The Power Of The Blood

The Power Of The Blood

Introduction

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. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:1-10

God’s word makes it quite clear that He has only one answer to every human need- His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died instead of us for our forgiveness: He lives instead of us for our deliverance. In all His dealings with man He works by taking him out of the way and substituting Christ in his place. The substitute on the Cross secures his forgiveness and a substitute within who secures his victory. Man has many problems including sins committed before God and his fallen nature. God’s remedy for all who believe is simple the work of the Lord Jesus which is represented by 'the Blood' shed for his justification through " the remission of sins," his union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. The Blood disposes of his sins while the Cross strikes at the root of his capacity for sin. God’s word is true:

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26

Yes, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness. And 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.

Yes, God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

It’s to be noted the Blood of Christ is for atonement and has to do first with our standing before God. We need forgiveness for the sins we have committed, lest we come under judgment; and they are forgiven, not because God overlooks what we have done but because He sees the Blood. The Blood is therefore not primarily for us but for God. We approach God through His merit alone, and never on the basis of our attainment; never, for example, on the ground that we have done something for the Lord this morning or for others. We come to God by the way of the blood at all times. We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Our approach to God is always in boldness; and that boldness is ours through the Blood of Jesus and never through our personal attainment.

Chapter 1

The Power Of The Blood

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

The blood that Jesus shed on Calvary from His back and from His side not only forgives all our sins but heals all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease when we combine it with out confession or testimony. Sickness and disease had no power over Jesus who went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Because of the precious shed blood of Jesus applied to our hearts and lives we have victory over the enemy and all sickness and diseases as we confess that by Jesus stripes we were healed. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:19-22

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Eph. 1:3-4

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

The enemy would have us believe that our present negative circumstances define tomorrow? But that is a lie from the pits of hell for our faith in God and God defines our tomorrow. As a result those who are sick and afflicted in any way can be made perfectly whole and delivered by the power of God for with God nothing is impossible. God’s word is unchanging:

They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them. Then they despised the pleasant land; They did not believe His word, But complained in their tents, And did not heed the voice of the LORD. Psalm 106:21-25

When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Psalm 126:1-3

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Although many people do, God’s true children don’t judge things by their natural mind or negative circumstances but by the Word of God and their decrees of how things are to be (Matthew 16:1, Mark 11:23). God has given us the power through the spoken word to change all the negative things in our land and to see it healed and blessed! Jesus gave us His blood, He gave us His name and He gave us His Word. He gave us the authority to rebuke negative things including storms and the devil ourselves. Under the new covenant we say to the mountain ‘be removed and cast into the sea’ and believe in our heart that those things we say will come to pass and we have whatever we say. Hence things seen such as mountain removed result from things not seen, our spoken words.

Through the bible we know and believe of the great things that God has done. And what He has done for one He will do for another! God’s word is unchanging:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:30-34

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:10-11

It’s a defeatist attitude, full of unbelief about the power of God, to let the enemy win in any way in our lives be it through poverty, loss, sickness, disease or demons. Our words spoke by our mouth frame the world that we live or shall live in, not the devil or negative circumstances. We overcome all things by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony just like Jesus did. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He told him what the Word of God stated (Matthew 16:9):

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

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

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

Just like Habakkuk expressed unshakable confidence in divine deliverance, so can we! God’s word is unchanging:

Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:2-4

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Through the book of Habakkuk we also see that individuals survive through fidelity to God, even when nations tumble because ungodliness and violence prevail; especially among those who profess the truth. Men tend to forget that God doesn’t overlook injustice and violence to others even by religious ones. Yes, the days come when the cry of sin is heard against those that do wrong and the cry of prayer for those that suffer wrong. And then God sends real judgments upon men through a method of His choosing.

Most men presume on continued prosperity, or that calamities will not come in their days even in our nation. God is the Lord and He does get offended. Though wickedness may prosper a while, yet God is holy, and does not approve the wickedness and will bring judgment even using others. Proud and arrogant ones who are fierce, cruel, unmerciful to take glory to themselves should be aware of God’s wrath. Even though God most times doesn’t execute speedy judgments and evil works and workers and His judgments are delayed, doesn’t mean that they are denied. Men who prey on others will sooner or later be preyed on themselves. God’s word is unchanging:

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Nahum 1:3

So each one of us must walk humbly before God as all we receive is from Him and we must give Him all the glory. We must not be impatient about anything but trust God in and for all things. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we can trust God to provide us an answer in due season. He will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait upon Him to see what He will do. Though the promised blessings might be deferred for a season, they will come at last, and abundantly recompense the humble, broken-hearted, saint who waited upon God. Those who are just and live by faith and persevere to the end shall tread the high places of their enemies. While those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will find themselves in place they never expected to be. Yes, What God has done before He can and will do again. And doom always comes to proud and oppressive ones especially those who touch or hurt His servants.

The sins of men do destroy them as they sink themselves down into destruction and perdition. What is gotten by violence from others, others shall take away by violence. Covetousness will bring disquiet and uneasiness into a family; he that is greedy of gain troubles his own house and it brings the curse of God upon all the affairs of it. Yes, there is a lawful gain, which, by the blessing of God, may be a comfort to a house; but what is got by fraud and injustice, will bring poverty and ruin upon a family. God’s word is unchanging:

"Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also-drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD'S right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory. For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men's blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it. "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all. But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." Habakkuk 2:15-20

The good news is that the Lord revives His work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity and trials. Our God is a God of Mercy and in His wrath He remembers to give mercy to His trusting one who flee to Him for refuge and rely only upon Him. Everything that we go through is seasonal and subject to change by God who still makes His trusting ones more than conquerors even when the vines and the fig trees are destroyed. When all is gone, God is not gone and His miracle working power never ceases. His word is unchanging:

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

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

Yes, we might have seasons when we meet with losses and crosses in the world, but the joy of the Lord is still our strength. And He will make our feet like deer's feet, and He will make us walk on our high hills. The great redemptive work of our Lord covers the complete person—body, soul and spirit. It reaches even into the realm of physical necessities. Jesus said to his disciples, “Take no anxious thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, How shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31–34).

We don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and God is our source of our total supply, our provision, our exceeding great reward and all that we need. Through God's grace and Spirit we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and stand until the victory and our breakthrough is manifested proving the faithfulness of our God. In the midst of all our troubles Jesus is still a balm for every wound, a cordial for every care. He is still a friend who sticks closer than a brother!

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Joseph M. Scriven,

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear

May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer

Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Chapter 2

I Am Ready To Perform My Word

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." Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word." Jeremiah 1:9-12

With the anointing that God has put on us and the words in our mouth we can root out and pull down, destroy and throw down, build and plant things, including nations and kingdoms and principalities. And God who watches over His Word wants performance out of what He as put into our mouth. He has promised that His words that go forth out of His mouth shall not return unto Him void but shall accomplish that which He pleases and it shall prosper in the thing He has sent it. His word is true:

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Isaiah 55:10-13

The Word of God comes like snow and rain. The snow and the rain bring seed and bread - seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall the Word of God be - it will cause nice trees to grow where there once were thorns. Where there were briers and thistles, there will now be myrtle trees. We know thorns and thistles came into the Garden of Eden because of sin - because of mankind that listened to the words and temptation of Satan and fell for sin. There instead of the beautiful trees, came thorns and thistles. God says that His word that comes forth from His mouth, the word that comes like the rain that brings forth seed and bread (seed for the sower, bread for the eater - so is the word that comes from God, it will not return unto Him void) will cause thorns and thistles to disappear and again there shall be beautiful trees. Instead of thorns and thistles, there will be trees.

When will there be beautiful fir trees and myrtle trees? When we accept the word that goes forth from the mouth of God. What is this word? Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. God said it. This Word is the Word that became flesh, which is the bread of life. If we partake of that, if we fellowship with that, we will be totally free and we will have seed and bread.

Yes, if God has a Word and He gives it to us, He is going to watch over it to perform it and every Word that proceeds forth out of His mouth, shall not return empty. He will see to it that His Word will accomplish what it was sent to do for God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He not said and shall He not do it? Has He not spoken and shall it not come to pass? (Numbers 23:19). Yes, if God said something, He shall accomplish it. Hence if we are not healthy, wealthy and successful the problem is not with God. It's probably that we didn’t receive the Word of God into our life which is Jesus or we didn’t mix the Word of God with faith. But God’s word is unchanging:

Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. Isaiah 56:5

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:11-12

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:1-2

Yes, Jesus came to that which belonged to Him to His own- His domain, creation, things, world, and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.

When we received Jesus as our LORD and Savior by asking Him into our hearts we actually received the Word that was in the beginning and proceeded out of the mouth of God. That Word did not return void to the Father, but He took His own blood and sacrificed it for the salvation of many. He paid the price in full. We now have the written Word; the spoken Word and the indwelling Word; we have the Word in all its forms and we are to mix with faith the word that we hear so that it will profit us.

We receive the Word, Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27). That is the hope of glory that we' receive. It is no longer we that live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). Christ is the Word that became flesh comes and dwell within us. That Word is also Seed that is planted. When we received Christ, we received the Word. We were born again of incorruptible Seed (1 Peter 1:19). It caused us to be born again and become a new creature. All the old things have passed away and we are not the same. We are a Christ-ian. Christ is inside, which is the Word; when we received Him, we have the power to live like a child of God and enjoy all that God has to offer us.

Jesus said that the works He did, we shall also do because He went to the Father. Everything that God has and everything that God is, is now inside of us. We do not have to live in poverty, defeat, sickness and loss because the fullness of the Godhead which dwelt bodily in Jesus and we have received that fullness in us now dwells in us. And we now have access to all that God is and has. And we can rise to a place of maturity where we come into the image of God. God sent forth the Spirit of His Son that cries out, "Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6). God is our Father and we can call Him that. The same Spirit that made that flesh Body to be Christ, is on the inside of us crying, "Abba Father!" We can now do the same works that Jesus did, because we didn't receive a minor Spirit, but the exact same Holy Spirit. Yes we have Christ in us; we have the Word of God in us. We have His power, His nature and His abilities inside of us; His Spirit is in us. And now we can prophesy or make decrees.

When the Word or the Spirit came to the prophets, Christ's Spirit entered them, enabling them to prophesy. In the beginning the Word was and the Word came to the prophets and they prophesied when the Spirit moved upon them. They prophesied with the Spirit of Christ on the inside of them. They prophesied about the salvation that should come by accepting the Spirit of Christ. And now God’s also children live from every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. They speak the words that God gives them to speak which are Spirit and they are Life. And when they now speak the Word, the Words that come from God, then mountains move.

Yes, the fullness of the Godhead now dwells in us. All the abilities, nature and power are ready to be released from inside us. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophesy (Revelation 19:10). But we must hear and receive the word from God before we speak it. We must live by the word that comes out of the mouth of God. We must come to a place where we come to a stand still and hear what the Spirit says to us and then speak what the Spirit tell us to speak. God’s word is unchanging:

The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD." ' " So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Ezkeial 37:1-7

Jesus Christ defeated our prime enemy Satan, and has given us, His brothers and sisters, all His spoils and wealth as well as the riches of heaven. He has also given us the right to make any decree that we desire in His name. God’s word is true and unchangeable:

Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver; For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. Job 22:25-28

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

"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. John 15:16

"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. Matthew 18:18

I Bind And Loose!

In the Name of Jesus:

I bind my mind to THE MIND OF CHRIST AND THE POWER OF GOD.

I bind my will and desire to GOD’S WILL & PURPOSE for my life.

I bind myself to the TRUTH OF GOD and LOVE OF GOD.

I bind my finances to GOD’S UNLIMITED RESOURCES.

I bind my future to GOD’S INFINITE WISDOM and ORCHESTRATION for my life.

I bind my body (and all parts) to the RESURRECTION LIFE of Jesus and the BLOOD OF JESUS.

I loose and break off from my life any devices of the enemy to hinder, deceive, steal, kill and destroy.

I loose the POWER AND EFFECTS of any damaging WORDS spoken ABOUT ME, TO ME, or BY ME.

I loose and break off from my life EVERY WRONG AGREEMENT I’ve ever entered into (with persons, spirits or ideas).

I loose and break off from me – EVERY WRONG BELIEF that I’ve ever had (about God and His will; about me and others).

I loose and break off any BONDAGE HIDDEN within my soul including, alcoholism, bad habits, anger, fear, physical illness, battles, etc.

I bind my families feet to the paths of righteousness that their steps would be steady and sure.

I bind them to the work of the cross with all of its mercy, grace, love, forgiveness and dying of self.

I loose every old belief, motivation, habit and behavior from my family and loved ones.

I tear down, crush, smash and destroy every stronghold associated with these things.

I loose any stronghold in their life that has been justifying and protecting harmful feelings against anyone.

I loose the strongholds of unforgiveness, fear and distrust from them.

I loose the power and effects of deceptions and lies from them.

I loose the confusion and blindness of the god of this world from their mind that has kept them from seeing the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I call forth every precious word of scripture that has every entered into their mind and heart that it would rise up in power within them.

In the Name of Jesus, I loose the power and effects of any harsh or hard words (word curses) spoken to, about or by me and my family.

I loose all generational bondages from me and my family that may have been caused by mistakes I made.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I crush, smash and destroy general bondages of any kind from mistakes made at any point between generations. I destroy them right here, right now. They will not bind and curse any more members of this family.

I bind the strong man, Satan, that I may spoil his house, taking back every material and spiritual possession he has wrongfully taken from me and my family. I loose the enemies’ influence over every part of our body, soul and spirit. I loose, crush, smash and destroy every evil device he may try to bring into our sphere of influence during this day. I bind and loose these things in Jesus’ name. He has given me the keys and the authority to do so.

Chapter 3

Healing Comes From God

"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

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-15

Yes, the LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. God doesn’t have a problem in making His people rich and prosperous. Jesus Christ suffered on the cross intense pain and shame to set us free from sickness and poverty. By His stripes we were healed in every sense of the word. Jesus was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) including sickness and poverty. He is still the great Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Provider and Miracle Worker. It’s Satan, our arch enemy, who wants God’s people to suffer spiritual, physical and financial insufficiency and be sick and weak for he is a thief, a murderer and a destroyer (John 10:10). God’s word is unchanging:

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."

The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13:10-17

Yes, the devil kept this woman sick for eighteen years and Jesus delivered her from her bondage. And because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever He can and will deliver any one from any bondage. There are many forms of bondage besides sickness. A person could be physically well but be bondage in his finances. But God who owns the cattle on the thousand hills and all the silver and gold will deliver him from his or her bondage (Isaiah 51:1-3, 61:1-5). The lack of money is a great bondage but Jesus delivers from all forms of bondage.

Contrary to what some people believe money is not the root of all evil. The LOVE of money is the root of all evil! Money is just a means of payment. It’s is neutral. What a person does with money makes it either good or evil. What is important is does a person possess money or does money possess the person?

Now the devil wants God’s people to be blind and ignorant about God’s desires for them to be healthy and wealthy and powerful. The devil is not stupid and he knows that whatever part of the Word of God is rejected by God’s people it will not become a reality in their lives. So he causes many religious folks to believe that sickness and poverty are the will of God and that prosperity and wealth and prosperity are from the devil. But all this is nothing but a lie from the father of all lies – the devil.

Poverty is like an infectious disease. It is like a virus Satan brings upon the Body of Christ. He has infected many individuals, families and whole churches with the "poverty virus". As a result for them poverty and sickness have literally become a way of life.

But the truth of the matter is that Jesus had died on the cross to give us 100% victory over all things including setting us free from sickness and disease and poverty. He doesn't want us to be even 1% sick or poor. He gave His blood for us. He purchased us. We are His own and all that belongs to Jesus belongs to us- all of it! That is the reason why Jesus wants us to live a 100% healthy life. Every sickness in our life and poverty is defeated by the blood of Jesus. Jesus gave His blood -- He died naked on the cross -- to set us free from sickness or poverty. Every financial lack in our life is defeated by the blood of Jesus. He wants us to live 100% wealthy and healthy lives. And All we have to do is to receive and confess God's Word concerning our health, healing, blessings and prosperity and to act according to it. God’s word is unchanging:

"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

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

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. John 5:5-9

God is and always will be God, a great and wonderful Miracle Worker, and the Healer. He stands ready to save, heal, deliver and make whole anybody and everybody who calls upon His name. Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, immediately healed the man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years after he answered Jesus’ question "Do you want to be made well?" with a yes!

