his fair trial, he was found guilty of seeking illegally the riches of this world, supernatural deliverance never came, Karl’s knowledge was of Dan was poor, and Dan never confessed that he did something really wrong, and neither did the Straders.
The fact remained that as a result of the Ponzi scheme operated by Dan Strader and Alice Faye Redd (also once members of Carpenter’s Home church) in Polk county, Florida, some people lost their homes and many other things including their lives. A Ponzi scheme is where returns are paid to older investments by using funds from newer investors, Many were not able to recover financially, from the loss of their life’s savings being stolen by so-called Christians, who were also members of the Assembly of God Churches.
Many of the real victims were retired elderly, who invested with Dan Strader or Alice Faye Redd because they were recommended as a good Christian people. They trusted these Christians, as they came from a prominent Assembly of God church, which was supposed to be the home of the Carpenter, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Well for the record, the real “Carpenter” worked for a living, He didn’t collect money nor steal from others. He also blessed, healed and delivered people and gave even His own life for them rather than to put them in bondage.
Jesus Christ was literally innocent of all the accusations that the religious leaders and the authorities of the day made against Him. The Straders and Redds were guilty of their crimes which included robbing, stealing, lying, hurting and even causing people to die prematurely. Many of their victims, out of embarrassment, or because they were Christians, didn’t file any charges or complaints against them. Some of the victims, especially in Carpenter’s Home church, even believed that Dan Strader one day would return their money, because he gave his word and the Strader name was “a good name which could be trusted.”
The state attorney’s office stated that some cash derived from expensive local check-cashing services, of investors checks, were deposited in bank accounts of Dan Strader and his wife Melissa, and they were used to pay the couples personal debts. Again Dan, as a pastor’s son and graduate of Oral Roberts University, should have know the Word of God, which stated:
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. (Ephesians 4:28)
It was also established in the courts by Debby, Dan Strader’s secretary from 1989 to 1992, that Dan quoted the Word of God “The wealth of the wicked will be inherited by the righteous, ” especially when he talked about and mocked three of his investors and called them alcoholics, a red neck and a truck driver. Other events would show that the Straders knew how to quote Scripture verses but they didn’t know how to live by them. There is a difference that is evident to all!
Although, some people, including Senior Pastors of Assembly of God churches , memorized chapters and even books of the Bible, they definitely didn’t put into practice the Word of God the way it was meant to be. For many of them did not do anything about the injustices and wrongs in their denomination. Again, there is a difference between memorizing and doing the Word of God.
What was proven and established by the courts was that Dan stalked and preyed on the trusting and defenseless elderly. The unfortunate part, is that the group of people who were mostly hurt by the criminal actions of Dan Strader and his competitor Alice Faye Redd, were the elderly. It was a group that was defenseless and powerless and an easy prey to those who were supposed to be trustworthy.
In the PTL Scandal, it was also the widows with their small monthly incomes, that became the target of Jim Bakker, in his search for easy money. It was no coincidence that both Jim and Dan pleaded not guilty and they both got a 45 year sentence. However, it was a group that Jesus Himself would have been most upset about, because Jesus saw what the widow and the Pharisee gave to the house of God.
The Roberts were fooling nobody with their hypocritical words and trying to steal glory from God;. Sure God was moving in a miraculous and mighty way in America but it is definitely not because of but in spite of the Roberts of Tulsa and their continual chatter about money.
(Alice Faye Redd, once a member of Carpenter's Home Church, Lakeland, Florida and later Victory Assembly of God in 1995 was sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding more than 100 people especially the elderly out of $3.5 million. The Auburndale native was released from prison in 1998 at the age of 61 because she was battling spinal cancer and the Parole Commission learned she was dying. She lived another four years before dying in 2002.)
Editor’s note:
A second problem within the church is the astonishing number of people who have been given "honorary" doctoral degrees, who then turn around and call themselves "doctor," thus quietly implying they have earned degrees. This is deceptive and goes against academic protocol. In reality, although many institutions of higher learning give honorary doctorates, the secularists -- those outside Christianity receiving them know better than to take them seriously. Thus they don't refer to themselves as "doctor" at all, since it would be a joke to do so.
