Sacred truths : Let God Arise

Let God Arise

Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him. Psalm 68:1

Most TV Evangelists I have heard and seen are self centered and not God centered and their number one interest is not the sheep but themselves. They make it appear that they alone have all the answers to life and if you send them money to support their ministry God will solve all your problems! In most of them we don’t see in their ministries God at all, but the words and works of the flesh! Yes many of them talk too much and don’t have good deeds to back up their words!

The Psalmist prayed “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O LORD! Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay” (Psalm 70:1). Had he lived in our day he could have applied this prayer to TV Evangelists who promise much but deliver little and deceive many!

We need for the true God to arise in our lives and His enemies which are also our enemies be scattered. This will not occur by watching a TV evangelist but through reading and doing the word of God and going into our prayer and praise closet so God could answer our prayers just like He had answered the Psalmist prayers! The Psalmist didn’t just pray He praised God and brought His presence down!

His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them in strength, they are limited in power. There is no omnipotent angel, God is the only omnipotent being.

Whereas angels attend to prayer, God personally attends to praise (Psalm. 22:3). Every prayer requires some form of angelic intervention for the answer to be delivered. Prayers are made to God, but the answers are passed down through angels. But praise is superior to prayer. How do I know? Whereas angels attend to prayers, God personally attends to praises; and that makes the difference. When God attends to anything, we can be sure of who wins. Every time God rises in our favor, the victory is won. Praise is what makes God rise from His holy habitation; it is what triggers off the intervention of the Omnipotent God. And when God steps in, every devil bows out.

Praise is superior to prayer! We have seen that every mind-boggling miracle that took place in the Bible was in direct response to praise. Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and gave thanks, and there was enough food from five loaves of bread and two small fishes to feed five thousand men! All He said was, "Father, I thank you", not, "Father, multiply this bread and fish." Praise is God's hotline anytime! We can pray amiss, but we can never praise amiss!

Jesus said something about prayer that is very revealing, "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53). Angels will always respond to prayer, at the command of the Father. That is why they are called ministering spirits, sent to minister for us who shall be heirs of salvation (Hebrew. 1:14). Angels attend to prayer, while God personally attends to praise. We can make our choice! The hottest prayer will only bring angels down, but every acceptable praise brings God down!

It's time to praise God down into every tight issue of our life. When we begin to sing and praise God, He sets ambushment against our enemies (2 Chronicles. 20:22-25). It is praise that makes our battle change hands. God will always take over our battles when we praise Him. God’s word is unchanging:

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment- This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! Psalm 149:6-9

There is no situation in our life that will take more than praise to bow. This is because praise brings God into any situation, and whatever cannot stop God cannot stop it. Why? When we pray, God answers; but when we praise, He steps in, in all His glory, might, power and awesomeness. If we want to secure God's company in the midst of any conflict, we must just release ourselves to praise, and He will be there in person. When God comes on the spot, every devil gives way!

Chapter 1
The Power Of Praise

I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:1-3

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Jesus Christ who is not ashamed to call us brethren is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Judah means praise (Genesis 29:35). As believers we belong to the tribe of Judah and therefore to the tribe of praise; so when we praise, we are in tune with our destiny. Since we belong to the tribe of Judah, triumph is also our heritage (Genesis 49:8-12). Yes, when praise becomes our life style, triumph becomes our heritage; therefore, the son of wickedness will no longer be able to exact upon us but our hand shall be on the neck of our enemies for we are of the tribe of Judah. God’s word is unchanging:

"Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? Genesis 49:8-9

I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted. Psalm. 89:20-22.

We can trigger of the Judaic nature inside of us and praise God to enable and see our triumphs and victories in all things just like David did. God called David a man after His heart. David lived up to God's purpose for creating him, he praised God continually and that was why he won God’s heart. Because we belong to the tribe of Judah, we’re of the company of those that must be praised by others, by reason of our outstanding results and undeniable breakthroughs through the avenue of praise. Until we give God what is due unto Him, we cannot expect what is due to us. That is why a praising Christian is an ever-shining, reigning and ruling person!

Hence we can praise our way out of penury into plenty, out of sickness into health, and out of smallness into greatness! Yet praise is one of the most neglected or ignored spiritual weapons in Christendom, and purely as a result of ignorance. Nothing greases life like praise! When any system or engine lacks grease, it begins to make a cracking noise. That is how many lives in the body of Christ are today, because they lack the grease of praise.

The word of God clearly tells us rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks. Now it’s a fact that that God not only inhabits the praise of His people but praise has great beneficial value to the believer. It is his cheapest access to the Most High God. It is also one of his surest accesses to the realm of the miraculous. Praise is also a preservative of the blessings of God. Blessings may come without it, but it takes praise to preserve the blessings. It is to one's blessings what salt is to meat - it keeps it from decaying. The word of God tells that priests stood the risk of losing God’s blessings, because they had ignored the ways of God. God’s word is true:

"And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name," Says the LORD of hosts, "I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. "Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it. Malachi 2:1-3

By not remembering to give God the glory due to Him, the priests stood to have refuse (in this case shame and reproach) spread on their faces. So there are negative consequences to not praising God? But on the positive side the greatest obstacle facing a believer in life will never require more than praise to become a miracle. No obstacle can escape the touch of Jesus, when we invoke that touch by intense, hearty praise; not just with the lips, but praise coming from the depth of our soul!

Praise is much more effectual than the longest fast any man can engage in. And, although prayer (no matter how fervent) has its place, it cannot compete with praise in potency. Praise makes things work quickly! Those who are learned to praise God have found that there is a highway of praise. It’s a freeway – They just keep going on from triumph to triumph, victory to victory!

Thankfulness and praise from the depths of our hearts cause God to step in and the devils to step out for our God is "fearful in praises, doing wonders" (Exodus 15:11). To the natural praise it seems that praise is the last things we are to do when we are in trouble. But David and Judah always praised the Lord when they were in trouble and were always victorious as a result. When Paul and Silas prayed (while in chains in the prison), and there seemed to be no response from heaven, they switched over to praise, and God intervened (Acts 16:25-26)!

In the ministry of Jesus (the feeding of the five thousand and the raising of Lazarus from the dead), we see that they both answered to praise. Jesus showed us that whenever a problem will take God, then give it praise; because praise will always get God on the scene. Whatever appears difficult in our life is only waiting for 0ur praise, to fall down flat like the wall of Jericho. When something stronger than us is fighting us, all we have to do is to stop struggling and just praise and thank God and He will fight the battle for us. God’s word is unchanging:

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. Psalm 66:1-3

When we praise God from the depth of our being the greatness of His power shatters the plan of the enemies. Praise is a mystery, because as we raise God, things are mysteriously handled from the "headquarters" of heaven, while we just watch the events unfold before us. The greatest obstacle before us will not require more than praise to be converted to a miracle. Praise made one little boy's lunch to be enough to feed five thousand men! It brought Lazarus out of the grave, after he had been dead for four days! But when God steps in, there is nothing decomposition can do. When He came to the graveside, He recomposed Lazarus' system, and he that was dead came forth from the grave, alive! (John.11:44.) The wall of Jericho, the heaviest wall in its days (upon which six chariots could run side by side), "dissolved" in the hands of praise! The Bible says, "The wall fell down flat..." (Joshua. 6:20).

In Jeremiah 32:27 God asks: Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? The Psalmist said, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord" (Psalm 150:6). When we praise God with the remaining breath in us He will come down and flush the devil out for us and rescue us from the den of lions. God is always for us and with us and every time we're shut in and there seems to be no way out, we are just to praise God. As we do, there will be an earthquake, the prison gates will be shattered, and we will walk out into liberty for the tabernacle of David, which is praise, has found a place in our heart, so that we can have pleasures forever more!

Praise is an invitation that God can never turn down. Every time praise rises up to God, He steps in. That thing which the devil thinks is enough reason for us not to praise God, let it be the very reason for which we are praising Him. For when He stretches forth His hand, who can turn it back? His word is unchanging:

But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. Psalm 69:30-31

This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Isaiah 43:21

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

We were created by God to live a life of praise and show forth His praises. Praise pleases God. As wonderful as faith is and the great accomplishments it brings, faith is not as potent as praise. While faith draws on God's faithfulness, praise draws on God's personality. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).God is pleased, so He moves to honor faith. But when God is pleased with praise, He comes down in person. God's faithfulness is triggered off by faith, while praise compels His presence. When God is pleased, exploits explode and we no longer live the ordinary life. Everything begins to answer to us in our business, career and Family. Miracles, signs and wonders begin to answer to us.

It's time to mean business with God! When God is pleased, anything can happen. So if we want to see something happen in our life, business and Family? All we need to do is just please Him with our praises. We need to acknowledge Him. We need to appreciate and acknowledge from our hearts every act and favor of God. A law of life is that every favor we do not appreciate God for depreciates, and every blessing whose source we don't acknowledge, disappears. We are not to take God's faithfulness for granted. When we do, we will be grounded! We are to always acknowledge that He did it all. Each time we see very strange acts, quickly acknowledge, "This is purely the hand of God!" For every little increase we see in our business, we are to sing praises to Him and even dance, dance and dance before Him! And He will just keep dazing us with His blessings. We can see and acknowledge Him for what He has done, we provoke Him to do more. His word is unchanging:

We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. Psalm 44:1-5

We are to be grateful! We can never be fruitful except when we are grateful. Every seed sown in ingratitude falls on the rock and has no future. When we refuse to see God’s hand, we frustrate Him and compel Him to stop blessing us. We are to praise Him for the abundance of all things! Every mountain before us can be leveled. But all we need is to maintain a high frequency of praise and a sense of gratitude. We are not to complain for everyone who complains ends up a convict, but every singing and jumping saint stays on top as a celebrity. There is everything to praise Him for. Everyone who lives in complaint lives in defeat; but he who lives in praise, lives in victory. We must make our choice to give Him thanks or complain! But God’s word is unchanging:

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, Psalm 92:1-2

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

After every act of God, He waits on the other side for an acknowledgement from us. This shows that God keeps record of our activities. Every act of His that is not acknowledged disqualifies us from receiving further blessings. And perfection is obtainable through praise. The bible tells us of ten lepers who were cleansed, but only the one that returned to give thanks was made whole. At every point in our life, we need to learn to say, "Thank You, Jesus." At every turn of event, we need to learn to say, "Praise the Lord." By doing this, we are getting ourselves set for amazing changes.

The force of thanksgiving was what lifted Lazarus out of the grave, where he had been dead and stinking for four days. It was by the same mystery that five loaves and two fishes multiplied to feed five thousand men, with twelve baskets-full gathered as leftovers! We are seeing such manifestations also in our days. No matter what valley we are trapped in, praise will raise us out of it. If our hands are not lifted up to God in praise and thanksgiving, we might die in the pit. Praise is our only way to keep staying at the top. God’s word is true:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall 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, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. Psalm 113:1,7-8

An angel can be waylaid, stranded or stopped on the way, but who can stop the Almighty? There is a continuous conflict in the heavenlies, between God's angels and Satan's angels. That is why angels can be stopped. But God can't be stopped. No force can stand in His way. That is why nothing can stand the power coming forth from our praises.

Every prayer requires angelic involvement for it to be fulfilled. For instance, when Peter was in prison in Acts 12, the Bible records that "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." In response to that prayer, God sent an angel down with the answer:

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. Acts 12:7-10

Whatever will take God only calls for praise. That is praise-warfare. When praise is in place, His presence is compelled, for He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). In praise-warfare, we don't get emotionally excited. Rather, we look at the mountains before us and bring them down with praise. Praise is a God-given weapon in our hands, with which to humiliate Satan. It is the price to pay in order to transfer any battle from our hand to God's hand. When we enter into the realm of high praise, none of our enemies are safe anymore. When we switch over to praise-warfare, there will be a crashing down of every wall of Jericho in our life.

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20

Praise-warfare disarms our enemies, such as sickness, poverty, lack, failure, etc. When we give thanks and sing praises unto His name, Psalm 92:11 becomes a reality in our life: Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

God inhabits the praises of His people, and that is the ultimate in victory. His presence is our greatest spiritual asset as believers, and praise is the price we pay to get it. God's presence is our guarantee for maximum security against all the woes of life. No opposition or obstacle can withstand His presence. God's presence mocks barriers and puts us above circumstances; it confers on us more honor and dignity than any earthly status can, so that doors open before us just like they would before Him.

Praise will grant us access into the hurt-free zone of life, because God's presence automatically dispels evil. His eyes are too pure to behold evil, so evil can't be present where God is present. He dwells in the light that no man can approach unto (1Timothy 6:16). This is what makes praise a superior weapon of warfare in the conflicts of life. Whatever God has not planted, but which is growing in our life, Family, business, finance, children, etc, can be uprooted by the invocation of praise. From today, as we "praise at" whatever "tares" the enemy has sown in our life, God will step in and uproot them by Himself. If somebody says, "I should be married by now." Praise Him for that state, and you'll soon be married. Another says, "I should have a job by now." Praise Him and the job will be yours. There is no shut prison door that praise cannot shatter!

No one can stop God when He comes on the scene; so it is wisdom to switch Him on. He is Almighty and Omnipotent! Praise is one of the most potent weapons in spiritual warfare; though it appears very cheap, it brings the Almighty on the scene. When He takes over our battles, we become a relaxed winner. Whatever force is holding down any of our redemptive rights will bow as we praise God in a dance. David danced with all his might before the Lord and everything that mocked Him (including his wife) came under God's judgment (2 Samuel 6:14-23). Everything mocking us today will come under heaven's judgment as we too dance with all our might before Him. We can dance our way into our long-awaited covenant marriage, career and peace in the home!

Praise is God's natural habitat; whereas the devil naturally inhabits sorrow. So, we are to give the devil no place in our life by giving in to sorrow. The enemy won't take us for a ride anymore!

Sorrow and broken-heartedness thrive on the past, concentrating on failures, mishaps, missed opportunities, insults and assaults. But a life of joy on the contrary focuses on the future. It is full of expectation for a bright and better tomorrow. Many people expect good things, but very few believe that it will come to pass. Fewer still, focus on their expectations, so they are dragged back by the past and stranded by the things of the present. We can stay joyful because:

* God is always right.

* God is ever faithful.

* If God can’t do it, then no one else can. If God cannot, no one else should try. He is the end of human search.

It doesn’t matter where we are today, God has marked out a colourful future for us. We are not to sell off to sorrow, nor t give in to broken-heartedness. Everything that looks like a downward trend today is an upward thrust in disguise. That situation that looks like a stumbling block today is only a stepping stone to our next phase of glory. God’s word is unchanging:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; Romans 4:20

Chapter 2
But When The Helper Comes

"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John 15:26

"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. John 16:13

These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:26-27

God’s people have so much to learn from their teacher, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who wants to teach them all truths. But they must come and sit at Jesus’ feet to learn and He will show them truths that will set them free from bondages since their birth. He will give them instructions how to break the chains of bondage and be set free. God doesn’t want His people to die in a wilderness of their own choosing but go into the Promised Land of the Spirit where there is plenty, prosperity, provision, protection, all the promises of God as well as abundant life. He wants to redeem them from all that is holding them back including the sin which so easily ensnares them. He has already paid the price for every sin that has ever, or ever will be committed.

God wanted to set His people free; so He did. He went to Calvary and He died for everything. He went into the pits of hell and took the keys of death and hell away from the devil and death itself. He has defeated every evil, foul and unclean spirit at the cross. But this is something they can only learn from sitting at the feet of Jesus by calling upon Him in prayer during their quiet time. God’s word is unchanging:

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. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Psalm 91:1-8

"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

God’s people alone determine how much of the Word of God can be sown in their hearts and will stay there and produce fruit. Unfortunately God comes to His people all the time, wanting to tell them about the mysteries of life. They sometime understand and keep what He has given them, for a moment. Then it drifts away like the seed that was planted on the ground and didn’t have proper nourishment. It dried up and withered away. And other things they cannot accept because of religious teachings and doctrine of demons doesn’t allow them to believe the truth of the Word of God. And then they don’t know that there are weeds growing all around them that will choke the word if they don’t stay focused on Jesus and let Him teach them. He will open up the Bible to them with revelation and word knowledge. He is the power that they need to plug into.

But it’s their responsibility to keep out the weeds that are ready to crowd in and choke out the word that He has put into their heart. It’s their responsibility not to allow the devil to come to plant another kind of seed; one that would choke and smother what God’s has planted from the beginning of time. They need to stay open to God through prayer and call on Him and come to Him so that He will give to them revelation and understanding of the Word of God - that is Christ. And then God will open up their spirit to receive all that He has for them. He will open the river that flows from heaven right into their spirit. The angels of God will show them a pure river of the water of life. It will be as clear as crystal and will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb. But them must come to God and receive their inheritance that is available for those who seek God with a pure and a clean heart.

God is that river of life that will flow straight through their lives. He is pure as crystal; and He flows from the throne of God. Blessed is the man who has ears and can hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church today! God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

Yes, God’s people must rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for them. They are not to quench the Spirit nor despise prophecies. But they are to test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. They must not allow the enemy to distract them or sideline them with sickness or disease. They must hear God’s voice and do whatever He commands them to do in spite of the dangers around them. In the world they shall have tribulation and many of God’s servants have been tricked, beaten, hated, chastised, and almost killed. But it was worth it all. Death and diseases are upon the earth at a large scale and only in Christ is there safety. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

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

Many people say that they are working for God and He never knew them. He is the Lord our God and He has specific ministers that go to and fro on this earth. They are proclaiming the Name of The Lord - and His Name is Jesus. He is the King of Kings. He will live eternally together with those whom they lead to Him. He is Lord of Lords and for those who come to Him and seek Him He gives them test. But those that are out there who don’t proclaim the name of Jesus are not of God. They will be lost. They will find out the truth: If not on the earth, He will tell them when they reach the Judgment seat. He will send messengers to those who are in error, He will even come Himself if He feels that He is important enough to them; and that they soon may go out into eternity.