The problem with seeing healing and miracles in the current time of life in our lives is never on God’s side but on man’s. Jesus later told this instantly healed man, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you" (John 5:14). In this particular case the sickness was a result of sin and the man would have to change his ways lest a worse thing come upon him. He had to take responsibility for his actions or the lack there of.

It’s a fact that some people love being sick because they receive attention and care and they don’t have to be responsible any more to do things like work. Being sick is an easy way to escape things they don’t like. While they say they want to be healed in reality they do not! And that is why the question "Do you want to be made well?" is very important be answered truthful by each individual for God’s word is unchanging:

…"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:26

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:3

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 4:2-3

God has given men a free will and freedom to have the desires of their hearts including being sick even though He has made provision for their total and complete healing and deliverance. And some of His people do choose sickness over health and others become sick because they have disobeyed God’s word. His word is true:

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ' These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelations 2:18-23

Yes, the word of God teaches that unrepentant sins brings sickness and even death, even though God’s word tells us that by Jesus stripes we were healed (1 Peter 2:24 ). Besides faith in God repentance is a very useful thing in receiving healing from God.

Chapter 4

But God Gave The Increase

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 were 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? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:1-6

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Jesus did not speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that our faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. And any Christian ministry that is devoid of the miracle working power of God is a waste of time and a demonstration of the works of the flesh for 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

"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 16:17-20

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

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?- Galatians 3:5

Yes, God is unchanging and is a miracle working God who not only supplies the Spirit to us but works miracles amongst us by the hearing of faith! So if people are not seeing and receiving miracles it’s obviously they don’t have faith or have the wrong kind of faith? They don’t have faith that through faith in Jesus name gives men perfect soundness including physical and emotional healing.

Because Jesus Christ is alive and well and has overcome the world including sin, demons and death and has won the victory, He gives the victory to His trusting children to achieve great things for His honor and glory. The size of their mountain or enemies is not a problem because their God, friend, provider and Lord, is bigger than anything that they face or will face. He is still in the mountain moving and miracle working business and none can stand against Him and the power of Jesus name. Everything must bow at the name of Jesus including sickness, poverty, disease, demons, loss and governments. God’s word is true:

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 2:5-11

So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. Luke 17:6

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4

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

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

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

Once you know the miracle you want and can see it clearly, you only have to give the word of authority for it to be revealed exactly as you dreamt. Then what we conquer in the spiritual realm can be brought by faith to the natural realm. And so in this way the Lord can transform the chaotic in something beautiful. He had only to decide and then speak in order to see the miracle of creation fulfilled. And we are participants in this divine nature.[i]

Because of the name of Jesus and that our faith is not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God we can speak to all the mountains in our lives and tell them to be moved into the sea. In Jesus name, we can say 'Let the river of God flow amongst us. Holy Spirit come, move in power and let defeat become victory, crooked be made straight, injustice become justice, wrong become right, poverty become plenty, lack become abundance, negative things become positive things, sickness become health, weakness become strength, curses become blessings, sadness become joy, despair become hope, depression become praise, unbelief become faith, loss become restoration, bondage become redemption, wealth and riches become a reality and mountains be moved into the sea and be no more!'

Faith or authority in the name that is not used produces nothing? Many of God’s people have no one to blame but themselves for not believing and acting on God’s word to see real circumstantial changes in the lives and their land. They don’t appreciate that Jesus took their infirmities and bore their sicknesses, therefore they can refuse to allow sickness to dominate their body for the Life of God flows within them bringing healing to every fiber of their being (Matthew 8:17; John 6:63). They don’t appreciate that they are redeemed from all the curse as Jesus had become a curse for them (Galatians 3:13). But Jesus blood is flowing in their blood stream to every cell of their body, restoring life and health as they activate it and claim it by faith (Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6). The life of Jesus is a reality in their flesh, restoring every cell of their body for by Jesus stripes they were healed (1 Peter 2:24).

Since they have presented their body to God, for it is the temple of the HOLY GHOST and not their own, they can make a demand on their body in Jesus name to release the right chemicals, to be in perfect chemical balance and their pancreas to secrete the proper amount of insulin for life and health (1 Corinthians. 6:19.). Through the Word, God has imparted His life to them and they can speak life to restore their body for it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. (John 6:63; Mark 11:23). Because their heart beats with the rhythm of life, carrying the Life of God throughout their body they can decree LIFE AND HEALTH ABUNDANTLY (John 17:23, Ephesians 2:22, Ex. 23:25; Mark 11:23). They can command in Jesus name all blood cells to destroy every disease, germ and virus that tries to inhabit their' body. They can command in Jesus name every cell of my body to be normal (Romans 5:17; Luke 17:6.). In other words they can command divine health and life for God’s word is unchanging:

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:20-23.

The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made them free from the law of sin and death; therefore, they don’t have to allow sin, sickness or death to lord it over them. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Guide, not sickness and disease. Believers have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever they bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever they loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. They can confess that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in them permeating God’s life through their veins, sending healing through-out their body. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in them and gives life to their mortal body. (Romans 8:11.) They are free from the control of men and from the law of sin and death. Christ has set them free from the curse of the law having become a curse for them (Galatians 3:13).

Hence in Jesus' Name they can forbid their body, their soul and their spirit to be deceived in any manner. They can speak the Word of Faith and demand that every internal organ of their body perform a perfect work, for they are the temple of the Holy Ghost. They can charge the body in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the authority of His Holy WORD to be healed and made whole for the tongue of the wise promotes health. (Proverbs 12:18). They can resist the enemy in every form that he comes against them. They can require their body to be strong and healthy, and enforce it with God’s Word. They can reject the curse, and enforce life in their body for God has forgiven all their iniquities; He has healed all their diseases; He has redeemed their life from destruction. (Psalm 103:2-6) They can confess that because they obey God’s voice and do all that He speaks, He has blessed their food and water and has taken sickness away from them and will fulfill the number of their days in health. His word is unchanging:

"So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days Exodus 23:25-26

They are able to live in DIVINE HEALTH AND PROSPERITY continually because God says in His Word:

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22

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

They can speak to Satan in the authority of Jesus' Name and say to all his principalities and powers, his master spirits that rule this present darkness, and his spiritual wickedness in high places they are all totally and completely bound here as they are already bound in Heaven. They are loosed from all his power according to Colossians 1:13, as God has delivered them from the power of darkness and has conveyed them into the kingdom of the Son of His love, which is above every thrones or dominions or principalities or power, past, present or future. They can tell Satan that he has no authority to operate against their family and them in this or any realm for they are the property of Almighty God and that He lives within them. He who is in them is greater than he that is in the world as 1 John 4:4 declares. And finally because they diligently obey the voice of the LORD their God, to observe carefully all His commandments which He has commanded them, all the blessings God had spoken to Moses shall come upon them and overtake them and they will be blessed and prospered in all things because God’s words says so. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) His word is true:

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want!" Psalm 23:1

"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 48:1

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. Ephesians 6:10-13

Chapter 4

Sanctify You Completely

'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." Mark 12:30-31

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

From generation to generation, God is God and He doesn’t change. But He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. All of His works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" He rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. But God knows things about men that they don’t know. He knows that if they don’t love the Lord their God with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind and with all their strength and their neighbor as themselves, they will not be perfect, whole and complete! Hence He has given men in His word the solution to all their problems that is found in Jesus Christ. His word is true:

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:1-12

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

Man who is born in sin and is full of egotism, pride and self sufficiency that comes from his father, the devil, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, has an inflated sense of one's own importance and is conceited. Man must come to a realization that he must trust in God with all his heart and lean not on his own understanding but to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord, Savior, Healer, Deliverer and Provider who will bring health to his flesh, strength to his bones, prosperity and correction where needed.

Man needs to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in his heart through faith; that being rooted and grounded in love he 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; so that he might be filled with all the fullness of God. Yes, man needs for God, Himself, to sanctify him completely and to preserve his whole spirit, soul and body!

Just because a person is born again by the Spirit, that is his spirit is regenerated, doesn’t mean he is whole, body, soul and spirit! Many times because of sin and generational curses there resides real sickness in his body, emotions, and spirit which Jesus Christ needs to heal and deliver from. Most people are unaware that they have physical and spiritual sickness in their bodies but God’s word is unchanging:

Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24

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

The problem with many Christians is that they stop at process of being born again or being filled with the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as though this is all there is to the full gospel of Jesus Christ, and don’t go on to being made whole body, soul and spirit. They rob themselves of having heaven’s best in every area of their lives and being. And since God respects the will of each person He doesn’t force upon them all the blessings that He has for them. Hence Apostle Paul prayed for Christians:

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23

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

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12

God’s presence, mighty power, wisdom, discernment, love, miracles should be a constant reality in the lives of God’s people to meet whatever need they have or face! They are to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father. Because of the mind and life of Christ in them they also laborer fervently in prayers for other Christians for their deliverance and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

People try all kinds of new things seeking health and happiness, but to no avail. Only Jesus can satisfy the soul, calm the storms of life and establish our goings. Only God can supply all of our needs spiritually, physically and financially and we can rest in Christ who changes not and enjoy His peace. His word is unchanging:

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

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

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

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

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

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:12-15

Chapter 5

Love Is The Greatest

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1 Corinthians 10:24

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has not only blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, but has made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus who is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places. Jesus Christ has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God and to reign on the earth.

God is love and He sought not his own well-being but ours! God is love and while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God is love and He gave His only begotten Son that we should not perish but have life ever lasting. Life ever lasting and Love is a person called Jesus Christ and not a set of doctrines or beliefs. And if we truly are perfect and have Love inside of us we will seek not our own but each other’s well-being. God’s word is unchanging:

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:10-17

Love is expressed primarily not by words but by deeds. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, His wonderful Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, and all things. 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 (2Peter 1:3 ). He desires that we may prosper in all things and be in health, just as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). Our flesh and blood bodies are NOW the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We no longer have the "Spirit of the Lord" upon us. We have the "Spirit of the Lord" IN US:

"Christ IN US, the hope of glory…"

"The Father and the Son will come and make Their abode IN YOU…"

"The Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU…"

"The Spirit of truth will dwell WITH YOU and IN YOU…"

It’s true EMMANUEL, "GOD WITH(in) US", the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the ANOINTING within us.

Jesus Christ dwells within us and that His anointing is our anointing! The same POWER that Jesus used to preach, teach, prophesy and ministering healing to thousands is NOW resident within each and every born-again, Holy Spirit baptized man, woman and child. All the anointing of God we will ever need to "do the works of Jesus" and "greater works than these" are NOW possible because God lives in us. His 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. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. John 14:12-19

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

Because God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him, we will go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. We will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. The One who send us will work with us and confirm the Word through the accompanying signs. God’s word is true:

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. Matthew 16:15-20

We don’t have to go to Bible college and have several degrees after our name before we can become a POWERFUL Holy Ghost filled witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to know a lot about the Bible and Christian doctrines before we can become a POWERFUL witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to FEEL THE POWER of the Lord upon we before we lay hands on someone to be healed, delivered and set free from what the Devil has bound them under. All we need is simple child like faith to DO THE WORKS OF JESUS! Lost, sick and hurting humanity is wating for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed. God’s word is unchanging:

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

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

Yes, we must 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. Each one of us must do the works of Jesus and take our rightful place as the sons and daughters of God. God’s word is unchanging:

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:19-27

Chapter 6

The God Of Power

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 1:19-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

It is a fact that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath and there is no other. He is God and a God of power and He wants His children to be full of power. He demonstrated His power in creation when He made heaven and earth. He demonstrated His power when He brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, driving out from before them nations greater and mightier than them, to bring them in, to give them their land as an inheritance He demonstrated His power. And God expects His people, His church, His body to be full of power. His word is unchanging:

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8

God is no respecter of person and He wants all His children to receive great power and be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth and have great grace upon them. Stephen was not an apostle but a layman and he was full of faith and power, and did great wonders and signs among the people. God who anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him wants to anoint all of His children with the Holy Spirit and with power.

The Gospel of Christ, is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek but it must be demonstrated in power and not just preached by words devoid of power of the Holy Spirit’s anointing. God’s word is unchanging:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:12

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 15:19

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 2:4-5

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 1 Corinthians 6:14

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Power comes from God who is able to do anything by His great and wonderful power. When the power of Christ rests on us then we are truly mighty! There is always the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe that we can tap into any time we believe! God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us!

God is a God of power and miracles and He loves to demonstrate in the lives of His people no matter what negative mountain or circumstance they might face! God already demonstrated His miracle working power when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. He has planned His people to be a people of power and His 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. Ephesians 6:10-13

Being filled with the Spirit and having power is related to walking in love just as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. And it’s not related to being a fornicator or pursuing uncleanness or covetousness, or demonstrating filthiness, foolish talks, coarse jesting, but rather walking and praying in the Spirit and giving thanks for all things always. God’s word is unchanging:

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

We are also to be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy (Colossians 1:11); giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has also delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. By Christ all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him and we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. We are to pray that God will fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power. God’s word is unchanging:

God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect. 2 Samuel 22:33

and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 2 Chronicles 20:6

God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Psalm 62:11

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5

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

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

God’s presence, mighty power, wisdom, discernment, love, miracles should be a constant reality in the lives of God’s people to meet whatever need they have or face! They are to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father.

Because of the mind and life of Christ in them they are also to laborer fervently in prayers for other Christians for their deliverance and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) that they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12). God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:11

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4

Chapter 7

Unto Us A Son Is Given

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

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

Jesus Christ our loving Savior offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for our salvation. He had earned for us many heavenly blessings. He is the only true Savior and there is no other name under heaven to save us. He didn't come to this earth to take anything good away from man. He came to take our sins and sicknesses. He came to heal the broken-hearted and to set the captives free. He came to do us good. His ears are open to the cry of the righteous day and night. And there is no greater power than Jesus Christ who was born and given to us and His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. As a result for those who believe in Jesus, we can go boldly before the throne of God and receive grace to help in time of need. We can use the power and authority in His name to reach heaven for ourselves and our loved ones, and expect answers to our prayers.

Jesus tells us in John 14:14, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." We can trust in the power of His name to grant the petitions of our heart. We can look to Him in faith believing for our needs to be supplied and recall the wonderful works that Jesus did among men. And we can be encouraged to know that Jesus will do the same for us because He is the same, yesterday today and forever.

So using the name of Jesus we cannot only lay hands on the sick and cast demons out we can command negative things to change because of the name that is above every other name! We can speak to all the mountains in our lives and tell them to be moved into the sea. In Jesus name, we can say 'Let the river of God flow amongst us. Holy Spirit come, move in power and let defeat become victory, crooked be made straight, injustice become justice, wrong become right, poverty become plenty, lack become abundance, negative things become positive things, sickness become health, weakness become strength, curses become blessings, sadness become joy, despair become hope, depression become praise, unbelief become faith, loss become restoration, bondage become redemption, wealth and riches become a reality and mountains be moved into the sea and be no more! God’s word is unchanging:

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:1-10

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?- just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. Galatians 3:7

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:14-18

When Abraham our forefather of faith laid his son Isaac on the altar (Genesis 22:9), he was made righteous on account of his action. The Bible says that his faith and his action were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (James 2:21, 22). When we are confronted by afflictions, sickness and problems, it is really difficult to face them. But when the Lord says a word and when we cling on to it firmly, we can see our faith working in a perfect manner.

Yes, faith without action is dead indeed. But when we ask the Lord believing that He would do it, He makes it happen. The One who promised, “I shall show you wonders,” enables us to see miracles as we believe Him firmly. God’s word is unchanging:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

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 11:6.

Only when we believe, we shall enjoy the reward from the Lord. Jesus Christ also tells the same. Even as we cling on to the Lord believing that we are blessed when we believe without seeing, He would certainly do a miracle for us.