Among the institutions most responsible for contributing to the confusion is Oral Roberts University of Tulsa that seemingly doles out honorary doctorates like candy at Halloween to children. ORU has even presented honorary doctorates to some of the most questionable figures imaginable, even con men and known purveyors of false doctrine and at least one accused sexual predator. After some of these people are awarded an ORU honorary doctorate, sometimes without serving any time in higher education, a good number of these men and women have gone on to publicly call themselves doctors in their books and in teaching materials.
ORU has doled out honorary doctorates to the late Kathryn Kuhlman and Rex Humbard, both accused of multiple improprieties; the late plagiarist and false teacher Kenneth E. Hagin; prosperity teachers Frederick Price, Creflo Dollar, Marilyn Hickey, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis, Paul (David) Yonggi Cho, his wife, and Kenneth Copeland; former NFL player Roosevelt Greer; the late entertainer, Bob Hope; false teachers and founders of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Paul and Jan Crouch. But most egregious was ORU's awarding of honorary degrees to the following teachers who were exposed in international scandals for various instances of crookedness: Bishop Earl Paulk (who has faced a slew of sustained sexual misconduct accusations over the years); disgraced television preachers Robert Tilton and Larry Lea (who were both targets of PrimeTime television exposes by Diane Sawyer); and faith healer Benny Hinn, who has faced dozens of major scandals during the past 15 years. And there are many other lesser known false teachers given honorary doctoral degrees since ORU began the practice in 1972.
Chapter 29
God Was With Him
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. Psalm 118:14-16
"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
If you drink dirty polluted water you have a good chance of getting sick and maybe even dying as a result? Well how about if you get wrong teachings from apostate churches or preachers who are false prophets? You will end up being defeated if not destroyed! That is why Todd Bentley and friends are very dangerous!
It’s Super Todd!
Look up in the pulpit, it’s a wolf, it’s a demon…NO, it’s super Todd!
Able to leap over God’s truth with a single bound!
Able to heal the sick by kicking the afflicted to death!
Able to supernaturally travel to far off places, third heaven, open portals!
Able to magically change his wife into a younger woman!
Able to deceive some of the very elect!
We, the leaders of the charismatic church, have built on hype, sensation, innovation, programs, personality and charisma. This has produced: shallowness; false movements; novice leaders— gifted but immature and untested; a deficient understanding of God’s word; the building of man-centered rather than kingdom- centered churches and ministries; competition rather than cooperation; humanistic, self-centered Christians who don’t understand sacrifice and commitment; Christians without discernment; superstar leaders; a perverted and powerless gospel; prayerless and anemic Christians; a replacement of the fear of the Lord with the fear of man; and a young generation that is cynical of it all – Dutch Sheets
Todd Bentley now carries the label of a liar and a deceiver. I'm sorry to mention it, but I felt personally deceived in the same way when Ted Haggard's sin was exposed and he was immediately removed from ministry...
Suffice it to say that there is more than I am going to mention. First of all, Todd has been removed from public ministry until further notice. He has resigned from the ministry he founded, Fresh Fire, so he is no longer a part of that board. It has become clear that he indulged in periodic drunkenness. He has no intention at the moment of reconciling with Shonna, nor does she with him. Their marriage has been torn for years by his emotional attachment with at least one other female whose physical contact went beyond hugging and kissing and holding hands. Enough said-maybe more details will be revealed later-but it was clearly immoral. All of this was skillfully concealed by lying and by swearing close associates who had observed his behavior to secrecy - Peter Wagner
# 107 Sharon on Oct 20th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Well after reading through some of what people have written on here I would like to add my 10 cents worth
I worked for Todd for over 5 years and travelled with him.
Do I agree with what he has done? No. His wife and children are suffering beyond belief. Having to sell their house because a single mom can’t afford a mortgage and Shonnah was a stay at home mom. She has endured much heartache and yet has been gracious through it all. We all can learn from her
As for his remarriage, I have sat back and watched this all unfold. Him having vacations ( prior to marriage) with his girlfriend, in Hawaii and getting drunk and who knows what else went on, does not constitute repentance.
Repentance is when you “turn from your wicked ways” but he continued to do what he wanted till he was married and then came back for “healing”. I cannot see what is in his heart but his actions speak volumes. There is much more that I can say on this subject.
Does God forgive? Yes and we should too but I do not think he should ever be placed in a position of leadership. How can you when the example you are giving doesn’t line up with the word of God?
My husband left me for another woman after 16 yrs of being together and he is now married. The after math of what I am going through has been far reaching. Whether financially, emotionally, whatever, it doesn’t go away over night.