Much is at stake for those who are false prophets. Their soul is at stake; and the souls of those that they led astray are also at risk .God’s word is unchanging:

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. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Chapter 3
If You Can Believe!

Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:17-27

To believe is to accept something as true or real. It is to have firm faith, confidence, or trust. It is to have confidence in the truth or value of something. And if we can believe God He has much for us. True men and women of God, don’t trust in what their natural senses feel or see. Their mind isn’t on the temporal but on the eternal. They are aware that those who are for us are greater than those who are against us. They see the invisible realm of heaven with God and His angels to be more real than this temporal realm. They know that just like the angels came and ministered to Jesus they can come and minister to us. They know they can ask the Father at any time to provide them 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. God’s word is true:

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

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

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

The kingdom of God which is inside each true believer is a dimension that men cannot see. They cannot see righteousness, peace, joy and the Holy Spirit but it’s something that God’s true children can feel and experience and know! The things in the kingdom of God including miracles are activated by faith in God’s word. God’s answers prayer in His dimension and we call for it, come to Him and get it. We activate His word. We release faith that we will receive, and we will have. If there is sickness or disease, we go to Him knowing that He and paid the price for all sickness and diseases. We go into God’s dimension and take what is ours.

In the kingdom of God if we can believe, things will be for us as we speak. But we must get to a place where we ourselves believe in God and have faith like a mustard seed. The smallest seed in the world produces the largest tree. That mustard seed will provide a tree for shade and birds. Animals will lodge in the trees. If we can just believe and reach out for what God has for us, claiming that this is His word, then it will begin to happen for us. But we must initiate the miracles in our life. We must come to a place and know that Jesus has something to give His people: its belief in Christ. Believe that He is Son of God. Believe that He died, and on the third day He arose from the dead. Believe that He has set us free from bondage and sins - that He forgave our iniquities and took our infirmities. Believe that He has come to give us life more abundantly. And then we can watch and see what He will do to help us when we begin to believe.

We can come to God for miracles and all kinds of things even though our belief is little, like the grain of mustard seed. But He will cause good things to come to pass for us when we believe just like He did for the father whose son was possessed by an unclean spirit, by a deaf and dumb spirit. Yes we can go to Jesus and receive what we have need of. He is the only way into the presence of the Father. He is the Father and Father is Jesus; and the Holy Spirit is in Jesus - for they are all one. God’s word is unchanging:

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:5-14

Yes, we can believe that the words of Jesus are true including "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. If we believe what we ask for it will come to pass. God will open wide the portals of heaven and cause us to see what we can behold in Christ. If we can believe, the works that Jesus did we will do also; and greater works than these we will do, because Jesus went to His Father - we will accomplish everything that we set out to do. For Jesus will open the blind eyes. He will raise the dead. He will open up deaf ears. He will do all these things through you; if we can believe. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Chapter 4
Walk Before Me And Be Blameless

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly." Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Deuteronomy 17:1-8

God’s promised blessings to Abraham including His beneficial power "well-being" for every area of life, that is, salvation for the soul, material wealth, and physical health, etc. was dependent on the condition that he walk before God and be blameless. He confirmed this by His own words to Abraham:

And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know." Genesis 18:17-21

Apostle Peter confirmed that the condition of inheriting a blessing from God was dependent on our conduct and actions:

Jesus also confirmed that we alone by our actions and conduct determine how we are blessed by God in the current time of life. God’s word is true:

"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. Matthew 7:1-2

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew 13:10-12

Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. Mark 4:24

Apostle Paul in his epistles reinforced the idea of the importance of our conduct towards God and others as a condition of being blessed by God and used by Him:

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:19-22

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:7-14

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, Philippians 1:27

Yes, we are called by God and have a responsibility to “love one another.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Love, not only words, is the fulfillment of the law of God. God’s word is unchanging:

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Matthew 12:28-31

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 1:14

To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:12-16

It takes the power and the person of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. The sad part of present day apostate Christendom is that it doesn’t know the power and the person of the Holy Spirit who brings heaven down to earth first in our hearts than around us.

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. 2 Corinthians 2:7-13

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 come knowledge, discernment, righteousness, and fruit that remain. 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

Chapter 5
Both Riches And Honor Come From God

Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 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 29:10-12

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. Psalm 98:1

On Calvary Jesus Christ has won the victory over every single enemy in our life including sickness, diseases, poverty, lack, curses and demons. And that is why Apostle Paul stated He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). And James told us 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) You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:2-4). But God’s word is unchanging:

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. 1 Peter 1:2-4

We live by the promises of God but the blessings of God are not automatic in our lives and they have to be appropriated by faith by those who live and walk by faith, not by sight, in the power of the Holy Spirit!. God promised that what you ask, you will receive if you ask in faith. Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing you will receive.” According to this scripture, there are two things we must do. First, ask in prayer. Second, believe we receive. The confidence we receive when we pray comes from knowing that our covenant with God supplies every need.

No matter what we are going through, there is a promise for us in the Word of God that we can look to and by faith claim. We can look to God and believe to receive all that God has promised. His Word tells us that He is not slack concerning any of His wonderful, divine promises. When the way gets weary, remember His promise in Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." No matter what happens, we turn our eyes upon the promises of God and the faithfulness of God who stated "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

When we make Jesus Lord of our lives we come into a Covenant relationship with Jesus we become part of His family and we have a right to all the privileges in that family. We become one with Him, all He has is ours and all we have is His. We become a joint heir with Jesus we are heir to all the Father has. We have also been given authority to overcome every attack of the enemy and have victory. Jesus defeated Satan and took away his power to harm us but he will still try to deceive us and if we believe the deception of the devil instead of the Word of God we will be defeated. Knowing Jesus and who He is in us and who we are in Him will give us victory every time.

Instead of fearing a situation we take the Word of God and apply it and watch the situation turn out for good. Fear will take our mind off God and His word and leave us with the problem; faith will keep God’s Word on our mind and see victory. Faith comes through fellowship with Jesus, talking to Him, reading His Word, hearing His Word and doing his word.

We have victory now in Jesus. God’s promises are for us today. When we ask God for something it should not be hoping He will hear and answer it should be knowing He will answer. Prayer is for God’s glory, prayer is to accomplish God’s will in a situation in our lives or the lives of others.

It is important that we know our covenant rights in order to receive from God. But we must also walk the walk and not just talk the talk! Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” And James told us But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:6-10). God’s Word is our final authority that the need we have will be met if we meet God’s conditions.

The promises of God are many, and those who trust and obey can have all their needs supplied. Our help and supply goes beyond this earth. God has all power in heaven and in earth, and as God's Children, we can have full assurance from on High that all will be well with us. Tribulations on this earth may be many, but God will deliver us out of them all as we lean and depend upon Him. Down through the years, God has been faithful to His obedient Children, and He is the same today. Whatever our need is, whether it be physical, spiritual or financial, we can cast it upon the Lord and let Him perform miracles for us.

Yes there are conditions to seeing God’s promises on any subject become a reality in our lives and circumstances. And if we find pride and arrogance in our hearts and lives we are in deep trouble. The Psalmist tells us 5:5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5). And Solomon tells us The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate (Proverbs 8:13). When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). And the prophet tells us Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph (Amos 5:15).

Those who are ignorant of the devil and his wiles and devices will find themselves destroyed by him Apostle Peter tells us Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is the great deceiver and he deceives people, even Christians, with ideas that appeal to their lusts and passions. Ideas which on the surface look good but have hooks in them and ultimately will destroy those who accept them including the pursuit of money!

Jesus didn’t tell his children to pursue money or anything but rather "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Those who have any failures in their lives including financial may be surprised to learn that what they need is not more money but a spiritual breakthrough which comes from standing on the word of God and in believing prayer. God is more than enough to give victory over anything as they spend time mediating on all many wonderful blessing and prosperity promises God has provided for them in His Word and by obeying His word being doers of the word not hearers only.

But as you abound in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us-see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 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. And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack-that there may be equality. As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack." 2 Corinthians 8:7-14

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 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 3:9-14

Yes those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham as Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us. Poverty, lack, sickness, depression, and all the negative things listed in Deuteronomy 28 are not blessings but curses that we were redeemed from. If we disobey the word of God or are deceived by the devil we will find ourselves opening up to the curses just like David did when he stole another man’s wife! God’s word is unchanging:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:11-13

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

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20

Chapter 6
We Need A Revival

Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved! Psalm 80:17-19

Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:6-9

To solve any problem in life we must first admit there is a problem. And then we must define the problem and work and pray for a solution to the problem. Brother T. Job Anbalagan of the Glory of His Cross Prophetic Ministries in his article “Revival Through Prophesy[i] ” has defined very well why we need a revival

An unsaved person is spiritually dead. He is a lost soul, as he has not been redeemed from the sin by the Blood of Jesus. He is to be born again in the Spirit of God. There are millions of souls in the world awaiting revival from their spiritual death, which came through Adam. On the contrary, a saved soul is spiritually alive. Nevertheless, he may be spiritually weak, dormant, dull, unconscious or oblivious. He has a name that he lives but is dead (Rev.3: 1). There are thousands of saved souls or born-again Christians in our midst, falling under this category. Though they are born again, yet they are spiritually dumb, deaf, and blind. They are dumb because they do not tell others about what Jesus has done for them or about the need for salvation through Jesus; they are shy of witnessing for Christ. They are deaf because they hardly discern the voice of Jesus through the word of God; they are hard of hearing either the footsteps of the coming Messiah from above or the heart-rending cries of lost souls down from the bottomless pit. They are blind because they do not perceive the suffering Christ in the garb of afflicted strangers who visit their houses for help or who remain sick or in prison (Matt.25: 35-40). There are many saved Christians who slumber spiritually. They have lost their first love for God. Once they were zealous for God actively engaged in soul-winning or helping the mission fields. The spirit of deep sleep has now come upon them (Is.29:10).

There are many believers who have fallen unconscious spiritually and lost their senses. They have become indifferent to lost souls and the work in the Lord’s vineyard. They do not have the agonizing mind of Christ. Neither do they feel the agonies of the other members of the Body of Christ. “…Whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it…” (I Cor.12: 26). They have no concern for the suffering missionaries on the mission fields or the poor saints in the House of God.

There is yet another category of Christians who are oblivious of their duties and responsibilities in the vineyard of God in this darkest hour as they give preference to the mundane things.

All these kinds of the children of God are likened to the children of Israel who have become “the dry bones” in the prophetic book of Ezekiel (Ch.1). Their lives are not different from the lives of the unsaved persons. They are like the dry bones in the churches of God, whereas the unsaved persons are like the dry bones in the world. Prophetically speaking, all these children of God represent the last or the end-time Church of the Laodiceans who were lukewarm and were neither cold nor hot. They are spiritually complacent and say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”. However, the Holy Spirit points to them, “thou art wretched, and miserably, and poor, and blind, and naked”. The Holy Spirit who has been constantly grieved by the lives of such children of God is still standing at the door and knocking at their hearts, unwilling to desert them because of His long-suffering. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev.3: 14-22). The bride of the Song of Solomon sleeps but her heart wakes and hears the voice of her Beloved “that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night” (Song 5:2).

Since all these children of God are the individual members of the invisible Body of Christ, the Church, they are to be revived first. God will send a might revival to this world only through the revived members of the Body of Christ.

There are many demonic inspired movements in Christendom today that talk about a revival but they are not real revival because they don’t involve the whole body of Christ and they don’t affect society and this includes especially the ones in the Third Wave and Rodney Howard Browne and Todd Bentley which are man centered and not Christ centered!

Todd Bentley [ii] is the tattooed former criminal who in July 2008 stepped down from his controversial revival in Florida over an affair with a woman. Bentley, raised in Gibsons, B.C., was known to be a heavy drinker. During his ecstatic services he would often punch or kick sick people in the name of healing them. It wasn't his outrageous claims of raising the dead that finally landed Todd Bentley in trouble. Not the contradictory sermons, or even his criminal past. Not the face piercings, the neck-toknee tattoos, the biker-dude lifestyle. His followers could live with all that; it was part of the act.

Bentley, a 32-year-old former drug addict from the west coast, was the hottest thing going on the global televangelist circuit. A hog-riding faith healer with a devil-may-care attitude. Then he failed his flock, the old fashioned way: cheating on his wife. Todd Bentley, disgraced, went into hiding for six months and then resurfaced.

In 2009 after the revival failed and Todd Bentley [iii] divorced his wife, Rick Joyner led the restoration team which included leaders who had vouched for Bentley’s good character in the past even as he was deceiving us all, and has posted a letter on his web page. We are informed that ‘Even so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage, their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can. ‘

Their being married far from making it right has in my view made matters even worse and totally disqualified Todd Bentley from any reinstatement in ministry in the foreseeable future. It means there is no repentance. He has simply gone into outright rebellion by marrying his mistress. Even if his wife had chosen to divorce him, which does not seem to be the case, a more judicious, moral and righteous course of action would have been to break off this adulterous relationship and stay celibate before God Instead, he remarries quickly. And we are put before the fait accompli. Is there a recent translation of the New Testament that decrees that the solution to adultery is to quickly divorce the offended party and marry the mistress?

Canadian Revivalist Todd Bentley preached on seven fold restoration including the restoration of marriage [iv] and had a mistress during the Lakeland demonic revival and-was drunk most of the time - He stated:

If your marriage needs to be restored then stir up your faith and ask: "My God, please, I want You to restore my marriage, and I want it to be better than it was in the first place. I want there to be double the intimacy." Get aggressive. Don't just settle for an "okay, restore my marriage" attitude. "Restore my marriage and give it to me double!"

So why did Todd divorce his wife and not practice what he preached? Because he is a hypocrite, a false one, a son of hell just like all the preachers in the Third Wave!

Rick Joyner and Bill Johnson being both caught up in the realm of deceiving spirits, could only reinforce TB’s behavior. TB’s declaration of “opening up the stargate portals to the third heaven” had absolutely nothing to do with God or His heavenly realms…it is based on previous declarations by high level occultist. His “angel” connections were not God’s angels, they are familiar spirits and demonic forces. What he does and declares is UTTERLY SATANIC…not “just a little eccentric.” The opening up of these “portals” that TB is engaged in is activated by his own soul power/soul energy called kundalini in Hinduism. There is much material on the web about it as it is practiced by those in the occult/new age especially http://newchristian.org.uk/kundalini.html

Rodney Howard Browne [v] made his ministry known in the USA by playing to a large audience at the Charismatic Carpenter's Home Church in 1993 and 1994. Through approval by Benny Hinn, who launched him at his own meeting, and Kenneth Copeland’s church meeting along with airplay by TBN He brought the new thing to naïve and silly Christians who were open for just about anything to happen and call it God. And so the new latter rain movement got a shot in the arm with laughing hysterically and being inebriated on the floor.

Rodney who believes in nepotism in his meetings taught that not only it was the pastor’s job to fleece the sheep but only God was to judge pastors, not the (dumb) sheep! He also taught that it was more important to give than to receive and spend a lot of time receiving offerings that he spent on himself and family members.

Rodney also taught that thieves were to be blessed and rewarded, not judged for this is what Jesus would want them to do! So he blessed thieving Karl Strader with a new Lincoln town car with money raised from the dumb sheep when Karl robbed him but refused to help any of Dan Strader's victims [vi].

James Jacob Prasch of Moriel Ministries writes in his article The Delusional World Of Mark Stibbe & St Andrews Chorleywood [vii]:

From Kansas City to the religious fiasco in Toronto, to the failed revival at Brownsville resulting in a major church split and public financial scandal, and on to the infamous heresy and abuse of Lakeland. The same odious characters at the core attracting like-minded charlatans including the Strader brothers, Daniel imprisoned until 2036 for defrauding elderly Christians out of $3 million and Stephen who was thought by the judge to be just as guilty.

After Bentley’s exposure in the USA on ABC Nightline he was swiftly removed from ministry to prevent further scrutiny. Not only was he unable to provide evidence of a single healing, many who were pronounced healed have since died. Furthermore the Arnold Palmer Hospital has stated that claims of resurrections were bogus

For those that don’t know, in 2008 (April to July) there was a revival in Lakeland Florida where people were thrown around by some invisible force (which they, Charisma Magazine insisted was the Holy Spirit). People shook violently on stage claiming the most bizarre manifestations, visions and visitations by angles. Todd Bentley punched and kicked people to heal them, spoke of visiting people in dreams and also told of countless trips to heaven where he once stuffed his pockets with gold from a treasury room. He blasphemously baptised people in the name of the father, the son and the bam. But who could forget the 39 people claimed risen from the dead.

The jerking in Toronto, Brownsville, Lakeland or any other revival place is not a sign of the Holy Spirit but of a Kundalini demon which infiltrated Christianity mainly in North America through Rodney Howard Browne! The fact is the bible never talks about “jerking” being an attribute of the Holy Spirit but rather it states but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control THE KEY WORD HERE IS SELF-CONTROL AND WHEN YOU ARE POSSESSED BY A DEMONIC KUNDALINI SPIRIT THERE IS NO CONTROL AND THAT IS TOTALLY WRONG AND AGAINST SCRIPTURE!

Pastor/Evangelist Gordon Williams [viii] in his posting "Todd Bentley Is Not A Christian" states:

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.

