Introduction
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 51:3
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
There is a river of the Holy Spirit that comes from God whose
streams makes glad “believers” and fills them with joy and peace. As a result
this river gives them joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Yes, Joy and gladness are the trade marks of being filled with the power of the
Holy Spirit. Christianity is not only to be understood with our hearts and minds
and appreciated for its many miracles, signs and wonders but it’s to be
experienced through the moving of the Holy Spirit. Yes, weeping may endure for a
night, but joy comes in the morning. Real joy from heaven and not just the make
belief kind of the world!
Jesus Christ told us in the gospel of John 15:11, "These
things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy
may be full. He also told us in John 16:22-24 "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. God wants our joy to be full because of the
great things that the Lord has done in response to our asking in faith for
whatever we desire because we love Him. Faith is what please God for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
Blameless and upright, Job who one who feared God and shunned
evil suffered greatly when the devil took away from him all his wealth and
health. But he rejoiced greatly when the Lord healed and delivered him and gave
Him twice as much as he had before. His joy was full when all his brothers, all
his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him
and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for
all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece
of silver and each a ring of gold. He also rejoiced when the LORD blessed the
latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep,
six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female
donkeys. After his trial Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his
children and grandchildren for four generations. He died, old and full of days.
And what God did for Job He wants to do for each one of His children so that
their joy might be full. His word is true:
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
Note – This book contains some teaching material The
Possibilities of Prayer by E.M.Bounds; from Todd Bentley Fresh Fire Ministries
(http://www.freshfire.ca/); from Kobus Van Rensburg of SPIRIT WORD MINISTRIES
(http://www.spiritword.org.za/); from Dr. Peter Tan of Eagle Vision Ministries
(http://www.eaglevision.com.my/); J. Edwin Orr (International Revival Network:
www.openheaven.com); from BISHOP D. OYEDEPO
(http://www.winnerscanaanland.org/index.htm); from The Great Dream
(Http://Apostasynow.com); Sovereign God For Us And Through Us David Eellis;
Cross of Christ Ministries (http://crossofchristministries.org/) and
others.
Chapter 1
Your Faith Has Made You Well
Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she
had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she
came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I
may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her
blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the
affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of
Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" But His
disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who
touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the
woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell
down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter,
your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
Mark 5:25- 34
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. In Hebrews the word
Peace is Shalom. And Shalom is safety, completeness, wholeness, peace, health,
welfare, 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
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 2
Be Of Good Cheer
And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith
has made you well. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world." John 16:13
In the storms of life going through many afflictions we don’t
have to be discouraged or down trodden but can be of good cheer because Jesus
Christ has overcome the world and our faith, born of God, overcomes the world.
For when righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all
their troubles. God’s word is unchanging:
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous
cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has
pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." Psalm 35:27
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. He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the
righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And
none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. Psalm 34:17-22
According to Strong’s Hebrew Concordance the Hebrew word for
“prosperity” in Psalm 35:27 is “shalom” and it's biblical usage
includes:
1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
a) completeness (in number)
b) safety, soundness (in body)
c) welfare, health, prosperity
d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment
e) peace, friendship
1) of human relationships
2) with God especially in covenant
relationship
f) peace (from war)
g) peace (as adjective)
Yes, just like every good parent who wants the best for his
or her children, God has pleasure in the prosperity, soundness, health, peace
and well being of His servant. In other words He doesn’t want him to be poor,
disgusted and broke! He wants to deliver him and bless and prosper him.
According to Strong’s Hebrew Concordance the Hebrew word for “deliver” is
“palat” and it's biblical usage is:
1) to escape, save, deliver, slip away
a) (Qal) to escape
b) (Piel)
1) to bring into security, deliver
2) to cause to escape, cast forth
3) to be delivered
4) to slip away
c) (Hiphil) to bring into security, bring to
safety
God wants to and has to power to give salvation, deliverance
to His trusting ones concerning their welfare, prosperity, victory. He has no
problem doing great things for them. His word is unchanging:
Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have
done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and
severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of
the earth. You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side. Psalm
71:19-21
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
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with
the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2
Corinthians 1:3-5
Yes, God wants to not only heal, revive, comfort, and
increase our greatness but for us to have the blessing of Abraham including
health, wealth and prosperity come upon those who have received the promise of
the Spirit through faith. His word is unchanging:
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy
endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from
the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from
the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in
a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul
fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He
delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Psalm 107:1-7
In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far
from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come
near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever
assembles against you shall fall for your sake. "Behold, I have created the
blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for
his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against
you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You
shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their
righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:14-17
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a
tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ
Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians
3:13-14
Because Jesus became a curse for us we are now redeemed from
all the curses of the lack including sickness, poverty, and lack. Because of
Jesus death and resurrection we now enjoy great benefits. Jesus was punished in
our place, because of that, we are forgiven. Jesus became a sin offering; we are
made righteous. Jesus became a curse; we are blessed, Jesus was beaten and
whipped; we are healed. Jesus died in our place; we have been given life
eternal. Jesus was rejected by man and was also rejected by God; we have been
accepted in the Beloved and we will never be forsaken by God. Jesus suffered
unbearable trauma; we have been given peace. Jesus was resurrected; we were made
a new creature. The good news is that the stone at Jesus’ grave site was
miraculously rolled away for us as we now serve a resurrected glorious Christ
whose power and glory and riches and victory has been restored to Him and to us
who have been redeemed. God’s word is unchanging:
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb
when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the
stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that
the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. And entering the tomb,
they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and
they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where
they laid Him. "But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before
you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." So they went out
quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said
nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She
went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when
they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Mark 16:16-8
Chapter 3
He Will Fight For You
"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
"And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have
seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do
to all the kingdoms through which you pass. 'You must not fear them, for the
LORD your God Himself fights for you.' Deuteronomy 3:21-22
For those who have been born again through the blood of Jesus
Christ, God Himself is near to them for whatever reason they may call upon Him.
He has promised to fight for them according to all He did in Egypt when He
delivered His people from their oppressors and brought them to the Promised Land
full of “milk and honey.” He took away from them all sickness, and didn’t
afflict them with any of the terrible diseases of Egypt but laid them on all
those who hated them. However He humbled them, allowed them to hunger, and fed
them with manna which they did not know that He might make them know that man
shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of the LORD. And God’s word is unchanging:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world." John 16:33
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Because of what Jesus did on Calvary, we can trust in the
blood of Jesus and apply the finished work He did on that cross. We can trust in
the resurrection and all that He has given to us is ours and receive it in Jesus
name. On the Cross Jesus Christ did the great exchange. He exchanged His
sinlessness for our sins, His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His
strength for our weakness, His boundless supply for our needs, His stripes for
our healing, His riches for our poverty, His victories for our defeats, His
triumphs for our disappointments, His glory for our shame, His Honor for our
nothingness, His prosperity for our lacks, His joy for our sadness, and His
fullness for our emptiness. But all of this is also something that must be
revealed to us by the Holy Spirit before we can understand and partake of it
fully. Yet it is all our birthright and the blessing of the fullness of the
gospel of Christ.
The message of the cross and the Gospel is not only that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried and that He
rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He is now is seated at the
right hand of the Father with all power given unto Him in heaven and earth
waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. But the message of the cross
and the Gospel is also that as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross,
He has now given and shared all that He has with us (John 16:14) and He is also
with and for us continually (Matthew 28:18-20).
God in Christ Jesus has literally become our inheritance and
great reward; as well as everything else which we need, including our healer and
deliverer. As result of the Cross, God said about Jesus and of us who have
become strong and overcomers:
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He
shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto
death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
As a result of the cross, in Christ Jesus, we are rich,
victorious and have a new life in Christ Jesus, as we walk in the Spirit and not
in the flesh. The empty Cross now also stands as a reminder and says to the
world and to all the demons of Hell “You did your worst, but God gave His best.
Now things are no longer the same, because Jesus is sitting at the right hand of
the Father waiting for His enemies to be submitted to Him. He has also now given
us the power to subdue all His and our enemies through the use of His name and
Word and dependence on the Spirit. Hence the Cross is also a real testimony of
what God’s power can do no matter what the hell or injustice that the world or
the devil will throw at us. For Jesus’ resurrection after a cruel and awful
death signifies the real possibility of total and complete victory in our lives,
hearts and circumstances as well in the current time of life as we trust in God
just like Jesus did.
The empty Cross of Christ at Calvary now says to you and I,
that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is
success, for every weakness there is grace, for every sickness there is healing,
for every hatred there is love, for every injustice there is justice and for
every poverty there is riches. All of this and much, much more belongs to each
child of God because of what Jesus did and won on the Cross. Hence we can by the
Holy Spirit understand what the Lord said to Apostle Paul:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Our strength and victory comes from God Himself and all the
victories He had won for us on the Cross of Calvary. Although in the annuals of
time and history, our Creator God died on the Cross-on Calvary, but He didn’t
stay there. He arose triumphant and victorious over everything, over the worst
that the devil or others could throw at or do to Him and to us. Because of the
cross of Christ, God has reconciled all things to Himself whether things on
earth or things in heaven for Jesus having wiped out all the enemies of His
people and especially the requirements that were against them, He has taken it
out of the way having nailed to the cross.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords with His unlimited and
unimaginable power and riches was never poor or debased. But He chose, because
of us, to leave behind his infinite power and riches become a man and identify
and relate to humanity in all its sufferings and ways. God in Christ Jesus
stripped Himself of His royalty and Kingship. He then became an ordinary man and
walked with men doing by faith and dependence on the Holy Spirit the impossible
such as healing the sick, raising the dead and cast out demons. He did it all to
show that we can do it also. Then the innocent Son of man and Son of God went to
a Cross-on a hill called Calvary where He bled and died for all of humanity. But
the Cross-was not the end of Jesus Christ or life, it was the beginning of
something new, a New Covenant or New Testament. It was the beginning of a new
life and a new man and a new Spirit for those who would accept what Jesus had
done for them. It was the beginning of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all
flesh. As a result God’s word was now true:
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it
shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My
Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young
men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants
and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall
prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And
the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the
LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’ Joel 2:16-21
Now all flesh can be saved, healed and delivered and walk in
the newness of life in the power of the Holy Spirit. All men can prophesy, speak
in tongues and be filled with the fullness of God. The good news of the
Cross-is that the different victories that Jesus won there, and the resulting
New Covenant with all its rights and privileges, is now ours to be claimed and
accepted by faith. They will be true if we will only believe, accept, confess
and act on it and then allow the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead to
change us. Jesus won for us, on the Cross, such a victory with such power and
might that it made hell tremble and Heaven sing with joy as the Triumph of
Victory resounded from one part of Heaven to another. Our ears will tingle and
our hearts will sing, as the faithful and mighty Holy Spirit reveals this
victory to us.
The fact remains that Jesus Christ, the author and finisher
of our faith, is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, ready to use
His power on behalf of the good of His true children; to make them more than
conquerors in all things that the world, the flesh and the devil would throw at
them. For His word is unchanging:
“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 4
The New Covenant
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke
it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took
the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank
from it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many. Mark 14:22-24
God cut with Abraham an inferior covenant made with the blood
of animals where all that Abraham was, all that he had or ever would have
became the equal property of His covenant partner. Nothing would be exclusively
Abraham’s again. During the covenant ceremony in Abraham's day, the partners
exchanged coats, each one giving their authority to the other. They exchanged
weapons as a way of saying, "Your enemies are now my enemies. I'll fight your
fights as if they were my own." They walked through the blood of slain animals,
pronouncing their loyalty to one another, even to the death. God had proven how
intensely He desired to be God to him. He had given him every thing He had and
bound Himself to Abraham in a relationship that could not be dissolved.