# 108 Therese on Oct 20th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Sharon, 1 John 3:6-8 says “No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil.”
This passage is warning us that those who continue to sin are leading us astray – their teachings are not to be trusted, if they believed rightly they would have had power over their own sin…. I hope you will take another look at Bentley’s teachings as compared to the word of God for your own sake. There is a power that comes from uncrucified flesh that works counterfeit miracles, yes, even in the name of Jesus – I believe this is actually occult power. The true power that comes from the Spirit comes through the cross, ie, the disciple’s cross, (which is also Jesus’ cross really, they are one and the same in a sense), that we are to carry to crucify our flesh as we follow Jesus.
Nothing has changed at all. Todd Bentley is still a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a deceiver and not a true man of God at all!
It’s unfortunate that some fools still believe that he has something to offer!
He hasn’t changed a bit - still the same old manipulative, evasive, deceitful ways. Not a sign of remorse, brokenness, or insight into his own problems. To me he’s exposed here as only looking out for #1. He still badly needs therapy - is Rick Joyner any kind of a qualified Christian therapist? Apparently whatever he’s been doing with T.B. has been a failure because absolutely nothing has changed. Restoration means to restore back to the image God had in mind before the created thing went haywire. Todd Bentley is not restored. I think this time all he will have left is a cult following, if he has anything - unfortunately there always seems to be those willing to follow cult leaders and can’t see the truth even when it slaps them in the face - BAM! - but the Way of Jesus Christ of Nazareth it is not. They’re going to get back the same rapid-fire auctioneer peddling his wares to a manipulated crowd that they had before. And I’m very sorry if the world looks at that insane spectacle and blames Jesus. Maybe God will have mercy and not let things get off the ground this time, or at least shut it down sooner if it does get started.
How is it with these Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians is okay to be committed adultery, separate, divorce, lie, steal and even commit perjury? In my opinion they are not even Christians because Jesus said:
"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. Matthew 7:16-21
Todd Bentley Is Not A Christian
Jesus heals, I must disagree with you when you wrote, “Miracles and gifts of the spirit don’t validate a Christian. The fruit of the spirit validates a Christian. peace, love, patience, hope, joy, faith.” First, you did not mention all of the fruit of the Spirit but I know what you mean (Gal. 5: 22 -23). The reason why I disagree with you is because you continuously mis-identify people, like Todd Bentley as a Christian. He is not a Christian nor are those who go chasing after the counterfeit signs and so-called miracles that he and others misrepresent as being from the Holy Spirit. Real Christian Believers do not get deceived and offer counterfeits because they draw attention to themselves and they cannot tell the difference between the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of the devil and demons. They do not do the things that the New Testament tells us clearly are the work and character of authentic Christian believers. They glory in their sin and make excuses for their adulterous work, drunkenness and love of money to say nothing of all the works of the flesh which they seem to think are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As a man once told me: “If it doesn’t look like a sheep, and eat like a sheep and talk like a sheep and do sheep things, it isn’t a sheep”. Well, just stop and look at all the un-Scriptural things these people are doing. They do not look like Christians, they don’t eat as Christians, they do not talk like Christians and they do not do Christian things. So, they are not Christians.
Jesus tells us that the “signs” following confirm the preaching of the Word and prove who are authentic believers. This is very clear when you examine the Greek definition of “signs”. They were the reason why Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a man sent from God; for no man could do these signs that you do, unless God is with him” (Jn. 3: 2). The legitimate 15 Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12: 6 – 8; 1 Cor. 12: 8 – 10)prove that we are authentic believers. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22 – 23) describes the Character of Jesus which the Holy Spirit develops us so that we can use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Because the real or authentic Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not being used and encouraged with these counterfeit Christians who demonstrate counterfeit gifts, we have to be very careful in choosing our words as I think you have done in your letter. I learned a long time ago that there are “Christians” and there are “christians” (religious people) who are not believers. People, like the person you mentioned who received healing and made the mistake of attributing it to Todd Bentley has not learned that whoever calls on Jesus will catch Jesus’ attention, even while watching a deceptive person pretending to be a believer, and answer their prayer and heal them. When I examine these counterfeit Christians, according to Scripture, they are not believers according to Jesus Christ. Because most pastors and churches do not encourage the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and use the 15 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are easy victims when the counterfeits are demonstrated. This is an important ministry that we have in the churches that I am invited to preach and do ministry. As you know it is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4: 12). So, I suggest that you do not look upon such people as Christians because they are not.