Chapter 7
A Real Revival

"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10

These modern day demonic Third Wave revivals are full of selfishness, arrogance and pride with very little concern for others including the poor and needy! They are devoid of repentance never mind restitutions for wrong done or sins committed!

South African Pentecostal Evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne, a white supremacist in theology, who immigrated with all his brothers and parents to United States became a naturalized American and taught that "sheep needed to be fleeced or they would have too much hair and could not see where they are going.. It was the pastor’s job to fleece the sheep.” Rodney had been credited with bringing the laughter revival to America. But from what really happened in Carpenter's Home Church in 1993 and 1994 and its devastating effect on the community including the robbing, raping and murdering of the sheep, was not much of a revival.

Roy Aldrich, a retired school teacher, was robbed of $100,000.00 by Pastor Karl Strader and his son Dan Strader of Carpenter's Home Church Lakeland, Florida. Rodney, who was a personal friend of Karl Strader who practiced nepotism, and bought him a Lincoln town car, was asked to help the elderly victims who were robbed by the Straders and he refused. But when German Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke’s decided to relocate his ministry to Florida, Rodney Howard-Browne decided he would give Bonnke a house. At first he offered Bonnke his own house in Tampa, but Bonnke had to locate in Orlando to be closer to his operational base. It was then that Howard-Browne decided to build Bonnke a new $250,000 home in Orlando. Rodney then drove a brand new car to Bonnke’s driveway.

How gracious and wonderful of Rodney to be a respecter of persons to the high and mighty and to ignore the real plight of the poor and needy especially the real victims robbed and raped by Dan and Karl Strader? How come “the Lord” led Rodney to help and give a fellow pastor a new car and home but not any of Dan Strader victims who lost their lives savings due to the Ponzi schemes conducted by the Straders? It wasn’t Christ the LORD who led Rodney to do what he did for God is never a respecter of persons nor shows partiality to the high and mighty? On the contrary it's the poor and needy who are important to him and not the rich and mighty!

Yes, Rodney committed sin by showing partiality to Pastor Karl Strader rather than innocent victimized Roy Aldrich. Rodney refused to help Roy Aldrich or any of the victims of Dan Strader, the lying thieving con artist who with his father's helped rob the poor defenseless elderly. He ignored the fact that in the New Testament the poor were always important to the Apostles and those in leadership. The bible records:

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Romans 15:25-27

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." 2 Corinthians

Today’s so called revivals are perverted we are supposed to give money to the rich prominent pastors some of whom not only have million dollar homes but even million dollar jets and not to the poor amongst the saints? There is something wrong with any revival or ministry that ignores “the poor”! Carl Giordano in his article “Sow Your Seed To Meet Your -- Greed!” has brought out very well the false teachings by many prominent ministries about sowing a money seed to get victory or see your need met when Jesus Christ won it all for us on Calvary and we don’t have to pay a penny or do anything but just believe and trust God!

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" ---1st Timothy 6:10

Do you remember the "good ol' days", when amongst Christians who knew their Bibles, the "Seed" used to be--The Word of God ?

Well, lo and behold, while nobody was looking, all of a sudden somebody changed the "Seed" into---MONEY !

It seems in our modern day church, especially the "Charismatic" version ( of which I am one, so to speak ), it does not matter so much what The Word of Almighty God says, as much as what the slick talking Evangelist / Bible Teacher says. In other words, the Holy Bible teaches that the Seed to be sown is---The Word of God. But, if you have watched "Christian TV" any time, in the last few years, you may have noticed that the slick talkers --who call themselves "Minister" "Reverend" "Doctor" "Bishop" "Evangelist" "Pastor" "Teacher"-- have now changed the Seed from the Word of God into ---Money ! And, boy oh boy, they want you to sow a whole lot of this new seed into their "ministry" ( pockets ) .

It's kind of a neat little Magic Trick! You know, where the magician turns his empty hand upside down, and then back again, and now there is a coin in it ! Abra-Cadabra ! Bingo ! "Now there is nothing in my hand, as you so plainly see....but, a little 'slight of hand' ( slick talking ) and now my hand is full of -- Money-- Your Money ! " And "God's People" keep on being ignorant enough to say---" That's neat ! Let's see that trick again, and again, and again "....

In the book of Exodus Pharaoh had a lot magicians in his court... and we have a whole lot of them in our churches, and on "Christian TV" . They say, so to speak,---"You thought these Bible verse meant this -- but I have had a 'new revelation' and Wallah!--now they mean something altogether different--and if you're smart, you will get in on the action ! "

Now, hopefully, I'm going to make this present message of mine short. Basically, what I want to get across to you, the reader, is this---Beware! Wolves still do dress up in sheep's clothing! You may have heard the old saying--"If it waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck and flies like a duck--that's because --It's a DUCK! " I'd like to warn you, today, that if it looks like a False Teacher, acts like a False Teacher, lives like a False Teacher, talks like a False Teacher, and TWISTS SCRIPTURE like a False Teacher --that's because--It's a FALSE TEACHER !

Study. I said Study. Study the Bible for yourself. Stop being lazy wanting somebody else (the Reverend, Doctor, Bishop, Pastor, Teacher etc. ) to do it for you. The SCRIPTURE TWISTERS are counting on you being ignorant of the Bible; because, if you are not ignorant of the Bible, they will not be able to CON you.

Now, the worst part of all this is not so much that the seed is now money, whereas it used to be The Word of God--this is sure enough blasphemous enough--but, along with the "Sow your Seed" ( Money ) teaching is the grandiose, as well as blasphemous promises made to you--"That if you will just sow that One Thousand Dollar seed, my friend, then God will surely bring salvation your way and all your kids, grand kids, and your grandma will surely be swept into the kingdom ! Yes Sir ! My Brother and My Sister, go to that phone right now! Call i ! Don't Doubt! Get that seed sown into 'good ground' ( MY POCKET ) and God will save everybody you know... and don't know; and then, guess what, ---God will make you RICH! "..... ( and then you can send in some BIGGER seeds )

Let's go to the BIBLE. What a novel idea. The BIBLE? Well, ok...guess it can't hurt.

Now, when we open our Bibles, rather than turn on Christian TV, we see that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST says that the SOWER SOWS the SEED and that the SEED is---THE WORD OF GOD!

So, put your check book away. Get out a PACK OF GOSPEL TRACTS , instead, and start SOWING! Go over to your neighbor's house, hand them a TRACT, then open your BIBLE, and get to SOWING! Go to a street corner, open your Bible and let er' rip! Throw those SEEDS all up and down the streets, on your job, at your neighbors! Throw some SEEDS at your friends! Chuck a bunch of them at your enemies! SEEDS ! SEEDS! SEEDS! Go and show "Johnny Apple Seed " that he ain't got nothin' on you! He threw his seed, everywhere, and grew trees. You go and throw your SEED, everywhere, and GROW DISCIPLES for JESUS!

Amen !!! If I have to shout it myself ! Glory !!!!!!!!

Now, let's calm down, Brother Carl, and actually quote some SCRIPTURE here. Ok ? Ok.

Jesus said--- " A sower went out to sow his seed "....Luke 8:5 ( later, during your study time, read the rest down to verse 11 )

In verse 11 of Luke 8 we see that Jesus says--- " Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God."

"But, brother Carl ?! Evangelists Slick Sam, Brother Twister the Teacher, and Dr. Dumbbell, all said that the SEED is-- my LOVE OFFERING --sent in to them...and that if I would just 'have enough faith to obey ( them ), then God would get my son and daughter off of drugs, and all, and everything else I ever wanted will be mine. "

..... " I sent my thousand dollar seed in...my kids are still on drugs...I'm still broke....but, maybe, it will take a LARGER SEED ...ok...ok...ok...Where's my Check Book !? "

Do you want your loved ones saved? ASK JESUS to SAVE THEM. He doesn't NEED your SEED---It's only HIS SEED that will get the job done-- and His SEED is---FREE OF CHARGE! So, don't send any "seeds" to Jesus...( or those who pretend to work for Him)...rather, ASK JESUS to send HIS SEED ( the Word of God ) to your loved ones.

Again, what a novel idea. Jesus IS the seed and HAS the seed? Yes, a thousand times--Yes!

Do you or your loved ones need a healing in body. I've got GOOD NEWS! You can keep your money in the bank and your pocket. Don't send any SEEDS to anybody. Don't send for your lucky handkerchief, or rabbit's foot ( it's almost become this bad ) but rather just KEEP ON sending UP your PRAYERS to---THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! HE IS WHAT HE IS!!! He said- "I AM". Brother ! Sister !---He ( JESUS ) is---the SAVIOR, the HEALER, the BAPTIZER with THE HOLY GHOST and FIRE, and THE SOON COMING KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords !

Now, in closing, let's be fair and balanced. ( "But, brother Carl all these CAPITAL LETTERS and EXCLAMATION POINTS--- !!!!!! ---Brother Carl, you don't write, nor act like one who is very--'BALANCED' ?! " )

Yeah, Yeah, I know. I get a little carried away...I even bounce up and down, sometimes, as I sit on my chair, while I type here at the computer. But, still, we will now briefly mention something, in the name of balance.... so that, hopefully, we ( me ) will not become a Scripture Twister ourselves---

In God's Word ( Bible ), we DO find reference to money--a LOVE OFFERING--being SEED SOWN. But these are the very Scriptures that the SCRIPTURE TWISTERS--TWIST--in order to line their OWN POCKETS.

Because I'm tired of typing, I'll let you STUDY it out for yourself. In 2nd Corinthians chapters 8 & 9, we find the Apostle Paul lifting a Love Offering and he does refer to it as-- SEED SOWN. See Chapter 9 verse 6 etc. etc.. But, Paul was NOT lifting this offering for himself nor to enrich himself . He WAS taking this offering from one particular church group to HELP OTHER POOR CHRISTIANS who were SUFFERING because of their faith in The Lord Jesus.

Now, again, let's be fair and balanced. Should we SUPPORT true Ministers of The Gospel with our MONEY ??? Of course !!! That's also BIBLE. Study it out. "The laborer is worthy of his reward" etc. etc. etc.. All over the BIBLE we are taught to GIVE to help the TRUE man or woman of God. But, a REAL man or woman of God will not suck you dry like some sort of foul leech! They will feed you ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD, and they will NOT major on LOVE OFFERINGS, TITHES, etc. BUT, rather they will FEED YOU GOD'S WORD, AS HE GIVES IT TO THEM, AS THEY FAITHFULLY STUDY HIS WORD AND SEEK HIS FACE IN PRAYER.

If these "preachers" and "teachers" would REPENT of their CON GAMES, and get on TV and in their pulpits, and PREACH and TEACH so as to get PRECIOUS SOULS delivered, saved, healed and ready for the soon coming KING---Then I believe ALL THE MONEY--that they would ever NEED-- would come FLOWING IN like a MIGHTY STREAM.

Let's stop all the BEGGING. Let's stop giving to all the Beggars.

Let's stop PLAYING CON GAMES. Let's stop being CONNED.

Chapter 8
I Will Give You Rain In Its Season

"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.". Genesis 8:22

'If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. 'For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. Leviticus 25:3-10

We can pray and believe God to move and supply our special needs as only He can. Our God is able! He is big enough! He is the true and living God who is able to perform the miraculous. Faith in God brings victories for those who trust and obey. Throughout the Word of God we see God's care for man on display over and over again. He saved Noah and his house from the flood. He delivered the three Hebrew boys out of the fiery furnace. He led Moses and the Israelites across the Red Sea on dry ground. If God could do these mighty miracles for people back then, we know that He can do them today. He is God, and He changes not. "For with God all things are possible," Mark 10:27b. That wonderful faith in God comes from reading His Word. When we know God and His love, it is easy to place faith in Him.

Our giving with a proper attitude to proper people or places is the key to receiving heaven's blessings in due season. Without our giving there is no receiving, because God’s law of seedtime and harvest states that there can be no harvest without first planting a seed. But no giving can be acceptable without a correct attitude. That is why not every giver ends up being prosperous. Indeed, some tithers, pledgers and givers die in penury.

If we sow our seed on the wrong soil, we will reap nothing. It is not just planting that brings a harvest, but planting in the right place. Yes according to God’s promise, no man should expect a harvest when he has not planted any seed. Thus, the power of abundance will come only by the act of planting the seed. When the seed goes into the earth, God sends rain, which brings about the harvest. We cannot produce rain, but as we plant the seed, God sends the rain that brings the harvest. What if the rain comes and there is no seed in the ground? Then there will be no harvest!

While we remain on this earth, every harvest will bring forth after its kind of seed. No one can change that order — seed time must always precede harvest. If we will not sow, our crying, praying and fasting will not help produce a harvest. God gave His Son, in order to reap the harvest of more sons. If He did not plant Jesus, the law of life forbids that He should reap the harvest of men. Only givers should expect a harvest. Until we become a giver, material depression is inevitable for us.

However many lose out on their harvest due to impatience. They expect an immediate harvest. It may not always be so. Every farmer knows that he must allow a time lapse between the period of planting and the period of harvest. There is need for the sower to wait patiently. God is a covenant-keeping God, He will not fail. At the appointed time, the harvest must surely come. His word is unchanging:

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:10-12

Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. Zechariah 10:1

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

We can stand on the Word of God, for it cannot be destroyed, not even by the strongest forces of hell put together. When we give it opens up to the Spirit of wisdom, that guides us to profiting. Our Redeemer and Our God teaches us to profit and leads us by the way we should go. When we give, we open up to supernatural creativity and God tells us what steps to take in order to have our needs met. He rains down upon us heavenly ideas that lead to profiting and wealth. But there is no abundance without obedience. The bible tells us:

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

If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. Job 36:11-12

The word of God is very clear that obedience to God’s voice brings us prosperity and disobedience bring us curses. The Lord told Abraham,"Get thee out , but He never told him what to do to be great. He only told him,"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing." (Gen. 12:2). Abraham obeyed. He planted his integrity and everyone mocked him. But Abraham became very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold. God’s word is unchanging:

If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 1:19-20

It’s that simple. Our obedience or disobedience to the word of God determines our blessings or curses! The words "obey" and "serve" show that there is a law to obey — the law of giving and receiving. God has the harvest and we have the seed. We need to plant the seed and open up for the harvest. If we will not plant a seed, we will not get. The seed must be planted in order for the harvest to come. God’s 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. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies. He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor. Psalm 112:1-9

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. Proverbs 19:17

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9

He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. Proverbs 28:27

Yes, our giving also to the poor or the lack of giving to the poor determines our blessings or curses in the current time of life. The righteous considers the cause of the poor, even though the wicked does not understand such knowledge (Proverbs 29:7). Our cheerful giving to the poor and needy planted as a seed with enable for us a rich harvest. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Our giving to the poor and to the work of the Lord establishes a great future for us. As we remain faithful in giving, the windows of heaven will keep pouring out wisdom and might to envelope us for great exploits on the earth. The bible tells us that the widow of Zarephath gave, the rain of God fell, causing the power of God to go into operation, and the oil in her cruse never finished! (1 Kings 17:8-17) That is power! Provision is guaranteed by the operation of that power, and abundance is made possible by the operation of the spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:1-5).

Isaac planted during famine in the land of the Philistines and in that year, God gave him a supernatural harvest. He 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. As a result the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-13). It was a supernatural act of God. It is not something that Issac laboured for. It was the supernatural finger of God in the material affairs of men.

Divine health and divine prosperity come from God through faith just like Salvation does. We must believe in our heart. Act on and confess God’s word until it comes to pass. Faith without works is dead. So there must be action including giving! God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

Chapter 9
A Measure of Faith

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:22-26

Everything we have had from God HAS BEEN BY FAITH. Everything lasting that we have ever done as a Christian has been done by faith. And in order to be successful and prosperous in God we will have to continue to use our faith to receive things from God and to do great things for God. God has given to each person a measure of faith that allows him to be saved, healed, delivered, made perfect whole and complete and get from heaven everything that he needs to live a victorious prosperous life. His word is unchanging:

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:3-15

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. James 1:2-3

If we are honest with ourselves we cannot save ourselves, heal ourselves, deliver ourselves and for this we need Jesus who is to us all that we need. He is the one who started our faith and will complete it as we look to him. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8. Yes, God started our faith, and what He started, He will finish if we allow Him too for God is a perfect Gentleman who allows us to do whatever we want to including failing and He will not interfere with our will and choices unless we ask Him to. God’s word is true:

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them. The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:17-19

The blessings of God will only follow us if we “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We cannot be unholy and expect God to bless us -.. . ye shall be holy; for I am holy; . . .” (Leviticus 11:44). We must lay aside every sin, every hindrance, and run the race with patience (Hebrews 12:1). But if we are holy and blameless, then there is nothing that God cannot or will not do as we use and release our faith. We can partake of the things God has set before us and bring honor to His Name, or we can be like the brother of the prodigal son, who refused to come in to the feast his father had prepared for his brother to celebrate his “being found again.” Andrew Murray in His book “THE DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE” writes

The elder son was living with his father and serving him “these many years,” and he complains that his father never gave him a kid, while he gave his prodigal brother the fatted calf. Why was this? Simply because he did not ask it. He did not believe that he would get it, and therefore never asked it, and never enjoyed it. He continued thus to live in constant murmuring and dissatisfaction; and the key note of all this wretched life is furnished in what he said. His father gave him everything, yet he never enjoyed it; and he throws the whole blame on his loving and kind father.