Well the good news is that God cut with the sons and
daughters of Abraham, those of faith, a new and superior covenant established
in Jesus’ blood as a result of His sacrifice that ratified our covenant with
God. A covenant where He gave us His Name (John 16:23), His authority (Matt.
28:18-20), His armor and weapons (Eph. 6:10-17). God’s word is
unchanging:
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord
Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you
may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of
His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that
which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head
over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills
all in all. Ephesians 1:20-23
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the
name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
As a result of what Jesus did on the Cross-, by faith
everything is ours now. Jesus Christ has substituted all things on the cross
for us and exchanged it there for us. Our death, defeat and poverty and curses
have been nailed to the Christ. On the Cross Jesus Christ not only won real
victory and redemption over sin and death and the world, but also over the
wicked arch enemy Satan and all his angels who had made the Cross necessary by
what he did to Adam and Eve. The enemy had deceived and entrapped Adam and Eve
to sin against God and live a life that was cursed and full of toil and
trouble. But Jesus Christ set us free from all things. God’s word is
unchanging:
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance
of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan
to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded
with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My
grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For
when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a
tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ
Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians
3:13-14
In the world lack of strength and dependence on others is
considered weakness, but in the kingdom of God weakness that causes us to depend
on and trust in the Lord is great strength and blessings. For it is when the
power of Christ rest upon us, because of our weakness, that we are truly strong.
As it is then that we rest upon the Lord and walk in the power of His might and
Spirit and not our own. As we by faith tap into all the riches and resources of
heaven which are now ours by Christ Jesus because of what Jesus Christ did on
the cross two thousand years ago we become more than conquerors. It is when the
power of Christ rest upon us, because of our weakness, that we are truly strong.
For it is then that we rest upon the Lord and walk in the power of His might and
Spirit and not our own.
Yes, as a result of the victories Jesus won on the cross we
are now delivered from the hand of our enemies, and are able to serve the Lord
without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Just like Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit stated about God and us:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and
redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house
of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have
been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from
the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And
to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve
Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our
life. Luke 1:68-75
The name of Jesus Christ is far above all principality and
power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age
but also in that which is to come. And God has put all things under His feet
including sickness, defeat, poverty and lack and gave Him to be head over all
things to the church, which is His body. So if it is under Jesus feet and we are
His body it is therefore under our feet! And if it’s under believer’s feet then
why do we allow negative things to raise their ugly heads in our lives? Because
we really don’t believe that is all under Jesus feet. We are like the prodigal
son who ended up in a pig’s pen even if his father was filthy rich. But then he
came to his senses and realized what his father had and returned to his father
and his negative circumstances changed. How many of God's people suffer
needless in poverty, want or lack and with sickness or disease? Too many! How
long before they will look at themselves and say as the prodigal son who when he
"came to himself" said, "I will arise and go to my Father!"
God is waiting with opened arms to receive every penitent
child! God is waiting with opened arms to touch, heal, deliver, and bless His
children. They can can rely on Him to do what He has promised to do! We need to
understand the reality of all the victories that Jesus won on the cross of
Calvary. God’s word is unchanging:
Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and
went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him,
having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid
them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. So the multitude marveled when
they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the
blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew
15:29-31
Yes, the Word of God tells us that Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today and forever and we can be made whole through our faith in the
finished work of Calvary where Jesus Christ wounded for our transgressions, was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by
His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Sin, sickness or any other curse
doesn’t have to rule and reign in our lives because Christ has redeemed us from
the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed
is everyone who hangs on a tree") that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14).
Jesus has provided for our healing, Spirit, Soul and Body in
the atonement. All of the provision of the cross must impact the body of Christ.
Jesus Paid the Price for our Healing - "By His Stripes" (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter
2:24) Hence we are anointed and sent to: Preach the Good News to the Needy,
Bind up the Brokenhearted, Proclaim Freedom for the Captives, Release the
Prisoners from Darkness, Proclaim the Year of the LORD's Favor, To Comfort all
Who Mourn, To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of
gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of
despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18)
God is alive and well and present today! Jesus is still
healing people! The presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit is a
precious gift that we can experience and see many lives are being changed as
desperate people come and find God's grace and mercy flowing to them bringing
healing and encouragement. The anointing increases as we are press in for more
of God! Then we can see God save people, heal people, deliver people, baptize in
the Holy Spirit, bring encouragement and strength through the gifts of the
Spirit. Many can receive from the Lord healing for their physical, emotional and
spiritual needs and live lives that are whole and successful.
God is love and freely gives everything we need, both for our
material and for our spiritual existence. But because the blessings of God’s
spirit are so freely given, we often take them for granted. If all people had
open and receptive hearts, they could see and hear God’s voice at all times and
in all places. But we have lost this awareness. Through prayer, we learn to
appreciate spiritual gifts, gifts that are at least as important for life as air
and water, heat and light. Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And
this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. For when we have
accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and King by the faith God gave us, the
victory now resides in us and God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all
that we ask, or thing. As God’s word is unchanging:
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
It is a fact that according to the power that resides and
works in us, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think and give us one hundred percent victory, one hundred percent of the time,
in one hundred percent of the situations. After all He is God, not man! It is
also a fact that Jesus, now as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is no longer
poor or weak anymore as He was when He walked the earth as man. He is now once
again unlimited in power, riches, strength and might. But the best news is that
God wants to use all of His power, riches, and resources on our behalf and meet
our needs: If we only will believe Him and trust Him to do it for us; If we will
only humble ourselves and on a bent knee give Him our all and ask for His all.
Then we shall know the truth of God’s word which states:
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2
Corinthians 2:14)
Chapter 5
Full Of Faith And Power
"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may
show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Exodus
9:16
"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
God has created His people to show His power in them and
through them. Power comes that comes from on high. Power that comes from God.
Power that comes from the Holy Spirit. Power that created the universe by the
spoken word. Power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God’s word is
unchanging:
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and
signs among the people. Acts 6:8
"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
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
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1
Corinthians 4:20
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and God is the God of
Glory and glory is the presence of God and His Spirit and with His Spirit is
power. And that power is not just some a few volts of electricity but power
beyond anything we can think or imagine. Power to solve our tiny problems and
to change all that needs to be changed.
God is the God of Glory and glory is heaviness with unlimited
power, heaviness with abilities, heaviness with riches and overflowing to those
who will receive it. And He is more than willing to use His power, His
abilities, His resources, and His riches on our behalf and behalf of our loved
ones just for the asking. His word is unchanging:
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord
Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may
know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His
inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He
worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right
hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that
which is to come. Ephesians 1:15-21
In Christ, we have available to us who believe the exceeding
greatness of God’s power toward us, according to the working of His mighty
power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. And according
to the power that works in us, the power of the Holy Spirit, God is is able to
do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think in any area of our
life. With God all things are possible. "The things which are impossible with
men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27). There is no sickness or disease that
God cannot cure. There is no problem that God cannot solve. There is no need
that God cannot met by His great and wonderful miracle working power. God’s
word is unchanging:
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the
voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over
all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our
feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He
loves. Selah Psalm 37:1-4
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
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were
demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who
were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,
saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew
8:16-17
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a
crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be
healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean
spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for
power went out from Him and healed them all. Luke 6:17-19
So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one
who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of
the kingdom of God, "who shall not receive many times more in this present
time, and in the age to come eternal life." Luke 18:29-30
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
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. He, who is mighty, full of power and does great things, is able to
bless His trusting ones with health, wealth, houses, land and every good thing.
His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He still
exalts the lowly. He fills the hungry with good things. He not only forgives
sins but cast out the spirits and heals the sick. And for those who humble
themselves in the sight of the Lord, He lifts them up. Yes, God gives grace to
the humble. God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that
through these we may be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter
1:2-4).
All that belongs to God belongs to Jesus. And all that
belongs to Jesus belongs to God’s people, heirs of salvation and brothers and
sisters of Jesus. All good things of heaven, including salvation, the baptism
of the Spirit, divine health and abundant prosperity, come by faith from a God
whose thoughts towards His children are good and not evil. From a God who made
His sons and daughters to be royalty, kings and priests, who are reigning with
Him (Revelation 1:6 & 5:10)! Which normal parent delights in seeing his
children poor, destitute, naked and sick? None! And neither does God. He
delights in seeing His children blessed, be made perfectly whole, and minister
like Jesus in the power of the Spirit with miracles, signs and wonders. God’s
word is unchanging:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
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. 1 John 3:10-15
Apostle John wrote to Christians and told them Whoever does
not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his
brother. Jesus gave a new commandment that we love one another as He has loved
us. Apostle John went on to state that the proof that we have eternal life
abiding in us is that we love the brethren. But the other side of the coin is
that whoever does not love his brother or hates his brother is a murderer and
doesn’t have eternal life abiding in him. And John also told us that love is not
expressed by words or in tongue but in deeds and in truth:
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 3:16-18
Jesus demonstrated His love for us by not only laying down
His life for us but by going about doing good and healing all who were oppressed
by the devil and we should be doing the same:
"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 19:38
Jesus Christ definitely was not anemic, impotent, and poor
like many of God’s people who are bound by religious spirits and in a Satanic
cycle of poverty rather than God’s cycle of prosperity unable to get or perform
miracles! Yet God’s word is unchanging:
The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts
up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the
pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, 1 Samuel 2:7-8
The devil wants God’s people to be blind and ignorant about
God’s desires for them to be healthy and wealthy and powerful. The devil is not
stupid and he knows that whatever part of the Word of God is rejected by God’s
people it will not become a reality in their lives. So he causes many religious
folks to believe that sickness and poverty are the will of God and that
prosperity and wealth and prosperity are from the devil. But all this is nothing
but a lie from the father of all lies – the devil. Poverty is like an
infectious disease. It is like a virus Satan brings upon the Body of Christ. He
has infected many individuals, families and whole churches with the "poverty
virus". As a result for them poverty and sickness have literally become a way
of life.
But the truth of the matter is that Jesus had died on the
cross to give us 100% victory over all things including to set us free from
sickness and disease and poverty. He doesn't want us to be even 1% sick or poor.