Comment by Gordon Williams | July 19, 2009
God’s People Have Committed Two Evils
"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
It is not my place to judge any one person’s motives…for as I judge others; so shall I be judged. It is best to leave those who are prostituting the Gospel in the hands of Almighty God… We are called to do what He calls us to do; “take the Gospel to the nations; to make disciples of all 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 He has commanded you (me…the body of Christ); J. S
Neither the Ledger nor the Tribune reported on the fact that Randy White and Karl Strader were CEO's of their religious incorporated non profit organization and what this entails. For the record, none of the major thieving evangelists or CEO’s such Randy White, Kenneth Copeland, Oral Roberts, Rodney Howard Browne, Franklin Graham, Karl Strader or Stephen Strader have earned doctorate degrees never mind a degree in business administration. Secular presidents of universities and non profit charitable organizations have earned doctorate degrees and are qualified to earn their salary unlike many Pentecostal religious leaders who have honorary degrees bestowed on them by Oral Roberts university.
But greedy and thieving TV evangelists always justify what they are doing because they are uncomfortable with their thievery. Richard Dortch, VP of the PTL club, now an ex felon stated that when he was earning very little he didn't care if people knew but when he was stealing $400,000 he didn't want anybody to know? There are always tell a tale signs about their thievery and live styles that give them away. Walter Kambulow 1995
J. S. theology about not judging or doing anything about wrongs in the house of God is sheer nonsense! It’s an approach that many Christian pastors and preachers have used with me that they have not been called to take the garbage out of the house of God even though Jesus made a whip and drove the money changers out.
It was this theology of as “I judge others; so shall I be judged” ( which is perversion of scripture that if you don’t judge a pastor for being a thief God will not judge you for being a thief) that got Oral Roberts in trouble when he went to bat and defend Jim Bakker in 1987 without know all the facts behind Jim Bakker’s crimes, evil deeds, sexual perversions, tax evasion and embezzlements.
Down through the centuries men have not changed. They do not want to reap what they have sown and want to reap what they have not sown. They do not understand the words of Jesus who told them:
"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
Men do not understand that the judgment they judge others will be applied to them and the measure they measure to others will be measured to them. Men have always judged others and will continue to do the same until the end of time. But they have not judged properly as Jesus did in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. For God’s word is true:
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
Jesus and God’s true ones do not judge by the sight of their eyes nor decide by the hearing of their ears. But 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 mouth, and with the breath of their lips they shall slay the wicked. We have a classic example of this kind of judgment in the Word of God concerning King David and his secret adulterous sin with Bathsheba. God’s word records:
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. "The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. "But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
"And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! "And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." 2 Samuel 12:1-6
David ignorantly in judging the story which Prophet Nathan relayed to him had pronounced his own judgment on himself. For men are so quick to judge others harshly for the crimes that they themselves are guiltier off. Mind you there are things which God does not forgive just like he did not forgive King David for his secret devious sin which dishonored His great name. God’s word records:
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.' " 2 Samuel 12:7-12
At least David had the wisdom when he was exposed not to deny his sin but to face up to it, confess it and accept his consequences. For God’s word is true:
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
Mind you there are foolish prominent leaders in America who when their secret sins were exposed refused to acknowledge them and to accept their consequences. As a result these deceived ones in whom the truth was not in them did not prosper and their consequences were quite severe. For God still rules and reigns in the Kingdom of men and His 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?"
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:34-37
Those who walk in pride God is able to put down. However! King David’s consequences were also not pleasant ones. The sword never departed from his house God raised up adversity against him from his own household. David did things secretly but God did things openly. The Lord was really upset for David’s stupid sin for it was not only the sin of adultery but of lack of faith and trust in God, the source of David’s total supply. The Lord who anointed David king over Israel, delivered him from the hand of Saul, gave him his master's house and his master's wives into his keeping, gave him the house of Israel and Judah would have also have given David much more if that had been too little!
The Lord gets very upset when His people lean to their own understanding and wisdom and put their trust in others and not in Him. His word is true to such as these:
"Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD, "Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation. For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes. They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them, Or be help or benefit, But a shame and also a reproach." Isaiah 30:1-5
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity.