The likeness to Christ consists chiefly in two things - the likeness of His death and resurrection, (Rom. 6:5). The death of Christ was the consummation of His humility and obedience, the entire giving up of His life to God. In Him we are dead to sin. As we sink down in humility and dependence and entire surrender to God, the power of His death works in us, and we are made conformable to His death. And so we know Him in the power of His resurrection, in the victory over sin, and all the joy and power of the risen life. Therefore every morning, “present yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead.” He will maintain the life He gave, and bestow the grace to live as risen ones.

All this can only be in the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you. Count upon Him to glorify Christ in you. Count upon Christ to increase in you the inflowing of His Spirit. As you wait before God to realize His presence, remember that the Spirit is in you to reveal the things of God. Seek in God’s presence to have the anointing of the Spirit of Christ so truly that your whole life may every moment be spiritual.

As you meditate on this wondrous salvation and seek full fellowship with the great and holy God, and wait on Him to reveal Christ in you, you will feel how needful the giving up of all is to receive Him. Seek grace to know what it means to live as wholly for God as Christ did. Only the Holy Spirit Himself can teach you what an entire yielding of the whole life to God can mean. Wait on God to show you in this what you do not know. Let every approach to God, and every request for fellowship with Him be accompanied by a new, very definite, and entire surrender to Him to work in you.

“By faith” must here, as through all Scripture, and all the spiritual life, be the keynote. As you tarry before God, let it be in a deep quiet faith in Him, the Invisible One, who is so near, so holy, so mighty, so loving. In a deep, restful faith too, that all the blessings and powers of the heavenly life are around you, and in you. Just yield yourself in the faith of a perfect trust to the Ever Blessed Holy Trinity to work out all God’s purpose in you. Begin each day thus in fellowship with God, and God will be all in all to you.

Yes, by faith we can sit down at our Father’s table with rejoicing, partake to the uttermost of the good things He has prepared for us including divine health, divine wisdom, divine prosperity, divine favor and divine wealth. And then we can go forth in the strength thereof to do mighty exploits for God! The world is full of religious people who are not putting their feet under the Father’s table. They are so-called “believers,” but they are not eating, because the Father has set only ONE table and they won’t have fellowship with those at the table. They are only hurting themselves and missing all that God has for them because of their foolishness, ignorance and pride. But God’s word is unchanging:

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17.

And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:6-11

As Christians we need to have our faith increased and to have perfect love that casts out fear. As we listen to God’s voice and obey what He says to us our faith will increase and we will learn to cast away fear for God has not given us the Spirit of fear but power, love and sound mind. And as we walk in the Father’s love we can give it away. God’s word is true:

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:5

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-18.

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: . . . these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:30-31

Chapter 10
From Glory To Glory

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever." 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:8

The Presence of the Lord is always a pleasant thing and never something to be afraid of for the believer in Christ. As a matter of fact it’s something to be desired! It’s always wonderful to experience the goodness and greatness of the LORD through His presence and to see His great and wonderful miracle working power! And it’s available to each child of God who will worship Him in Spirit and truth! God’s word is true:

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:9-10

God has given us natural senses to touch, taste, smell, hear and feel the things of the natural realm. In the same way, God has provided a spiritual creation for us, the spiritual senses to experience the spiritual world. That is why we have an inner man with inner ears, eyes and other senses on the inside of us. In fact, because it is eternal, the spiritual realm is even more real than the physical realm. Everything that we have in the natural earthly realm came out of the invisible realm.

When we were born again at the moment of our salvation, we received the most important and powerful gift in the universe, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In other words we have God Himself now living in us along with all the power, anointing, revelation and glory of heaven. We are also now seated with Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly places. We are now complete in Christ but we need to totally yield to the Holy Spirit in every ways so that we can grow and consume every soulish and fleshly area of our lives and be all that we can be and have all that we can have!

As believers, we are sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. We are "masters of all." But we need to grow up and mature so that we can operate in our inheritance and rule in the kingdom. We need to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children. God’s word is unchanging:

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 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 5:12-14

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you are not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

We need to eat the solid food of heaven including the Word of God, divine and secret mysteries, and have the great power and anointing from the Holy Spirit, and the very glory of God as our own atmosphere! And God has given us the five-fold ministry so that the body of Christ might grow into a mature man with the fullness of Christ and no longer be children. We need to exercise our spiritual senses, become more familiar with the spiritual realm through intimacy with God, and become mature spiritual people full of His fullness! We don’t need to become quite old physically and still be a baby spiritually. If we limit how much of God we can have and express or what He can or cannot do in our hearts and lives we will remain babes and not mature sons of God. We need to ask God to overshadow us with His Spirit and cause His Kingdom within us to grow and expand and have dominion over every area of our lives. We need to allow Him to demonstrate His character, His Glory, and His power in us.

Fear, ignorance, unbelief, apathy and other things keep us from constantly living in God’s supernatural realm. The spiritual realm is as real as the natural realm and by the Spirit it’s just as easy to walk and live in that supernatural reality as it is in the natural reality. Our heart's cry should be we want heaven to touch the earth. We want heavenly glory. We want to open up the windows of heaven and we want to live in the supernatural provision of God's grace, power and presence. The Kingdom of God is not in word only but in power. And we need to see the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. And we need to walk in God's power.

We need to believe in what God is now releasing by the power of His Spirit—the prophetic word, angels, dreams, the realities of the spiritual realm, the manifestation of heaven touching earth and people being healed and set free. By the power of faith and believing we can ask God to open up the spiritual realm and release the power of God, favor and resources into our lives and we shall receive. Believing is the door that opens up the spiritual realm and that brings heaven; it's the entrance through which heaven touches earth and through which miracles, signs and wonders come. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

The Bible encourages us to set our mind on things above where Christ is seated. Yes, we need to get our mind high up there. Get our mind heavenly minded. Get our mind thinking about how real it is in heaven and that that realm is more real than the world that we live in. And we will experience demonic powers and principalities for the Devil is real and he really does want to kill, steal and destroy. But thank God there are more for us in the heavenly realm than those who are against us and Jesus Christ leads us constantly in victory over all our enemies. However we need to wait upon God and take time to listen what He has to say to us and act on what He tells us.

Because we are in Christ, we live under an open heaven just like Jesus did after He came up from the waters of baptism and the heavens opened and the dove came down. We understanding the reality of the spiritual realm and walking with the expectation that it is accessible to us, to every believer. As a full heir of the spiritual kingdom we should be touching, tasting, hearing, seeing and feeling what is going on in heaven for we are just as much a spiritual being as a natural being.

The true church of Jesus Christ should be involved in the changing of weather patterns, the cleansing of lepers, the raising of dead, the casting out of demons, the healing of sickness and disease as well as seeing of dreams and visions. We are to be a sign; we are to be a living epistle of God and the supernatural realm should spill out of our lives and break into the natural realm everywhere we go. We are made for signs and wonders and we are called to carry around us an activity of heaven that creates signs and shows manifestations of heaven touching earth. There is an absence of sin, sickness, disease, death and poverty in heaven and so should it be the same in our lives. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to come and touch us and heal us and our spiritual senses so we can touch heaven and God with our spiritual sense. We are to be carriers of signs and wonders. God has called us to live in the place of "as it is in heaven" and to walk in the anointing of the spirit of wisdom and revelation. God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

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

Yes, we are a natural creation but we are also a spiritual creation. And God wants to give us that spirit of wisdom and revelation and enlighten the eyes of our understanding is for the knowledge of Him and He wants us to live in that intimate place now rather than when we die. We are to enjoy the presence and power of God every day and have Him speak to us at all times. We need to cultivate a lifestyle of seeking for and living in the presence of the Lord and having various levels of visions and revelation and smelling the fragrances of heaven. Often it's the natural that keeps us from the heavenly—it keeps us from the fullness of everything we have in God and which is promised in scripture. There will always be a war between our flesh and a war between our spirit.

Many saints of old had thrown away their prophetic destinies because they ended up despising prophecy. They just abandoned them. Others tried to keep their prophecies by fighting the good fight of faith, but when the battle became fierce they ran away. When the temptations of the world came, the Christian warriors just left their post, all their prophetic words and dreams. Whole churches and movements, cities, nations and individuals walked away from their vision, abandoning their dreams! But God is in the restoration business and He wants to restore to us all things not only financial wealth but great spiritual wealth including fulfillment of our dreams and prophecies. He wants to release the resurrection life of Jesus in every place where there has been death in our lives including the death of our dreams. He wants to breathe in every dream and every vision and remove every cap that we have so that we can lift that vision higher. He wants us to dream big dreams and see every true prophetic word or promise come to pass in the name of Jesus. He wants us to call forth those things that be not as those they are and release them from the realm of the spirit today. God’s word is unchanging:

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6

Chapter 11
The Mighty One will save

Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:14-17

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 4:6-7

We fail to get the victory over all things in life because we fail to look unto Jesus in all things. Who is not only the source of our total supply and everything that we need but our Friend, Savior, Mighty One, our God and the undefeated One. No one and not anything can stand against Him and the power of His name. Everything must bow at the persistent use of the name of Jesus be it sickness, disease, poverty or lack! Jesus Christ is our Victor, Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Provider and everything that we need. Hence those who love Him are doers of the word of God not hearers only. God’s 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

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another John 13:34-35

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. "These things I command you, that you love one another John 15:16-17

Let all bitterness and indignation {and} wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful {and} helpful {and} kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 Amplified Bible

THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him {and} follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. Ephesians 5:1-2 Amplified Bible

Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God. He came not only to restore us to God but to restore us all that we had lost in the Garden of Eden including being heirs of the kingdom and sons of God He came to give us life so that His life also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. He came to restore to us the years that the swarming locust has eaten…" (Joel 2:25). Yes, God loves to restore what has been devoured in our lives. That's His specialty. In the process of restoration God brings the object of restoration back in a better way than was its former state and He increases it and multiplies it. He always likes to add more just like He did for Job. When God restored Job, He gave unto Job—double (Job 42:10). That's just the nature of God. God’s word is unchanging:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" Romans 5:1–5.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 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 5:10-11

When the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy, God has set forever in eternity that we must get back sevenfold. And God will restore us in a better way than we were at first and then He will increase and multiply what was stolen. That's our God because God is good. And for anyone that gives up houses, lands, brothers, sisters, possessions in this life time for the sake of the gospel, God will restore back one hundredfold now! (Mark 10:29, 30). The Lord does abundantly above what we can ask. He does abundantly above what we can think (Eph. 3:20). When we stand in faith and believe that God is hugely enthusiastic about wanting to bring restoration into our lives, we truly honor Him.

Our Father in heaven is good and He is the Great Restorer. We should have high hopes about that and believe it, no matter what happens. Believe that God not only wants to restore what has been robbed and plundered in our life and in other people’s lives, but He also wants to add blessings to that which is restored. “Blessings are on the head of the righteous…” (Proverbs 10:6). That’s our head!

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

Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people. The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations. "But I will remove far from you the northern army, And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, With his face toward the eastern sea And his back toward the western sea; His stench will come up, And his foul odor will rise, Because he has done monstrous things."

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. Joel 2:18-26

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. His word is unchanging:

Chapter 12
Willful Sin

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

There are those foolish Christians who gloss over sinning willfully after they have received the knowledge of the truth, even though there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Ignorance is no excuse for a Christian as the word of God is very clear as to what Believers are to do and not to do:

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:1-16

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. "As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool." Jeremiah 17:9-11

Many to today’s Christians even Evangelicals are no different than their counter parts in the world. They gamble, smoke, drink, commit adultery, lie, cheat, divorce, watch x rated movies, pursue the money and are covetous, unkind, unforgiving, hateful, vengeful and cold hearted! They have one foot in the world and one foot in God and hope He doesn’t notice their betrayed! And then they say the love the LORD! What a joke?

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 or commit willful sins 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 handpicked 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

Chapter 13
Cursed Or Blessed?

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8

"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

Jesus Christ judged the hypocrites and told them not to judge in order that they be not judged and to remove the plank from their own eyes and then they will see clearly to remove the speck from their brother’s eye! He didn’t tell His disciples or Christians not to judge because it’s contrary to what Jesus said and did including:

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

So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." 1 Corinthians 5:12

Jesus Christ made believers kings and priests and part of the responsibility of a king is to judge things! However some deceived ones interpret that we are to judge nothing less we be judged and they forgive even unforgiveable things because they want to be forgiven because Jesus said in Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Note this idea is a perversion of scripture because if you don’t judge wolves in sheep’s clothing how can you know they are wolves? You cannot! Yet God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 14
Kept By The Power Of God

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:3-7

Through the power of His resurrection, we have a living hope of all that Jesus paid for. Jesus paid the price for our total redemption. What the enemy took from man when Adam sinned, Jesus (the second Adam) bought back when He became our sacrificial Lamb. Yes, He was sacrificed us, but thank God, He arose. He won over death, hell and the grave. He did it all for us.

Through the power of His resurrection and the use of our faith, we can have divine overcoming power against all the powers of the enemy. We can have divine peace and contentment every day of our life as well as healing, blessings and prosperity. Healing is the children's bread; it's on the table all the time. God is able to move for us and supply all things needed today. He has all power so we can trust Him and receive daily that which is needed. God’s word is unchanging:

In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work. Psalm 62:7-12

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." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters. Exodus 15:23-27

Jesus Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh, demonstrated God’s will for us by healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. When they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics, He healed them (Matthew 4:24). Sickness, disease, demons, poverty or lack are not our friends but our enemies and Jesus came to destroy these things!

Yes, God who is the same yesterday, today and forever wants to give His people the victory over all this enemies just like He gave the children of Israel victory over the Egyptian enemies, spoiled them with the wealth of Egypt and brought the out of all their bondage and afflictions. God’s word is true:

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "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. And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. Exodus 15:1-7

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. "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. Deuteronomy 28:1-8

"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

Yes, for those who obey His voice and walk in His ways, Jesus Christ causes their enemies to be defeated. He blesses them coming in and going out! He is the God of all and unlimited power and resources who has overcome the world for them! God’s word is true:

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30

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

Because of Jesus death and resurrection we now enjoy great benefits. Jesus was punished in our place, because of that, we are forgiven. Jesus became a sin offering; we are made righteous. Jesus became a curse; we are blessed, Jesus was beaten and whipped; we are healed. Jesus died in our place; we have been given life eternal. Jesus was rejected by man and was also rejected by God; we have been accepted in the Beloved and we will never be forsaken by God. Jesus suffered unbearable trauma; we have been given peace. Jesus was resurrected; we were made a new creature. Jesus became poor with our poverty and we have become rich with His riches. Jesus bore our shame and we now share His glory. Jesus endured our rejection and we now have His acceptance as children of God.

The good news is that the stone at Jesus’ grave site was miraculously rolled away for us as we now serve a resurrected glorious Christ whose power and glory and riches and victory has been restored to Him. God’s word is unchanging:

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. "But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. Mark 16:16-8

When Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons, went and told those who had been with Jesus, who mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. And Jesus Himself had to appear to His disciples and friends to prove that He was no longer dead. Similarly we need for God by the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and understanding to see and understand the truth of magnitude of the victories of the cross and the great exchange Jesus did there. God’s word is unchanging:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "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 13:44-46

It’s just like God to take the useless and worthless things of our lives and to replace it with something priceless. We get from God in return for what we give up:

Christ's Righteousness for Our sin

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:21

Peace with God for Wrath of God

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 5:1

Father's House (Heaven) for Condemnation (Hell)

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Eph. 2:,19

Life for Death

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20

The New Man for The Old Man

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

Grace for Law

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Rom. 7:4-6

His Strength for Our weakness

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 Cor. 12:9-10

His Purity for Our Impurity

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

Every Spiritual Blessing for Being His Children

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

God's Power for Weakness and Self strength

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Wisdom and Redemption for Hopelessness and Despair

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- 1 Cor. 1:30

Good Cheer for Tribulation

"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

Victory for Defeat

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Cor. 15:57

Joy for Sorrow

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

Hope for Despair

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Col. 1:27-28

Fullness for Emptiness

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:9-10

Goodness for Evil And Self Control for the Flesh

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Gal. 5:19-24

Love for Fear

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. I John 4:16-18

Rest for Busyness

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Heb. 4:9-10

Freedom for Bondage

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Deliverance for Darkness

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Col. 1:13

Truth for Lies

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31- 32

Riches for Poverty

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col. 2:2

Spiritual mind for Carnal mind

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

Boldness for Fear of Judgment

Abundance For Lack

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

Healing for Sickness

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

Chapter 15
The God of Increase

And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. "For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. "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. "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Luke 6:39-46

Christianity today is full of religionists who call Jesus 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which He told them. It’s full of the blind who are leading the blind and then they wonder why they fall into the ditch! It’s not an unkind thing to tell the truth because Jesus did it all the times when He told men the facts of life including "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. And God’s word is unchanging:

Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 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 1:9-10

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

Nothing in the world can overcome faith that is active in Christ Jesus based on the Word of God word! It’s a fact that we have been given the grace and blessing to be sons and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords and all the authority and responsibility that goes with it including to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant nations and kingdoms and to forgive or retain the sins of any.

If we choose not to act or use our God given authority that is in and through the name of Jesus that is above every principality, power, sickness, diseases, mountain, foe, enemy, kingdom or problem, that is our right as children of God created in the image of God with freedom of will and choice. We can choose to have a form of godliness and deny God’s power and authority He has given to us. Yet Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 5:10). We can reign in the present or the future. That is our choice but God’s word is unchanging:

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

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "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. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:15-20

God given freedoms, rights and privileges can only be abrogated by God or ourselves for we are complete in Christ, who is the head of all principality and power who has disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it and causes us to triumph and be more than conquerors. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. And since we are primarily spiritual beings created by God then it makes sense that the solutions to all our problems are spiritual! God’s word is unchanging about any mountain, foe, kingdom, problem, sickness or lack:

When evening had come, He went out of the city. Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:19-24

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:8-13

Yes, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Yes, God created His children for victory and through the cross of Christ He has given them victory and the power over all things (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Isaiah 51:1-3,61:1-11,65:13-16, John 14:12-14,16:7-14, Romans 12;6, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Ephesians 4:8, Galatians 3:3, James 2:5).