He gave His blood for us. He purchased us. We are His own and all that belongs
to Jesus belongs to us- all of it! That is the reason why Jesus wants us to
live a 100% healthy life. Every sickness in our life and poverty is defeated by
the blood of Jesus. Jesus gave His blood -- He died naked on the cross -- to set
us free from sickness or poverty. Every financial lack in our life is defeated
by the blood of Jesus. He wants us to live 100% wealthy and healthy lives. And
All we have to do is to receive and confess God's Word concerning our health,
healing, blessings and prosperity and to act according to it. God’s word is
unchanging:
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who
gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore
to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to
those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow
of turning. James 1:17
Chapter 6
You Will Lack Nothing
"For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of
your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty
years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing." '
Deuteronomy 2:7
"Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your
God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. "For the LORD your God is bringing you
into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow
out of valleys and hills; "a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees
and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; "a land in which you will eat
bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are
iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. Deuteronomy 8:6-9
Lack seems to be a common word amongst God’s people when it
should not be. God has more than enough to make each person on earth a
billionaire. God, who is full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and
abundant in mercy and truth and unchanging, enabled His servant David to pursue
his enemies the Amalekites who had taken captive and carried away the women and
all the flocks and herds. As a result David recovered all which the enemy had
taken from him and his men. The bible records for our profit and
instruction:
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
Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the
day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from
the hand of Saul. 2 Samuel 22:1
God, who anointed David king over Israel, had delivered him
from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and gave Saul’s
house and his wives into David’s keeping, doesn’t have a problem in dealing with
all the enemies of His people and removing lack from them if they will walk in
His ways and fear Him. Yes, there is prosperity, peace, refuge, rest, reward,
riches, life, wholeness, edification, joy, honor, prolonged says, wisdom,
knowledge and health in walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us that there are great financial blessings as
a result of the fear of the LORD:
And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is
nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help
us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this
multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" So
the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the
Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken
before the LORD and His army. And they carried away very much spoil. Then they
defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came upon them;
and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in
them. They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and
camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles
14:11-15
And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the
lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against
Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and
silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven
hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. So Jehoshaphat became
increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. He
had much property in the cities of Judah; and the men of war, mighty men of
valor, were in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 17:10-13
The Good News is that for those who trust in and call upon
the Lord, the battle is the Lord’s and He will fight all their battles for them
and give them the victory. Hence they are not be afraid nor dismayed for the
LORD is with them. And if God is for them who can be against them as King
Jehoshaphat could testify when the LORD fought against their
enemies:
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against
Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up
against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when
they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one
another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked
toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No
one had escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their
spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and
precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could
carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so
much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there
they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of
Berachah until this day.
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with
Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had
made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed
instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD.
And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those
countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of
Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all
around. 2 Chronicles 20:22-29
The bible also tells us that if we walk in the fear of the
LORD we will have the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding; the beginning
of knowledge; strong confidence and a place of refuge; a fountain of life;
humility and honor; life; riches; protection; provision. God’s word is
unchanging:
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and
understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to
those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way
of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and
every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to
your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To
deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose
ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths; Proverbs 2:6-16
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains
understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her
gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you
may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In
her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her
paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy
are all who retain her. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding
He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And
clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes- Keep sound
wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.
Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. Proverbs
3:13-23
Yes, everything that we need is found in Jesus Christ and our
Helper, the Holy Spirit,” the other Helper,” who has become to us all that
Jesus Christ was to His Disciples. God’s word is unchanging:
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, that He may abide with you forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know
Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
"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
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage
that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if
I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has come, He will convict the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do
not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me
no more; "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still
have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He,
the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not
speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine
and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I
said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John
16:7-15
Chapter 7
Trust In Him At All Times
My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is
from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not
be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And
my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your
heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:1-3
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For
we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was
in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus Christ being a man can sympathize with all that His
brothers and sister are going through. But being God He is more than able to do
something about it all and work it all out for their good. Therefore His
trusting ones can wait for God alone who pour out their heart before Him. For
God is their refuge for them as well as their rock, salvation, defense, glory,
and help. His word is unchanging:
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in
trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters
roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There
is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the
tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be
moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn Psalm
46:1-5
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of
its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore
twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall
be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God
gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation
22:1-5
The River of God can and will do what no other can do. It’s
the river that flows from God Himself whose streams shall heal, deliver, anoint,
set free and make joyful God’s true children. For God’s word is
true:
They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will
lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way
in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is
My firstborn.
"Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the
isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him
as a shepherd does his flock.' For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed
him from the hand of one stronger than he.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
Streaming to the goodness of the LORD- For wheat and new wine and oil, For the
young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered
garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all. Jeremiah 31:9-12
For in this mighty River of God flowing on earth today, there
is healing, deliverance, truth, abundance, joy, and provisions supplied. For God
is that mighty river and His anointing is flowing all over the land. Flowing
to heal the brokenhearted, give liberty to the captives, open the prison to
those who are bound, comfort all who mourn, console those who mourn to give
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness.
Flowing so that the poor and needy ones may be called trees
of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. As a
result they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former
desolations, and shall repair the ruined cities and the desolations of many
generations.
The River is flowing and all who desire to enter it will do
so to their benefit and profit. For God withholds no one from so entering into
it. Yet many, by their own fears, do not enter in because of unbelief and they
allow the beauty of the River to pass them by. They are foolish indeed but that
is their choice. But God is moving to change their hearts but if not judgment
comes to all.
If men continue to quench God, as they have done in the past,
they will reap the rewards of that quenching and it will not be pretty. For God
is not to be disregarded. They will receive their due reward and it will not be
what they had hoped for.
Men think that by their service to God that He is pleased
with them no matter their actions. But that is not true. He wants their
obedience and not their sacrifices. He wants the river to flow out of them so
that it will bring great release, healing and change all around them. His word
is unchanging:
In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory
and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people, For a spirit of justice
to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle
at the gate. Isaiah 28:5-6
The hypocrisy is that men every think they have achieved
something when they have achieved little of lasting value in the Kingdom of God.
God seeks those who will surrender all to His service: Those who will honor Him
in Spirit and in Truth; Those who love Him with a pure unadulterated heart;
Those who seek Him with a good conscience and sincere faith.
God is pleased with such as these. For He loves to have depth
to develop in His people and that they walk in His wisdom and desires. He has a
special individual path for each one of them but they must walk in purity and
holiness. There must be no wavering in their opinions of God or themselves in
Him.
They must desire to keep all of His love because they fear
God. Yet, so few really walk in this like of surrender. Often, they are holding
back in their spirits. They are seeking more than God is willing to give them at
a given time. They are walking in disobedience to His direct commandments to
them. They have ignored His laws.
But time has come for real changes. For God desires to give
people opportunities to repent and turn from their evil attitudes and return
totally to Him. Yet, His patience does wear thin from time to time and then He
sends the judgment people really don't want. They are sorry they have received
a consequence for their sins and wonder how it could happen to them. But they
refuse to blame themselves for their troubles and fall into greater sins. They
compound sin upon sin until they are unable get themselves out of trouble. They
are now held bound by their habit of sin.
Yet the hour is coming for God’s true ones when specific
answers will come immediately for specific requests. When immediate answers
will be given to current prayer needs. God has opened the door to this kind of
miracle. He has opened the door for sweeping change. The hour of deliverance has
arrived for the Children of Israel, that is all of Abraham's children, not just
a select chosen few.
Time is coming when all will sit down the Lion and hear Him
roar and praise Him for His great roarings. He is the manifest power of God upon
the earth in human form. He represented God's love upon the earth and His
delivering power. He has come to set the captives free and bring the Power of
the Holy Spirit to bare in the lives of ordinary men and allow them to see great
unimaginable miracles. This hour is now upon us. His word is
true:
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
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and
cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. "He who
believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in
Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not
yet glorified. John 7:37-39
Chapter 8
Ask For the Rain!
'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments
which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your
heart and with all your soul, 'then I will give you the rain for your land in
its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your
grain, your new wine, and your oil. 'And I will send grass in your fields for
your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.' Deuteronomy
11:13-15
Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The
LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the
field for everyone. For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies,
And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their
way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd. Zechariah
10:1-2
What God’s people need most of all is the
rain of the Spirit on their lives and land to change all things including their
wilderness and desserts. They do not need more pastors and teachings and
doctrine but showers of the Spirit from above, the early and latter rain that
will change all things. For God’s word is unchanging:
Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the
wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a
forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in
the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of
righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a
peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, Though
hail comes down on the forest, And the city is brought low in humiliation.
Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the
ox and the donkey. Isaiah 32:15-20
Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He
will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will
revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His
sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth
is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the
latter and former rain to the earth. Hosea 6:1-3
Just like in the natural a good rain makes quite a difference
to the land, so does a good rain of the Spirit makes a great difference to the
land of God’s people, especially a deluge of the mighty river from God. The
river is the Holy Spirit and the flow of the river is the outpouring of the
Spirit. When we get into the river every need will be supplied and everything
will become different. The River of the Spirit is a powerful source of energy
but the origin of the River is God, Himself!
The Lord is the Mighty River! He is the Source of all truth!
He is the Healer and He is the Life! There is no other River quite like Him for
He is the River of Life! His word is true:
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its
street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve
fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
Revelation 22:1-3
The River of God churns and swirls up a great wall of water
from one end of the continent to the other. It is ever increasing and destroying
all in its path. In the ever churning waters is the depths of truth and wisdom
that comes from above but few ever learn their secrets. Few because they swim
close to the surface and believe they have arrived by having simply jumped into
the water.
The streams in the desert are for the hurt, lonely and lost.
They are for all who thirst and desire a drink by quiet meadows. They are
refreshment for the soul. They are renewal for the mind. They are strengthening
for the body. The streams are for all who want more of God. The pastures are for
the retired. The meadows are for the weary. The streams are for the thirsty.
But, the mighty River is for the brave and the free! The River brings real
abundant life. It brings the streams of the desert into one roaring torrent. The
River sustains the Body and heals the deeply wounded. It sets the captives free
from bondage and tradition. It shakes the very foundations of men's beliefs and
turns them upside down. O yes, the mighty River changes the course of history
and rewrites men's theology. For the River is the Source of Life and Truth.
When the waves flow over the banks of the river and the banks swell beyond their
boundary lines, it is then that the greatest destruction occurs to the farms and
outlying lands. The River of life is just like this. It flows beyond the
boundaries of men's limited thinking and controlling ways--beyond the hold of
man.
Destruction comes to all who refuse to change their thinking
with the River. They will not bend. They will not yield to the rushing beauty
before them. They would rather "fight than switch" to their own demise. God has
not desired their defeat or destruction but they have refused to comply. So,
the River will do her work. She will over flow her banks and bring the truth
rushing into every stronghold and bastion of men's devises. He has the final
say on everything that comes their way. The LORD is in the flood. He is in the
Tornado. He is in the hurricane. He is in the firestorm. He is in everything
that brings their destruction. Suddenly and swiftly they are swept away. One
moment there, the next moment gone, as simply as a flick of God’s Hand. For
they have chose to stand against God. They thought they could withstand Him.
They thought they were right and they wrong. They thought but it was wrong.
Thinking is wrong. It brings nothing but destruction and tribulation to men who
claim to "Know the LORD."
Knowing Lord is more than speaking His Name on occasion or
even raising their hands to Him. Knowing Him is recognizing His Voice when He
calls them. It means changing their plans because He asked them. It means
surrendering their will to the LORD in spirit and truth. For God’s word is
unchanging:
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." John 4:19-24
Never so blind are those who chose not to "See!" They have
chosen not to see God. They have chosen the lies men have told them. They have
accepted as truth what was not truth. They have walked in their ways and
expected Him to sanction them? But they are not to assume that God’s silence
means acceptance. It does not! God refuses to accept what men have made of His
church and His body. He has chosen to rearrange it with the Power of His Mighty
Hand through His Holy Spirit and they will see it but never enjoy it. They will
remain in their own desert by their own choice and He will help them to it. When
cancer comes they are not to ask why for the answer is in their own
disobedience. For God’s word is unchanging:
Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what
the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."