But the other side of the coin is that unbelief will rob us of our needed miracles. God’s word is unchanging:

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest." Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 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. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:1-16

Chapter 8

I Have Heard Your Prayer

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. "I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city." Isaiah 38:1-6

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

God loves to hear and answer prayer and He has demonstrated in Christ Jesus what His will is 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; and He healed them. Many Christians improperly believe that sickness and poverty are God’s will for them but they hypocritically go to a doctor to get better when they are sick and try to earn more money so that they can live better; which doesn’t make sense at all!

There is a very common evangelical worldview is that “the earth is the devils, and the fullness thereof” In other words that the world belongs to Satan, and that Christians can expect only defeat until the Lord returns. And that is exactly the lie that Satan wants Christians to believe. If God’s people think the devil is winning, it makes his job just that much easier. What would he do if Christians stopped retreating and started advancing against him? But the scriptures tell us the complete opposite of the evangelical worldview:

The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:1-4

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

Those who humble themselves before God and accept His redemption and salvation and resist the devil will obtain the blessings and righteousness comes from the God of our salvation? What blessings are we talking about? Well the word of God’s tells us clearly what they are:

"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

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

Although God’s word says the benefit of God include forgiveness of all your iniquities, healing of all your diseases and redemption of your life from destruction, some even say they are afflicted like Job was and are being tried and tested by God! But Job didn’t stay afflicted and he passed the test and God healed him, restored double his real losses and gave him seven sons and daughters! So when is it their turn to be victorious and blessed like Job? And the bible tells us:

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

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 2 Corinthians 1:3-10

Apostle Paul tells us about the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. He tells us we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. In other words we are to trust in a God who doesn’t keep us in sickness, poverty, loss, defeat or depression but brings us through to the other side of plenty, prosperity and victory just like He did for the children of Israel when He miraculous delivered them out of their oppressors and brought them into the Promised Land of plenty! Mind you they were delayed for 40 year due to some rebels and unbelievers!

The bible tells us “But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Prov. 13:22). I love the word “but.” We see it used in the bible for Joseph who was promoted instantly from a prison to a palace:

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

And that is the basic pattern of history as God saves His people and gives them dominion. This is what God did with Israel: in saving them, He brought them into already-settled lands, and they inherited cities that had already been built (Ps. 105:43-45).

In a way God does bless the heathen, in a sense – just so they can work out their own damnation, in the meantime building up an inheritance for the godly (Gen. 15:16; Ex. 4:21; Josh. 11:19-20). Then God smashes them and gives the fruit of their labor to His people. This is why the bible tells us that we need not fret over evildoers, for we shall inherit the earth (Ps. 37). The Hebrew word for salvation is yasha, meaning to bring into a large, wide, open space – and in salvation God does just that: He gives us the world, and turns it into the Garden of Eden. God’s word is true:

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 1:3

Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret-it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (prosperity). Psalm 37:8-11

The word of God, especially the Psalms, are full of conquest, victory, prosperity and the dominion of the saints when they walk in obedience to God’s voice and His command! When they disobey well then sickness, poverty, lack, oppression and other vegetative things are their possession.

Speaking of dominion, true spirituality does not mean retreat and withdrawal from life; it means dominion. The basic Christian confession of faith is that Jesus is Lord (Rem. 10:9-10) – Lord of all things, in heaven and on earth. As Lord, He is to be glorified in every area (Rom. 11:36). And there is no glory for God in a person being sick, poor or defeated when He has made provisions for plenty, health, wealth, victory and abundance and that is part of the salvation package of benefits!

In Christ Jesus through salvation God restored man to his original purpose. In the beginning God created man in His own image, in order that man would have dominion (Gen. 1:26-28). That task of dominion began in the Garden of Eden, but it was not supposed to end there, for man was ordered to have dominion over the whole earth: Adam and Eve (and their children) were to extend the blessings of Paradise throughout the entire world. But when man rebelled, he lost the ability to have godly dominion, because he lost fellowship with his Creator. While fallen man is still the image of God (Gen. 9:6), he is now a naked image (Gen. 3:7), for he has lost his original covering – the glory of God (Rem. 3:23).

The image of God remains, to some extent, in all men — but the image has become twisted, marred, disfigured, and broken as a result of sin. And the earth, which was planned to become God’s Garden-Temple, has instead become a wilderness of thorns, thistles, sweat, scarcity, pollution, and death (Gen. 3:17-19; Isa. 24:1-6; Rem. 5:12). Man was banished from the Garden, and forbidden to enter it again.

But that isn’t the end of the story. A redeemer came in Christ Jesus who crushed the Serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). Accordingly, the Apostle John tells us that “the Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Christ came as the Second Adam, in order to undo the damage brought through the First Adam (1 Cor. 15:22, 45; Rem. 5:15-19). God had breathed into Adam the breath (in Hebrew, the Spirit) of Life, but Adam’s rebellion brought death into the world.

In salvation, Christ again breathes into His people the Spirit of Life (John 20:22)–Eternal Life, which sets us free from the Curse of sin and death (Rom. 8:2), and which will ultimately result in the restoration of the entire creation (Rem. 8:19-21). In salvation God gave us a complete and great work of redemption, which is defined as the act of getting back or regaining, reclamation, recouping, recovery, repossession, rescue, retrieval, salvage! We have been restored to being the second Adam! As a result blessing (ALL KINDS) and righteousness comes to those who have clear hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up their soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully, because they have put their trust in God and are a new creation. God’s word is true:

The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.( IT IS NOT THE DEVIL’S!) For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah Psalm 24:1-10

And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

In Christ we really are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), because we have been recreated in God’s image (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), and are clothed again with the glory of God (Rem. 8:29-30). And, this time, the security of the restored image of God is guaranteed, because our standing is in the Christ who can never fail. In Him we have Eternal Life and salvation as man is restored to his original calling and purpose, and to exercise dominion under God over the whole earth (Ps.8:5-8 , Heb. 2:6-9).

Thus, when God saved His people, thus the effect of the Curse began to be reversed. And the bible tells us: Christ has redeemed us from every curse of the law (Gal.3:13-14), so none can have a hold on us any longer. We are now longer in the domain where curses have a legal right over us. That was why Jesus not only shed His blood, but hung on a tree as well — to secure our redemption from the curses of the law. Therefore the cross of Christ crushed the curse of the law. When sickness or poverty is not a function of sin in a man's life or of ignorance, it can also operate freely under the guise of the curse of the law. God’s word is unchanging:

"If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, "then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues-great and prolonged plagues-and serious and prolonged sicknesses. "Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. "Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed. "You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. "And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. Deuteronomy 28:58-63

The truth is that God has done everything on His own part. He has completed His own part of the contract. He has purchased our health at the expense of His Son's blood. But He expects us to enter into it and make it a reality in our individual life. Every sickness in our life now is due for a curse. We are to use our mouth to curse it and rebuke it just like Elisha did to his antagonizers and Jesus did to the fig tree and to the fever Peter’s mother had. God’s word is unchanging:

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 2 Kings 2:23-24

And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:19-22

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. Acts 4:38-39

God’s word tells believers, Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2). God wants believers to prosper and be comfortable as well as healthy. He saw them in discomfort and sent Jesus Christ to come and give them the abundant life. Man's discomfort was a result of Adam fall from grace and being driven out of the Garden of Eden where he did not lack anything, he was super comfortable.

When Adam fell he was driven out of the Garden of Eden into the wilderness and the gates were shut. Thus, no one could gain access into the garden until Jesus came out of the grave and the gates of life flung open (Psalm 24:7). Among those gates was the gate that led back to Eden. That is to say that God is bringing His people back into their Eden of abundance. Therefore, financial signs are a part of believer’s redemptive rights in God and their Abrahamic blessing.

Most of God’s people are deceived into thinking that because they still live in our physical bodies they are human; but nothing could be farther from that! Jesus, who is their example and life was born of the Spirit, yet He arrived the earth very much human. But there was no denying the fact that He was also the Son of God. The same is true concerning believers. When they are born again, they are a spirit being, even though they have a mind and live in a physical temple called the body.

Adam, before the fall, operated in the class of God. His mind functioned in the same frequency as God's. He was a man of authority, a man in dominion. One day, however, he ate the forbidden fruit, and in accordance with God's warning, he died. Adam's death was, however, spiritual, not physical. He was still physically alive, but his spirit was disconnected from God. At that very instance Adam went from the realm of the supernatural to the natural. He descended from the spirit world to the physical world. He also became a victim of what he used to have dominion over.

But God was undaunted, and as in a relay race, He picked up the baton that Adam had dropped and passed it unto Jesus, who did not fail Him. Jesus came primarily to recreate what had died in Adam — his spirit. He came to restore to humanity what had been lost in Adam. He was called the second Adam, because like the first Adam, He was a representative of all mankind. With this restoration, as many as receive Jesus into their hearts can operate in the same class as the first Adam before the fall. God’s word is unchanging:

"The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.1 Corinthians 15:45-47

Satan could not prevail in heaven, so he was cast down to the earth. Two kingdoms are brought to light here. The earthly and the heavenly. Only those who reside in the earthly kingdom are under the wrath of Satan. Those who are born again have been translated from the earthly to the heavenly kingdom. And in the heavenly kingdom there is rejoicing, because there is no place found for Satan there anymore.

As a new creature in Christ, we can safely conclude that Satan has no right to be anywhere around us. In our heavenly citizen status therefore, we should be able to display "the riches of His glory" in the face of the devil, not suffering as those in earthly places do. Just like Enoch who was translated so that he did not see death, we have been translated too, so that we do not experience the same buffeting as the world.

The fact that we have been redeemed guarantees us absolute liberty from all forms of oppression of the devil. We are no longer his captive, so he cannot plague our body or tamper with the works of our hand. This knowledge should spur us into reacting against the gimmicks of hell in all areas of our life. Everybody may be complaining about the devil, but God is complaining about the ignorance of His people! There is no mountain anywhere; every man's ignorance is his mountain.

Once we know where we belong, we should be able to confront the devil and secure our victory. Case in point sickness is not our portion in God. So, if we sense an attack of sickness coming, we are to react against it based on the light of God's Word. We are not to nurse or accept it, just fight it off, and enjoy liberty. The advantage Satan has over believers is ignorance. He plays on the ignorance of the saints to buffet, oppress and punish them. The bible tells us: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11. But Satan has been stripped of all his powers and is left with only wiles and devices (Eph. 6:11). By being conscious of our superiority over Satan, we can "take him for a ride." Instead of living at his mercy, we can turn the tables on him, compelling him to take to his heels at the mention of our name! Redemption guarantees our total liberty. With this understanding, we hold in our hands the master key to rest in all spheres of life.

Jesus took the place of man in sin, sickness, poverty, death, and every evil thing in the world. He was made sin on the cross, identifying with man in the fallen state. He became sin for us. We were in Christ in every stage of it. We were legally present there, defeating the devil when Jesus died. We took part in His suffering (His passion), in His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. He became identified with us on the cross and we with Him. When Jesus was made alive by the Spirit, we were also there. We were raised up from the dead together with Him. And when God raised Him up and exalted Him far above principalities and powers, we were there with Him, exalted as well.

As a result of this mystery of identification, all principalities and powers are under our feet. Through Christ Jesus we are now one with the Father as Jesus was one with Him. As a result we have the same nature with God the Father. Therefore, whatever God can handle, by virtue of identification with christ, we can too! What we carry now is eternal life. We have the life of God inside us, as a gift from heaven. That life cannot be terminated by any ploy of hell. Rather, it is quite capable of swallowing up disease, failure, stagnation, frustration and even death.

The eternal life we carry on our inside is real, not theoretical. It is the exact type in Jesus that made Him immune to sickness and disease. That same life guaranteed His rest even in adverse situations. In it lay all He would ever require to live the abundant life. This same life is what we carry inside us! Once we become conscious of it, sickness cannot survive in our body. Failure itself cannot come near where we are. The Bible says whatsoever is born of God (a carrier of eternal life) overcomes all the hurdles of life (1 John 5:4). This truth will establish us as sons of God licensed of God to displace the devil in any environment we step into. Not guessing, but quite sure of who we are in Christ and what God has done in us when we entered the kingdom of God. God’s word is unchanging:

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.. John 3:31

Chapter 9

Why Not Victory?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 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 40:28-31

God is not poor, stupid nor without resources even though many of His people are. He has unlimited riches and power at His resources ready to be used for those who wait upon Him. Men are yet to see what God can truly do for those who put their trust in Him and give Him all. Abraham was only a mortal man and yet God tested and blessed him mightily. He can do the same for many others of His children. His 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

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions- This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan Which You have made to play there. These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season. Psalm 104:24-27

The Word is going forth and the end is near. The end of men’s rule and the beginning of God’s rule. Men may acknowledge Him but they don’t reverence Him. They reverence themselves and serve their own desires. It doesn’t matter who they are. It can be a priest or a pastor. It can be a statesman or a homeless person. All have strayed and fallen short of the glory of God. Each has gone his own way. There are few who walk in the purity of the Word or the Way. The gospel is not for men to twist or disfigure into something hideous and self-centered. It is beautiful, pure and of excellent report. Yet, men have made the truth a travesty. A travesty of justice. A travesty of peace. A travesty of service. Men may say many things but they don’t receive the real thing. They walk in their dominance and waywardness and refuse to see the truth. Sadly, not many will ever receive the true light but there will be some. God's remnant will go forward in His power and His glory and He will glorify them because they will serve Him in Spirit and in truth. They will not destroy His yoke but they will honor it.

The time of testing has come to an end. The time of service has begun. The time of real truth has arrived. The time of worship is here. Men may ask to do God's will but those who do it will be those who obey His commandments. The very commandments others refused to do. Time is here. Time is everywhere. Time is marching onward but the schemes of men cannot stop her advance because she brings the real truth with her. When she has come full circle she will be seen for what she truly is and men will bow down to her and surrender their spirits to the truth. There is no greater truth than this, that God is upon His throne and no man can remove him as hard as he may try. Now this is a lesson which King Nebuchadnezzar's learned the hard way.

The King had a dream; and his spirit was so troubled he could not sleep. He gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret his dreams. They could not, so the king in his angry and fury gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. The bible records:

So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel. So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand." Daniel 2:13-23

Daniel, who was a wise man not because of birth but because he was filled with the Spirit of God including the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge, asked mercies from the God of heaven concerning the King's dream. so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, God revealed the secret of the dream to Daniel in a night vision. For which Daniel blessed and praised the God of His Father who had answered their prayers.

Daniel in his prayer of thanksgiving stated something that most people are ignorant off and need to learn including the fact that wisdom and might belong to God who changes the times and the seasons. To God who removes kings and raises up kings and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. As result God reveals deep and secret things to His friends for He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him. He is the Lord of all and overall even in the current time of life.

Those who do not understand nor appreciate that God is in charge of all men and He, not the evil one, rules on planet earth and in the universe, will be deceived by the enemy and others. As a result they will not get their needed major victories in life. As they are defeated and deceived before they even start. For they attribute things to men and the devil, not understanding the sovereignty and kingdom of God. Not understanding what a powerful prominent king was to state later after his own terrible personal ordeal experiencing the signs and wonders that God worked on and for Him. The bible records:

Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation. Daniel 4:1-3

Daniel told the King that was a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given him a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into his hand, and has made him ruler over them all.

Daniel also told the king that the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. As a result God's word records:

The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. Daniel 2:47-49

Even though the king received revelational knowledge and interpretation of his dream he foolishly made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. As a result he sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.

The King issued a decree when the people hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, they shall fall down and worship the gold image that King has set up; and whoever would not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Well Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego whom the king had set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: as Jews would serve the kings gods or worship the gold image which had set up. So the king in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and gave a chance to obey his command or would be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

The king in arrogance asked the question " And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" The bible records:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this."

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:16-30

When God's true children are cast in the fiery furnaces of life, God Himself is with them, to protect and deliver them and keep them safe from all harm. But because God is God He has promised to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries.

As a result the king himself would be cast into a fiery furnace of a different kind in which he would suffer and learn some important lessons. The bible records:

"O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. "And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.