Through Christ Jesus, we who once were poor have became rich in faith for through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich and inherit the blessings of Abraham, spiritual and physical. And as a result whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven and whatever things we ask when we pray, believe that we receive them, and we will have them.

Now if we allow ourselves to be deceived or blind to what God in Christ Jesus has done for us that is our right and God will not interfere with our right to make mistakes and our own choices! Negative circumstances, the size of the enemy, or demons have nothing to do with us for God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:10

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Amplified Bible

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

Chapter 16
God Is Not Dead

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. "Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars." 2 Chronicles 16:7-9

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Acts 17:24-28

God, Who made the world and everything in it and sustains it and He is Lord of heaven and earth, is not dead even though men and demons may think or wish so! He is still a miracle working God who shows Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. However those who have done foolishly will find Him to be their adversary, not their friend! For those who believe and are His, He is still a great, good, kind, loving and compassionate God and friend as well as a Mighty Man of War and the Judge of all the earth! And His word is unchanging:

" ' Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle. 'This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.' Deuteronomy 2:24-25

"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. 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, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Samuel 2:6-10

Shepherd boy David, who was anointed by Samuel after King Saul disobeyed the Lord (1 Samuel 16:3), knew of Hannah’s proclamation that the adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed. As a result David didn’t run from the battle with Goliath but ran to the battle! The bible records for our profit David’s faith confession and actions:

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." 1 Samuel 17:45-47

As a result David brought down Goliath in a very unusual way he took out a stone and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and Goliath fell on his face to the earth. 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. As a result 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. Then the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

There is no victory outside of battle or in not facing and engaging the enemy dead on whomever or whatever enemy might be. The anointed ones must make a confession of faith and then do whatever it takes to get the victory through the wisdom, strength, faith and power that God provides! Doing nothing about any enemy is never a solution to any problem or challenge including just praying about things. Faith without works is dead and useless but God’s word is unchanging:

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:32-34

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:15-19

Yes, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind and we are to swing the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, against the devil telling him what God’s word says about a matter and not what things appear to be like. When he brings sickness upon us we tell him “by Jesus stripes we are healed and God is our healer.” When he brings troubles and problems upon us we tell him “the Lord is our deliverer and a very present help in time of trouble.” When he brings fear and doubt upon us we tell him “God has not given us the Spirit of fear and He makes our way perfect.” As a Christian, there are fights of faith we must fight in this life by declaring that what we have not seen is ours (Romans 4:17.) Despite the pressure, we must make a confession of faith and maintain our confession, that we are a success, we are the healed of God, and we are rich in Jesus Name and live our life to the fullest in victory. Hence are some suggested confessions:

Lord, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for my deliverance from blindness, sickness, diseases, debt, oppression, shame, sin, lusts, lack, poverty, defeat, despair, failure and unbelief and that you have given me faith, hope, prosperity and love which is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. Your Word says that I am to owe no man anything but to love him. Your word says you have become unto me all things. As I continue to build my faith in this area, I fully expect to receive much unexpected income(s), answers, miracles and debt cancellation and great and wonderful healings and miracles and deliverance and blessings including financial breakthroughs.

I confess for the glory of God in Jesus name I am wealthy and prosperous and victorious and more than a conqueror in every area of my life. I confess that all my needs are met and my storehouses overflow with abundance and that I am a great and true and holy man of God.

In Jesus name I come against all oppression in my life and declare that I have supernatural protection against the onslaughts of the enemy. In the name of Jesus I command the angels of God to go now and bring to pass my financial and physical soundness and wholeness and blessings and provisions and prosperity. I confess I am a wise and faithful and good steward; therefore, I walk in manifested abundance and debt-freedom daily. Your Word says that You delight in the prosperity of Your servants. As I serve You with my finances, I declare that I have my harvest of debt-deliverance right now. Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I confess that right now I'm out of debt, my needs are met and I have plenty more to put in store. I walk in abundance and good health daily. Lord, Your Word says that it is Your will for me to prosper and excel in every area of my life. Because I am a faithful and wise steward over my finances, the wealth of the wicked is being transferred into my hands. I know what to do with it because I place You first in all things. You direct my path and give me wisdom to manage what You have placed in my hands. As a believer, I am blessed to be a blessing until all families of the earth have been blessed. I am a distribution center. I am a money magnet. Money cometh to me now! I command unexpected and expected income to come my way. Lord, I receive Your blessing-Your power to get wealth-right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I declare that I have a blood-bought right to answered prayer. The Word of God is my guarantee. Father, by prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, I can make my requests known to You. You hear the prayer of the righteous and answer them. Your eyes are on me and Your ears are open to hear my prayers. I am connected to Christ Jesus, and I am anointed. In everything I do I am more than a conqueror. Because I abide in You, and Your Word abides in me, I see the manifestation of answered prayer. When I speak Your Word, it does not return without accomplishing what it was sent to do Amen and amen.

Lord, I thank You that I walk in favor with man and with You. Wherever I go and whatever I do, Your favor goes before me. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much. Therefore, I believe I receive what I pray for right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!

In the name of Jesus, I do not neglect my great salvation-soteria. I declare that I am established in "protection, preservation, prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance and the ministry of angels." I do not fear. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Every tongue that rises up against me, I will condemn, for it is my heritage. I loose my angels to bring me great wealth, perfect health, great anointings, total victories, houses, lands, cars and boats and every good thing and especially my miracle ministry.

Thank You, Lord, for being my help in the time of trouble. When I call, You answer me. You are always with me. You deliver and honor me. No evil ever comes near my dwelling. With a long and prosperous life You will show me Your salvation.

I declare that the healing power of God is flowing through my body right now. I declare that every organ, tissue, cell and system in my body functions in the perfection to which God created it to function. I command all infection and abnormality in my body to cease and die and pass out now never to return in Jesus Name. Divine health is restored into my body in Jesus Name. I rebuke every ear deafness blindness sickness disease and spirit of infirmity and command it to go away and not come back in jesus name I speak the Word of God in Jesus name that by Jesus stripes I am healed and it will not return to me void.

I am established in Your Word. I declare that I am preserved from trouble. I overcome trouble by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. I am established in righteousness through Jesus. As the redeemed of the Lord, I declare this to be so right now. In Jesus' name, I command and loose Your angels to go forth now and bring these confession to pass in my life. I believe and I have received the manifestation of these promises and your great and wonderful miracle working power.

Chapter 17
Milk Or Solid Food

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 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 5:12-14

he•don•ism n. 1Philosophy. The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.

One Sunday morning I listened to prominent TV Evangelist and his one sided presentation of good and pleasant things and avoidance of unpleasant things! Obviously the TV Evangelist doesn’t practice discernment and is your typical carnal Christian babe who partakes only of milk and is unskilled in the word of righteous. He could not handle solid food because it belongs to those who are full of age and by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil! And they are not like Paul who had no problem calling sin “sin” and rebuking those who needed to be rebuked or Jesus Christ who made a whip and drove money changers out of the house of God at the start and end of His miracle ministry. And Paul told us The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do. And what did Paul do? He tells us in his words:

But from those who seemed to be something-whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. Galatians 2:6

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:11-16

Paul was not a respecter of persons and since God shows personal favoritism to no man neither did Paul and he had no problem rebuking Peter to his face! Mind rebuking people for their sins is not done anymore today and very few pastors preach about hell including this prominent TV Evangelist with his hedonistic gospel!

The Washington Post on Saturday, August 8, 2009, in an article title "Straight Talk About Damnation It's a Mistake for Christians to Deny the Flip Side of Salvation, Some Pastors Say” By Greg Garrison Religion News Service stated:

BIRMINGHAM -- Just when it seemed to have cooled off, the topic of hell is back on the front burner -- at least for pastors learning to preach about a topic most Americans would rather not talk about.

Only 59 percent of Americans believe in hell, compared with 74 percent who believe in heaven, according to recent surveys from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

"I think it's such a difficult and important biblical topic," said Kurt Selles, director of the Global Center at Samford University's Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham. "There's a big change that's taken place as far as evangelicals not wanting to be as exclusive."

At the recent annual Beeson Pastors School, Selles led two workshops on the topic "Whatever happened to hell?" He asked how many of the pastors had ever preached a sermon on hell. Nobody had, he said.

"I think it's something people want to avoid," he said. "I understand why. It's a difficult topic."

The Rev. Fred Johns, pastor of Brookview Wesleyan Church in Irondale, Ala., said after a workshop discussion that pastors do shy away from the topic of everlasting damnation.

"It's out of fear we'll not appear relevant," he said. "It's pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. I think we've begun to deny hell. There's an assumption that everybody's going to make it to heaven somehow."

The soft sell on hell reflects an increasingly market-conscious approach, Selles said.

It’s amazing that preachers today have chosen a soft sell on hell because of an increasingly market-conscious approach! What happened to the fiery preachers of yesterday including Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, John and Charles Wesley, Dwight Moody and even Billy Graham?

John Wesley [ix]is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Christ personally.

Wesley helped to organise and form societies throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland; small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Young men who acted as their assistants were called "exhorters" who functioned in a similar fashion to the twelve apostles after the ascension of Jesus

Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social justice issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements. Wesley's contribution as a theologian was to propose a system of opposing theological stances. His greatest theological achievement was his promotion of what he termed "Christian Perfection", or holiness of heart and life. Wesley held that, in this life, Christians could come to a state in which the love of God, or perfect love, reigned supreme in their hearts. His evangelical theology, especially his understanding of Christian perfection, was firmly grounded in his sacramental theology. He continually insisted on the general use of the means of grace (prayer, scripture, meditation, Holy Communion, etc.) as the means by which God sanctifies and transforms the believer.

In the beginning Billy Graham was known for the "Old-fashioned, Spirit-filled, Christ-honoring, sin-hating, soul-winning, Bible preaching!“ But along the way Billy became soft and his preaching stopped being an offense to anybody. So much that it was reported[x]:

Earlier, at a news conference, the famed evangelist thrilled the cockles of the homosexuals' lusty hearts when he snapped to a reporter that he was tired of people trying to get him to criticize gays. "It's not the biggest of sins," Graham said. Billy followed this up by telling the smiling and happy liberal media: "What I want to preach about in San Francisco is the love of God. People need to know that God loves them no matter what their sexual orientation." Graham also proudly confided: "I have so many gay friends, and we remain friends."

According to the San Francisco Chronicle & Examiner (October 10, 1997), after hearing Graham's latest milktoast sermon, Brian Jackie, a gay San Francisco Catholic, praised the evangelist. "Graham is a man of integrity," said Jackie, adding that Billy Graham always has a "positive message." Jackie's friend, the Reverend Bill Byrd, homosexual pastor of the San Francisco Evangelical Gay Church, heartily agreed. "I have no problem with Graham's preaching," said the Reverend Byrd, "Billy Graham brings people together."

So even though Apostle Paul stated “"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead"(Acts 17:30-31), today’s gospel by prominent Evangelical preachers is about bringing people together! What happened to the offense of the gospel of Jesus Christ including being rebuked as Apostle Paul and Peter told us?

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-who set their mind on earthly things. Philippians 3:17-19

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:20

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 1 Peter 2:7-8

Chapter 18
Testimony of a Joyce Meyer Follower

"Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, Acts 22:12

Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:7

A few years ago, I supported Joyce Meyer with everything I had. I regarded her as a true, down to earth, sincere, and prosperous role model. I hung on every word that came out of her mouth as if they were the words of God straight to me. I never missed a show, and if I did, I watched her internet broadcasts. When she held her conferences in my area, I went to see her in person. I would do as she said to prove my commitment to God and take vacation days and drive 3 hours to Tulsa to see her preach at the ORU campus and drive 3 hours back home, justifying myself to God by reminding Him of these sacrifices.

Talking about sacrifice, not only did I give up a day’s pay to see her, but it was nothing for me to sacrifice $100 or more into the white buckets they’d pass around as offering plates, knowing all along that I’d have to sacrifice again when I didn’t have that money to pay a bill with! That, in addition to the hundreds of dollars I’d send her through the mail every month! In the typical Word of Faith fashion, I would then go to God in “prayer” and tell Him what He had to do (you [God] MUST keep your word; you MUST provide ‘pressed down, shaken-together’ etc; if I delight myself in you, you MUST give me the desire of my heart, ad nausea!).

Bill, that’s NOT praying! When a WoF preacher “prays” by saying “we bind you Satan, we come against all the powers of darkness, we rebuke all poverty and lack” etc, they are NOT praying to God! They are talking to the devil and speaking as if they were God Himself. It is NOT prayer. But I digress.

I absolutely LOVED Joyce Meyer! But God had other plans for me. I was DEEP into the Word of Faith. It was all I had ever known all my life. My grandmother latched onto the seed faith teachings of Oral Roberts back when it first came out. She taught my mother in the ways of the WoF, and my mother in turn taught us the same way!

I grew up thanking God for being numbered among those who knew the “truth!” Needless to say, I naturally equated the WoF to be the one and only WILL OF GOD, and anyone who believed otherwise was deceived and damned to hell! That being the case, I grew up feeling at one with all the T.V. ministers. I loved them ALL! As a young boy, I read Copeland’s “The Laws of Prosperity” and I was determined to make those laws work … after all they are LAWS and even God must abide by them!

But taking an honest look back over the past 30 years, I had to admit that they never worked for me. I grew up into my 40’s all along thinking there was something wrong with me. I would actually look at a mustard seed in the spice rack and wonder why my faith was so much smaller that that and didn’t work. Then I would get depressed because my faith was so much tinier than that mustard seed that God wouldn’t honor it.

I felt rejected by God. Sometimes that feeling of rejection made me angry at Him and there were times I actually told Him that he was a liar! That He WAS a respecter of persons; that He showed favoritism, and that He didn’t love me, even though I was doing everything I knew to do to keep with “His” teachings as I was taught them!

All that being said, let me say this: there was nothing wrong with my faith, so don’t even try to tell me “oh ye of little faith!” I’ve heard that all my life and now I know better. My faith was fine, but the problem was that my faith was in a LIE! The “god” I was mad at was NOT the God of the Bible! The “god” of the Word of Faith is a demon straight from HELL! I know that now, but therein lies the danger in Word of Faith teachings. The people in that CULT don’t even know who the TRUE God really is, and are damned as a result!

Back to Joyce Meyer. I supported her “ministry” with ALL of my substance, and I thought she was truly God speaking straight to me. But the more I gave to her, the poorer I got (the story of my life)! It wasn’t until I got down to where I was about to LOSE MY HOUSE the Lord began to act on the anguish inside me. I remember back in 2005, watching Joyce on T.V. One day she was talking about how she had brought her parents to St Louis and bought them a house close to her. She said “I was just in the mood to buy houses!” I almost screamed at her “why don’t you buy MINE for me?”

I pleaded with God to speak to her heart to send me a check and prevent the impending disaster facing me. Then I would know that God really heard me and loved me enough to finally do something after 30 years of giving!

But of course Joyce never did do that, and since I thought she was close to God and had his attentive ear, that it must be that God wanted me to suffer all the more! I couldn’t understand it. I had donated to her (God’s?) ministry, I helped her build her headquarters building and all the furnishings in it. According to her plea for funds back then, I was promised that I would “own” one square foot for each $100 I gave towards it (I gave $300, so I “owned” 3 square feet).

Had God forgotten that ????? Now I was in desperate need, had NOBODY to beg from like she did, and I felt God didn’t care. I told Him He was cruel and mean! But I still loved Him because even then, if I had given up on my ONLY hope, then I REALLY had no hope at all. Even then, I felt that my breakthrough might still come, so I’d pick myself up and apologize to God for my ill will towards Him.

Then one day, as I was watching Joyce on T.V. it seemed like literally “scales” fell from my eyes! Near the end of the show, as she was begging for donations, and her announcer came on talking about all her books that we could have for a “gift” of X-dollars, and then talked about “seeing Joyce in person” and hearing “Joyce preach the word as only she can do.” God Himself spoke to my spirit in that still small voice and told me “this isn’t about God, this is about JOYCE!” “Joyce” this, and “Joyce” that! And all the dollar signs on the T.V. screen seemed to “stick-out” like sore thumbs, and the whole thing smacked of one big long INFOMERCIAL about Joyce Meyer!!

That, my friend, was the beginning of my exodus from the Word of Faith! Each time I saw her show, it got even more disgusting to me … and I stopped giving to her. S L O W L Y, by putting a stop to the hemorrhage of money flowing out of my bank account to these people, I was able to recover somewhat, and I never did lose my house. But it was close. That, my friend was GOD showing me that He really did care about my financial well-being. He didn’t want my money!!!!! And not only did He NOT want my money, I was NOT cursed with a curse if I KEPT it !!!! That is freedom!

About the same time, I just happened to stumble upon this website, Pulpit-Pimps.org, and God has used this site TREMENDOUSLY to teach me the truth about where I had been all my life and that the Lord loved me enough to lead me out of it into the truth!

Unbeknownst to me, my mother, who had raised me in the WoF, had been led out of their heresy about a year before I had! She never told me though. I asked her why, and she said that I would have thought she was backslidden and lost in heresy forever. And she was right. Some other members of my extended family are not convinced, and there is a definite divide - but even that is mentioned in the Bible. That’s why I say that nothing any of us say will EVER convince you of the truth. You will just think that we are deceived and damned to hell. If God doesn’t get through to you, then YOU are not reachable. It’s as simple as that!