So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were
you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over
Israel? "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy
the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'
"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the
spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"
And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the
LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag
king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. "But the people took of
the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been
utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is
as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being
king." 1 Samuel 15:16-23
Where the River is flowing so is the LORD. There men will
find Him immersed in the deeps of the Holiest of Rivers and deep within
themselves if they will find Him flowing through the depths of their being in
that River. But the LORD never goes where He is not invited or remains where He
is not wanted. He has come and gone in many people's lives. They have felt His
passing but they continued on their way without Him and wonder where He had
gone? He went where He was wanted and received and loved. He went where He was
heeded. For He is in the River and He brings life everlasting to all who desire
the purity of His Presence. This is a promise of One who does not lie. When the
River is flowing it calls deep to deep and brings the healing Presence of the
Lord down into men's hearts. It heals the broken heart and sets the captives
free. Such is the Presence of the Lord!
Let The River Flow
by Darrell Evans
Let the poor man say, "I am rich in Him"
Let the lost man say, "I am found in Him"
Oh let the river flow
Let the blind man say, "I can see again"
Let the dead man say, "I am born again"
Oh let the river flow, oh let the river flow
Let the river flow, let the river flow
Holy Spirit come, move in power
Let the river flow, let the river flow
Holy Spirit come, move in power
Let the river flow, let the river flow
Let the river flow
Chapter 9
God Answers Fervent Prayer
Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His
deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not
forget the cry of the humble. Psalm 9:11-12
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three
years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the
earth produced its fruit. James 5:16-19
There is nothing more powerful in the universe than a fervent
prayer based on a promise of God of a humble righteous man. It goes straight to
heaven to the throne of God and produces great results. It brings changes both
in the heavens and on earth that Kings and dictators can never do. We see this
in the life of Daniel that when he prayed God would send an angel to bring his
answers. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
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. Daniel 6:19-24
It was Daniel prayers that enabled his enemies to falsely
accused him and get him put into a den of lions. But it was Daniel prayers that
kept him safe there and cause his enemies to be 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.
Vengeance is mine says the Lord and He warned men not to touch His anointed ones
or to harm His prophets. Yes, Daniel was a man of prayer and he would fight
principalities and powers who didn’t want his prayers answered and God would
send an angel to tell him that God heard his prayer:
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was
revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true,
but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had
understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full
weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I
anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Now on the
twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river,
that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man
clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like
beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire,
his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words
like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men
who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so
that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this
great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty
in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while
I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to
the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and
on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved,
understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been
sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he
said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart
to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard;
and I have come because of your words. "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia
withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes,
came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. "Now
I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter
days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come." Daniel
10:1-14
Yes, those who are true men of God and true men of prayer
know the powers of darkness that will come against them! But they don’t look to
their circumstances, needs, lacks, bodies or things as they appear but unto God
who has promised to give every victory and answer every prayer! They look to God
who has already given them His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and His wonderful
counselor, the Holy Spirit, and will freely with Christ give them all things
(Romans 8:32)! Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
While God’s eyes are upon us and so are Satan’s who walks
about like a roaring lion seeking those whom he may devour. We are not ignorant
of his devices including attacking people in their dreams or in person. But one
thing about the devil that is to be noted is that he is on a time clock. Time is
on our side. Time is his enemy. Satan can not afford to keep up the attack.
Often times, we will actually be set free or receive our break-through and yet
not see it in the flesh nor the reality of it. This is especially true with
demonization. The enemy will continue on with a very convincing charade of
similar activity but the power of it has gone out. The devil or demon is trying
desperately for us to give up and return to our previous condition. This is
where the faith of the person under attack must be brought up to speed. We are
not to listen to the unclean lying spirits. We have been set free. We are to
“submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you “ (James 4:7). God’s
word is unchanging:
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
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
Unlike most Christians today, Jesus Christ didn’t deny the
influence of unclean spirits on the lives of people but stated that "When an
unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and
finds none. "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And
when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. "Then he goes and
takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and
dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first" (Matthew
12:44-45).
Fundamentalists Christians have debated to the nth degree on
whether a Christian can be possessed and could have an evil spirit residing in
the same place as the Holy Spirit. While it is true that the Holy Spirit resides
in the spirit of man and can be grieved and depart from a man just like He did
from King Saul, there is nothing preventing unclean spirits to be like leaches
and take partial possession of a person’s body or soul. Evil spirits live and
work in bodies and our flesh provides them with a good habitat. Many Christians
are possessed by a spirit of greed, depression, lust, lying, adultery, pride,
arrogance, control, dissension, heresy, and other unclean spirits. If they would
only be discerning and deal with these unclean spirits they will find the
freedom of life and victory that they never knew. Here are some of the unclean
spirits that attach themselves to people: FRUSTRATION, INCOHERENCE DOUBT,
SKEPTICISM, UNBELIEF, INDECISION, COMPROMISE, CONFUSION, FORGETFULNESS,
INDIFFERENCE, PROCRASTINATION,SELF DECEPTION, PRIDE, SELF SEDUCTION, SELF
DELUSION,MIND BINDING, CONFUSION, FEAR OF FAILURE, FEAR OF MAN
If a blood sucker would attach itself to their body they
would remove it, but when a unclean spirit attaches itself to them they leave it
alone! They don’t come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having
been taken captive by him to do his will. How strange and foolish? But God’s
word is unchanging:
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
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and
silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for
honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee
also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who
call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who
are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may
know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of
the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy
2:20-26
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the
mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the
false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to
the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of
that great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:13-14
Yes, the Word of God tells us to cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This
is something that God will not do for us, unless we ask Him for help, wisdom and
discernment to deliver us from all familiar and unclean spirits and other
spirits including spirits of infirmity.
Many people are bound by the spirit of infirmity and demons
even today. Only our gracious Lord Jesus Christ can deliver them from such
spirit of infirmity. Irrespective of the nature of our infirmities and the
number of years we suffer from, only our Almighty God can grant us complete
deliverance from such infirmities as well as any other unclean spirit. If it
foolish that according to some Christians non Christians can be delivered out of
the influence of demons, while Christians possessed by a spirit of greed,
depression, lust, lying, adultery, pride, arrogance, control, dissension,
heresy, and other unclean spirits can find no deliverance? This doesn’t make
sense at all! But God’s word is unchanging:
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey,
to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable,
gentle, showing all humility to all men. For 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. Titus
3:1-7
Since sanctification is a continual process and as long as we
are living in a frail mortal body, nobody arrives at perfection or from being
foolish, disobedient, deceived serving various lusts and pleasures living in
malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. When ever we get out from
walking in the Spirit we are immediately walking in the flesh and subject to the
works of the flesh including adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like.
We are instructed in the Word of God to Put on the whole
armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
(Ephesians 6:11. 1 Timothy 3:7) and not to give room to the devil (Ephesians
4:27) nor give place to the devil. But to put to death our members which are on
the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5).
Just like the Holy Spirit anoints and empowers people to do
good the devil anoints and empowers people to do evil. The sad part is the
Christians cannot discern the wiles of the devil because according to standard
religious teaching the gift of discernment doesn’t work against Christians.
Hogwash! Annais and Saphira where Christians and Apostle Peter by the Spirit of
the Lord discerned that they had lied to the Holy Spirit and he told them But
Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3). Satan
filled the hearts of believers to lie to the Holy Spirit and religious ones tell
us that Christians cannot be influenced by the devil? What a lie from the pits
of hell!
The bottom line is that God’s people need to repent and
renounce all familiar spirits that have entered their lives through whatever
means possible and be delivered from all the lies and deceptions of familiar
spirits by the power and anointing of God. They need to pray:
Satan, I renounce you, and I take back all the ground that I
ever yielded to you. God is my source of wisdom, knowledge, guidance, victory,
strength, might and power. In Jesus name I declare total and complete victory
over every enemy! You familiar spirit and unclean leave me in the name of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, I belong to You. You have saved me and redeemed me by Your blood. I
have need of no spirit other than the Holy Spirit. Forgive me Lord for having
sought from other spirits that which should only come from You. I renounce and
separate myself from all familiar spirits, however acquired. I call upon You,
Lord, to deliver me from the lies and deceptions of familiar spirits, all the
works and wiles of the enemy and to heal me of all their works and all things.
Teach me Your truth and Your ways and fill me with the fullness of the Holy
Spirit. It is my earnest desire to walk by your Spirit in Your will and to
glorify Your name. Amen.
Chapter 10
God’s Secret Plan
"While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and
heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease." Genesis
8:22
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; Ephesians
4:11-14
Most of God’s people are not aware that God wants them to
come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ in the
current time of life and the simple method He uses to accomplish this! But God’s
word is unchanging:
He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to
you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been
given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance;
but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew
13:11-12
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but
incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever, because
"All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures
forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter
1:22-25
God sows His word which is a living force that has great
miracle working power to make the Word of God and all its promises a reality in
the life of men. And men by their responses to the Word determine the yield of
the Word in their lives for whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will
have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away
from him. The word is a seed that, once planted by faith in a human heart, will
produce more blessings than we can imagine. When we plant the Word of God in
our hearts we are planting seeds. Seeds of prosperity, seeds of health, seeds of
protection, and seeds of victory for every area of our lives.
It's spiritual seeds that has the supernatural power within
it to produce the harvest of a lifetime. And that is why the devil comes
immediately and takes away the word that was sown in our hearts because he
doesn’t want to see it bear fruit. That is why we must let the word have no root
in us and not stumble when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's
sake, immediately they stumble. And we must not let the cares of this world,
the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke
the word, and it will become unfruitful. Rather were are to be a good ground
of those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some
sixty, and some a hundred. God’s word is true:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the
scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of
water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not
wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
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
"The sower sows the word. "And these are the ones by the
wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and
takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. "These likewise are the ones
sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with
gladness; "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.
Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake,
immediately they stumble. "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are
the ones who hear the word, "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of
riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it
becomes unfruitful. "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear
the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a
hundred." Mark 4:14-20
There are people who receive the Word, but the Word is
stolen, killed or destroyed. There are people that perish because they do not
have the Word in abundance in them. These people cannot see what God tries to
tell them.
Then there are people who use the power of seeing to see what
God says in His Word. They take the Word and they always get more from God. They
are furnished and increase richly to such abundance that they have thirty, sixty
and hundred fold increase. They are the ones who understand the Word of the
Kingdom. God will increase MORE and MORE! Some people experienced a period of
just less and less, but God wants to increase us more and more. Yes we can have
more. More anointing! More signs, wonders and miracles! More finances! More
souls saved! More of everything! More! God’s word is unchanging:
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the
children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are
abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink
from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your
light we see light. Psalm 36:7-9
Fatness and abundance mans that there is abundance of
anointing under the wings of the cherubim. When we meet God 'There' under the
shadow of the wings in the Most Holy Place, we get abundance of the oil of the
anointing. The river of God flows out of the Holy of Holies and we will drink of
that river and that brings us pleasure. God says that when He turns our
captivity, He will fill our mouths with laughter. Although our beginning was
small, our latter days shall increase greatly (Job 8). Job was the richest man
in the east and that was his beginning. His latter days were to increase greatly
and it happened with God filling his mouth with laughter. His enemies were put
to shame. When we fall into the river of God's pleasure where He takes us, there
is abundance of the oil of the anointing.