"But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. "Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

"But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. "And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

"Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. "And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. "This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; "TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; "PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Daniel 5:18-31

Now King Belshazzar learned nothing from his fiery father's furnace even though he knew all about it how he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

King Belshazzar, although he knew all this did not humbled his heart but rather he had lifted him up against the Lord of heaven. As a result they had brought the vessels of God's house before him and his lords, and drunk wine from them. He praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which he do not see or hear or know; and the God who held his breath in His hand and owned all his ways, he did not glorify.

As a result the judgment of God fell upon King Belshazzar. He had been weighed in the balances, and found wanting. His kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians and he was slain that very night.

Foolish men both religious and pagan never consider the fact that the season will come when they will be judged by God and demoted. They do not consider that they will experience the signs and wonders from God which do not bless men but humble and even destroy them. God contends with and destroys the proud but gives grace to the humble even in the current time of life. This is something an embittered hurt barren women stated when God gave her a miracle son and prophet about great and wonderful her God was who The kills and makes alive; brings down to the grave and brings up, makes poor and makes rich; and brings low and lifts up. God's word records:

And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. "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 2:1-10

Chapter 10

The God Of Miracles Is Alive And Well

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

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

Just as there are physical laws to regulate nature, so are there spiritual laws too. Even some physical laws have their spiritual equivalent e.g. the law of harvest. In all cases however, spiritual laws are stronger and more powerful than physical laws. A miracle occurs, therefore, whenever God uses a spiritual law to set aside a physical law. Since it is God who is behind the working of miracles, there is nothing like “the days of miracles” which can pass away, instead there is the God of miracles who lives forever. God may use natural means in performing miracle e.g. 5 loaves of bread and two fishes to feed over 5,000 people; or He may use supernatural means e.g. the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

We are all sick, hurting, or lacking in one thing or another but God has not changed one bit and He is still a God of miracles. He has promised for those who are called by His name that if they will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways then He will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. We have an excellent example of this in the life of King Hezekiah:

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. "I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city." ' "And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: "Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: Isaiah 38:1-9

Yes, God still gives grace to the humble and He contends with the proud. Healing is still part of the atonement but the method that God chooses to use as well as the timing for the healing is His business. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

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. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25

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. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:5-11

Yes, God is able to perfect, establish, strengthen, heal and settle each one of His children if they will turn from their wicked ways. It’s is amazing what God considers to be wicked ways. Since every person is different and God knows the heart and attitude on each one only God can define for each person what is his “wicked ways.” Both Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus by their actions and words but the Lord gave Peter the grace to return back to him but not Judas. It is a fact that some sins cause God not to hear the prayers of children for healing because He has brought judgment against them just like in the life of David concerning his illegitimate son due to his relationship with Bathsheba. The bible records:

So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." Then Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.

David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!" When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 2 Samuel 12:13-20

But the good news is that God is still gracious and kind and He loves to hear and answer pray to forgive the sins of the righteous and to heal the circumstances and hearts of those who are suffering or are sick. His word is unchanging:

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

"I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26

The Word of God is a testimony to the fact that God in Christ Jesus is on the side of His trusting ones no matter what they are going through. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:15-19). "Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You." (Psalm 55:22) " He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Through it All

I've had many tears and sorrows

I've had questions for tomorrow

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

But in every situation - God gave blessed consolation

That my trials come only to make me strong.

I thank God for the mountains

I thank Him for the valleys

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I'd never had a problem

I wouldn't know that He could solve them

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

Through it all -- through it all

I've learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all -- through it all

I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Chapter 11

God’s Grace Is Available At All Times

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

Grace is God willingly applying His ability and power to do through us the thing we need to do (or stop doing) but we can’t do it on our own. Grace is God’s empowering that helps us accomplish the things in life that we cannot seem to accomplish under our own power. Grace is the power God places in us that enables us to defeat sin.

With our own strength and abilities we can sometimes do the possible, but God’s grace empowers the Christian to do the impossible. Truly, it seems God always calls us to do the impossible — but with His grace working in our lives, the impossible becomes reality. Even though we don’t deserve His great and awesome power called grace, He gives us His grace as a free gift. In order for us to be able to accomplish the will of God, we must tap into His grace. There is no limit to God’s grace. His grace is boundless. There is no limit to His power. He can do anything. Dr. Larry Ollison Grace Is So Much More Than Unmerited Favor

Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. Newton's First Law of Motion

Newton's first law of motion basically says that an object will stay at rest or continue at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force. An object which is at rest cannot move unless it comes under the influence of an unbalanced force. However, once in motion, an object can (actually must) continue to move unless acted on by an external force. So to see change in anything in our lives or negative circumstance force must be applied?

And there is no force that is greater than God’s force or power and He can change and deal with anything! There is no limit to God’s grace. His grace is boundless. There is no limit to His power. He can do anything. So we can 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) and see impossible things changed in our lives! God’s word is unchanging:

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalm 3:1-8

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:23-27

Yes with God all things are possible. Those things that are impossible with men are possible with God and give Him an opportunity to display His love, mercy and grace to the children of men, especially the sons of God! However, God’s response to us is dependent on whether we humble and meek or proud or arrogant. God’s word is true:

Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you. Job 40:9-14

Whether men accept it or not as far as God is concerned their total being and prosperity is dependent on whether they are humble and meek or proud and arrogant. Everything that God freely gives to men because of His grace including salvation, healing and deliverance comes to those who humble themselves, and not to those who are proud. As a matter of fact God goes out of the way to look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness. Yes, "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." His word is unchanging:

"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

There are many of God’s people who not only miss heaven’s best in all things but die prematurely because they don’t understand the importance of humbling themselves, being submissive to one another and being clothed with humility even though they blame it all on God’s Divine Sovereignty. We see this in the life of King Hezekiah who was a good king but a proud man also. The bile records:

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 2 Kings 18:1-7

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20

Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 2 Chronicles 32:27-29

King Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. So the LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went including give him victory over His enemies. As a result of his God given prosperity, King Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. It’s to be noted that true prosperity is not just our soul being prosperous but also our whole man body, soul and spirit? But even though king Hezekiah did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God, his enemies attacked him. The bible records:

Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them. And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 Kings 18:9-13

Hezekiah was a righteous man of faith who trusted in the Lord, and walked in His ways and commandments. When the enemy encamped against Judah Hezekiah told the people, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." He made a confession of faith and the Lord who is God alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth and made heaven and earth, fought for him and gave him the victory. The bible records:

After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. "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 32:1-8

Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. 2 Chronicles 32:20-22

Yes, on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. As a result king Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, and returned home where his sons struck him down with the sword. So king Hezekaih prospered and lived in safety. Yet the Word of God tells us the king Hezekiah heart was lifted up and God’s wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. The bible records:

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 2 Chronicles 32:25-29

Yes, we are all sick, hurting, or lacking in one thing or another but God has not changed one bit and He is still a God of miracles. He has promised for those who are called by His name that if they will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways then He will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. So when king Hezekiah become sick and was about to die the Lord He humbled himself and cried to God and the Lord heard his prayer and healed him:

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. "I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city." ' "And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: "Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: Isaiah 38:1-9

Yes, God still gives grace to the humble and He contends with the proud. Healing is still part of the atonement but the method that God chooses to use as well as the timing for the healing is His business. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

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. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25

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. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:5-11

Chapter 12

A Bondservant Of God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. ” Isaiah 11:1-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 13

Surely He Shall Deliver You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 14

Let No One Deceive You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

· Enhances the sense of unity

· Ministers to one another

· Teaches and reinforces spiritual truth

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

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

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

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

Chapter 15

Do Not Be Deceived?

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:16

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Apostle Paul in writing to Titus recognized that we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. God’s word is unchanging:

For we also were once thoughtless {and} senseless, obstinate {and} disobedient, deluded {and} misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings {and} pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy {and} envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity {and} mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:3-7, Amplified bible

Yes, when we put our trust in Jesus Christ and in the name that is above every other name, God saved us from being foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. He made us a new creature in Christ and filled with Himself, His fullness, the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17, Eph 3:19, Eph 5:18 & Col 1:9). He poured out on us abundantly the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. And the fact remains that God has to continue to save us from these things because most of us have a real tendency to be deceived and drawn away by our own desires and enticed. We are now saved by His life living in and through us. God’s word is unchanging:

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 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. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:16-25

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

Yes, we are saved, if we hold fast that word which was preached to us-unless we have believed in vain. Yes, by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. Yes, we are not to be deceived especially about the fact that 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. Yes, God doesn’t accept unrepentant unbelievers and rebels. Yes we need to remember that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Yes, we need to remember that we don’t get any good thing from God but by faith in obedience to His word:

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

"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 11:23-24

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

For a believer everything is received from God by believing first, speaking the word of faith about what he believes, and believing that he shall receive what he says for God’s word is unchanging:

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:3

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all Romans 4:16

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

In a believer’s life believing comes first. Next confession is made with the mouth unto salvation. And then the receiving comes. The answer is manifested in due season 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." Yes confession bring possession, when there is belief first in the heart of the word of faith that God has put their in heart.

It is of faith that it might be according to grace, so all who believe might receive regardless of their level of intellect, their age, their status in life or anything other thing. Faith is the common denominator that gives substance to the things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. By faith we call those things which do not exist as though they did, just like God does. Like Abraham contrary to hope, in hope we believe, so that we might receive what we believe God for and not being weak in faith, we don’t consider the negative circumstance nor waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but are strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that what God has promised He is also able to perform (Romans 4:117-22). God’s word is unchanging:

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Hebrews 11:29-35

The devil who is a liar and deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden along with his many cohorts still deceives people, even Christians. He does everything in his power to make us believe that God’s word is not true and that He will not do what He has said He do. He deceives us into believing a lie. And how do we avoid being deceived? Some would say by knowing Scripture which is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness? But there many Christians who know the Scriptures and are still deceived because they have allowed others to interpret scripture for them rather than the Holy Spirit; they are not trusting in the power of God and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4

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. Acts 4:31

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

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

While men can and will deceive other men and lead them astray, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will not. He will teach and reveal all things to us if we are open and willing. The Holy Spirit is a Perfect Gentleman and He, unlike others, will never force His teachings and truths upon us. It’s up to us to be open and yield to all that He has to say to us and to teach us and to give us. He will anoint us with power and enable us to go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil. He will enable us to be full of faith, full of power, full of righteousness, full of peace, full of joy and full of the Holy Spirit. He will enable us to speaking in tongues and prophecy. He will testify to us the truth of God’s word, goodness, mercy and grace. He will pour the love of God into our hearts and enable us to see and feel the manifest presence of the Lord. He will reveal deep secret and hidden things to us. He will heal us and make us whole body, soul and spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Isaiah 61:1-4

Chapter 16

The Exceeding Greatness Of His Power

And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 1 Corinthians 6:14

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, Ephesians 1:15-20

True Christianity is a miracle religion that testifies and manifests the exceeding greatness of God’s power in and through the lives of its believers. The church of Jesus Christ was born on the day of Pentecost in power with miracles, signs and wonders just like Jesus promised:

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:4-8

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

Unfortunately dispensational theology first articulated and systematized by John Nelson Darby and modified by C. I. Scofield has done a disservice to the church by convincing people that certain facets of church life only existed during the apostolic period. Although God’s word has never stated that the place and position in the church of Jesus Christ today of Apostles, prophets and gifts of the Spirit, including miracles, healing and tongues, has ceased because the church has not ceased, fallible false men have dispensed with such things. But God’s word is unchanging:

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

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 15:19

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, Ephesians 3:20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Again Christianity is a religion of power demonstrated by those who are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and preach the full gospel of Christ just like Jesus, the Apostles, Philip, Barnabas and Paul did. God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

To offer people anything less than the power of God is not only to deceive them but to rob them of their birthright as Christians. And it is a fact that the Lord is upset with Shepherds who don’t heal the sick and bind up the broken hearted. 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

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

Chapter 17

David Recovered All

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. 1 Samuel 30:8

So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 1 Samuel 30:18-19

“Everybody at one time or another suffers losses?” is a lie from the pits of hell! Because Jesus became poor so that we might become rich we don’t have to suffer negative things but can recover our losses! We see in the Bible how the Almighty God helped king David to recover everything that he had lost (I Samuel 30:19). This miracle working God is still alive (Hebrews 13:8). He who fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, will never let us down (Matthew 14:19-21). We can be encouraged that in His mighty name that God will bless all our efforts and prosper us in all possible ways (Genesis 26:12-13; Psalm 1:3).

David his men came to Ziklag, to find that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. It was very distressing to find their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. So David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. David was also greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God and inquired of the LORD Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all. And because David heard from the LORD He pursued and recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.

Now the good news is the LORD has not changed one bit, He is with us to save us and to deliver us and to help us recover all that the enemy has stolen from us, be it money, health, or our good name. He is just as much for us as He was for David. His word is unchanging:

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

There is no one in the universe as close as the LORD is to all who call upon Him in truth. He literally is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He hears the cries of those who fear Him and saves them. He fulfills their desires and brings them to their desired haven. He gives them victory, salvation, healing, deliverance, richest and rest. He also gives them Himself for He is all that they need. He upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. He rescues them from their enemies, He is a great and good God who does whatever He pleases in heaven and in earth and His mercy endures for ever! His word is unchanging:

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

I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Psalm 142:5

For those who have been born again and filled with the Spirit of the living God, the Lord has become their all, including their shield, their exceedingly great rewards, their refuge and their portion in the land of the living. As they abide in His presence and under the shadow of the Almighty, He will take care of all their needs, fight all their battles, and give them victories over all their enemies whoever or whatever they might be. His word is unchanging:

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

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31

Yes, Jesus is the LORD and He is unlimited in His abilities, He is unlimited in His power, He is omnipotent; He is unlimited in His knowledge, He is omniscient; He is not limited by time or space, He is the omnipresent; immutable, unchangeable, I am: but above all, Christ is the unlimited Lord of love. The past, present and future are all present with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful comfort to know that God holds the future in His hands, and He not only holds it, He can control and change it, and inform us of it. Christ is our great, immutable, unchangeable, “I Am.”

God by giving the fullness of His blessing to His reconciled enemies proves His perfect and unlimited love for us and we can respond by trusting Him at all times. Yes, Jesus is our redeeming God, “The Lord our righteousness,” and that those who accept Him as Lord and Savior can know forgiveness of sins and peace with God and be healed and made perfect, whole and complete. And our Redeeming Lord will baptizes us in the Holy Spirit and gives the gifts of the Spirit so that we can see others become redeemed believers made complete in Christ who is all that they need for body, soul and spirit for Christ is unlimited in power and richest.

The doctrine of Christ's unlimited ability has a very practical application to us in our daily lives. Jesus is omnipotent, He can save, deliver and keep us. Jesus is our omniscient and all-wise Lord, He knows all about us, and can guide us in all our problems. Jesus is omnipresent, He is with us in every situation. Christ is the Great I Am, He knows and is in control of our future. Jesus is the Lord of unlimited love, He really cares for us. What a comfort these Divine attributes of Jesus give to those who love and serve Him. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:13-16

Yes, in times when a great tempest comes against God’s trusting ones, it’s wonderful to know that a vessel with Jesus in it cannot sink for even the winds and the sea obey Him as well as everything else, including demons. Jesus will bring them safely to the other side of plenty and prosperity and victory. But this is something that God’s people do not seem to understand that no matter what is going on the miracle working God of all power and unlimited riches and resources is on their side. He is for them and with them and not against them and wants to see them get safely through to the other side. His trusting ones must not be fearful but are to faithful to stand against all the wiles of the enemy who seeks to destroy them by any means. For the enemy walks about like a roaring lions seeking whom he may devour by any means.