I know this is a LONG post, but before I stop there is some more I want to say about the Word of Faith.

The salvation of Jesus Christ is NOT about all the things that the Lord gives to His people! And people who seek the Lord for what He can give them are seeking Him for all the WRONG reasons! A person cannot receive the salvation of Christ unless first he realizes that he is a wretched sinner who deserves HELL, not all of the worldly stuff you WoF people clamor after! It’s not about getting all the STUFF. It’s about giving up their lives for HIM and becoming His slaves. Somehow you Word of Faith people have gotten that all backwards. You think salvation is about getting, and getting more It’s just STUFF, material worldly stuff, it’s CARNAL and ungodly! You think that all your STUFF is proof that you are blessed. There is one thing that is promised for sure to all true followers of Christ and that is PERSECUTION!

You Word of Faithers only think of earthly “blessings”. But God does not promise us the things of this world. Think about it What would it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your own SOUL? Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, all of those hellish creatures on TBN - I can’t even name all of the pulpit pimps on TV (and maybe even your pastor too by the way) all of them have their reward. They have their “Best Life Now” But they can’t take any of it with them where they go

What about later on? The Bible speaks of the rich man and Lazarus. That kind of reminds me of the relationship between all these RICH pastors and their pimped followers. I believe they will suffer the same fate!

God does promise us SPIRITUAL prosperity, but you Word of Faith people only think on things of this world. When people like you give expecting your 100-fold return, you are giving to GET !!!! But the true Jesus tells us to give, expecting NOTHING in return. Do any of you honestly do that? Neither are we supposed to give out of NECESSITY or of COMPULSION … tell THAT to all of the pimp preachers on TV who incessantly compel us to give to their ministries ad nausea! It’s WRONG! If any of them really believed what they “preach” then all they really have to do is give and expect their 100-fold return and leave their audiences ALONE! But they won’t ever do that, because they really don’t believe what they preach either. Otherwise they would practice what they preach. YOU are profitable to them, and they fear that if they don’t ask YOU for it, YOU won’t give it to them. YOU are their cash cow, not GOD.

I am not attacking you, so don’t even go there. I am speaking from a life of experience. As I said, I was all bound up and hog-tied in all that Word of Faith crap for almost 30 YEARS!!! I gave, and I gave. I did all of the right things according to our famous PIMPS! It was nothing for me to fork over almost everything I had … tithes and offerings above and beyond what was expected, because I BELIEVED what the pimps said. I thought that I was doing what GOD wanted, and I suffered the consequences of that for far too long.

Like Joyce Meyer always says “give until it hurts!” — “give SACRIFICIALLY!” My intentions were good. And I had faith. But my faith was in a LIE! I was sincere and honest, but I was sincerely and honestly WRONG. I think that the Lord really knew that, and finally got through to me to just STOP IT! Like, HELL-OOOOO! If this thing still doesn’t work after nearly 30 years, guess what - IT DOESN’T WORK!!

I see myself all over all of you defenders of these people. I was just like ALL of you. And a couple of years ago, I would have been standing right there by your side. That’s why I say that ONLY THE LORD will ever get through to you. Nobody could have EVER gotten through to me so I know that.

I guess you can tell I am just a little bit angry about this lie that is continuously propagated by the deluge of televangelists spewing this prosperity vomit into living rooms across this country and bringing millions to hell with them. But maybe somehow the Lord can use my experience to help lead someone else out of this DELUSION you call faith. It is another gospel, and the “Jesus” you think you worship will someday be crystal clear to you. I just hope that you find out who it really is before it’s too late. REALLY! The Bible is the truth, and it contains the way to the real Jesus. This Word of Faith gospel is pure MADNESS !!!!!

Posted by Melvin Jones on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 11:00 am.

http://www.pulpit-pimps.org/?p=582

Chapter 19
Unbelief Can Be Deadly

Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58

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. Matthew 17:20

Jesus Christ always received answers to His prayers. He never once prayed in vain. When we pray we should not expect to have any less than He. That’s because He’s given us the authority to use His Name. When we speak in His Name, it’s as authoritative and effective as Jesus Himself speaking to the Father. When Christians pray, God listens because they’re His child, and they pray according to His will. Whilst listening to them, He doesn’t consider their prayer with respect to another person’s. He doesn’t hold something back from them just because another person has asked for the same thing you asked for. He relates with them on the personal level. And "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).

God doesn’t prefer one of His Children above another; He relates with each person as though he is the only one in the whole wide world. And one of His children were the only person on the whole earth Jesus would still have come to die for them! God is very person with each one of His children and He shows partiality to no one. He said, “…ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).This is God’s promises: if we ask Him, we shall receive! If we call upon Him in the day of trouble He will deliver us and we shall glorify Him.

Through prayers we can prevail on circumstances. God has shown us in His Word that we can change anything, including things that were divinely destined to be. However if you are sick with a terminal illness and believe that God’s doesn’t heal or do miracles today or believe it’s His will that you be sick then it will be deadly for you! Mind you if you have some brains and know the bible you can change God’s will immediately like King Hezekiah did. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' " Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. Isaiah 38:1-5

Through prayer you can change any hopeless situation and we are not just referring to the kind of casual praying some folks engage in sometimes; we are talking about the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of the righteous man! That kind of prayer, according to the bible makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working (James 5:16 AMP). King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. He turned away from men and the world around him unto God, after the prophet Isaiah had announced to him God’s verdict of death, and prayed intensely. The result of his action was that the sentence of death on him was immediately reversed and the lord added fifteen more years to his life (Isaiah 38:4-6).

God loves us just the way we are. He didn’t create us to be a failure but to be head over all things and to have authority over all things. And the word of God tells us that it is God’s will that we be well and be blessed in all things! However there are people who believe that it’s God’s will to be healed but have unbelief which counteracts or negates their faith! Wrong teaching about healing hinders people from receiving in faith! You either believe or don’t believe. A simple pure faith will accomplish great and wonderful things including Jesus promise’ 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!

Unbelief means faith in a wrong direction. People have three kinds of unbelief including ignorance, wrong teaching and natural unbelief! To remove unbelief through ignorance we read, study and preach what God’s word says on any subject including healing! Apostle Paul tells us Now concerning spiritual gifts (the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith , gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues) brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant (1 Corinthians 12:1). We remove ignorance through knowledge of what God’s word says is true and spiritual gifts are for today including healing and miracles!

Unbelief through wrong teachings requires a bit more work to deal with the source of unbelief. Some of these come false teaching such as God doesn’t heal today, miracles have passed away with the apostles, God wants you to be sick, nothing happens without God’s permission, and God allows things including sickness because of judgment. These kinds of teaching create unbelief and must be corrected with the knowledge of the truth.

Natural unbelief such as trusting our five senses always which is not necessarily wrong however could be a stumbling block to our faith if God tells us to do things that doesn’t appear to work even though God’s word states "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive (Matthew 21:22). Some things require time for a miracle or healing to be manifested. The bible tells us that the lepers were healed along the way to the high priest:

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Luke 17:12-19

Yes, our faith can make us well because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! But being well in Christ is more than just good health or financial prosperity we need to grow in God and attain the fullness of Christ. God needs to mould us and perfect us in God so that we may reflect Christ in His doings and words. Lord Jesus Christ, when He was in this world, healed all who were sick and oppressed. And God wants to use us to bring deliverance and healing to the others and draw them to His love and power so they may also taste His love and goodness. God’s word is true:

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

Now if it wasn’t possible for us to grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ than God’s word would not insists for us to grow in the Lord till we attain the perfect growth in Him. It would not propose that we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Of course we cannot do all this by ourselves in any way we need the help of the Holy Spirit and to be obedient to whatever God tells us to do! As we abide in the Lord, He makes us perfect and we become completely holy. Then all the people shall come to us. We shall wear them as ornaments just like a bride. Yes, when we become perfect all these blessings shall come seeking us. The Lord will bless us and make us channel of blessing to others. But we need to seek the Lord diligently and faithfully. The Lord will make us grow and enable us to attain the fullness of Christ. And blessings and honor shall abound in our life. And the Lord shall make us a blessing to others and bless us. God’s word is true:

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12

Chapter 20
Woe To Him

'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, 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." ' Deuteronomy 32:39

Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 17:1-3

According to Jesus those who cause offenses to others are in deep trouble with God! Mind you we have many in Christendom who feel they can do whatever they want and even hurt others because they are only accountable to God and those of their own choosing. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12

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

Jesus Christ who doesn’t lie has promised that God will avenge speedily His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them even though some men thing they are right in all their ways! Men so easily forget that God delivered faithful praying Daniel in the den of lions but his enemies were not so fortunate. The lions destroyed them and their families. For some believers God is a Savior but for others He is not! Jude clearly warns us 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). And Jesus talked about “the days of vengeance” (Luke 21:32). In the false humanistic, hedonistic gospels the judgments and vengeance of God are not discussed even though the word of God clearly tells us:

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:6-11

God does chasten His people and chastening is profitable only to those who have been trained by it! Some people are so cold or hard hearted no matter what happens to them and they refuse to repent! Then people wonder why a serious illness came upon them or why they died prematurely. They forget that many times God has promised in His word to cut of the wicked prematurely from the land even though God is a Good God, full of grace mercy and compassion. But Scriptures don’t tell us that God is full of grace, mercy and compassion to every one? Rather it states:

So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." Exodus 33:17-20

God is on line to all who care to listen to Him in the early hours of the morning. For those who are attune to the Spirit and walk in God’s ways the Lord gives them the tongue of the learned that they may know how to speak a word in season to him who is wary. He opens their ears to hear as the learned of all that He has to speak to them morning by morning before the bustle, cares, worries and anxiety of life drown things out.

Worries and anxieties are no different than the sins of adultery or sickness; they must be fought against because they rob God’s people access to the voice of God, which is their secret for sweat less triumph. Heaviness, discouragement, or anxiety is a spirit that robs God’s people of His presence, promises and peace and makes them to be a prey in the devil’s hands. Heaviness, discouragement, or anxiety takes them out of their Father’s house (like the prodigal son), and places there where the enemy can flog them. God’s word is unchanging:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. "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? Matthew 6:25-30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 21
In God Is My Salvation And My Glory

In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Psalm 62:7

By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; 65:6 Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. Psalm 65:5

God cannot deny hearing the prayer of a righteous man any more than a mother could shut her ear to her crying baby! One of the foundations of the Christian faith is not only that God is faithful and true but that He hears and answers prayer. He is a God who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death and destruction. People get into real trouble because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation. But surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land (Psalm 85:9) and not poverty or sorrow.

With long life He will satisfy us and show us His salvation (Psalm 91) for He is the Rock of our salvation. Hence we are to take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD (Psalm 116:13). The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly (Psalm 118:15). Yes, the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4). Therefore with joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). God’s word is unchanging:

And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isaiah 25:9

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:1-4

Yes, have waited for Him, and He will save us. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Wisdom and knowledge are the stability of our times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is our treasure. (Isaiah 33:6). When we put our trust in Him, we shall be saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; we shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever (Isaiah 45:17).

Yes, God will preserve us and give us as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent us to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Yes, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7). God’s word is unchanging:

"Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, So that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, A joy of many generations. You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, And milk the breast of kings; You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, Instead of iron I will bring silver, Instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. I will also make your officers peace, And your magistrates righteousness. Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise. "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory. Isaiah 60:15-19

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

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26

Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. Micah 7:7

In the current time of life, our eyes shall see the salvation of the Lord and all flesh shall see the salvation of God for our God loves to hear and answer prayer prayed in the name of Jesus. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Yes, the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). Now is the day of salvation. Yes, God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

Yes, the Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).

Yes, we have a great salvation confirmed both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Yes Jesus Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Yes, we are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God (Revelation 19:1).

God has implanted in the heart as a gift or a fruit—faith enough to maintain our salvation, faith enough to obey the Lord and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. We are continually dependent on Him for its continuance. But we cannot keep the light and dismiss the sun. We cannot have faith in God, unless we have the faith of God. God’s word is unchanging:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Yes, as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross we are now delivered from the hand of our enemies, and are able to serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. Just like Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit stated about God and us:

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

The gift of faith is the beautiful flower of grace. That faith, which quiets the restless sea of life, makes the heart happy in knowing that the Pilot will see us through. Just because we are facing a storm does not mean that He has gone. To be needy is no proof we have been deserted. Our desperate need may be the door to our miracle! It may be God’s method of making us say, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the seas obey Him?”

It’s not how weak are that matters but how strong our LORD is! It’s not our feeble faith or power that will change and transform things but His great power and unlimited faith! It’s not our cold, intellectual assent or belief, that causes God to work miracles in our lives and on our behalf but His great love and compassion for us as we call upon the name that is above every name, including poverty, lack, sickness, diseases, demons and any enemy.

We can rest in the midst of the storm, in Christ who is above everything and has subdued all things. We can trust Him even when we cannot see, and rely upon Him when we do not understand. And He will give us the measure of faith to walk in harmony with His will and the knowing that He is working all things for good to them who love God and are called according to His purposes. God’s word is unchanging:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:13-21

As we need the gift of faith, it is imparted by the Lord, in order that His will, rather than ours, will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. If we possessed faith to use at any time to bring about our own desires, it would be disastrous. When we believe Jesus, in His presence and promise, His power, His grace, and His strength, then we are marching on Victory Highway toward the hills of Answered Prayer. As we decrease, He increases. The less of self, the more of Him! The more the crucifixion of the self-life with its spirit of pride, the more the resurrection rays of His life will impart power and health to our soul and body.

We can put all our trust in Jesus, for our help comes from Him alone. We can lean fully on His breast, for only as we touch Him can we drink in the sweetness of His presence. He has bountiful provision for our every need. It’s much better to let Him have His way with us, than to always try to have our way with Him as “He does all things well”.

The Christ of Calvary, who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift, is also the Author and Finisher of our faith. Only through Christ we are able to understand or approach God! To many Christians, faith is still their own ability to believe a promise or a truth, and is often based on their struggles to drive away doubt and unbelief through a process of positive affirmations. But we are nearest the manifestation of God’s imparted grace when we realize our own helplessness and entire dependence upon the Lord! It’s what God gives including His love, His Joy, His peace and His Spirit that makes us perfect whole and complete, not our own efforts.

In the heart of a storm we can settle into the arms of His love in and know: “Peace, perfect peace, though sorrows surge around. On Jesus’ bosom nothing but calm is found. It is His peace, imparted by the Spirit that we enjoy. All we have to do is receive it. Yes, our life is hid with Christ in God and in Him is everything that we need. He has given His promise that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. So we can rest in that promise and abide in Him, even as He abides in us. We turn self-reliance into Christ-reliance, as we cast all our cares upon Him for God is Giver of every good and perfect gift and the Author and Finisher of our faith.

God is a Spirit, and the flow of His resurrection life comes through the Spirit primarily. And when we fully yield ourselves, not merely our conduct, but ourselves, to the headship of our glorious Lord, then begins the life supernal. It is not by imitation but by participation that we become of like nature, like substance with Him, “because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

In ourselves, we can do nothing. Absolutely nothing! But we can rest in the LORD who can and will do all things in us and for us! He has called us to completely relinquish all that we have, and all that we are. Then, as the darkness moves out, the light moves in. As self goes out, He comes in. Then from within us begins to flow the “rivers of living water”—healing streams in the desert of our lives. The wilderness in us begins to rejoice, and the desert of our hearts is made to blossom as the rose! Without death there can be no resurrection!

God does not impart His resurrection life to us because we live for Him, but because, for His sake, we are willing to die and allow Him to live His resurrection life through us. God’s word is unchanging:

On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers, Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city; Because the palaces will be forsaken, The bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks- 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, Though hail comes down on the forest, And the city is brought low in humiliation. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey. Isaiah 32:13-20

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. Isaiah 35:1-7

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:5-10

Chapter 22
The Fruit of the Spirit is?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26

God’s love is the gist of the whole gospel. And we need to grow in His love and to walk in love by yielding to the Holy Spirit who is inside of us and letting Him flow from us! When we were born again and Baptized with the Spirit God not only cleansed us from all our filthiness and from all our idols, He gave us a new heart and put a new spirit within us; He took the heart of stone out of our flesh and gave us a heart of flesh. He put His Spirit within us and enabled us to walk in His commandments and to do them (Ezekiel 36:25-27) because we became a new creation. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Galatians 4:20-24

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:15-16

Yes, through the new birth we have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. As the elect of God, holy and beloved, we put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave us, we do also. And above all these things we put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in our hearts, to which also we were called in one body; and we are thankful. We let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

But if we are not continually praying in the Spirit and staying in the Word of God, the devil and the old man will deceive us and we will revert back to our old ways! God doesn’t judge us on what we know but on what we do. We are to do His word and to make sure that the new man in us is demonstrating love, compassion tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, patience, endurance and forgiveness and not the old man demonstrating bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, etc.

So how do we know whether we are in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom of the devil? By love; love is the test, love is the fruit. We have been saved out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s marvelous light. We are strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. We give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:10-14). Our inheritance the promises of God dwells in the kingdom of light. The kingdom of Jesus is called the kingdom of love; it is called the kingdom of light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. And the love of God is now shining out through us when we are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. God’s word is unchanging:

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

Walking in the Spirit is also being led by the Spirit. Our inheritance is prosperity, health and abundant life. That is our inheritance. Goodness and mercy flowing in our life. Our inheritance is the land of milk and honey in Christ. But the inheritance cannot come to some people? Those who walk in the flesh will not taste health. They will taste sickness. Those who walk in flesh will not taste prosperity; they will taste poverty. Those who walk in the flesh they will not taste abundant life. They will taste a miserable life. They will not inherit the things of God. It may be theirs but their inheritance cannot come to them.