Everything that we say or do and even pray must be based on
the Word of God. For its God’s word that goes forth from His mouth shall not
return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what He pleases, and it shall
prosper in the thing for which He sent it. Salvation, victory healing,
deliverance, blessings, prosperity, wisdom, maturity, comfort, strength and
miracles come from the Word of God which is implanted in our hearts. We must
eat, digest, think on, obey and confess the Word of God to see the prosperity of
God in our lives that comes from the word. We must also trust and depend on the
person of the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth, Counselor, Guide, Friend
and Helper.
When we were born again at the moment of our salvation, we
received the most important and powerful gift in the universe, Jesus Christ and
the Holy Spirit. In other words we have God Himself now living in us along with
all the power, anointing, revelation and glory of heaven. We are also now seated
with Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly places. We
are now complete in Christ but we need to totally yield to the Holy Spirit in
every ways so that we can grow and consume every soulish and fleshly area of our
lives and be all that we can be and have all that we can have! As believers, we
are sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. We are "masters of all." But we need
to grow up and mature so that we can operate in our inheritance and rule in the
kingdom. We need to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ; that we should no longer be children. God’s word is
unchanging:
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you
have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of
milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food
belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews
5:12-14
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual
people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with
solid food; for until now you are not able to receive it, and even now you are
still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and
divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" 1
Corinthians 3:1-3
We need to eat the solid food of heaven including the Word of
God, divine and secret mysteries, and have the great power and anointing from
the Holy Spirit, and the very glory of God as our own atmosphere! And God has
given us the five-fold ministry so that the body of Christ might grow into a
mature man with the fullness of Christ and no longer be children. We need to
exercise our spiritual senses, become more familiar with the spiritual realm
through intimacy with God, and become mature spiritual people full of His
fullness! We don’t need to become quite old physically and still be a baby
spiritually. If we limit how much of God we can have and express or what He can
or cannot do in our hearts and lives we will remain babes and not mature sons of
God. We need to ask God to overshadow us with His Spirit and cause His Kingdom
within us to grow and expand and have dominion over every area of our lives. We
need to allow Him to demonstrate His character, His Glory, and His power in
us.
Fear, ignorance, unbelief, apathy and other things keep us
from constantly living in God’s supernatural realm. The spiritual realm is as
real as the natural realm and by the Spirit it’s just as easy to walk and live
in that supernatural reality as it is in the natural reality. Our heart's cry
should be we want heaven to touch the earth. We want heavenly glory. We want to
open up the windows of heaven and we want to live in the supernatural provision
of God's grace, power and presence. The Kingdom of God is not in word only but
in power. And we need to see the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. And
we need to walk in God's power.
We need to believe in what God is now releasing by the power
of His Spirit—the prophetic word, angels, dreams, the realities of the
spiritual realm, the manifestation of heaven touching earth and people being
healed and set free. By the power of faith and believing we can ask God to open
up the spiritual realm and release the power of God, favor and resources into
our lives and we shall receive. Believing is the door that opens up the
spiritual realm and that brings heaven; it's the entrance through which heaven
touches earth and through which miracles, signs and wonders come. God’s word is
unchanging:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there
among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks
for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in
heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews
4:16
'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and
mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Colossians
3:1
Chapter 11
With His Mighty Power
"Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might
instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out
of the midst of the fire. "And because He loved your fathers, therefore He
chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His
Presence, with His mighty power, "driving out from before you nations greater
and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an
inheritance, as it is this day. "Therefore know this day, and consider it in
your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth
beneath; there is no other. Deuteronomy 4:36-39
"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have
shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father
who sees in secret will reward you openly. "And when you pray, do not use vain
repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their
many words. "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you
have need of before you ask Him. Matthew 6:6-8
The Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth
beneath. And He not the devil or any one else owns and rules over all things.
Riches and honor come from Him, and He reigns over all. In His hand is power
and might; In His hand it is to make great and to give strength to all (1
Chronicles 29:12). He endues His trusting ones with power for an salvation,
abundant life, an effective life, for increase, for success, for prosperity, for
fecundity and for longevity. Hence Jesus told us not to be of little faith
concerning all the things that the Gentiles seek for our heavenly Father knows
that we need all these things. He told us to seek first the kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to us (Matthew 6:33).
God because of His mighty power is able to give His trusting
ones such and such things and much, much more if they will put Him first in all
things! He who has made and owns billions and billions of stars and galaxies is
faithful and true and keeps His word. Hence we must have faith just like Jesus
told His disciples “where is you faith?” God’s word is
unchanging:
Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat
with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of
the lake." And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a
windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in
jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are
perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And
they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, "Where is your faith?"
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For
He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!" Luke
8:22-25
Yes, our faith gives God pleasure: 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 seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Faith is defined: An
assurance placed in our spirit by God’s indwelling Spirit as God speaks to us
(Heb. 11:1; Rom. 10:17). Faith is a manifestation and a fruit of the indwelling
Spirit of God (I Cor. 12:9; Gal. 5:22). It is impossible to please God if one
does not have faith (Heb. 11:6). Anything not done in faith is sin (Rom.
14:14,22,23). Faith furthers the administration of God (I Tim. 1:4).
Faith is one of the six foundation doctrines (Heb. 6:1).
Faith is one of four things required to enter the presence of God (Heb. 10:22).
The work of God is to believe (Jn. 6:29). All things are possible to those who
believe (Mk. 9:23-25). Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world (I Jn.
5:4). Jesus called faith a weightier matter (Matt. 23:23). Paul called faith one
of three abiding realities (I Cor. 13:13). Faith can purify the heart (Acts
15:9). The just must walk and live by faith (II Cor. 5:7; Rom. 1:16,17; Gal.
2:20; 3:11,12; Heb. 10:38).
Faith gives us peace with God and access to His grace (Rom.
5:1,2). Faith makes us children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9). Belief in the heart and
confession with the mouth result in salvation (Rom. 10:8-11). Unbelief cuts one
off from God (Rom. 11:20). Each person is to minister according to the measure
of faith they have (Rom. 12:3,6). We are to accept people at the level of faith
they have (Rom. 14:1-8). The Law is a schoolmaster which leads us to faith (Gal.
3:22-26). Faith (and love) is a breastplate which shields us from the darts of
satan (Eph. 6:16; 1 Thess. 5:8). Holding faith and a good conscience keeps one
from suffering shipwreck (1 Tim. 1:19). We are to fight the good fight of faith
(1 Tim. 6:12). The gospel must be mixed with faith in order to profit (Heb.
4:2).
Great faith (i.e. not mingled with doubt) provides: The
Spirit (Jn. 7:39; Gal. 3:2,14); all things you ask in prayer believing; ability
to cast mountains into the sea (Matt. 21:19-22); miracles (Gal. 3:5); wisdom
from God (Jas. 1:2-8); healing of the sick (Jas. 5:14-16); and authority to cast
out demons and speak in new tongues (Mk. 16:17).
Faith is the currency of life, because faith is the currency
of the spirit world, and the spirit world provides the foundation and structure
of life. According to your faith, be it unto you (Matt. 9:29). Faith and trust
release God’s power, protection, guidance, and anointing into one’s life. Hence
ll our teaching and all our learning must be focused on building faith and
trust in our God. All of our life, hope, joy, love, and provision come from His
responses to the faith we release toward Him. Mark Virkler in his book
“Wading Deeper Into the River of God” bring out three principles concerning
faith and trust that are very important to be real in our lives.
1. The Principle of Faith
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
2. The Principle of Flow
“He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” But this spake He of the Spirit,
which they that believe on Him should receive...(Jn. 7:38-39).
3. The “Faith in Flow” Principle
The gifts of the Holy Spirit operate through the one who, in
faith, yields his outer faculties to the control of the river of God within
him:
• The mind yielded to flow = anointed reasoning,
word of wisdom, word of knowledge
• The mouth yielded to flow = tongues,
interpretation, prophecy, persuasiveness of speech
• The heart yielded to flow = God’s voice,
distinguishing of spirits, faith, peace, rest
• The hands yielded to flow = miracles,
healing
• The eyes yielded to flow = dream and vision,
divine perspective
God gave His people not only Jesus Christ His only begotten
Son but His mighty River of the Holy Spirit. There is a river which flows from
the throne room of God, through the streets of heaven, and out through our
hearts. And where ever this river flows it brings healing and changes and life.
We by our faith release this river and turn on the power of God in our life and
open the door for the flow of God’s anointing, gifts, and grace into our life
and around us. In flow, we connect to the river of God and the indwelling
Spirit takes over the activity, and it is God doing the work through us rather
than us doing it on our own. It is now a living work (i.e. inaugurated and
sustained by the Holy Spirit) rather than a dead work (i.e. inaugurated and
sustained by self-effort - Heb. 6:1, 2). We live out of the river of God, out of
the anointing of God, out of the gifts of the Holy Spirit Who is within us. We
live in supernatural Christianity, rather than rational Christianity. We live,
not out of reason, analysis, and cognition, but, instead, out of flow,
spontaneity, and eternal life that originates in the throne room of God. God’s
word is unchanging:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the
scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night.He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And
whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John
15:5
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of
its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore
twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations. Revelations 22:1-2
The river begins in God, in the heavens, and it flows through
our hearts, transforming our lives. We alone allow it to flow effectively and
continuously out through the capacities of our souls, transforming us into
living expressions of the Body of Christ, and empowering, anointing, and
equipping us with God’s magnificent grace. We were grafted into Jesus, the Holy
Spirit was joined to our spirits, and we have become one spirit with Him (1 Cor.
6:17).
This river, which comes from the throne of God, flows, even
as sap flows from the vine to the branch, through the Holy Spirit who is joined
to our spirits. And as we allow the river to flow out through the capacities of
our souls, transforming our beings, we become like trees planted by this river
of life, and the fruit that is born in our lives does not wither, and whatever
we do, prospers, for they are no longer our fruit, but instead are borne by the
river of God within us. We become deepened individuals, not confined to
rationalism, cognition, or outer sense knowledge, but living out of the flow of
our spirits which can now guide any outer faculty which we yield to it.
What each of us needs is to receive God’s knowledge, God’s
wisdom, God’s understanding, and God’s strength. This is done through drawing
from the river of God deep within us. That surely is the message of
Christianity. God has come to live with man. He has placed His Spirit within
man, and now God flows out through man. Man is to quiet himself in the presence
of God and receive from His Spirit within him. We sense the Holy Spirit as a
river which flows within. We fix our eyes on Jesus, quiet ourselves, tune to
spontaneity, and live.
We were created to continuously live and move in the river of
God walking and living in the Spirit and not waling in the wilderness of our own
choosing. The river of God carries all of God’s graces, His gifts, His
anointings, and His blessings for us. Just like Jesus did we depend upon God
for everything and allow the flow of the river to bring us everything. Jesus was
led by the Spirit: Jesus did not act on His own. He even said He could do
nothing on His own!