Now the children of Israel saw great miracles that God did for them in Egypt when He delivered them. But they did not understand His wonders and did not remember the multitude of His mercies, and rebelled by the sea-the Red Sea. Nevertheless God saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known. He miraculously rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up. He led them through the parted waters. He miraculously saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

But not all of God’s miracles, even in the current time of life, are positive and constructive ones. There are some very negative and destructive ones depending if a person is evil and wicked. For the same miracle that caused the walls of Jericho to come down for the children of Israel destroyed their enemies who were behind the walls. The waters that parted miraculously at the Red Sea and saved the children of Israel also destroyed miraculously their enemies in it. As a result not one of them was left alive. The lions that miraculously did not touch praying and faithful Daniel destroyed with pleasure all his envious enemies who put him there before they hit the bottom of the lions den, each and every one of them. The bible records:

Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."

Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions-them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel 6:19-28

God has not and doesn’t change one single bit. He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is the living God, steadfast forever and a great miracle working God as well as the Judge of all the earth and a man of war. His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He still delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. Signs and wonders which bless some and destroy other. There are no sickness, famine, pestilence, poverty, suffering and lack in heaven and should not be on earth. He will bring His trusting ones into abundance of prosperity and give them every victory. His word is unchanging:

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. "So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. "And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; 'for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you' (to give you victory, KJV). Deuteronomy 20:1-4

Chapter 18

He Is The God of The Impossible

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

God, who blessed Abraham greatly in every way, has promised for His trusting ones that their end would be better than their beginning. He has promised to do them good and to shower them with His blessings for being righteous. His word is unchanging:

Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 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 18:16-21

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 112:1-3

At the time when God promised Abraham, 'I will bless you', he didn't have a child and both he and his wife Sarah were quite old, Sarah's womb having been 'closed'. There were in quite an impossible situation. But God who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did assured Abraham: "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations"(Genesis 17:5). Yes God promised to ripe old people, 'You will become the father of many nations.' And Abraham contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:17-20).

Yes, nothing, truly, is impossible with God. He gave a son to Abraham, who was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5) and enabled him to live until he was one hundred and seventy five years old. He made him a patriarch of countless people and blessed Him greatly in every way. And He has promised to do the same to all those who look to Him. His 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

Yes, because of God’s promises we can also just like Abraham hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful' (Hebrews 10:23). In Him all blessings are full. The Lord never withholds His promises; He is truthful for those who walk in His ways. We can trust Him in all kinds of situations. Seek Him, as David did, 'Evening and morning and at noon' (Psalms 55:17). We can profess what David professed, "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 29:12). We can thank Him for the good things we are going to receive from Him for He will bless us and fill us with all good things! He is after all a good God. His word is true:

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

"Thus says the LORD: 'Again there shall be heard in this place-of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"-in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 'the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, His mercy endures forever"- and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD. Jeremiah 33:10-11

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. Lamentation 3:25

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

Yes, in times when a great tempest comes against God’s trusting ones, it’s wonderful to know that a vessel with Jesus in it cannot sink for even the winds and the sea obey Him as well as everything else, including demons. Jesus will bring them safely to the other side of plenty and prosperity and victory. But this is something that God’s people do not seem to understand that no matter what is going on the miracle working God of all power and unlimited riches and resources is on their side. He is for them and with them and not against them and wants to see them get safely through to the other side. His trusting ones must not be fearful but are to faithful to stand against all the wiles of the enemy who seeks to destroy them by any means. For the enemy walks about like a roaring lions seeking whom he may devour by any means.

Now the children of Israel saw great miracles that God did for them in Egypt when He delivered them. But they did not understand His wonders and did not remember the multitude of His mercies, and rebelled by the sea-the Red Sea. Nevertheless God saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known. He miraculously rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up. He led them through the parted waters. He miraculously saved them from the hand of him who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

But not all of God’s miracles, even in the current time of life, are positive and constructive ones. There are some very negative and destructive ones depending if a person is evil and wicked. For the same miracle that caused the walls of Jericho to come down for the children of Israel destroyed their enemies who were behind the walls. The waters that parted miraculously at the Red Sea and saved the children of Israel also destroyed miraculously their enemies in it. As a result not one of them was left alive. The lions that miraculously did not touch praying and faithful Daniel destroyed with pleasure all his envious enemies who put him there before they hit the bottom of the lions den, each and every one of them. The bible records:

Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."

Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions-them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel 6:19-28

God has not and doesn’t change one single bit. He is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is the living God, steadfast forever and a great miracle working God as well as the Judge of all the earth and a man of war. His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He still delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. Signs and wonders which bless some and destroy other. There are no sickness, famine, pestilence, poverty, suffering and lack in heaven and should not be on earth. He will bring His trusting ones into abundance of prosperity and give them every victory. His word is unchanging:

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31

As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:16-17

Chapter 19

Is Anger Wrong?

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."

Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. Mark 3:1-5

Daniel Goldman, in his book Emotional Intelligence, advocates that we take the “Aristotle Challenge” which states: “Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—this is not easy.” From the human point of view, Aristotle was right. However, from the divine Creator’s view, it is easy through His divine empowering presence within the human heart. The bible records how Jesus was angry at the religious hypocritical leaders who were more concerned if Jesus would heal on a Sabbath than if a man with a withered hand was healed. Jesus was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and proceeded to heal them man and said to him, Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. Yes, there is a place in life for anger against injustices and foolishness of men and demon. But the word of God doesn’t allow us to fester on that anger and to do something negative with it. God’s word is unchanging:

"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 4:26-31

There are not only real consequences to uncontrolled anger but it also brings upon some serious diseases. I had wondered why Elijah went to heaven in the chariot and Elisha who had double his anointing died of a disease. The bible records:

"Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die...." 2 Kings 13:14

At first glance here is no indication that Elisha had sinned causing God to put a disease upon him; however, when we look close we see that Elisha was given to anger. The bible records:

And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times." Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. 2 Kings 13:19-20

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. 2 Kings 2:23-24

Earlier, Elisha was angered and cursed forty-two children causing two female bears to kill them because they called him "baldhead." but Elisha himself did not make the bears kill the children. He commanded the bears IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, and the Lord drove the bears to kill these children. Why? Because disrespect of God's ordained prophet was the same as disrespect of God. It was a dangerous thing to mock God's anointed (1 Samuel 26:9; 2 Samuel 1:16; 1 Chronicles 16:21-22; Psalm 20:6, et. al). Elisha spoke for God, and these children blasphemed God when they mocked God's man. Disrespect of parents (Exodus 21:15, 17) was also punishable by death - would that shock the baby doctors who taught a generation of parents to avoid punishing their children? Elisha was angered, but it was not his anger that killed the children, but God's anger against a sinful and foolish generation who blasphemed His messenger. There's a parallel there, I think, for our children die in disease (HIV, AIDS, STDs), under drug abuse, in highway accidents, and even under their own hands because the parents of this generation have raised many who disrespect God and His anointed. However, it doesn’t pay to fester anger or to be an angry person as our bodies were not built for anger but for love. Mind you Godly anger is never wrong, though we must never allow anger to fester and turn into vengeance.

Anger causes us to do some foolish things. Moses grew up as the grandson of the Pharaoh, was tutored in the king's palace and made a name for himself, however his anger caused him to slay the Egyptian who was beating up on one of his own people (the Israelites), and he had to flee for his life. He left the palace and went to the back side of the desert. He married the daughter of a shepherd and lived in either a tent or cave for some forty years.

Moses killed an Egyptian because that person harmed God's chosen, Israel (Exodus 2:12). When God called Moses at the burning bush, at no point did he condemn nor even mention Moses action against the Egyptian. In fact, the only one who ever raised a cry against Moses was Pharoah. This is a far cry from God's treatment of Cain, who killed his brother, and was immediately (Genesis 4:7-13) cursed for spilling his brother's blood. In Moses' case the killing was ignored - perhaps because it was done in defense of God's anointed. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 'and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 'Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 'But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.' "And all these your servants shall come down to me and bow down to me, saying, 'Get out, and all the people who follow you!' After that I will go out." Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

But the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."

So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land Exodus 11:4-10

Moses was justifiably angry at Pharaoh and told him that all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. But the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not heed you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt." So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh; and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land. And the judgment came as a result and God killed all the first born in Egypt except against the children of Israel.

Moses uncontrollable anger caused problems for him. Once the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt Moses anger was aroused against his own people causing the death of many. Moses even broke the Ten Commandments in the process when his anger became hot. The bible records:

So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it. And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?"

So Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. "For they said to me, 'Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' "And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out."

Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the LORD'S side-come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.' " So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.

Then Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother." Exodus 33:219-29

When Moses broke the first set of tablets of the Ten Commandments, again, at no point did God chastise him for his action. Moses was God's anointed, the leader of Israel, and his anger was justified. What Israel did was commit idolatry - worship of a false god - and idolatry was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:2-7). When Moses asked "Who is on the Lord's side?" he gave a clear call to see who would walk away from the idol - those who did not were killed, as per the Law of God (Exodus 20:3-5). Moses spoke in the name of God when he said, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel", and if he was speaking from his own heart or his own desires, then by God's very Law he should have been put to death (Deuteronomy 13:5).

Yes, Moses red hot anger would get him into serious trouble and this time with God. Previously as commanded by God Moses struck the rock, and the water came out from the rock. This time God commanded Moses to speak to the rock and it would yield water but Moses got angry and struck the rock instead, causing the Lord to become angry at him and not allowing him to bring the people into the Promised Land. The bible records:

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."

So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 0 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." Numbers 20:7-12

Moses did the same thing on two different occasions – he struck the rock. But on the second time his anger and disobedience caused a serious negative consequence. When God's anointed spoke not God's Words but his own, this was punishable by death. This is exactly what happened to Moses the second time he struck the rock. God told him to SPEAK to the Rock, and yet Moses looked at Israel and said "Must WE bring forth water out of the rock" - then he struck it. Moses not only struck the Rock in disobedience to the command of God, but he took credit for bringing the water out of the Rock. The anointed of God is to say what God tells him to say, not make it up as he goes along. Moses did not act as God's anointed in this instance. He struck the Rock, and lost the Promised Land. Though he was not stoned, as the Law would have done, God allowed him to die looking out across the border of the Promised Land. Did anger lead him to this point? Yes, that and failure to heed God's Word. But God forgave Moses and he did get to see the Promised Land with Elijah and Jesus. The bible records:

And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:1-4

Above all we must not have an unforgiving spirit due to anger at some one or something. An unforgiving spirit breeds bitterness. A bitter spirit will not take long to show its corrupting influence on the body. Bitterness is a deadly poison. It has been said that many diseases that cause distortions in the skeletal system is caused by bitterness in the soul. Bitterness in the soul also causes many kinds of skin diseases. An unforgiving spirit cuts off the grace and mercy of God in time of need and the body is left spiritually defenseless to spirits of sickness, disease and infirmity. Jesus said in Matt. 6:14, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses.” Jesus repeated it in Mark 11:25, “...and when you stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any; that your Father also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The bottom line is that it doesn’t pay to disobey the Lord and to allow anger to control our actions. We will pay for our foolish mistakes. This is a lesson that Moses learned the hard way and a lesson that some people never learn. A person uncontrolled anger will destroy many things including his ministry if he has one. Yes, we are admonished in the Word of God to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of our mouths. We are to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. God’s word is unchanging:

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you 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. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:8-11

Chapter 20

And He marveled

"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. "From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:3-9

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. Mark 6:5-7

It’s amazing but with God it’s your own personal faith determines whether you win or lose the war! Whatever war you might be fighting be it financial, spiritual, physical or whatever! The God of the universe of unlimited power and might is on the side of His trusting ones read to do for them whatever needs to be done if they will only believe!

But the other side of the reality of life is that because of unbelief Jesus Christ can do no mighty work in the lives of most people because of their unbelief! Unbelief shorts circuit the power of God even though Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! And God’s word is unchanging:

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Matthew 4:4

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

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." 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 9:6-11

God did all His miracles by the spoken word. In Genesis, He created the world by the spoken word. Hebrews 11 tells us, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The important point is that your words are involved in your miracle. Many Christians put prayer above all and believe that if you pray, it will happen. Prayer is like water or fertilizer that you put on the seed. But, without planting a seed, watering is useless. If God was moved by need, every person's need would be met. Also, those in the worst situations would get their needs met first. That's not true. You must plant a seed, which is the Word of God. First Peter 1:23 says, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." We are born again of incorruptible seed-the Word of God. The word "seed" in this scripture means sperm. We are born of a supernatural union and the seed of the Word of God. Farmers believe that if you plant wheat, you get wheat. If you plant corn, you get corn. They don't question it-they are simply laws. Everybody agrees with that in the natural; but when it comes to spiritual things, most people don't believe that. But the truth is if you aren't reaping what the Word of God says, you haven't planted what the Word of God says to plant. You reap what you sow. If the Word of God is primary in your life, you're going to get the results of the Word of God. That doesn't mean Satan won't fight you and you won't have problems. The end result will be you're going to have what the Word of God says. Satan may fight you, but you'll win. Many of us know this intellectually, but in our hearts, there is fear or reservation. We don't have the absolute confidence that God's Word is going to prevail in our lives.[ii]

It takes faith to plant a seed and to believe that God will give a harvest? And faith is what pleases God! Now planting a seed in the lives of others takes many forms including the giving of money, prayers, love, concern and understanding. It’s what we give away that God multiples and gives back to us and not what we hoard. Our attitude in giving is very important for God loves a cheerful giver. Jesus who is our example constantly gave out of love and compassion to heal and deliver the sick and afflicted. Faith and patience is also is required once we have planted a seed. God’s word is unchanging:

"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:30-34

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

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. James 5:7

Jesus told us in Mark 4:13-20, that the same Word of God is sown in the lives of many, many people, but it doesn't bear the same result in them? For some easy come easy go. They are like Esau who for temporal things gave away quite readily eternal things. While others are just a puff of hot air? They are excited at the possibility of the Word of God and what it can do. But the cost is too great and they do not have the persistence and endurance which is required to see the Word of God give fruit in due season? While others are very sincere and presumptive but unfortunately they get side tracked by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things. All things which choke the word which was sown in them and they become unfruitful.

Then there are those who understand the growth process and it takes time for the Word of God to develop it in God’s darkroom. Development in the trials and testing of life when many times nothing makes sense. The wise ones understand the word “patience” because God’s promises are inherited through faith and patience. As a result they go from Step A, B, C, D consecutively and prosper, instead of going from Step A to Step D as others do and crash. As God's word is true:

"But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:14

Jesus said something about the seed of faith that men tend to ignore even though He came from the author and finisher of faith. God's word records:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:24-36

There is a process of where the seed has to be put into the ground and die. Unfortunately there are those who do not let the seed die while others do not give the seed a chance to do its thing. For God's word tells us there is a process which is not necessarily understandable:

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."

And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, "and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. "For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. "But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." Mark 4:24-29

So the hearer must take head of the measure he uses to hear. As "For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Then the seed must sprout and grow and there must be the full grain in the head. Then when the grain ripens it is time to harvest what was sown. Seed which is not sown will never be harvested? It is hard for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of heaven because they do not want to give away their riches. They want instead to horde them only for themselves whatever riches they posses selfishly and greedily. So with men is it impossible to be saved but not with God. For with God all things are possible.

Ultimately, there is no purpose without God. The heathen crave to know what know and hear what God’s true disciples hear and see what they see. They desire it but are totally blind to it. God has allowed this blindness because He wants only those who will serve Him body, soul and spirit. He wants it ALL! When ALL is surrendered to God then He can freely work in that human life and change is a very real possibility. He doesn’t walk in His own freedom He walks in their freedom. He walks in their love. He walks in their harmony. He walks in their peace He walks in their joy. He walks in their TOTAL surrender! For then, they and He have become one and ALL is possible. Then, together they have become free to be themselves with each other. Then they are moving in the spiritual realm freely and can flow along life’s road together—joined at the hip in total love and unity devoid of hypocrisy, falsehood, and love of the world.

But many of God’s people including their religious leaders are more friends of the world than they are friends of God. They try to serve God and mammon and hopes that He does not notice their betrayal. They are like the poor ground that Jesus talked about who had no depth and endured only for a while. When tribulation or persecution arose because of the word, immediately they stumbled. While others received the seed of the Word of God, heard it, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choked the word, and they became unfruitful.