We live in a world that is hostile to the things of God. And the devil will have every opportunity to bring disaster on our life. But there is a way where we could attract the blessings of God. Where in our life things just flow. But in some people sometimes without effort they get blessed here blessed there blessed everywhere. They just get blessed. What are they receiving? The inheritance of God.

When we receive an inheritance we do not deserve it. We did not work for the inheritance. Somebody worked at it. Somebody accumulated it. And then because of our position they pass it to you. That’s an inheritance. Jesus conquered for us. Jesus paid the price for us. Then He says “it is ours now.” Do you know that inheritance cannot come to people because they are not walking in the Spirit, they are not walking in love? When we walk in love the inheritance comes forth. We are in right relationship with God’s family. The inheritance is the family blessing of God.

There are so much blessings God has blessed us with. But it’s not coming to people because they are not walking in the Spirit; walking in love. They are walking in the flesh. Paul says those who walk in the flesh who do such things cannot partake of the inheritance of the saints. It may be theirs but they cannot taste it. Walking in the Spirit means walking in love, walking in joy, walking in peace, walking in long suffering, walking in kindness, walking in goodness, walking in gentleness, walking in self-control, all these fruit of the Spirit we walk in them. And then we walk in our inheritance, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:17-18

Evangelist Billy Graham said that 90 percent of all Christians in America live defeated lives. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, added, "You may have a heart for God. You read your Bible faithfully, you pray, you witness, you are active in your church; yet year after year you continue to fight a losing battle."

In his book The Holy Spirit, Billy Graham acknowledged the constant state of leaving our lives in the Holy Spirit's control. "We must surrender ourselves to Him daily," he writes, "and everyday we must choose to remain surrendered." Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, described this regular act of surrender as "spiritual breathing." By faith, we confess our sins to God, agreeing that we have missed the mark of His perfection. This, Bill explains, is like exhaling. The next step is to accept God's forgiveness and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with His power; Bill compares that to inhaling. Bill Bright taught

"There are three kinds of people in the world," The Bible tells us there is the 'natural man,' the 'spiritual man,' and the 'carnal man.' The natural man is one who hasn't received the Lord Jesus as Savior. The carnal man is one who has received Christ, but lives a defeated life." "But the spiritual man places Christ on the throne of his life, and his own ego steps aside to allow God's Holy Spirit to control his life. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and goodness—are the obvious benefits."”

Chapter 23
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. 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 bible tells us that 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

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

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 24
He Will Come And Save You

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. Isaiah 35:1-7

Because God, Who is great and unlimited in love, power, strength and riches, loves and cares for His trusting ones, He will come with vengeance and recompense and save them no matter what negative situation they find themselves in for He is after all their Savior, Healer, Redeemer, Deliverer, and everything they need. And He will change all things for them! They have His word on it. The word of One who doesn’t lie and cannot lie! And His word is true:

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. Psalm 146:1-7

Yes, great is our Lord, and mighty in power; and His understanding is infinite. The thoughts of God for us are for good and they are numerous. As we hold on to the Lord and no weapon of the enemy shall prosper against us. The Lord will bless us and prosper us mightily on earth. No matter what they negative circumstances might be the Lord will deliver His trusting ones from their problems because He loves them. He will give them redemption and rest. He will fill their life with His peace and joy. He will use them to carry His love to the people who are bound in fear and darkness and will let them taste the miracles of God in their lives. He will deliver them from their bondages and make them to arise and shine for His glory. There is nothing impossible with God and He will deliver them from any hopeless situation and bless them! His word is true:

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

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

"The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together, That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20

Yes we can cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for us. When we seek the Lord believing, “The Lord who is in our midst shall not leave fail or forsake us but will bless us and shall perfect everything concerning us . We see this in the life of King David who always sought the Lord in his life. King Saul was constantly after David because he feared that he might become the king. Once, David had to hide in a cave to protect himself from Saul who pursued him. David cried unto God in his distress. When he cried unto the Lord and the Lord perfected everything for him. Yes, during the time of trouble the Lord hid David under His shadow and made him sit on the throne as a king and thus exalted him. Whenever surrounded by problems, he sought the Lord and He delivered him from all his troubles. He stated, “I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me” (Psalm 57:2).

David knew well that the Lord would perfect things that concerned him. Even our Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself on the cross to give us a blessed life. He went through all the sufferings and agony just like any ordinary human being and died on the cross as a poor man. He walked through the path of shame and humiliation. He was bruised for our iniquities. He lost His peace in order to give us peace. He prayed to His Father with such agony that His sweat fell on the ground as drops of blood (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22: 44; Isaiah 53:4,5).

Our Lord Jesus Christ willingly traversed through this path for us to realize that the Lord also has gone through this path and hen we cry to Him we receive deliverance when we go through such trials and tribulations in your life. He never casts away anyone who comes seeking Him during times of distress (John 6:37). He told us “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12).

We need not fear when we’re surrounded by problems because when we call upon God like David in his troubles, He will deliver us and perfect things that concern us. He will bless us and make us a blessing to others. So in distress we can call upon the Lord and hold onto Him. He will deliver us from our troubles and He will bless us and make us great. The Lord, Who perfected everything for David and exalted him, will also do the same for us because God is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one. God’s word is unchanging:

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat. Psalm 147:12-14

Jesus went down into hell, defeated Satan, and was raised up and was seated by God in heavenly places at His right hand. But Jesus didn't stop there! He brought us up to be seated with him. Through Jesus, we rule and reign over sickness, disease, poverty and lack in our lives. Yes, poverty is not the will of God for any believer. Despite this truth, some people have taken a "vow of poverty." Some Christians believe that poverty is part of being holy and righteous. This is far from the truth. Poverty has nothing to do with godliness. To be poor or impoverished means, "to be without; in lack; deprived." You and I don't serve a God of lack and insufficiency. He's the God of the exceeding and abundant Who wants to lavish us with His goodness.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible proves that poverty goes against everything God desires for believers. Poverty is a spirit designed to keep believers in financial bondage. The devil uses this spirit to hinder Christians from prospering and ultimately fulfilling their destiny of being a blessing to the entire world (Genesis 12:2-3). God favors prosperity. According to Psalm 35:27 and 3 John 2, He is pleased when we prosper in our spirit, soul and body. His desire is that we prosper economically, socially, emotionally, mentally and physically

Unfortunately for them, many believers accept debt, financial hardship, substandard living, sickness and troubled relationships as a part of life. They settle for less than God's best, unaware of their covenant rights with Him. As Christians and as King’s kids we have the right to prosper or succeed in every area of life-financially, emotionally, socially, mentally and physically. We have the right to total life prosperity! We can increase our knowledge base of what our covenant rights are by studying what the Bible has to say concerning God's people. From finances to owning a successful corporation, we can learn how to lay hold of our inheritance of a life of prosperity now for God has given us all things richly to enjoy!

Chapter 25
Who Has Believed Our Report?

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:30-33

God wanted His people to believe a good report about the Promised Land like Joshua and Caleb gave, but the children of Israel chose to believe and act on a bad report that coward spies gave. As a result they rebelled and never went into the Promised Land but died in wilderness of their own choosing. God’s word is true:

Then the LORD said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; "but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD- "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, "they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. "Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea."

And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. "Say to them, 'As I live,' says the LORD, 'just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 'The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 'Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.

'But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 'But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 'And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 'According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 'I the LORD have spoken this; I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.' "

Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land Numbers 14:20-38

Yes, the good report of the full gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and is the Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Provider, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, for all who believe the good report. God’s word is unchanging:

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient-in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:18-19

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Hebrews 2:1-4

The Holy Spirit, the Helper, has come to be to us all that Jesus was to His disciples. He has come to guide us into all truths and to give us God’s best in everything. He wants to be a real close friend and Helper to us just like Jesus was to His disciples. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, the personality in the order of the Godhead. He is in charge of the affairs of the kingdom of God and is the Chief Executor of divine programs on the earth. He is the Motivator, Energizer and Operator of every revealed plan or vision from God. He is the Revealer of the hidden treasures of the kingdom of God. He holds the key to the inheritance of the saints of God. He is the most valuable asset to Christian living. He is the central figure in any breakthrough in life. He is the only One worth leaning on. He has come to reveal wisdom, knowledge, abilities, enablements and mysteries to us to show us our significance, value and power. He has come to reveal our God-nature to us and cause us to live in a new dimension. He has come to comfort us! He’s our invisible Partner, who causes things to work for us that won’t work for others. He gives us the mind of Christ! Hence we are to trust Him with everything big or small and aren’t to do anything without Him! God’s word is unchanging:

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

The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to instruct, minister and reveal truth to us. His wisdom is supernatural and as we yield to His wisdom and power we become successful and prosperous and victorious. He pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and enables us to live a life of love towards God and others. However He can be grieved when there is envy, bitterness, strife, foolishness, pride or unforgiveness. He can be grieved when we reject the truth or allow ourselves to be deceived. Yes, these things prevent Him from giving us the answers we need for our life. But though His anointing and giftings we can do all kinds of things. God’s word is unchanging:

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

When we pray and sing in the Spirit, we allow God to move in supernatural intervention on our behalf because it’s the Holy Spirit or God who is praying for us. And He always answers His own prayers! When we enter into high praise, God comes in and sets ambushments against our enemies and conquers them (Psalm 149:6; 2 Chronicles 20:22). Yes, the Holy Spirit gives real benefits in our lives including:

The gifts and fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Supernatural breakthroughs (Deuteronomy 33:26-29).

Battles won that we didn’t even have to fight (2 Chronicles 20:22-25).

Supernatural restoration of everything the Enemy has stolen (1 Samuel 30:18-19)

Honor in the midst of our adversaries (Esther 10:3).

Supernatural increase (Genesis 26:13)

Increased assets, including land (Joshua 23:14)

Supernatural promotion (Acts 7:9-10).

Great victories in the midst of great impossibilities (Judges 15:14-16).

Recognition Prominence and preferential treatment (Acts 10:38).

God strengthens His people with His might (Ephesians 3:16-17) which is “an ability or anointing to do anything” through Christ, the Anointed One and His Anointing, who dwells in our heart by faith. But love is the root to our faith, anointing and power. And lousy character will pervert, negate, neutralize or nullify the anointing and power that God give His people. As result we see a lot of corruption and misuse of power in the church of Jesus Christ. It’s important to have right character or we will not finish the race with honor but in disgrace.

The main purpose of the anointing is not only to win people to Christ but to see the body of Christ edified till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ through the five fold ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers! Yes, God doesn’t want His people to be just children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of proud and arrogant men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, to grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ who was always meek and humble and lowly in heart. This idea that the sheep exist to support and promote a super ministry of Dr. So and So is hogwash! God has no favorites amongst His people for we are all brethren. And ministries exist to see the sheep saved, healed, and delivered. God’s word is unchanging:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them." Ezekiel 34:1-6

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Chapter 26
The Holy Spirit

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

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

In today’s pressure filled society with all its problems and tribulations, more than ever we need the gifts of the Spirit and God’s fresh anointing so that the gifts and fruits of the Spirit might be manifested in our lives and circumstances. We need to learn to listen intently to God’s divine voice and do accordingly to what He speaks. We need not only to walk in the Spirit but to experience Him as a person. We need to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. God’s word is unchanging:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20

Too many Christians don’t know the word of God which is the sword of the Spirit and as a result they are deceived by the enemy and others. Then many of those who know the word of God don’t know the Spirit and hence don’t know how to properly wield the word of God against the enemy or how to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. As a result many are not victorious in life because they have not appreciated that He has been give to be to us our Victor and all that Jesus was to the disciples when He walked the face of the earth as the Son of Man and the Son of God.

It is also a fact that the Word of God with out the Spirit will make a person dry up. The Spirit without the Word of God will make a person blow up. The Word of God and the Spirit will make a person grow up and ensure that he follows after and does justice and righteous. The Spirit and the Word of God will bring total and complete healing and deliverance to a person, body, soul and spirit! He quickens our mortal body and renews our strength when we are weak. Through the Spirit, God gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength' (Isaiah 40:29). The Spirit is a person that most of all in this universe we need to know and appreciate as our friends, guide, counselor, helper, wisdom and strength. He can and will do wonderful things in us and for us especially things that are impossible. He is the One who came upon Mary and overshadowed her and enabled her to give birth to Jesus Christ. He is the One who anoints us and changes us and enables us to do the impossible. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Yes, we need the power, comfort, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and wisdom that the Holy Spirit give us. We need Him and all that He can give more than life itself! He is the pear of great price who reveals Jesus in us and through us. And no matter what it costs us or what we have to go through we need the friendship and fellowship of the Holy Spirit continually for He is the breath of life and the Spirit of Truth! As Psalmist David prayed and said 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. (Psalm 51:11-12) so should this be our daily prayer. For in the presence of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is where miracles happen. Miracles and the Holy Spirit go together. You cannot have one of them without the other. We should hunger and thirst after the Holy Spirit until we are filled to overflow. Until He runs out from us and bless all that we meet. So we truly will be a living epistle read and known by all men! Yes, there is nothing that we need more in life than more of the Holy Spirit. We need a lot more than we presently have and experience. We need a great and mighty Baptism of love and power that will utterly transform and change us to be all that we should be and to achieve all that we could achieve. God’s word is unchanging:

Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: 'Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; Isaiah 44:4

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 4:5-7

One of the benefits from being friends with the Holy Spirit is that He brings real comfort. Yes, God trusting ones obtain joy and gladness as they draw water from the wells of salvation and sorrow and sighing flee away. A wounded spirit inflicts unbearable afflictions, and a broken spirit (sad, worried, stressed, depressed, anxious) causes disease but the Holy Spirit anoints with joy and gladness to give a merry heart which wards off sickness. Yes, the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Another great attribute of the Holy Spirit is that enables us to experience and know the love of God (Romans 5:5) and enables us to walk in love fulfilling the first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and the second commandment to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Without the help of the Holy Spirit we cannot love God or our neighbor as we should. And failure in this area leads to failure in other areas. He enables us to forgive others and to pray for those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44). With out love our faith will not work (Galatians 5:6) or be profitable to us. God’s word is unchanging:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The Holy Spirit enables us to be full of peace and joy and to pursue holiness and to avoid becoming defiled by a root of bitterness or fornication. God’s word is unchanging:

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

The Holy Spirit not only gives life to our bodies (Romans 8:11) but He brings things to our remembrance especially the word of God and gives us a mouth and wisdom which all our adversaries are not able to contradict or resist (Luke 21:15). We literally cannot leave home without dependence on the Holy Spirit or you will not be successful in the battles of life. We need the wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and knowledge that He gives. God’s word is unchanging:

"Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10:6

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14

Chapter 27
Take Heed

And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. Matthew 24:4

Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Mark 4:24-25

Jesus Christ the author of the Christian faith warned all to take heed of things including about what they hear from God and others. As a matter of fact everything that any child of God hears from anybody about what is supposed to be true or the truth is to be checked with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who is their Counselor, Friend, Teacher and Guide. The Holy Spirit alone is the Authority for all truths, commands and directives that might be given to them by anyone. He alone is God and the all sufficient one and they need no one else! God’s word is unchanging:

And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. "But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:5-11

So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:25-29

The Apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost and were teaching the people and the religious ones didn’t appreciate this and commanded them not to teach in Jesus name. But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” The Holy Spirit alone is the Commander of His servants and of His church and no other! God alone is our Lord and to Him we give account and not to a mortal men who are here today and gone tomorrow. The clergy was not created to rule over the laity or anybody else. And Jesus was aware of this spiritual abuse in His day. He chose twelve untrained disciples who were not of the elite class of the day including Pharisees, scribes and lawyers. He told His the multitudes and His disciples:

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' "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 23:1-12

The religious and political leaders of Jesus day were quite educated but Jesus still called them fools and blind ones (Matthew 23:17,19). In other words just because a man is educated doesn’t mean he is not a fool especially if he doesn’t acknowledge that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Unfortunately for them even many of God’s people are fools because they despise wisdom and instruction from others and especially His apostles and prophets. They feel their special position as pastor, preacher, church leader, choir member or church usher has made above reproach and they are accountable to no one but God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer put his finger on one of the greatest dangers to the modern society including the church.

Every personality cult that is concerned with important qualities, outstanding abilities, strengths, and the talents of someone else—even though these may be thoroughly spiritual in nature—is worldly and has no place in the Christian community. Indeed, it poisons that community. The demand one hears so often today for . . . “powerful personalities” springs too often from the spiritually sick need for the admiration of people, for the erection of visible structures of human authority, because the genuine authority of service seems too unimportant (Life Together, p. 108).