True life is not about what we can do. It is about what we
can let God do through us. It is about God in action, not about us in action. We
are just a vessel of God, a temple which contains a god. We contain the God Who
created the universe. We have not only become a partaker of God’s divine nature
as He has joined Himself to us, and we are one spirit with Him but we are an
extension of Himself. God in Christ Jesus lives His life through us. His word is
true:
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians
2:20
Chapter 12
A New Heart And A New Spirit
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on
the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things
of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not
subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the
flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit
of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:5-9
When man ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil he
became a rational being rather than a spirit being. The mind of man rather than
his heart (spirit) became the mechanism by which he lived. But Jesus Christ, who
ministered out of the emotions of His Spirit (i.e. compassion - Matt. 14:14),
through His death on Calvary restored to man the ability to live by His heart
rather than his mind. In His ministry Jesus Christ did every thing out of faith,
not the mind. He tapped into the anointing (the River of God) that was upon Him
to preach good tidings to the poor; 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 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). Jesus understand that whatever wasn’t of faith was
sin and that faith pleased God. Yes, the Bible declare much concerning faith,
versus reason:
Faith
Reason
1. Pleases God (Heb. 11:6)
1. not reason
2. Is born in God (Rom. 10:17)
2. not reason
3. Is a grace of the Spirit (I Cor. 12:9)
3. not reason
4. Is required to cast out demons (Mk. 16:17) 4. not
reason
5. Furthers God’s administration (I Tim. 1:4)
5. not reason
6. Is one of the six foundation doctrines (Heb. 6:1) 6. not
reason
7. Is required to enter God’s presence (Heb. 10:22) 7. not
reason
8. Is required to speak in new tongues (Mk. 16:17) 8. not
reason
9. Makes all things possible (Mk. 9:23-25)
9. not reason
10. Is the victory that overcomes the world (I Jn. 5:4)10.
not reason
11. Is a weightier matter (Matt. 23:23)
11. not reason
12. Is an “abiding reality” (I Cor. 13:13)
12. not reason
13. Can purify the heart (Acts 15:9)
13. not reason
14. Provides healing of the sick (Jas. 5:14-16)
14. not reason
15. Gives one peace (Rom. 5:1)
15. not reason
16. Gives one access to grace (Rom. 5:2)
16. not reason
17. Makes one a child of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9) 17.
not reason
18. Is a requirement for salvation (Rom. 10:8-10) 18. not
reason
19. Is a shield from satan’s doubts (Eph. 6:16)
19. not reason
20. Can keep us from shipwreck (I Tim. 1:19) 20.
not reason
21. Provides the Spirit (Jn. 7:39)
21. not reason
22. Provides all (Matt. 21:19-22)
22. not reason
23. Provides miracles (Gal. 3:5)
23. not reason
24. Provides wisdom from God (Jas. 1:2-8)
24. not reason
25. Must live by faith (II Cor. 5:7; Gal. 3:11) 25.
not reason
26. The work of God is to believe (Jn. 6:29)
26. not reason
27. Anything outside of faith = sin (Rom. 14:23) 27.
not reason
It’s to be noted even though we live and walk by faith and
not by sight the Word of God doesn’t deny emotions. There are emotions on the
level of the spirit: Genesis 41:7,8; Job 7:11; Isaiah 19:3; 54:6; Ezekiel 3:14;
Daniel 2:1,3; John 13:21; Acts 17:16. God’s word is unchanging:
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from
the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
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
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but a new creation. Galatians 6:15
Jesus Christ, the second Adam, the live giving spirit, now
enables man to live by the spirit (heart) and faith rather than by his mind.
Mark Virkler in his book “How Do You Know?” gives a very good overview of the
role that the heart and the mind plays in a Christian, a new creation, a spirit
being:
A Brief Systematic Overview of the Heart
The heart appears to be much more important to God than the
mind, as evidenced not only by what Scripture teaches about the heart, but also
by the fact that there are eight times more verses in the Bible on the heart
than on the mind (i.e. 830 to 95).
A. What God does to the heart: God can stir up the heart to
do things (Ex. 35:21,26,29). God can fill the heart with wisdom to do all types
of work (Ex. 35:35). God can turn the heart to a direction of His choosing
(Prov. 21:1). God sends angels to grant revelation to the humble, seeking heart
(Dan. 10:12). God can open your heart to receive truth (Acts 16:14). God can
circumcise your heart (Rom. 2:29).
B. The benefits of living out of the heart: If your heart
trusts God, He makes you prosper (Prov. 28:25). The pure in heart get to see God
(Matt. 5:8). A heart without doubt is a requirement for producing miracles (Mk.
11:22-24).
C. What is in the heart? Imagination and thoughts are
described as occurring on the heart level (Gen. 6:5). God can place wisdom in
the heart (I Kings 4:29).
D. The heart’s function: To believe unto salvation (Rom.
10:9,10); to love and trust God wholeheartedly (Deut. 6:5; Prov. 3:5,6); to seek
knowledge (Prov. 15:14); to ponder (Lk. 2:19); to add persuasiveness to the lips
(Prov. 16:23); can receive thoughts from satan (Jn. 13:2; Acts 5:3); the spirit,
which I believe is within the heart, can also experience emotions (Gen. 41:7,8;
Job 7:11; Is. 19:3; 54:6; Ezek. 3:14; Dan. 2:1,3; Jn. 13:21; Acts
17:16).
E. Summary of what the heart can do: From the above
paragraphs it becomes clear that the heart can believe; trust; have faith; be
moved upon by God; receive divine revelation; see images (which includes dream,
vision and imagination); ponder; and experience emotions.
F. The heart in poor condition: The heart can become waxed
over and dull so it doesn’t hear God’s voice (Matt. 13:15). The disciples had
unbelief and hardness of heart (Mk. 16:14).
G. God examines the heart: God looks at the heart (I Sam.
16:7). God will try the heart (I Chron. 29:17), and test one with adversity to
show what is in the heart (Deut. 8:2-5). Speech is one indication of what is in
the heart and poor speech can defile a man (Matt. 12:34,35; 15:18). One is to
watch over his heart to ensure it does not turn to idols (Deut. 11:16), because
God will destroy the one who does so (Deut. 30:17-20; Ezek. 14:3,4,7,8). Out of
the heart flow the issues of life (Prov. 4:23),
H. The wicked: People with hardness of heart (Eph. 4:18),
people who harden their hearts (Ex. 8:15) and whose hearts God hardens (Ex.
4:21). This causes them not to hear truth (Ex. 7:13) and not to do the right
thing (Ex. 8:32). God will sometimes harden a person’s heart so he will be
destroyed (Deut. 2:30). The fool is the servant of the wisehearted (Prov.
11:29). By turning away from God, one darkens his heart, and even though he
thinks he is wise, he becomes a fool and begins creating idols and becoming
immoral (Rom. 1:21-24).
A Brief Systematic Overview of the Mind
The evil mind: One may have a carnal mind focused on the
flesh (Rom 8:6). This is enmity against God (Rom. 8:7). God may turn an evil
person over to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:28). One can walk in the vanity of his
mind, which results in his understanding being darkened (Eph. 4:17,18). Satan
blinds the mind of the unbeliever (II Cor. 4:4)
The Christian’s mind: The Christian is to walk in humility of
mind - i.e. no intellectual arrogance (Acts 20:19). The believer must be careful
not to let satan move him from the simplicity of Christ’s life within to the
belief that “I” can know truth from error (II Cor. 11:3; Gen. 3:5). God did not
design the mind to determine truth and error. God guides us into truth by His
voice within our hearts. We are to live out of our hearts. God’s voice within is
to lead and guide us through communion and fellowship with Him (Jn. 16:13; I Jn.
2:20,27).
The purpose of the mind: The biblically-stated function of
the mind is to transform our beings according to what we allow to fill (or
renew) our minds (Rom. 12:2).
“Positive thinkers” think on positive things and thus
transform themselves into positive people (Prov. 23:7).
“Word of Faith” people think and speak the positive written
promises of God and thus transform themselves into people of
faith.
I think the best function of the mind is to meditate upon
Scripture, and then add to that a pondering of the words which the Holy Spirit
has spoken to you personally. In this way, you are transformed according to the
present tense will of God for your life. Thus your faith is in the living God
Who is present and speaking within you. This faith brings God great pleasure as
He is seeking followers who will believe that He is alive and that He is
actively working in the lives of His children (Heb. 11:6).
The mind of Christ: The Christian is to have the mind of
Christ, or divine revelation (I Cor. 2:16), and be constantly renewed in the
spirit of his mind by receiving the energizing inworking of the Holy Spirit
daily (Eph. 4:23,24). God gives the Christian a sound, healed, pure, believing
mind (II Tim. 1:7; Titus 1:15).
1. Proper use of the mind
a. To store information that God instructs us to memorize and
learn about (Prov. 22:17).
b. To research, analyze and compare - guided by flow (Lk.
1:1-4).
c. To perform anointed reasoning, combining flow and
ideas (Lk. 1:1-4).
2. Improper use of the mind
a. To make moral judgments (forbidden in Gen.
2:17).
b. To reason alone without Holy Spirit (Ps.
73:16,17).
Mark Virkler in his book “Wading Deeper Into the River of
God” also explains the Seven Steps of Biblical Meditation:
1. Lord, cleanse me by Your blood: Since receiving divine
revelation is at the heart of biblical meditation, you must prepare yourself to
receive from the Holy Spirit by repenting and being cleansed by the blood of the
Lamb. You must be obedient to previous revelations from God (Matt. 7:6), and
confess any sin in your life, so you are not cut off from ongoing revelation
(Is. 59:1,2; I Jn. 1:9).
2. Lord, grant me a teachable attitude: Revelation is given
to those who maintain an attitude of humility, and it is withheld from the proud
and the arrogant. So keep an open, humble attitude before God, allowing Him the
freedom to shed greater light on any ideas you currently hold and to alter them
as He sees fit (Jas. 4:6; II Pet. 1:19).
3. Lord, I will not use my faculties myself: You can do
nothing of your own initiative but only what you hear and see by the Spirit (Jn.
5:19,20,30). You do not have a mind to use, but a mind to present to God so He
can use it and fill it with anointed reason and divine vision (Prov. 3:5-7; Rom.
12:1,2). If you use your mind yourself, it is a dead work (Heb.
6:1,2).
4. Lord, I pray that the eyes of my heart might be
enlightened: Slow down as you read, mulling the text over and over in your heart
and mind, praying constantly for God to give you a spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him (Eph. 1:17,18; Ps. 119:18).
5. Lord, I present the abilities to reason and to imagine to
You to fill and flow through by Your Spirit: Meditation involves presenting your
faculties to God for Him to fill and use. These include your left-brain
reasoning capacities as well as your right-brain visual capacities. Look for the
river of God (i.e. “Spirit flow”) to guide and fill both hemispheres, granting
you anointed reasoning and dream and vision (Jn. 7:37-39). Music can assist you,
as can muttering, speaking and writing as you go through the discovery process
(II Kings 3:15).
6. Lord, show me the solution to the problem I am facing:
Focused attention brings additional energies of concentration of heart and mind,
which help release revelation. For example, note the difference between a ray of
sunlight hitting a piece of paper, and sunlight going through a magnifying glass
to hit a piece of paper. The focused energy creates a ray so concentrated that
the paper bursts into flames. When you have a hunger to master a new
understanding and discipline, that hungry and searching heart will cause you to
see things you would not normally see (Matt. 5:6).