Men offer many solutions to problems. They are very resourceful and powerful in their minds and they deceive many with their crafty ideas. They bring many to walk along new and diverse paths that lead directly away from God. But God’s true ones are not to be deceived by them. They are all liars and children of lies. God in Christ Jesus has only one way and that is the Cross. He has no pat answers except to be covered with the Blood of Jesus and yield their entire person to Him. Men are drawn away and become enticed by their passions and lusts resulting in personal defeat and destruction. Many perish in flames of their own making. They desire the comfort of their high lifestyle missing the point of the Lord’s birth and death. It was meant to set men free of themselves--their selfish ways. Man always proposes but God disposes. He will do away with everyone and everything that is not of Him.

True prayer should bring down the Holy Ghost fire from heaven and the glory of the LORD should fill the temple which is God’s people. God’s word is true:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

The Infernal Battle of Rise Up

By Robert Winkler Burke

Of inthatdayteachings.com

Copyright 12/10/09

How to get rid of demons?

The infernal battle of rise up!

In us: layered like onions!

The infernal battle of rise up!

See: when a bad ‘un starts to take over,

Choke it down, real quick partner!

If you let it be boss, you’re a goner!

Choke it down, real quick partner!

If you miss, it wins, wait, start over again,

Nice try, next time, IT cries!

Each time you win, it’s smaller, lose, it’s taller,

Nice try, next time, IT cries!

Oh, and check your doctrine that let it in,

Fundamental lies expunged, the war won!

Demons have right to live in wrong: believed in!

Fundamental lies expunged, the war won!

It ain’t easy, friend: blood up to the bridle,

To hear demons mourn and angels’ horn!

That God lives in you, friend, His hoss, His bible!

To hear demons mourn and angels’ horn!

And, forgive your pastor for really not having a clue,

Official thinking on demons is: ignore ‘em!

He’s too busy for that, as he is: talking down to you!

Official thinking on demons is: ignore ‘em!

And forgive broadcasting religion for not having a clue,

So you’ll shine with Jesus inside, which they’ll deride!

They’re too busy parading demons in themselves: for you!

So you’ll shine with Jesus inside, which they’ll deride!

So you’ll have to decide: Follow the crowd?

This little gospel light in me, I’m gonna let it shine!

Or be reborn inside, humble: not proud.

This little gospel light in me, I’m gonna let it shine!

So, you made it? Hurray!

Welcome to: In That Day!

Help others on the way!

Welcome to: In That Day!

And beware: Demons cannot exculpate!

Don’t blame the Devil, control your soul!

Sin can’t be cast upon demons prorate!

Don’t blame the Devil, control your soul!

Chapter 21

Therefore Be Merciful

"Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:30-36

And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 'for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; "and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 5:6-10

Jesus taught that God who is our friend would give us as much as we need because of our persistence in asking and that Christians are to be totally different from sinners in their giving!

Now many Evangelicals say they are sinners saved by grace and imply that they are still sinners in the present time of life. But Jesus didn't call His disciples sinners but friends? It’s sad how we twist the words of Jesus and to our detriment don’t take them at face value!

Rodney Howard Browne, "The Fleecer"[iii], a prominent TV Evangelist and pastor in a Tampa Florida, was very merciful to the person who robbed his ministry. He did good for him and bought him a Lincoln Towncar but with the money collected from the dumb sheep, not his own. While another prominent national TV Evangelist and pastor stated:

'You cannot win attacking the servants of the Lord, no matter who they are or what they've done ...if the anointing ever comes upon a man, don't touch that man, even if he turns away from God, and serves the devil, Don't touch him. You are in deep, serious danger.”

Jesus didn’t teach that His people were not to judge under any circumstances. Rather He told the religious pharisaical hypocrites who were judging him constantly:

"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. "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Matthew 7:1-6

Jesus told the hypocrites First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Yes, too many evangelists and pastors to day, who are afraid of being judged, use Bible threats such as “don’t touch God’s anointed” or “You are blaspheming the Holy Spirit” in an effort to silence critics who expose their false gospels and un-Scriptural teachings. They claim the critics are speaking against a ‘Man of God’. This bears a striking resemblance to the situation in 1 Samuel where Saul, whose position was threatened, pursued the man who was innocent. Moreover when David became king he accepted rebuke and correction from Nathan the prophet. He did not say, “don’t touch God’s anointed” to protect himself.

One of the most common errors found in Christianity today is that particular persons, usually pastors or evangelists, are somehow more "anointed" than the average Christian. This teaching often coincides with a veiled threat in the form of "touch not mine [the Lord's] anointed," (I Ch. 16:22, Ps. 105:15).

The term "anointing" means to "authorize, or set apart, a person for a particular work or service," (Is.61:1). The New Testament is absolutely clear on whom the anointing rests - ALL of Christ's disciples, who are God's very own, set apart and commissioned for service (2 Cor. 1:21). The New Testament does not support the notion of a "greater" anointing based on "position" and such teaching has its origin in a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

Proponents of this error fail to use careful exegesis to discern the difference between the Old Testament call of a "prophet," where the anointing rested on one man (Is. 61:1, I Sam. 26:9,11, 2 Sam. 22:51, 2 Chr. 6:42), and the New Testament call of a "priesthood of believers" (I Pet. 2:5,9). Certainly there are diversities of gifts, but the Spirit [or anointing] remains the same (I Cor. 12). Prominent Evangelists have long terrorized God's people with "touch not mine anointed" nonsense if anyone dared question them or their teaching. Anyone who has a gift (all have gifts, 1 Cor. 12:7-11), has a ministry, and anyone who has a ministry, has authority and is anointed.

It is a sad situation in many churches today that "laity" are content to sit on a pew week after week and assume the opinions of professional clergymen are to be the final authority. They find comfort in this approach because it is safe. Preachers are content to keep it this way because it secures their position in the church.

How many times have believers been subjected to mishandled scripture with an implicit or explicit "touch not God's anointed" if any dared to question? This is in contrast to the Biblical admonition to "try the spirits", (1 John 4:1). Fear is not of God and teaching which incorporates psychological intimidation is corrupt and deceptive. One of the easiest ways to determine what "spirit" motivates a person "in authority" is to question them. A godly man or woman will never be offended or become indignant if someone dares to question them and compare what is said with the Word of God. However, if one is motivated by an "authoritarian" spirit of conceit or arrogance, the questioner will soon know it. Peter warned the elders (pastors and spiritual guides of the church) not to be domineering [arrogant, dictatorial, overbearing] over the flock of God, but to be patterns and models of Christian living (I Pet. 5:3, AMPL.)

Many prominent pastors and evangelists today make the claim that because "souls" are being saved and "healings" take place in their meetings, that this somehow validates their ministry. While these things may be well and good, they are no indication of "divine" sanction. A.A. Allen was a drunkard, Jimmy Swaggart a whoremonger, Jim Bakker a thief, Larry Lea a prevaricator, and Robert Tilton a charlatan - yet ALL of these saw thousands saved and miracles take place in their meetings. Because one is blessed with "prosperity" and has a "following" of thousands, doesn't mean a darn thing when it comes to integrity and godly sanction, for "he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust," (Matt. 5:45).

Twenty-six years ago I experienced the greatest miracle of my life - salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This experience came in a Pentecostal "holiness" church where, unbeknown to me at the time, the pastor was committing adultery, one of the deacons (or "pillars" of the church as they were called) visited a prostitute on a regular basis, another deacon kept a large supply of porno magazines in his home, and still another was a philanderer. This taught me that just because God moves in a particular setting, it is no indication that those who bear the message are "godly." [iv]

Apostle Paul, who judged and wrote about things that we going on in many churches, said:

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

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 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 5:9-13

How can you put away from yourselves the evil person if you don’t judge him first? You cannot. There must be proper judgment in the house of God for God’s word is unchanging:

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29

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 fable. 2 Timothy 4:1-4

According to Apostle Paul, judging and rebuking is part of preaching and duties of being an evangelist. You cannot rebuke a person if you have not judged him first? And Apostle Paul judged and rebuked many people clearly telling us:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

Chapter 22

With The Finest Of Wheat?

I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. "But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also; And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you." Psalm 81:10-16

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1

"But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. Deuteronomy 4:20

For those who have been born again and filled with the Spirit of God, God has become their shield and their exceedingly great reward. But they have also become God’s people. His inheritance and God knows that He got the best part of the deal. The American Heritage dictionary defines inheritance as:

in·her·i·tance n. 1.a. The act of inheriting. b. Something inherited or to be inherited. 2. Something regarded as a heritage.

Inheritance is something passed from one generation to another: heritage, legacy, tradition birthright, family possession, estate. It’s money or goods left to one's heirs: legacy, patrimony, bequest, estate, trust. It is a birthright: a right, possession, or privilege that is one's due by birth. For when we were born again and became sons and daughters of God all that He has and is now belong to us and all the we have and are belongs to God. And He has promised to bring us in and plant us in the mountain of His inheritance including divine favor, divine health, divine wealth, divine blessings, divine victories and divine prosperity. God’s word is true:

You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established. Exodus 15:17

"Command the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance-the land of Canaan to its boundaries. Numbers 34:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4

The Scriptures tells us that God’s inheritances come to His people only to those who claim them by faith and wholly walk in His ways. We have an excellent example of this in the life and wonders of Caleb:

Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: "You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. "Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. "So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. "Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.Johsua 14:6-15

Yes, Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. Those who serve and follow other gods beside the LORD will not be blessed by God nor shall they inherit their inheritance even though the LORD'S portion is His people. For the rebellious and arrogant ones God will give them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels and be destroyed by it. But God will make His true ones ride in the heights of the earth, tread down the high places of their enemies, feed them also with the finest of wheat and satisfy them with honey from the rock. God’s word is unchanging:

Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed." Isaiah 61:5-9

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:13-16

Foolish ones don’t understand that is not by their labors or by their works that the riches and blessings of God come upon their lives but by God’s anointing and His Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " Zechariah 4:5-6

Only the Spirit and function of the Holy Spirit can remove every hindrance and obstacle in our lives and make something out of nothing! Only the Holy Spirit does something so supernatural from nothing to something by the Spirit called grace, grace, just like God created heaven and earth out of nothing and sustains it by grace! But we must do our part by cooperating with God and doing whatever He tells us to see our miracles. God’s word is unchanging:

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11

Mary told said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." And when they did what Jesus told them to do they saw a miracle. For many reasons including ignorance, fear, and unbelief, God’s people are not doing what God’s word has told them to do because don't understand the power in the declarations: "Exaltation will come," and "Decree a thing and it will be established" (Job22:28-29). Our ministering angels carry out our earthly prophetic decrees which line up with the truth of God's word and His will. When we declare "Restore!" "Restore!" Then the angels in heaven are released to execute this decree! God’s word is unchanging:

But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!" Isaiah 42:22

Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:21-27

Yes, God wants to save and bring restoration to the humble, His people and His church. Yes this is the day of God’s vengeance on our enemies and the year of His favor ones. This is our acceptable year, liberation, Jubilee and our victory! When through our faith we release God to save the humble and to deliver those who are bound exaltation comes to us. When we say, "Restore!" we release God's 'repairer of the breach' anointing (Isaiah 58:12) which causes everything in our lives that is lost and broken to be restored—the thief must repay God's people.

Yes, we can let the angelic hosts overcome every demonic power or stronghold and every assignment that is aimed against our inheritances! Yes we can throw it down! We can take authority concerning our kingship over every power that resists. Yes, restoration happens when we declare, "Restore!" "Restore!" "Exaltation comes!" And we will see breakthroughs in every area of our lives including receiving our inheritance and stepping into our destiny. We will experience prosperity in our businesses; even the number of businesses increase. Yes, the Lord will rebuke the enemy who brings sickness and disease by stealing, killing and destroying. He will turn all the negative things around in our lives and give us justice where there is injustice, make the wrongs right and the crook straight.

Yes, when we ascend the courts of heaven and petition the Ancient of Days to come and pronounce judgment in our favor. We will receive supernatural intervention by God when events are out of our hands because a higher court system has come into place when we approach His throne and present our case to Him. Yes, we can begin to bring justice and mercy for the poor and needy, the afflicted and the widow, with the Word of God in our mouths. He gave us authority to set the captives free, in Jesus' Mighty name! God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

Chapter 23

I Am Your Exceedingly Great Reward

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1

"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

The promises God made to Abraham (The Abrahamic Covenant) established a peculiar and special relationship between himself (God) and Abraham. These promises alone established this special relationship. He imposed no conditions or prerequisites. He required neither merit nor worthiness on their part. He based their relationship solely upon his grace. God made certain promises to Abraham And his heirs that granted them this privileged position forever.

Hence God has no delight when his children are over-run and deep in the fire and water. He gives His sons and daughter the power to get wealth because that power is inherent in His covenant with Abraham where God became His shield, his exceedingly great reward. Yes, as our God and our Father, the LORD can never be leave us in the fire and water but bring us throug and power us up to get wealth,. We can never be overridden and left in a negative stated because we trust Him. We, too, must be brought out of the fire and water and brought into the wealthy place. His word is unchanging:

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Isaiah 43:1-4

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." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

Power to get Wealth is God’s proof that He continues Abraham’s covenant with us! Power to get wealth comes from planting seeds which God give us to plant, not from eating the seed. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. In others words by our giving from a cheeful heart we determine the level of our prosperity. Obviously God has to give us healing also because with out good health all the wealth in the world is worth nothing to us! But God’s word is unchanging:

… "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:26

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:2-3

God has delight, joy and gladness when He can get them to the place of deliverance from the fire and water and bring them into the wealthy place. Yes, God has joy and gladness when he brings us into the wealthy place. As sons of God and of Abraham, our father of faith, we are grafted into this same identical covenant and promises that God made with Abraham. We are children of Abraham by grafting while the children of Israel were children of Abraham by physical birth. Both of us are in this covenant. Both of us are equal. Both of us are set to receive the blessing benefits of this covenant. Both of us are equally remembered by God himself. When praise the Lord, fear the Lord, delight greatly in His commandments and plant our seed in due season He will bless us and we will reap a bountiful harvest. God’s word is unchanging:

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the LORD, Both small and great. May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. Psalm 115:11-15

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. In Hebrews the word Peace is Shalom. And Shalom is completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, perfectness, harmony, the absence of agitation and the absence of discord. Shalom means completeness and wholeness in all areas. To prove it means all areas, the definition of shalom breaks down even further into peace and health. Some think shalom just means peace, but it means so much more. There is a certain kind of peace you can have by getting your bills paid, having a car, having payments caught up on the house and enough food to eat. There is a certain kind of peace that the world has, but Jesus said, “I have come to give you peace (shalom), different than what the world has.” The peace from Jesus is completeness, wholeness, health and prosperity.

Yes, God wants His people to live in Peace and be made whole body, soul and spirit as well as financially ( 3 John 1:2). And God has the power to make it all so. But in Christendom we have many who are hearers of the word but not doers of the word. As a result they are not greatly blessed by God as Jesus said would happen. More is not given to them but rather what they seem to have is taken from them. God’s word is true:

"Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." Luke 8:18-21

What does it mean to be doers of the word? First of all it means to hear the word of God that proceeds from the mouth of God. Jesus told us as recorded in Matthew "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " The word that proceeds from the mouth of God is the word of God that is made real by God by His Spirit. It’s not the word that men teach us or that we presume from reading the bible as wonderful as it may be.

Many hear the word of God from different sources but the bottom line is they don’t hear the word of God made real by God to them. As a result they cannot act on nor do what they have never heard. To be obedient doers of the word it must be first a Rhema word, not a logos word.

Prosperity comes to those who hear the voice of God and do as He commands, not to those who presume things. God’s word is unchanging:

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

"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.