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. Isaiah 31:1-3
So David and the others of our day in reality had committed two evils in their sin. They had forsaken God the fountain of living waters and the source of their total supply and hewn themselves cisterns and broken cisterns which do not hold water and do not give a solution to their problems. Men even this day do not change. They left their first love and wonder why God is upset at them. But His word is true to such as these:
"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. "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' Revelation 2:1-7
Chapter 31
Wisdom From Above or Below?
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. James 3:12-17
James the brother of Jesus tells us clearly that God’s people can be influence by the wisdom from above or the wisdom from below. 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. The wisdom from below is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Those who have bitter envy and self-seeking in their hearts are not to boast and lie against the truth but rather they are to repent. Speaking of repentance a recent study pointed out that the divorce rate among Southern Baptists is higher than among those who are secular. One of the problems of today’s Christians is that they are no different than those in the world in that they do the same things. They lie, cheat, divorce and even murder each others. But 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. Galatians 5:19-21
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:1
We live in a very permissive society that allows all kinds of things even in the church including adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. The sad part is that people think that God is stupid and will close his eyes to such things, especially in His house. But the Word of God is very clear those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In other words those who teach heresies even they are Baptists or other kind of Christians go to hell.
In February 2003, the media reported that The Rev. E.V. Hill, longtime pastor of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles and ardent supporter of lying, thieving, adulterous Dr. Henry J. Lyons is dead! Hill died yesterday after a bout with pneumonia and other undisclosed medical problems.
Hill was a leader in the National Baptist Convention, the nation's largest grouping of black churches, and in 1998 he defended the denomination's disgraced president, the Rev. Henry Lyons, who was found guilty of racketeering. Years earlier, Hill stood by televangelists Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, both of whom were involved in sex scandals.
Hill, 69, was hospitalized nearly two weeks ago and was listed in critical condition and in intensive care.
A force in the National Baptist Convention and a speaker at rallies around the country sponsored by Promise Keepers, an evangelical men's ministry, Hill stood out among prominent African American pastors in championing conservative political causes. He had been an adviser to several prominent Republicans including President Reagan.
In 1999, Hill was an unsuccessful candidate for the presidency of the National Baptist Convention, one of the nation's largest African American Christian denominations. It was same convention about which the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on August 29, 2002 “Once the nation's largest and most prestigious African American religious denomination, the National Baptist Convention USA was taken over in the 1950s by leaders who often put their own financial interests ahead of the membership.”
Dr. Hill was on the Billy Graham Association board of directors, the board of the Los Angeles Urban League, the Los Angeles NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He endorsed the 1984 candidacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson for the Democratic nomination.
At the annual meeting of the National Baptist Convention in 1998, the Rev. Henry Lyons of St. Petersburg, admitted to an ``inappropriate relationship'' - an increasingly popular euphemism for adultery - with a woman employed by the nation's largest black church group. He said he was sorry and asked for forgiveness and they forgave him.
Rev E.V. Hill led the charge of corrupt ones to support his very dear friend Rev. Henry J. Lyons no matter what. As a result the Leaders of the National Baptist Convention USA stood by President Henry Lyons, who had been indicted for racketeering and grand theft and supported Dr. Lyons in every aspect of his legal endeavors that included money.
An internal church probe directed by pastor E.V. Hill determined that Lyons did not take any of the denomination's funds, and that any money he received included honorariums and fees the church agreed to pay him. Hill promised to help Lyons with his legal bills even though Prosecutors contend that Lyons diverted millions of dollars in church funds to finance a lavish lifestyle. But the courts had a different opinion about Lyons and his lying and thievery.
Rev. Henry Lyons peccadilloes and the grand theft and racketeering convictions by State of Florida and the Government of United States against him didn't stop Rev. Hill from supporting his friend for birds of feather stick together.
Lyons resigned as head of the convention after pleading guilty to five federal counts. He served a 5 1/2-year state prison term and a concurrent 4 1/2-year federal sentence.
He was a man called by others as Rev. Hanky-Panky who was a personal friend of Bill Clinton. A man who sought spiritual solace in the bathtub smoking marijuana after a hard day of playing patty-cake with Nigerian dictators and the financial stewardship of the NBC including secret bank accounts, forged signatures, missing files and hushed-up lobbying work on behalf of those wacky, zany Nigerian scamps.