7. Thank You, Lord, for what You have shown me: Realizing
that the revelation came from the indwelling Holy Spirit, give all the glory to
God for what has been revealed (Eph. 3:21). (1)
1. Holy Spirit flow can guide the Scriptures you meditate on
and the revelations you receive, granting you illumined Scriptural
insights.
2. Holy Spirit flow can guide your mind, giving anointed
reasoning.
3. Holy Spirit flow can guide your heart, giving peace or
unrest.
4. Holy Spirit flow can guide the counsel of others, granting
you God’s confirmation and perhaps expanded insights.
5. Holy Spirit flow can help you to properly interpret the
events that surround you in life, granting you a divine perspective of what life
is saying back to you.
6. Holy Spirit flow can guide your dreams and visions,
granting divine revelation.
Mark Virkler in his book “Wading Deeper Into the River of
God” also explains “Steps for Possessing the Land”:
1) God says He has given the land to you (Josh.
1:2).
2) You are to walk the land you are to possess (Josh.
1:3).
3) God defines the borders of the land that is yours (Josh.
1:4).
4) God promises to be with you to defeat the enemy (Josh.
1:5).
5) Be strong and courageous (Josh. 1:6).
6) Only be strong and very courageous (Josh.
1:7).
7) Be careful to do all the law of God (Josh.
1:7).
8) Meditate on the laws of God day and night so that you may
be careful to do according to all that is written in it - then you will make
your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Josh. 1:8).
9) “I command you to be strong and courageous! Do not tremble
or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh.
1:9).
10) Speak the word of faith (Josh. 1:10).
11) Arrange your resources for battle (Josh.
1:11).
12) Remind your people of the promises of the Lord (Josh.
1:13).
13) Get a commitment from your people (Josh.
1:16).
14) Send spies into the enemy camp (Josh.
2:1).
15) Follow the directives of God (Josh.
3:7,8).
16) Set up memorials of God’s divine intervention (Josh.
4:1-7).
17) Make sure your heart is circumcised before you
battle (Josh. 5:1-10).
18) Approach the battle in the way the Lord tells you (Josh.
6).
19) Disobedience amongst warriors brings defeat (Josh.
7).
20) Strategic planning and ambush prevails (Josh.
8).
21) Don’t be tricked and defeated by not checking with God
(Josh. 9).
Seven Keys to Possessing the Land
1) Work centers around a biblical, anointed man God raises
up.
2) The voice of God is integral to the
process.
3) God stirs up the spirit of people to accomplish His
purposes.
4) Faith and trust in God are central to anointed
leadership.
5) Personal courage is mandatory.
6) Leadership skills required include: strategizing;
motivation of people; and handling of controversy, crises and
adversity.
7) The favor of government connections is often
used.
Seven Errors to Be Avoided at All Costs:
1) Trusting yourself or your strength, wisdom, and
efforts.
2) Not believing in God, His power, and His
promises.
3) Not being willing to face and handle problems and
people.
4) Not being grateful and honoring God and
people.
5) Not getting the mind of God before you act.
6) Speaking negatives rather than positives.
7) Lack of planning.
As Christians we need for the Holy Spirit to continuously
change us and bring us deeper and deeper into the river of God. We need to
be “Baptised in the Holy Spirit” so we can have the ability to cast out demons
and see miracles of healing. We need to have revelation and anointing by His
Spirit as well as Spirit-anointed emotions. We need to be taken from
rationalism to revelation knowledge, from our head to our heart, and from study
to meditation. We need to be taken from humanism to divine initiative. We need
to sense His Spirit within our heart as “flow” and connect this flow with our
tongue so we can speak in tongues and prophesy and teach and preach persuasively
(Acts 2:4; Prov. 16:23). We need to connect flow to our mind so we can have
anointed reasoning and words of wisdom and words of knowledge (1 Cor. 12:18). We
need to see visions and dreams. We need to think and see and pray using
pictures. Pictures will restore our creativity, give us the wonderful tool of
inner healing prayer, give us a way to control our emotions, and give us method
which can be used to release the anointing when we preach, teach, or write.
We must participate with God if we want the miraculous to
occur in our life on an ongoing basis. If we want to possess the land He is
offering to us, we need to work together with Him by discovering the things He
wants us to do and then doing them, or we may never possess all He has
envisioned for our life here on earth. We need to chose to learn the lessons of
the wilderness so we can press on and enter our promised land. We need to walk
as Jesus walked (1 John. 2:6). Jesus laid aside His divine powers when He came
to earth, and lived His life the same way we can live our lives, out of the
Father’s initiative, seeing His vision, hearing His voice and moving in His
anointing (Phil 2:5-11). And then we will do the works that Jesus did and even
greater works. We need to allow the spirit of truth to guide us into all truth.
God’s word is unchanging:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I
will do it. John. 14:12-14
"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
Chapter 13
Who Has Believed Our Report?
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the
LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made
through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5
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: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11-13
Jesus told us, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the
gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go
in by it (Matthew 7:13).” Thank God Jesus Christ is the Word (John 1:1) He is
life to us, understanding, wisdom, healing, deliverance, safety, liberty and
prosperity, all we will ever need. Praise God that there are those who believe
our report and receive Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior and Baptizer in the
Holy Spirit, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God (Mark 16:15-20). Heaven is still going to
have true sons and daughters in it even though many will be destroyed by their
own foolishness and wrong choices!
Jesus said about men and women that we are all brethren "But
you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are
all brethren. (Matthew 23:8).He also told us "A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another
(John 13:34). And Apostle John told us we are to love the Brethren, 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 (1 John 3:14-16).
But it is a fact that many Fundamentalist hate the brethren
and throw them out of their churches and do not lay down their lives for the
brethren but character assassinate them and say they are demon possessed and do
things not by the power of God but by the power of Satan! They are also saying
that women are not brethren!
Many fundamentalist are saying how Jesus words and teachings
don't apply to us but only to the Jews. Apostle Paul's words and teachings apply
to the Gentiles that is us. In other words they are saying that Apostle Paul is
now our teacher not Christ. Now if this is not replacing Jesus Christ with
Apostle Paul then we better get not only our eyes checked but our brains as
well.
Fundamentalist believe that the bible is the Word of God and
true Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God. And there is a
major difference because the former makes all the words of Apostle Paul to be
equivalent to the Words of Jesus which is garbage as it nullifies anything what
Jesus said or taught by what Paul said or taught. And Jesus never taught that a
woman is saved by child birth or that she should be silent in the presence of
men or in the church? Rather the bible tells us that Jesus talked a Samaritan
women when Jews didn't talk to foreigners never mind woman. If you believe that
Jesus words and deeds are greater than Apostle Paul you are not a true
Christian.
And concerning Paul’s erroneous teaching that women must be
silent in the church it’s contrary to scripture which states:
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I
will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And
on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those
days; And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17-18
The church met and was born on the day of Pentecost when men
and women received the baptism of the spirit that Jesus promised and spoke in
tongues in the church. They were not told to be silent then and should not be
silent now. God's word is unchanging:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with
one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each
of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
So how can women be silent in the church when Apostle Paul
told them to speak in tongues and prophesy or unless Paul doesn't consider women
to be brethren or Christians or equal to men? God’s word is true:
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. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the
first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and
all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the
prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the
churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are
not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home;
for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the Word of God come
originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks
himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which
I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let
him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not
forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1
Corinthians 14:26-40
Either women are brethren who can be prophets and operate in
their spiritual gifting or they are not brethren and must be silent? Something
is wrong with the fundamentalist Christian teachings! Yet God’s word is
unchanging:
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John
11:5
There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who
also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other
women who came up with Him to Jerusalem. Mark 15:40-41
The bible tells us of Jesus, “For even the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many" (Mark 10:45). And Jesus told us, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
'benefactors.' "But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among
you let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. "For who is
greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at
the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves (Luke 22:25-27). Yes, New
Testament leadership, as modeled by Jesus, portrays the spiritual leader as a
servant and it doesn’t exclude women including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother
of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Jesus and
ministered to Him when He was in Galilee.
It is to be noted that Jesus told us that regardless of
gender the people of the world would be classified into sheep or goats depending
on how they minister to Him, Him being the hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
naked or sick or prisoners. And as a result of this criteria that goats would go
away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous sheep into eternal life?
God’s word is unchanging:
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy
angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations
will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His
right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come,
you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty
and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and
you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to
Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You
hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a
stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You
sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to
them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of
these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
"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
25:31-46
Jesus put no distinction on gender classification as to if
women cannot minister or be in leadership role? But He did point out "But he
who is greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:11). Each leader is
basically a servant to others and a bond slave of Jesus Christ. And those who
abuse their leadership roles will be dealt harshly by God especially if they
hurt or offend others depending on what role they played in the
matter:
And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise
steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their
portion of food in due season?
"Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing
when he comes. "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that
he has. "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his
coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink
and be drunk, "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not
looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two
and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. "And that servant who knew
his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes. "But he who did not know, yet committed
things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much
is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed,
of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:42-48
Yes, the servant, male or female, who beats other servants,
will be cut in two and his portion appointed with the unbelievers. And that
servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according
to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet
committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. In the
ministry gender is not important but rather their attitude, character and deeds
that will result in being demoted or promoted or their portion being appointed
with unbelievers. But the bible does give us quite a few examples of women who
were in the ministry:
Old Testament history includes accounts of strong female
leadership. Miriam was a prophet, one of the triumvirate of leaders God sent to
Israel during the Exodus period (Exodus 15:20). Deborah, as prophet and judge,
led the army of the Lord into successful combat (Judges 4 to 5). Huldah, also a
prophet, authenticated the scroll of the Law found in the temple and helped
spark the great religious reform in the days of Josiah (2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles
34).
The New Testament also records ministering women in the
Church Age. Tabitha (Dorcas) is called a disciple and had a ministry of helps
(Acts 9:36). Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied (Act s 21:8, 9).
Euodia and Syntyche were Paul's coworkers who shared in his struggle to spread
the gospel (Philippians 4:2, 3). Priscilla was another of Paul's exemplary
"fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Romans 16:3, 4, NIV). In Romans 16, Paul
greets a multitude of ministering persons, a large number of them
women.
Phoebe, a leader in the church at Cenchrea, was highly
commended to the church at Rome by Paul (Romans 16:1, 2). Unfortunately, biases
of modern English translators have sometimes obscured Phoebe's position of
leadership, calling her a "servant" or "helper", etc. Yet Phoebe was diakonos of
the church at Cenchrea. Paul often used this term for a minister or leader of a
congregation and applied it specifically to Jesus Christ, Tychicus, Epaphras,
Timothy, and to his own ministry. Junia was identified by Paul as an apostle
(Romans 16:7). But many translators and scholars, unwilling to admit there could
have been a female apostle have since the 13th century masculinized her name to
Junias. The bible states:
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow
prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before
me. Romans 16:7
No one questions that the list of greetings in Romans 16 is
authentically Paul's. The Greek original assigns to the women mentioned
positions of major leadership in the churches. Translators have tried hard to
obscure this fact. That they have rejected the plain meaning of the text up
until quite recent times, shows how far males, even Christian males, will go to
oppose Paul's own views the role of women in the church.