The word of God encourages us to have the attitude in ourselves Christ Jesus had including that nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind we are each to esteem others better than ourselves. And we are to look out not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11

Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD. Proverbs 29:26

Jesus wasn't predictable. He didn't ask His disciples to sacrifice their wages to build a bigger house for Himself, nor did He merely talk a good line. He healed blind eyes and withered limbs, and raised the dead. He walked on water and calmed stormy seas. Over and over, in so many ways, He showed Himself worthy of a following--not just by talking about faith and self-sacrifice and the endtimes, but by the miracles He did. He proved He was God's sacrifice for our sins when, after voluntarily allowing Himself to be nailed to an executioner's cross, He rose bodily from the dead to show that He was King of kings and Lord of lords. As part of His legacy, He left a band of disciples who were willing to live and die for their testimony that together they had seen Him alive after His resurrection. Together they bore witness to One whose teaching and example has become the measure of those who are dangerous and those who are not. [xi]

Spiritual abuse is quite common in many churches in America. When spiritual abuse takes place in any congregation it is time to go. No one should ever be spiritually abused. We all know of pastors who abuse and we know a lot of pastors who are emotionally and spiritually abused by congregations. And many righteous ones with the wisdom that God has given them have protested about spiritual abuse and the rights of the sheep such as Rev. Jack Cascione, The Voters' Assembly Is Invested With Authority from God, who stated:

'Thus writes St. Paul (1 Cor. 3:21-23): ‘Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come-all are yours. And you are Christ's and Christ is God's.' From this [passage] we learn that all things that even Paul and Peter had were only treasures from the jewel room of the believing Christians or of the church." ("Church and Ministry" C.F.W. Walther, 1851, CPH 1982, page 50)

"However, this equality of believers is abrogated and the church is changed into a secular organization if a minister demands obedience not only to the Word of Christ, his one Lord and Head and that of all Christians, but also to what his own insight and experience regard as good and suitable. As soon, therefore, as adiaphora or things indifferent, that is things that are neither commanded nor forbidden in God's Word, come in question in the church, a minister may never demand absolute obedience to what merely appears to him to be best" ("Church and Ministry" C.F.W. Walther, 1851, CPH 1982, page 312)

"It follows from these statements of Scripture that the congregation of believers enjoys a sovereignty under Christ which are not to be restricted or limited in any way. Christians may not be made subject to a minister or a priest, because they are all ministers and priests in their own right who have the privilege of approaching God directly. " ("The Abiding Word", Alfred von Rohr Sauer, Volume III, CPH 1947 page 306)

"As such they (congregations) possessed all the gifts and rights of the Church which Christ has bestowed upon it. Specifically, the function of the Christian congregation is to administer the means of grace in its midst and to serve in this world for the conversion of the sinner to God. This is nothing else than the administration of the keys of the Kingdom. (Matt. 18:17-20; "Tell it to the church"; Matt. 16:19, John 20:22-23, "Whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.")....The church, therefore functions as the administrator of the office of the keys of the Kingdom." ("The Abiding Word", Richard Klan, Volume III, CPH 1947 page 383)

Yes, Christians may not be made subject to a minister or a priest, because they are all ministers and priests in their own right who have the privilege of approaching God directly. Apostle Paul taught that “there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:25-27). In other words in the eyes of God and in the words of Jesus we are all brethren and no one except the Lord has the right to rule over another Christian. Chuck Swindoll, author, pastor, seminary president, once talked about the six traps in ministry including Authoritarianism, Exclusiveness, Greed, Rationalization, Sensuality and Unaccountability:

1)Authoritarianism is the lack of a servant’s heart. This is when the leadership has gone wild with a tyrannical, oppressive pride. Don’t suppress God’s people. Respect them and encourage them to be all God wants them to be. Don’t abuse God’s people. Christ is Lord, not the pastor or anyone else in His church.

2) Exclusiveness is the “I (or we) alone are all right.” “Only we have the truth, or the best program.” It constantly stresses the idea that we are the only people God uses. No one else is as good, doctrinally correct, blessed of God, filled with the Spirit, etc. God has blessed me, or our group as the elite Christians. The emphasis is on our distinctiveness, denominational pride, selective doctrine, a special revelation or anointing from God, etc. The leader promotes a clannish, cultic following, clicks, etc. The truth is in God’s grace there are no favorites. God does not play favorites with anyone. We are saved by grace alone. There are no second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God.

3) Greed is the money crazy theme. How much do you harp on money? What is your motive? Even building yourself a name for a church with a big budget falls prey to this abuse. As a pastor I don’t handle money. Let someone else do it. The church assigns a group of people to count the money, the treasurer writes the checks and an audit committee checks the books. Don’t even find out who gives the most or how frequently they give in your church. How do you handle money that people hand to you and say use it were the greatest need is? Do you continue asking for money after you know you have all the funds you need for a certain project?

4) Rationalization is the effort to justify wrong with a defensive spirit. Are you quick to gloss over personal sin, make excuses or lie about it? Are you over emphasizing or underemphasizing some area of purity? What areas and why?

5) Sensuality is how I handle sex. Treat all women in all purity. Stay away from any compromise or even the smell of smoke. Don’t become too familiar with the opposite sex, or your own sex. Stay away from all appearance of evil. Live a pure life.

6) Unaccountability is the idea I answer only to God and no one else. As a pastor and a member of my church I am always accountability to someone. I am accountable to the deacons, the deacons are accountable to the church, and the church is accountable to one another. Beware of the secretive, “I am accountable only to God and I answer to no one else.” No one is above accountability. Receive the confrontation of friends and mentors and remind yourself that only observed behavior changes.

The apostle in Philippians 2:5-11 is stressed the remedy to spiritual abuse in modern society. His emphasis was on the character of God that is seen in selfless service and obedience to Christ and others. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of obedient service. His attitude runs counter to the human tendency to dominate and control others for personal gain. “Think in this way,” Paul says, “just as Jesus Christ thought in this way.” That is the best safeguard we can have in the way we handle life. Follow the example of Christ’s selflessness, humility and obedience. On various occasions Paul has used Christ’s behavior as an example for believers’ lifestyle (Rom. 15:3-9; 2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 5:1-2; Col. 3:3ff; 1 Tim. 6:13-16). Paul normally puts the emphasis on living the Christian life in the believer’s union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Cor.6:11-20; Col. 3:1-4; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 2:16-20; 5:16-26). But here he tells us not only to imitate the model of Christ. But “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We need to yield and submit to Christ and the wonderful Holy Spirit daily so that the life of Christ might be lived out through us and not our life.

J. Hudson Taylor English missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission made the English term "exchanged life" popular through his testimony of how God made him a new man. (Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, page 154.) The word "exchanged" is used to signify that God has made it possible for us to exchange our total insufficiency to live the Christian life for Christ's total sufficiency to live it through us. He did this by exchanging our old identity in Adam for our new identity in Christ and by uniting our newborn spirit with His (I Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 2:20). The term "exchanged life" is related to the believer's discovery of his identity in Christ: that is he is a new creation, one born of God, that he is not what he was before. It is time that we rediscover and practice the truth that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Yes, we are to let Christ live His life in and through us and we will not be foolish ones who die for lack of wisdom. God’s word is unchanging:

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:24-29

Chapter 28
The Anointing Breaks The Yoke

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

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

Isaiah prophesied Israel's deliverance from the Assyrians, comparing their bondage to the yoke around the neck of an ox: There were two yokes around the neck of the animal. One yoke was a beam across the shoulders that could be removed. But the second yoke was a collar firmly fastened around the neck that could only be broken by the anointing, literally, the fat around the neck of the bull. The first collar could be removed by the farmer at any time and later replaced. The second yoke was permanently fastened and only destroyed by what was resident within the animal. (Rod Parsley, Touched by the Anointing). It doesn’t matter what yoke the devil has put on our lives, be it alcoholism, drug addiction, pornography, religion, witchcraft, Satanism, prostitution, fear, abuse, divorce, suicide, death - it shall be destroyed by the anointing. God’s word in Isaiah says "the yoke shall be destroyed by the anointing!" Because we have the anointing, as the anointed One, Christ lives in us, the anointing is strong enough to break any yoke. For the anointing is the power of God transmitted through the Holy Ghost just as Jesus promised:

"But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" Acts 1:8.

When we tap into the Holy Ghost who is a person and not just a force, we tap into the pipeline of almighty God who created the universe, parted the Red Sea, walked on water, healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead and set the captives free. We tap into all that God has and is and that is very much. As a result the anointing inside of us can break the heaviest yoke, no matter what it is, because "greater is he who is in us, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The truth is Jesus (John 14:6) and as we fellowship and sup with Him he will make us free. God’s word is true:

"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

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" John 8:36

Yes Jesus defeated the devil He made a public spectacle of him, "and he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:14,15). Christ has become to us everything that we need including the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24). He has become for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30). Christ the Anointed One dwells in our heart and as we seek Him with all our hearts and allow the anointing of His presence to fill us, all our yokes simply falls away. Because of the anointing we stop believing the devils lies and speak God’s truth over our lives. We confess we are saved, healed, delivered, blessed, prosperous and more than conquerors in all things. We confess that we have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. (Colossians 1:13). God’s word is unchanging:

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

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:18-20

Yes, we need to be filled with all the fullness of God, allow that power to work in us and are to be continually filled with the Spirit. Because the anointing of the Holy Ghost is tangible it is energy and it has substance. It is the perpetual propulsion of the power of God that can drive us through a line of Satan's defense. And, since the anointing is tangible, our supply can be depleted. The same disciples who were filled were also re-filled again and again. God’s word is true:

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52

It is not our responsibility to produce anything -- the anointing is not something we "make." It is not our responsibility to perform a miracle. It is our responsibility to become filled with the anointing that can work the miracle. We are only a vessel for the anointing, nothing more and nothing less. Once we are filled with the anointing, it is our responsibility to pour out every ounce of anointing God gives us so He may refill us.

We are like a blood vessel in your body. Blood vessels do not produce the blood -- the blood is manufactured by the marrow. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The marrow represents your spirit. Blood vessels do not produce blood -- blood vessels carry blood. You do not produce the anointing -- the anointing is manufactured in your spirit. That is why you need to have a spiritual life. It is not enough to go to church on Sunday and be filled with biblical knowledge. It is not enough just to have the Word of God without the Spirit. We need a Spirit-led life. We need the energy of the Holy Spirit to do the things of God. The energy comes from the manufacturing plant of your spirit. John 7:38 says: "He that believeth on me . . . out of his belly (the marrow, the inward parts) shall flow rivers of living water. In ourselves, we cannot produce the energy needed to do the things of God. The energy comes from God and is planted in our spirit. When we are given this energy, it is our responsibility to get rid of every bit we have -- by letting it flow out of you to a hurting, depraved, diseased and destitute humanity.

When a blood vessel is clogged, it is not a healthy vessel. It has to pour out the life source it has received in order to stay healthy. The same is true of us -- we need to release the anointing inside us! That is why the Bible says, "These signs shall follow them that believe. . . " (Mark 16:17) and "Go ye therefore . . ." (Matthew 28:19). God wants us to keep our vessel open. (Rod Parsley, Touched by the Anointing)

Just like the New Birth where we passed from death to life by faith and grace, we receive the anointing of God through faith and grace and not own works. Rather, we die to own works, philosophies, understanding and ways and put on the mind of Christ that comes with the anointing. God’s word is true:

'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"; Deuteronomy 26;6-9

We trust and rely upon the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD that comes with the anointing. We learn to flow in the anointing of God that comes from God. We learn that we cannot produce the anointing for ourselves and that without the anointing we cannot do nothing. God’s word is true:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

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

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

It is the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit that gives us the power to be what we are supposed to be and to do what we are supposed to do. It causes us to get rid of the old tenants of our heart -- our traditions, philosophies, and ideologies -- and replace them with the things made real by the Spirit of God. Then we abide in God’s blessing as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and we don’t go back from blessing to cursing, from joy to sorrow, from happiness to sadness, from prosperity to poverty. We live a victorious life by faith in Jesus: God’s word is true:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Chapter 29
“Therefore Do Not Worry”

Jesus clearly told us that our heavenly Father is not only good, kind, compassionate, caring and loving but He is concerned about what we shall eat, drink and weak as well as our physical health and well being! He also told us in verse 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. In other words it’s very foolish to lay for ourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal!

Now the truth of the matter is that no matter what the problem, need or enemy God is bigger and able to handle it and to give His trusting ones victory and make them more than conquerors! We see this clearly in the word of God when Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. As a result there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. The bible records for our profit:

Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die? "If we say, 'We will enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die." And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. For the LORD had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses-the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!" Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact-their tents, their horses, and their donkeys-and they fled for their lives. And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." 1 Kings 7:1-9

God did a great and wonderful thing! He had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses-the noise of a great army, so they became fearful and fled for their lives leaving the camp intact-their tents, their horses, and their donkeys. As a result the lepers who went to the camp of the Syrians to their surprise found no one was there except food, silver, gold, clothing, horses, donkeys and tents. When the lepers went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, "We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound-only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact" the king believed it was a trap and sent two chariots with horses after the Syrians o the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king. The bible records:

Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria." Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, "Now look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And he had said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died. 1 Kings 7:16-20

Men are not accustomed to believing God, walking by faith and not by sight and trusting His word and those of His true prophets, even though Elisha had said that God would provide a miraculous deliverance. So they would not believe the words of the Lepers until they could see things for themselves with their natural eyes instead of their spiritual eyes. But the fact of the matter remains that the officer who scorned Elisha’s words paid with his life for his foolish actions. It doesn’t pay to be arrogant and proud and a respecter of persons

Yes, God does nothing on earth unless He reveals it to His prophets. But God has also stated that those who despise the word of His prophets, He will require of them. So the officer who was the right hand man of the king put his life in jeopardy when he despised Elisha’s prophetic words. (It’s true that some foolish men just do not learn and accept God’s word on some matters and they pay for their deeds even with their lives.)

Unfortunately for them, skeptics and scoffers don’t believe that faith in God will open up windows in heaven and as a result they don’t see the impossible. But the bible has many examples of what expectantly waiting on the Lord and hope in His word for His plenteous redemption and deliverance and what it shall accomplish.

Men have a lot of foolish ideas which they make as doctrines but God’s word does not lie and God has not changed. We see from the Word of God that God weighed and judged the actions of the lepers and the arrogant officer. The lepers were blessed and the officer was cursed! So who is to say that God does not do such things today? For after all He is the Lord, the Judge of the whole earth and His eyes are on each and every one to render to each one according to his work. For God’s word is true:

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. Psalm 145:18-20

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalms 130:5-8

Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. Proverbs 20:22

For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4

Chapter 30
Jesus Christ The Victor

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

"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

Because Jesus Christ is the Victor we no longer are victims of any negative circumstances or things. Jesus told us In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And because we are in Christ and He is our brother, friend, and God we are also victorious! As a result we don't have any business living our life "under" our circumstances. We don't have any business letting problems and situations rule over us for two thousand years ago, Jesus--the One Who is in us and Greater than the devil ransacked Satan's kingdom.

Yes through His death at Calvary, Jesus legally entered the regions of the damned and stripped Satan of everything. He took away all his armor. He took the keys to death and hell. He bound that strong man, looted his kingdom, and Colossians tells us 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power and COL 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Yes Jesus Christ spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them and then turned around and gave that victory to us because we are of God born of His Spirit and one with the Lord. God’s word is true:

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 1 Corinthians 6:17

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 through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:18

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

Jesus Christ came out of hell and defeated the enemy, and as a result His victory is our victory because we're in Him. Christ, the Anointed One, the Victorious Conqueror, is risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father and that is where we are also seated with him! Christ is now for us, with us and not against us.

Because of Calvary we can have a fresh revelation of God’s love, and all that was provided for us at Calvary including that it is God's will for us to prosper spiritually, physically, and financially, and to be full of His joy. God’s word is unchanging:

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. "For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:29-32

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

"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

"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 10:19-20

"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 30:19-20

God’s plan for us is prosperity, health, abundance, peace, love and life. Satan’s plan is poverty, sickness, lack, stress, hatred and death. Both plans are set before us but we must choose between life and death. And the choice is ours.

Jesus has paid the price and defeated Satan. He took back the authority that man gave up in the Garden of Eden. Jesus then gave that authority to everyone who would accept Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus gave us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Every Christian has been given authority over the forces of evil and can live a life of victory. A person can be given authority but unless that authority is exercised, it is useless. Victory is ours for the taking if we believe the truth of all that God has done for us on Calvary!

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 glory for our shame, His triumphs for our disappointments, His Honor for our nothingness, 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 (John 16:14) and He is also with and for us continually (Matthew 28:18-20).

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 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 of Christ at Calvary now says to you and I, that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is success, for every endeavor there is prosperity, 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)

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.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords with His unlimited and unimaginable power and riches was never poor or debased. But He chose, because of us, to leave behind his infinite power and riches become a man and identify and relate to humanity in all its sufferings and ways. God in Christ Jesus stripped Himself of His royalty and Kingship. He then became an ordinary man and walked with men doing by faith and dependence on the Holy Spirit the impossible such as healing the sick, raising the dead and cast out demons. He did it all to show that we can do it also. Then the innocent Son of man and Son of God went to a Cross-on a hill called Calvary where He bled and died for all of humanity. But the Cross-was not the end of Jesus Christ or life, it was the beginning of something new, a New Covenant or New Testament. It was the beginning of a new life and a new man and a new Spirit for those who would accept what Jesus had done for them. It was the beginning of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh. As a result God’s word was now true:

“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’ Joel 2:16-21

Now all flesh can be saved, healed and delivered and walk in the newness of life in the power of the Holy Spirit. All men can prophesy, speak in tongues and be filled with the fullness of God. The good news of the Cross-is that the different victories that Jesus won there, and the resulting New Covenant with all its rights and privileges, is now ours to be claimed and accepted by faith. They will be true if we will only believe, accept, confess and act on it and then allow the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead to change us. Jesus won for us, on the Cross, such a victory with such power and might that it made hell tremble and Heaven sing with joy as the Triumph of Victory resounded from one part of Heaven to another. Our ears will tingle and our hearts will sing, as the faithful and mighty Holy Spirit reveals this victory to us.

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.

Victory Ministries

Walter Kambulow

August 1, 2009

Burlington, Ontario

Mail to walthope@mail.com

http://walthope.tripod.com/healing.htm