"The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. "Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. "And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

"The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:1-12

There are twenty-seven covenant blessings that emerge from Deuteronomy 28:1-14. That list appears below:

1. They shall be blessed in the city.

2. They shall be blessed in the field.

3. The fruit of their body shall be blessed.

4. The fruit of their ground shall be blessed.

5. The fruit of their cattle shall be blessed.

6. The increase of their kine shall be blessed.

7. The flocks of their sheep shall be blessed.

8. Their basket shall be blessed.

9. Their store shall be blessed.

10. They shall be blessed coming in.

11. They shall be blessed going out.

12. God will give victory over their enemies.

13. The Lord will command the blessing upon them in the storehouses.

14. He will bless them in all that they set their hand unto.

15. He will bless them in the land.

16. They will be established a holy people unto the Lord.

17. All people of the earth shall see they are called by the name of the Lord.

18. They shall be plenteous in goods.

19. They shall be plenteous in the fruit of their body.

20. They shall be plenteous in the fruit of their cattle.

21. They shall be plenteous in the fruit of their ground.

22. The Lord shall open to them his good treasure.

23. The Lord shall send them seasonal rain from heaven.

24. He will bless all the work of their hands.

25. They shall lend but will not need to borrow.

26. They will be the head, not the tail.

27. They will be the top (above) and not the bottom (beneath).

Yes, God has promised many things to those who obey the voice of the LORD their God, to observe carefully all His commandments, especially those made real by the Holy Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-15

Ignoring the person of the Holy Spirit and His instructions and counsel is a sure way to miss the blessings of God and end up in defeat, poverty and sickness! He is after all the Helper whom the Father sent in Jesus name who teaches us all things, and brings to our remembrance all things that Jesus taught, not what men taught or say. If you ignore the Holy Spirit, who is to be number one in your life, it doesn’t matter if you do anything else right, you still missed the boat. And if you miss the boat you will not get to the other side of plenty and prosperity and victory! But instead you will live defeated anemic and impotent lives. People make their choices in life and they reap what they have sowed! God's word is unchanging:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:6-10

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

Many of God’s people forget that we are in a constant conflict with an enemy, the devil, who comes and takes the word out of their hears lest they should believe and be saved, healed, delivered, blessed and prospered. God created heaven and earth by the spoken word. And it’s the spoken word of God when it falls on good ground on those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. So if the ground is not good or is not receiving the spoken word of God there will be no fruit. Yet God's word is unchanging:

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

Chapter 24

Unto Us A Son Is Given

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14


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


As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 47:4

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31

Jesus Christ is the hope of the hopeless and a miracle working God and there is no other. He is also everything that we need including our Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Deliverer, Provider, Rock, Refuge, Fortress, High Tower and Friend! And God’s word is unchanging:

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

It’s to be noted that Apostle Paul said God has not given us a spirit of fear, not the character of fear. A very key point that many Christians miss is that behind every deception, every fear and every foul mood there are demons who exacerbate the human reaction in every negative situation and cause bad things to become worse. And nearly every evangelical Christian is blind to this truth because they have been taught doctrine of demons by men of the flesh rather than the spirit of God. They have ignored what Jesus clearly told His true Christians:

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15

And that is why a majority of Christians don’t have power, love or sound mind because they are not led by God but by demons and familiar spirits. Deception and demonization of Christians today is the norm rather than the exception. Because they are not walking in the power of God's might and His truth and are not putting on the armor of God, or standing in all the promises of God, today's Christendom is demonized, anemic, impotent, incompetent and fearful just like the children of Israel were when they came out of Egypt and never went into the Promised Land. They are more full of fear than they are full of faith and that is a fact!

It's also a fact that Christians, who are demonized and have familiar spirits living in them including the spirit of infirmity and deception, cannot deliver others until they themselves are delivered. It's a fact that Jesus spent fifty percent of his ministry time casting out demons, and today's Apostate Christians allow familiar spirits to run rampant in their own lives, churches and society.

Sickness of any kind in God's people should not be tolerated but dealt with including the spirits that cause cancer, diabetes's, mental breakdowns, etc. You cannot give others victory until you have victory yourself but God’s word is unchanging:

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." ' Revelation 2:17

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:5

"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:12

Demons are living things that move on the earth and we are commanded to subdue them and have dominion over them because God's word is unchanging:

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 28:18-20

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

Casting out demons is a command of Jesus and many churches like have demons operating freely in them and around them and they cannot do anything about them but just pray. They cast out Christians instead of demons! How stupid can you be and still breathe? Very stupid! But God's word is unchanging:

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

"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 3:15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Mark 3:14-15

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

Casting out demons by the Spirit of God is a sign that kingdom of God has come upon us not just empty preaching devoid of truth and power! God's power includes healing sicknesses and casting out demons which is something that the majority of Christians including dumb fundamentalist evangelical pastors don't do and then they say they are Christians? Hogwash! They are disobedient rebels, carnal fleshly ones, who are out of the will of God.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16

Many denominations declare that Christians cannot be demon possessed! They say that because scripture says that "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" that it makes no sense if a believer can be simultaneously indwelt by both the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. They state that "Christians can be attacked by demons, but they cannot be possessed, (indwelt is implied), or controlled by them".


This sounds really good, but is it just false security for the believer? Does it leave the believer defenseless to demonic attacks and demonization? Does it in fact work on behalf of evil spirits pulling down the walls of protection and leaving them vulnerable? Is it Biblical? No! This doctrine is a dangerous over simplification. It works on the behalf of demons. It makes no Biblical sense and it leaves the believer vulnerable and a demonic target.

As a matter of fact the word demon-possessed is not in the Greek version of the bible rather it's the word demonized which means under the influence or control of demons! Dr. Ralph F. Wilson in his article Demonization and Deliverance in Jesus' Ministry[v] states:

The familiar Bible term "demon-possessed" has controlled our thinking about people troubled with demons. But the word "possessed" is one of those final, all-or-nothing expressions. And it prevents us from understanding the mechanisms involved in demon activity within humans. Let's study further:


* "Unclean spirit" (20 references in the NT, including Luke 4:33; 6:18; 8:29; 9:42; 11:24). The Greek word pneuma, the same word used to translate Holy Spirit, is modified by akatharos, "unclean." NIV uniformly translates "unclean spirit" as "evil spirit" with a footnote.
* "Evil spirit" uses pneuma modified by the Greek word poneros (only 4x in the NT: Luke 7:21; 8:2; Acts 19:12-13; 15-16)
* "Demon" (Used 50+ times in the NT, such as Luke 4:41), Greek daimonion, "demon, evil spirit." Always translated by the KJV as "devil" or "devils."[1]
* "Demon-possessed" (Luke 8:36; in Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15f; John 10:21; Acts 19:14). The Greek word is daimonizonai, literally "to demonize" from daimonion, "demon, evil spirit."
* "Lunatick" (KJV) or "have seizures" (Greek seleniazomai, Matthew 4:24; 17:15)
* "Bind," Greek deo, used in the context of demons twice (Luke 13:16 and Matthew 12:29=Mark 3:7, cf. Luke 8:22 "assails and overcomes"). It is also used in connection with the power of prayer (Matthew 16:19; 18:18).
* "Healed" (Greek therapeuo or iamai or sozo), occasionally used to describe the state of a person from whom a demon has been driven out. (Luke 8:2, 36; 9:42; Matthew 12:22; Mark 16:9; Acts 10:38).
* "cast out" (Greek ekballo)
* "rebuke" (Greek epitimao, Luke 4:41; 9:42). The Greek word means " 'rebuke, reprove, censure' also 'speak seriously, warn' in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end."[2]


Let's examine the word daimonizonai, often translated "demon-possessed." The word isn't a compound word. It is the word "demon" with an ending -izonai, a class of imitative verbs, where the ending -izo indicates "acts like, imitates."[3] While the lexicons translate it "to be demon-possessed," perhaps from the world view represented in early Judaism, all the word requires is a meaning such as "to be influenced, oppressed, or controlled by a demon, to be like a demon." Some have coined the word "demonization" to describe this demonic activity.


The reason this is important is that when your categories are limited to "demon possessed" or "not demon possessed," then we all agree that it is impossible for a Christian to be demon possessed, since by definition a Christian has the Holy Spirit.


While Dr. Lightfoot is his commentary[vi] has made a wrong assumption on verse 16 Because they were then strongly addicted to magic, and so, as it were, invited evil spirits to be familiar with them. The truth is you don't have to be addicted to anything to invite evil spirits to be familiar with you. They just come in naturally. Lightfoot states”

Verse 16. When the even was come
The Jews kept their sabbath from evening to evening, according to the law, Leviticus 23:32, From evening to evening shall ye celebrate your sabbath. And the rabbins say, The sabbath doth not enter but when the sun is set. Hence it was that the sick were not brought out to our Lord till after sun-set, because then the sabbath was ended.

Many that were possessed with devils
Dr. Lightfoot gives two sound reasons why Judea, in our Lord's time, abounded with demoniacs. First, Because they were then advanced to the very height of impiety. See what Josephus, their own historian, says of them: There was not (said he) a nation under heaven more wicked than they were. See Clarke on Romans 1:1. Secondly, Because they were then strongly addicted to magic, and so, as it were, invited evil spirits to be familiar with them. It seems strange to find men at this distance of time questioning the truth of that which neither scribes nor Pharisees then doubted; nor did they ever object against the pretensions of Christ and his apostles to cast them out. And, if the whole business of demonism had been only a vulgar error, (as wise men now tell us,) what a fine opportunity had the wise men then, to unmask the whole matter, and thus pour contempt on the pretensions of our blessed Lord and his followers, who held it to be one proof of their Divine mission, that demons were subject to them!

“Familiar spirits” is the designation of a specific type of evil spirit. It is so classified because of its chief characteristic: namely, familiarity. It is a relationship, a familiarity, with a person or personality. For example, a woman, whom Paul encountered in Macedonia, had a familiar spirit which gave her powers of divination and Paul dealt with it. God’s word is true:

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:16-18

Familiar spirits[vii] are common amid the practices of spiritism and witchcraft, but their activity is by no means limited to persons and practices so obviously occult. Evil spirits are personalities. They can reason, decide, express emotions and communicate. Personalities have the capacity to relate to one another. Two human personalities can form a relationship; and, through communication and communion, that relationship can be enhanced. Likewise, a person can form and develop a close relationship with an evil spirit. When a person forms a relationship with an evil spirit (which can be done either willfully or through ignorance), he then has a familiar spirit.

Satan assigns one of these spirits to an individual or family. The basic idea is to determine whether or not a particular party is susceptible to spiritual things. If the person is the least bit susceptible, the demon spirit starts watching the individual closely from the outside spiritual realm. The spirit "starts a file", you might say, and watches the intimate things that an individual does, making notes on everything. The spirit may not have the legal right to demonize the individual, but it accumulates detailed information as to everything personal and intimate that takes place in their life and their family. After a while, the demon spirit learns exactly how the victim will respond to various stimuli. The spirit can actually determine patterns of thought by using the power of suggestion.

In this file the familiar spirit collects details of things like: the person's talents, habits, neighbors, resources, friends, enemies, mental abilities, educational abilities, responses to many varied situations, etc... He becomes "familiar" with everything in that individuals life, without being noticed, because he is in the spiritual realm. Once the familiar spirit becomes very familiar with the "do's" and "don'ts" of a person, he works the best he can to manipulate that person and to influence him in certain situations.

Communication is the chief characteristic of a familiar spirit. The spirit responds quickly to the summons of the medium. A medium, such as the witch of Endor whom Saul consulted (I Sam. 28:7), is a go-between which forms a communication link between the earthly world and the demonic realm. Thus, anyone who becomes a channel of communication for an evil spirit is a medium. He has a familiar spirit.

A familiar spirit is something that a person has, because it is a personality identified with a certain individual. Most people are blind to the existence of spirits such as Fear, Stupidity, Rebellion, Epilepsy, Superstition, Blasphemy, Bitterness, Murder, Anger, Lust, Pride, Gluttony, Death, Infirmity, Bipolar Disorder and more! Additional topics include: Mind Control, Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), Hearing Voices, Dissociate Identity Disorder, False Memory Syndrome, unclean sexual-spirit manifestations. In the same sense that one has a book, a friend or a cold, one can be personally identified with a demon spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

In the same sense that one has a book, a friend or a cold, one can be personally identified with a demon spirit. God’s word is unchanging:

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19:

These seven abominations in a person life are usually inspired by familiar or unclean spirits. A particular evil spirit carries an attitude of superiority, haughtiness, boasting, and arrogance and tries to draw believers into these negative attitudes. He targets individual believers as well as groups with the temptation to be prideful. Although the bible says not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to (Romans 12:3) this promotes self and self-serving agendas. Those who don’t watch out for a false confidence and keep a humble trust in the Lord when God uses them can fall prey to this spirit and puff up their pride and deceive them into placing their worth and identity on what they think they are rather than who they are in Christ.

As a result many Christians are seduced by familiar spirits and depend more on their giftings, charisma, finances, traditions, programs, or favor with their denomination, than on the Holy Spirit. They forge ahead by their natural talents and abilities, losing sight of Jesus. Rather than depending and trusting the Voice of God they are operating in the flesh doing things by the flesh, not by the Spirit. As a result all their works are just empty devoid of love and are just wood stubble and hay that will be burnt in the big bon fire in the sky. God’s word is unchanging:

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 3:9-15

Demons do not walk to up to a person and say, "Hey! Do you want to be fully and completely demon possessed?" No, they find a weakness or a door through traditional family behavior (iniquities) or through the reckless behavior of the individual (personal sin). The person's active free will must be breached. They usually seduce a person with something simple and almost innocent unless it is generational sin.


It is kind of like the camel with his nose in the tent. It starts out with just a nose. Then, the next thing you know, the whole camel is in the middle of the tent. All the camel needs is a gate.


Demons like to solicit your active free-willing participation. It is more of a kill for them. It is sport to them!


Let's say that you profess to be a 'born again' Christian. You might even be in the ministry as a pastor or an assistant pastor. You are really committed to serving the Lord and your church. The love of God is all you think about. You attend church every meeting. You read the Bible and pray daily and you even spend special time with the Lord.


Let's say, just for argument's sake, that you are counseling women for the church. Then all of a sudden there is this certain girl you are counseling, a new believer, that seems to understand you more than your wife. That's it! Right there! The Camel in the tent! You were supposed to be counseling her but she ended up comforting you. What happened? How could this be? Christians can't be demon possessed? How did you end up in an affair with her? That was the farthest thing from your mind. Whatever possessed you to cheat on your wife--To commit mental, spiritual, or physical adultery? How did that happen? Was it demon possession? How could that be? Impossible! And yet, there you are a victim of a demonic activity. You have been demonized--An activity that you were told could never happen.


And Dr. Ralph Wilson goes on to state:

Characterizing Degrees of Demonization


I see a gradation of demonic influence or demonization. Whether you agree with the exact words I use, I think you'll recognize the truth of the progression from temptation to possession:


* Temptation. Appeal to our sinful desires. Temptation can be rejected.
* Influence. Sin has a foothold in our life, and it is harder to say no. We may have developed habits of anger or unforgiveness or lust. To say "no" requires a determined act of our will.
* Oppression. Satan has some degree of control of us, and we don't seem to be able to break free. We find ourselves acting compulsively sometimes, and wonder why we don't have power to resist temptation more, though we resist to some degree.
* Obsession. The degree of control is greater. Our sinful habits are so clearly established that we find it hard to even recognize or discern them as wrong. We may be acting willingly, but because we are fully deceived.
* Possession. We are puppets under Satan's control, and have little or no will remaining, or no desire to resist. People who "channel" or give voice to other spirits claiming to be spirits of the dead, are dangerously close here, though they must willingly place themselves into this state. But this state is rare. Few people are utterly possessed.