A man who made a $200,000 rip-off of an Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith donation, which found its way into his pockets instead of burned out Baptist churches where it was originally intended. A man whose whole hand picked board of the National Baptist Convention refused to see the facts about Lyons and forgave him unanimously and unilaterally. So that they could also be forgiven if caught doing the same thing in the pattern of President Oral Roberts who forgave Jim Bakker for what was not forgivable.
Lyons had been the focus of state and federal criminal investigations since the summer of 1997 when his wife set fire to a $700,000 waterfront house he owned on Tierra Verde with a former convention employee, a convicted embezzler and his alleged lover. The fire triggered revelation about secret bank accounts and large commissions on convention business deals and deductions concerning his total gross salary.
"Born Again" Senior Pastor E. V. Hill did not accept Lyons guilty verdict charging that jury was racist. Later lying Lyons approved the National Baptist Convention advertisement which labeled Florida `the most racist state'' in the union and called for racial unrest in the black community of St. Petersburg, the same community rocked by two riots in late 1996.
Lyons was convicted in February 1999 of swindling more than $4 million from companies that wanted to market life insurance, credit cards and cemetery plots to his convention members. Prosecutors said Lyons padded the convention's mailing list with names randomly selected from phone books across the country. Even a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan was on the list. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraudulent activities and lying to officials.
In his sentencing, Judge Schaeffer had ordered Lyons to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the companies who bought his phony mailing lists and to pay $97,000 for the cost of the state probe into his dealings.
Lyons, who has tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis, ``can be treated in prison,'' Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer told about a dozen of his supporters. ``Prison is a place that brings on illnesses, a place where you are going to be among murderers, thugs and thieves,'' the judge said. ``There isn't anything about it that's supposed to be fun.'' Schaeffer did not mince words during an almost half-hour long oral ruling from the bench.
And neither did the media mince words - "Thieving reverend sobs his apologies" - St Petersburg, Florida:
The Rev Henry Lyons, president of one of the United States' largest and most influential black denominations, sobbed and apologized as he resigned yesterday, two weeks after being convicted of swindling more than $US4 million ($6.4 million).
"I'm just so sorry about all of this," he said at a news conference outside his Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he told the board of the National Baptist Convention USA of his decision. "I'm truly repentant about it. I hate that I hurt so many people," he said, his voice breaking. Other ministers surrounded him, saying: "You're not alone."
"I appreciate it," he said as he began sobbing. The Rev E.V. Hill, who will run for president at the convention's next elections in September, patted Mr. Lyons on the back, saying: "We forgave any errors you have made. We love you."
Now Lying Lyons President of the National Baptist Convention and Pastor of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church in St. Petersburg was not a novice although he definitely broke most of the rules concerning the position of a bishop outlined in the Word of God. Dr. Henry J. Lyons was also President Emeritus of the Florida General Baptist Convention, Inc., and President of Ecumenical Counselor Community Concern, Inc. He also lectured at Colleges & Universities and was involved in National Prominence in Civic & Community Affairs Black History & Human Relations.
Dr. Lyons was born January 17, 1942. He accepted Christ in 1950 and was called to the Ministry in 1961. He and his wife, Deborah, reside in St. Petersburg. Earlier, Dr. Lyons served as an academic dean at Cincinnati Baptist College and in two pastorates at Baptist churches in Georgia.
Dr. Lyons resume was that of a very prominent educated Evangelical with extensive ministry and educational background and many doctorate degrees. Dr. Lyons has traveled and preached extensively abroad (17 Nations) under the auspices of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA. In addition, his travels have included Bible study in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and theology study at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has conducted Evangelistic Crusades in the Bahamas and Taiwan. He has traveled and preached in Brazil, Rome, Italy, London, England, Paris, France and Spain.
· Dr. Lyons educational background includes the following degrees:
· Associate of Arts, Gibbs Junior College, St. Petersburg, Florida
· Bachelor of Science, Bethune Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida
· Bachelor of Divinity, Morehouse School of Religion, Atlanta, Georgia
· Doctor of Divinity, Cincinnati Baptist College, Cincinnati, Ohio
· Doctor of Sacred Theology, Hebrew Union University, Jerusalem, Israel
· Doctor of Divinity, Bethune Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida
Walter Kambulow
June 1, 2008
All rights reserved
Burlington, Ontario
Mail to walthope@mail.com
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