Sin is a prime cause, but not the only cause of demonization. We can be victimized, too. Sometimes children who are traumatized can become demonized. We can be duped into occult practices that we don't realize are wrong, and be victimized. Satan doesn't feel obliged to read us our rights before deceiving and taking advantage of us. There have also been some reports of spiritual bondage being passed down through family lines -- we can only speculate at the reasons.[5]
Deliverance and Recovery


We see in Jesus' ministry some dramatic examples of exorcism, casting out of demons. But let's not be naïve. People who have lived under a demonic delusion or obsession for a significant period of their lives need a period of recovery, even though the root demonic cause of the problem has been dealt with. Let me explain. In order for a person to live with the demonic delusion or obsession, he is forced to develop a whole series of coping mechanisms that aren't appropriate to the free and open life of a Christian. These coping mechanisms must be gradually unlearned. They didn't develop overnight and they seldom disappear overnight. I believe that counseling by skilled, trained, and committed Christian counselors, pastors, or laypersons can be extremely helpful to help delivered people experience full recovery. The Body of Christ is not a place where we are to judge our recovering brothers and sisters, but to love and encourage and bear with them. The church is supposed to be a supportive, loving environment where people -- including you and me, my friend -- can find full healing from sin and deception, and their entrapping consequences.
Demonization and Healing


We see in scripture that some illnesses Jesus healed had their roots in demonic influence: blindness and dumbness (Matthew 9:32-33; 12:22; Luke 11:14), scoliosis (Luke 13:10), seizures (Luke 9:37-48), etc. But it is important for us to recognize that nowhere does the New Testament teach that ALL sickness is of demonically origin. Yes, in one sense sickness is the work of the devil, but not all sickness has a direct demonic cause. When Jesus healed the sick, only sometimes did he cast out a demon to do it. Most of the time it was with a word or the laying on of hands.


Not all people who are mentally ill are demonized. Some are, certainly. But many are not. There is a biochemical basis for some mental illness. Just as there is a truth basis for healing of other kinds of mental illness. Until some individuals are capable and willing to face truth, and adjust their own presuppositions to get in line with that truth, they will not be healed from the maladjustments that cripple them so severely. Jesus ministry' to the oppressed is two-fold: truth and power. Power without truth does not bring lasting deliverance. And truth without power doesn't reach within the soul to bring about change. We desperately need the anointing of the Holy Spirit to minister effectively!
Jesus Came to Set Us Free


Certainly Jesus came to set us free. This is explicit in Jesus' commission that he read from Isaiah 61:1-2:


"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)


Setting people free from demonic oppression and captivity is Jesus' core ministry. Jesus desires to release the oppressed. He came to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). It was his central purpose. His ministry was characterized this way by his chief Apostle, Peter: "...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him" (Acts 10:38).


That is our role, too, as Jesus' disciples. First, we must seek to break free ourselves. We probably DON'T need exorcism to do this. We need truth and we need repentance. Deep, heart-felt repentance that brings about change. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). There is NO freedom apart from embracing the truth in Jesus. And as we fearlessly embrace truth, the Deceiver loses his power over us. That's how Satan began with Eve (Genesis 3:4-5), and he's been doing it ever since -- to Jesus in the wilderness and to you and me.


Jesus came teaching. Teaching the truth. And we are to continue this, for teaching is not weak. The truth we share has explosive seeds in it that can break people free. Paul instructed his protégé Timothy:


"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Tim. 2:24-26).


A few people will need some kind of direct command of release such as Jesus gave. Occasionally the apostles would do this -- but only occasionally. Truth was usually all that was necessary.


What are the lessons we disciples are to learn from Luke 4?


1. Satan is a powerful opponent that Jesus faced again and again (4:1-13). We his disciples will never get spiritual victory until we stop trivializing Satan and denying his influence.
2. Satan is the agent of oppression that Jesus came to oppose (4:18-19). His mission is to set the oppressed free!
3. Jesus confronted Satan and his demons with spiritual authority whenever they tried to attack him or others (4:33-36, 41).
4. Jesus' focus was on wholeness and freedom, not on Satan and his work. He dealt with Satan when he had to, but he didn't fear him or obsess over the spiritual battle. Jesus' focus was positive, not negative.

Now while apostle Paul stated "and the lord's servant must not quarrel, he also stated in Titus:

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:101-16

However, rebuking a person sharply is a very contentious act and is not done without some quarrels!

Chapter 25

Heal, Deliver, Save Me

LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD-how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake! Psalm 6:1-4

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10

In this foolish world that we live in there is great emphasis on accomplishing things by your own strength and efforts and using the services of doctors, banker and other professionals who ironically cannot do much for you when you have real problems while God can! As a matter of fact God has a great track record of helping those who have put their trust in Him and even doing the impossible for them.

The bible tells us when God delivered the Children of Israel from their Egyptian oppressors He not only spoiled them with the wealth of Egypt by bringing them out with silver and gold, but there was none feeble among His tribes (Psalm 105:37). No who in the world can do this for anyone including themselves? No one!

The problem today is that this modern materialistic society with its great emphasis on intellectualism and humanism has rejected the many commandments of God including:

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. Psalm 4:5

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 37:4-6

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:11

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:3:5-10

In the midst of the storms of life when we are assailed by the curses of sin, suffering, poverty, lack and death, we can trust in God to turn all things around and meet and supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. We can also take great hope in the fact that no storm on this earth no matter what it’s magnitude is greater than our God!

And just like a child trusts his parents with a simple trust, we can rest in the assurance that the Lord will fight our battles against the enemy and give us victory. God shall rebuke the raging storms of our life to be calm. The Lord will never put us to shame when we trust Him in trouble for He is a good God. He shall never allow the wicked to triumph over us but He will deliver us and honor us. He will give us perfect victory over each problem in life. We shall be more than a conqueror through Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, the Lord is near to us and He will help us. He will destroy our enemies and give us victory for He is our Helper and Deliverer (Psalm 70:5) and the devil is a liar. And God’s word is unchanging:

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

not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:15-16

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

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

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18)

The message of the cross in reality is the various blessings God gives us through His cross. This message has the power to turn a man’s life upside down. The sinner who hears this message receives a holy life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Moreover, it gives a divine strength to those who come to salvation (2 Corinthians 12:9). It can change the life of people who do not know God, people who have stony hearts and people who know Him but do not seek Him. Yes! It can change the life of everybody irrespective of the differences they have.

When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He took our name! Our name was sin. Our name was weakness. Our name was fear and poverty and every other evil thing we inherited from Adam. Jesus took those names from us and gave us His own in exchange. That's right! Ephesians 3:15 says that the whole Body of Christ has been named after Him both in heaven and earth. That means we have been given Jesus' Name. Its authority is now ours!

We are named after "Jesus, Mighty God, Wisdom, Deliverer, Avenger, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Word of Life, Advocate, Provider, The Great I Am, Helper, Savior, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Savior, Healer , Deliverer, Lamb of God, Lord of Hosts, Root of David, Author and Finisher of our Faith, The Way, Healer, Son of God, Man of War, The Truth, Judge of all the Earth, Advocate, Refuge, Rock, High Tower, Strength, Friend, Brother, Chief Cornerstone, King of Kings, Light of the World, Chief Shepherd, My Strength and Song, Righteous Judge, Son of Righteousness, Resurrection and Life, The Alpha and Omega."

Jesus is now our Jubilee. He has restored to us all the benefits God originally planned for mankind. Because of Jesus, we can walk in divine health and have all our needs are met-spirit, soul and body and financially. God’s word is unchanging:

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:1-10

"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

Chapter 26

The Compassionate Lord

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:32-36

Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Matthew 15:29-32

The Lord Jesus Christ is a God of compassion. When He lived on this earth, He was moved with compassion on seeing the sick and the demon possessed and did a miracle for them. And because of His compassion Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the multitude because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. But His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" However Jesus already knew what He was going to do and said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

Jesus compassion was not only for the souls and spirit but also for their bodies. And a result He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. And it’s God’s compassion that causes God to work miracles in our lives including healing broken hearts and lives!

Many circumstances in life do break our hearts and cause us great pain and agony. God caused Jesus Christ to traverse the path of suffering in this world. He was ridiculed by the High priest and others. He went through much shame to understand our agony. So, when we pour out our hearts to Him, He will comfort and heal our broken hearts. And then He will use us as an instrument to carry His comfort and see the broken hearted healed. God’s word is true:

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

Yes, the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18). Jesus Christ was broken to understand our pain and agony. He gave Himself on the cross for us. He is waiting to comfort our broken hearts. Let us take our burdens and sorrows to Him. He will understand and comfort our broken hearts.

Many times we face circumstances that shatter our hearts and lament over them. But we have a Compassionate God Who is there to comfort and console our broken hearts. And He want to use us as a channel to bring comfort and to carry His love and power to the broken hearted people! His word is true:

“So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes…..” Matthew 20:34.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him (Leper), and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed” Mark 1:41.

It is also the will of God that we should be well in life and be in perfect health. When we seek God, He promises, “I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Exodus 23:25). Sickness is a weapon of the devil to turn us away from God and to make us suffer in health. But Jesus Christ was born into this world to destroy the works of the devil. The Bible says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). And Lord Jesus Christ loves healing the sick. When we seek the Lord, He shall heal us from sickness and fill us with peace. His word is unchanging:

“The Lord will strengthen him on the bed of his illness; he will sustain him on his sick bed” Psalm 41:3

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:7,8, "But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore the Bible says, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." The Bible also says, "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). He healed sickness of every kind. The grace, which the Holy Spirit offers, is freely given to all. When we, through that grace, heal people and grant them the power to heal, we do the will of God.

The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13).

And the Lord Jesus Christ wants us to be loving and compassionate toward others in this world. He illustrates it in a parable as, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him and went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you” (Luke 10:30-35).

In this parable, we see that the traveler was beaten up by a gang of thieves and was abandoned on the road half-dead. Many people passed by him including a priest who did not care to help him. But a Samaritan, an ordinary man took compassion on the traveler when he (Samaritan) passed the wounded man that way. Because of his compassion, he attended to the wounded man. In his compassion the Samaritan took the wounded man on his animal to an inn and paid the inn keeper to take care of him till he got well.

When we are compassionate toward others, people will come to know of the compassion of God. The Lord Who is watching us from Heaven will be very pleased with us and shall be more compassionate toward us. The compassion of the Lord will also open the way to miracles in our lives. The Bible also says: “Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22, 23).

It is very true that because of His mercies we are not consumed. As His mercies are new every morning, we should seek the Lord in prayer early morning. In life we may face problems and sufferings which we might long to get rid of them. Not knowing the path, we may wander in darkness. But the Bible exhorts us to put our total trust on the Lord alone. There are many promises of God which we could use them against our problems. We must claim the promise of God and pray. When we use the promise of God against our problems, His word will subdue the problems and our own eyes will behold the miracle.

The Bible says about Mary, "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord" (Luke 1:45). That is the trust that righteous people have. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. Trials do come in the lives of righteous people, but the Lord will deliver the righteous when they cry out to Him.

Chapter 27

Grace And Truth

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. " For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17

The Gospel of John tells us that that at the start of Jesus’ ministry He first did two unusual things! The first was in a wedding in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine.” And Jesus told the servants to fill the six waterpots of stone with water up to the brim. And then He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, he called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

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

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

The sad reality today is that many churches cannot do any miracles like turning water into wine but they are full of moneychangers doing business and their leaders covet the public profession of faith by new converts as though it’s something very important. But it’s the end of the race that is important not the beginning! They ignore what God’s word tells all:

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

Yes, we must 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. Each one of us must do the works of Jesus and take our rightful place as the sons and daughters of God. God’s word is unchanging:

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:19-27

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. Matthew 16:15-20

We don’t have to go to Bible college and have several degrees after our name before we can become a POWERFUL Holy Ghost filled witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to know a lot about the Bible and Christian doctrines before we can become a POWERFUL witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to FEEL THE POWER of the Lord upon we before we lay hands on someone to be healed, delivered and set free from what the Devil has bound them under. All we need is simple child like faith to DO THE WORKS OF JESUS! Lost, sick and hurting humanity is waiting for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed. God’s word is unchanging:

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 1 Corinthians 10:24

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has not only blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, but has made us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus who is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places. Jesus Christ has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and made us kings and priests to our God and to reign on the earth.

God is love and He sought not his own well-being but ours! God is love and while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God is love and He gave His only begotten Son that we should not perish but have life everlasting. Life everlasting and Love is a person called Jesus Christ and not a set of doctrines or beliefs. And if we truly are perfect and have Love inside of us we will seek not our own but each other’s well-being. God’s word is unchanging:

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:10-17

Love is expressed primarily not by words but by deeds. God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, His wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit, and all things. 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 (2Peter 1:3 ). He desires that we may prosper in all things and be in health, just as our soul prospers (3 John 1:2). Our flesh and blood bodies are NOW the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We no longer have the "Spirit of the Lord" upon us. We have the "Spirit of the Lord" IN US:

"Christ IN US, the hope of glory…"

"The Father and the Son will come and make Their abode IN YOU…"

"The Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU…"

"The Spirit of truth will dwell WITH YOU and IN YOU…"

It’s true EMMANUEL, "GOD WITH(in) US", the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the ANOINTING within us.

Jesus Christ dwells within us and that His anointing is our anointing! The same POWER that Jesus used to preach, teach, prophesy and ministering healing to thousands is NOW resident within each and every born-again, Holy Spirit baptized man, woman and child. All the anointing of God we will ever need to "do the works of Jesus" and "greater works than these" are NOW possible because God lives in us. His 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. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. John 14:12-19

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

Because God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him, we will go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. We will cast out demons; we will speak with new tongues; we will take up serpents; and we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. The One who send us will work with us and confirm the Word through the accompanying signs. God’s word is true:

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. Matthew 16:15-20

Chapter 28

In Spirit And Truth

The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." John 4:19-26

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:2-4

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that most Christians don’t walk worship in Spirit and in truth and their churches are mostly anemic impotent and grown by division! There definitely is no unity in the body of Christ but rather disagreement on many subjects especially on the Baptism of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit and especially the gift of tongues! It’s also amazing that there were many people in Jesus day who had real needs but Jesus needed to go through Samarian to meet and talk with an adulterous Samaritan woman there. It was more unusual because the Jesus was a Jew and the Jews had not dealings with Samaritans, and especially this kind of woman. God’s word tells us:

Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? "Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." John 4:1-18

The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why are You talking with her?" The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came to Him. John 4:25-30

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." John 4:39-42

Yes many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Jesus because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." Jesus Christ operated in the gifts of the Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 including “the word of knowledge!” He turned the water into wine through “the working of miracles”, healed the sick through “gifts of healings” and dealt with demons through “discerning of spirits.” He also operated in the “word of knowledge”! God’s word is true:

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.' " Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. John 5:1-15

By the Spirit Jesus knew that the man’s sickness was a result of sin and told him clearly "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." Yes willful sin brings upon people the judgment of God even in the current time of life! For the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ change who and how men can approach God but it didn’t change God at all and His dealings with men concerning unrepentant sin. His word is unchanging:

"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

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ' These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelations 2:18-23

Victory Ministries

Walter Kambulow

December 1, 2009

All rights reserved

Burlington, Ontario

Mail to walthope@mail.com

http://www.scribd.com/doc/24034149

---

[i] First Word: Last Word Pastor Ken Gott

[ii] How To Receive A Miracle by Andrew Wommack

[iii] Not Innocent” http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/xxcrxxoxxoks.pdf

[iv] TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED? By John R. Anderson - January 1997

[v] http://www.joyfulheart.com/scholar/demon.htm

[vi] http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=mt&chapter=008

[vii] Frank and Ida Mae Hammond, ‘Confronting Familiar Spirits’, http://www.nemontel.net/~word1/confronting_familiar_spirits.htm

• 
  Great links
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/be-filled-with-all-fullness-of-god.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/power-of-blood.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-things-are-yours.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/be-not-ignorant.html
  ...http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/called-to-inherit-blessing.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/effective-fervent-prayer.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-is-like-god.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/let-god-arise.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/lord-will-hear.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-wonderful-redeemer.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/blessed-to-be-blessing.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-time-of-trouble.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/god-hears-and-answers-prayers.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/gods-will-is-healing.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-shall-be-given.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/greatest-is-love.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/lord-is-very-compassionate.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-believe-i-receive.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-sufficient-christ.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-sola-scriptura-true-and-from-god.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/tongues-is-not-for-believers.html
  
  http://sacred/-truths.blogspot.com/2012/01/by-power-of-holy-spirit.htm
  http://postedat.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/the-vanity-of-keeping-the-old-testament-commandments/
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2011/12/god-can-speak-directly-to-you.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2011/12/money-and-ministry.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2011/12/facing-death-and-devil-too.html
  http://sacred-truths.blogspot.com/2011/12/about-apostles.html

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