Support for a female named Julia is evidenced by P46, a
papyrus manuscript, dating from around a.d. 200. This papyrus represents the
earliest known and most reliable testimony in support of Julia. The 3rd century
Coptic, 4th century Vulgate, and fifth century Latin versions provide additional
early support for this female name. These early manuscripts clearly support a
female named "Julia." Junia, the other variant reading, is supported by the
earliest known manuscripts available. Sinaiticus dates from the fourth century
and is earliest surviving complete copy of the Greek New Testament.16 Codexes A,
B, C, D date from the 4th to 5th century and represent a broad spectrum of "text
types."
Evidence for Female: Church Leaders and
Writings
In commenting on Romans 16:7, John Chrysostom (347-407)
states:
"Greet Andronicus and Junia ... who are outstanding among the
apostles: To be an apostle is something great! But to be outstanding among the
apostles - just think what a wonderful song of praise that is! They were
outstanding on the basis of their works and virtuous actions. Indeed, how great
the wisdom of this woman must have been that she was even deemed worthy of the
title of apostle."17
Chrysostom was not alone in confirming the gender of Junia as
female. Earlier commentator Origen of Alexander (185-253) understood the name to
be feminine.18 Others included Jerome (340-419) who wrote that Junia was a
female. (Liver Interpretationis Hebraicorum Nominum 72,15.), Hatto of Vercelli
(924-961), Theophylack (1050-110 , and Peter Abelar
(1079-1142).19
External evidence from writings of early church leaders
testify that Junias was a woman apostle. Current scholars provide additional
insight. Commenting on the gender of Junia, Leonard Swidler states, "To the best
of my knowledge, no commentator on the Text until Aegidus of Rome (1245-1316)
took the name to be masculine."20 Douglas Moo agrees that commentators before
that 13th century were unanimous in favor of a female rendering.21 Stanley Grenz
maintains that "the gender of Junia was not an issue in the patristic era ...
Origen assumed that Paul's friend was a women .... Chrysostom, who was no
supporter of women bishops, expressed high regard for Junia."22 Ray R. Schulz
states the Church Fathers agreed that Junia was a female apostle.
The biblical record shows that Paul was a strong advocate of
women's ministry. The instances of women filling leadership roles in the Bible
should be taken as a divinely approved pattern, not as exceptions to divine
decrees. Even a limited 34-4191 of women with scripturally commended leadership
roles should affirm that God does indeed call women to spiritual leadership.
There are passages purporting to be written by Paul that
directly oppose women's leadership. Some are found in the Pastoral Epistles,
that is, I and II Timothy and Titus. Most scholars today recognize that these
were written by church leaders in the next generation, when males were pushing
females out of leadership positions in the church. These leaders claimed Paul's
authority, but, on this topic, they did not reflect Paul's own
views.
In the unquestionably authentic letters of Paul, the most
disturbing passage is I Cor. 14:34-36. Here women are told to be silent in
church in a context that states that this is the practice in all the churches.
Obviously, that is a direct attack on women's leadership. But in other parts of
the Corinthians correspondence Paul assumes that women are speaking in church.
These verses express a different view in a different style. The text reads
smoothly, indeed, more smoothly when these verses are excised. Many scholars
now regard them as an interpolation by a Christian of the later generation
reflected in the Pastoral Epistles, when women wee being subordinated and
silenced. Some Christian leader recognized that Paul's writings, as they stood,
did not support the silencing of women. He could not rewrite the letters as a
whole, but he could interpolate a passage directly affirming the later
patriarchal take-over. For these reasons, in the New Revised Standard Version it
has been placed in parentheses. (It is not a good guide to Paul's own views of
the role of women.)
Paul's letters are addressed to all the believers in the
churches (to which he writes, clearly including women along with men. He did
not emphasize this; he just took it for granted.) Many churches, no doubt,
included both slaves and their masters, but Paul ignored those distinctions
also.) For him, within the church, the(se) distinctions of male and female,
slave and master, were not important.
Paul's failure by contemporary feminist standards lies in the
fact that he did not try to reform the larger society. He did not encourage
marriage, but if Christians participated in this social institution, he assumed
they would accept its hierarchical form. (That form was hierarchical.) Women
were subordinate to the men who were heads of households. Paul (did not
challenge that deeply established social convention. He) admonished wives to
obey their husbands.
(At the same time, it is important to recognize that) But
Paul spent more time telling the husbands to love their wives and treat them as
their own bodies. His language goes as far as one could go toward balance and
mutuality without directly rejecting the role and meaning of marriage in the
world of that day. (Marriage was a patriarchal institution. The husband was
responsible to society for his family. To exercise that responsibility he had to
have authority. Paul did not challenge that. But) And he did not carry the
patriarchy of the external world into his understanding of the church as the
body of Christ. The church was a foretaste of a world that was free from all
the hierarchies of the Roman Empire.
While foolish ones state ‘Women Can Not Preach in the Church’
God's word states:
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male
nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then
you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:26-29.
Yes, God doesn't see gender or color in His house today. Yes,
Jesus led by example and not by rule of force. While foolish ones state, ‘People
are to submit to Preachers’ while God's word states
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you
also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that
you should do as I have done to you John 13: 14-15.
Chapter 14
Deceivement Is A Matter of Choice
"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the
light, lest his deeds should be exposed. "But he who does the truth comes to the
light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
John 3:19-21
Jesus held nothing back when He spoke to the deceived
Pharisaical ones. He was not pleasant with them and He did not mince about with
words. He told them exactly what He thought of them and where they stood with
God. He called them all sort of things including vipers and snakes and said to
them:
"Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not
able to listen to My word. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of
your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. "But
because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:43-45
The last thing that deceived ones want to know is the truth.
Why? Because their deeds are evil and they do not want to come to the light lest
their deeds be exposed. Less others may clearly see that their deeds have not
been done in God. Many redemptionists teach us that God came to save everybody
through the proclamation of the good news of the gospel. But Jesus never went
the extra mile to convince or convert a Pharisaical one. As a matter of fact
Jesus said on this subject:
And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world,
that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him,
"Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no
sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. John
9:39-41
The Word of God teaches us that God has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, and understand
with their hearts and turn to God so that He should heal them. God’s word
records:
But although He had done so many signs before them, they did
not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled,
which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of
the LORD been revealed?”
Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with
their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I
should heal them." These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of
Him.
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out
of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 12:37-43
In Jesus day and even in our day not many Pharisaical ones
were converted. Primarily because of arrogance and pride and desire for the
praise of men rather than a real desire for God and all that He has to offer.
Many only want what God has to offer as long as it suits their hidden agendas
for riches, prosperity and fame. But as soon as suffering and persecution arises
because of God and His word they pull back and create a theology to justify
their comfort zone.
One of the great causes of deceivement is a rejection of
God’s truth and light in any area. The automatic consequence is that darkness
and deceivement comes in. Slowly an inch might as well be a mile for the person
for he or she putting other things as primary importance be it doctrines rather
than Jesus and the Father. God’s word states:
Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me,
believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent
Me. "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should
not abide in darkness.
"And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not
judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. "He who
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-the word
that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. "For I have not spoken on My
own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say
and what I should speak. John 12:44-49
It is the words of Jesus that He speaks by the command of the
Father which are important and not those of men. Some thing that many chose not
to appreciate nor understand. For it’s the words and things that the Holy Spirit
makes real and gives life to which are important. For God’s word is
true:
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will
guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but
whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John
16:13
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in
you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing
teaches you 1 John 2:27
Anything that is not taught or checked with the Holy Spirit
becomes a liability and not an asset and could have some serious negative
consequences to that person. Sincerity and presumption are no friends of those
who go through a red light at a busy intersection. There must be a real
willingness to check all things with the Holy Spirit and reject anything that
does not confirm with His words. Again God’s word is true:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are
few who find it. "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!'
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does
them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the
rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and
it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not
do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the
rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and
it fell. And great was its fall."
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the
people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:13-29
A pastor who had visited heaven and talked with Jesus there,
told the real story of a man who died and went to heaven, expecting Jesus to
welcome him at the gates of heaven. He waited there three days before an angel
told him that it is pointless for him to wait there since Jesus won’t see him.
He was puzzled because he had done a great work for Jesus. He had initiated a
Christian businessmen fellowship that encircled around the globe. There are
chapters in every city and town in almost every country. There are meetings,
magazines for Christian testimonies, souls were saved – surely he had done a
great work for God. But the angel asked him one question. When he started the
work, did he really get the idea from God or was it from himself? He pondered
for a long time before he admitted that it was his own idea. The angel showed
him his book of records and he was shocked at seeing the consequences of his
actions. “You mean, I did that?” was all he could utter repeatedly. His work was
actually drawing many Christians from their true callings when they jumped on
the bandwagon he started.
Storms of life will come to every one to test and see if the
person has heard the words of Jesus and has done them. Those who are left
standing after the storm are God’s true ones and those who have fallen are false
ones. Each person makes a choice whether to act on the Word of God that is
spoken by the Holy Spirit or not. Those who do not act are only deceived ones.
Apostle James clearly instructed the children of God:
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 1:22-25
Now Jesus taught on how it is possible to become deceived by
having a bad eye which results from serving God and mammon:
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is
good, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole
body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is
darkness, how great is that darkness! "No one can serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what
you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds
of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? "Which of you
by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of
the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; "and yet I say to you that
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. "Now if God so
clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "
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 6:22-34
Spiritual blindness and deceivement comes from the love of
money, prominence and fame and not being faithful with what has been entrusted
to God’s own for good stewardship. Jesus stated:.
"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had
dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation
than the sons of light. "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by
unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting
home. "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who
is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous
mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? "And if you have not been
faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all
these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, "You are those who
justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly
esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke
16:8-15
God is not fooled by any one and He knows the hearts of men
including the pharisaical ones even in the house of God. People get deceived
because they chose the love of money over the love of God and being faithful.
They literally end up departing from the faith they once had as a result of it.
For God’s word is true:
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. 1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who love money and desire to be rich fall into
temptation and snares of different kinds. Seeking and doing true justice,
righteousness and truth, having integrity and obeying God’s commandments given
by the Holy Spirit are subjected to a secondary consideration while personal
profit becomes the primary goal. This is something that King Saul did when he
disobeyed the Word of God to go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that
they had , and not to spare them. But he was to kill both man and woman, infant
and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' God’s word
records:
And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to
Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive,
and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and
the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the
lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But
everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. 1 Samuel
15:7-9
As a result God greatly regretted that He had set up Saul
as king, for he has turned back from following God , and had not performed His
commandment. After the battle Saul went to Carmel, to set up a monument for
himself when prophet Samuel confronted Saul and said,
"What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the
lowing of the oxen which I hear?" And Saul said, "They have brought them from
the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to
sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed."
Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what
the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on." So Samuel said,
"When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of
Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? "Now the LORD sent you
on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites,
and fight against them until they are consumed.' "Why then did you not obey the
voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight
of the LORD?"
And Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the
LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag
king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 1 "But the people took
of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been
utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."
Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is
as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from
being king." 1 Samuel 15:16-23
Saul for the love of prominence, riches and fame rejected the
word of the Lord and was rejected by the Lord from being king. His end was worse
than His beginning as the Lord turned His face from Saul. God replaced him with
a better man with a man after His own heart who would listen to His voice and
obey His commands. Nevertheless God’s word is true:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately
wicked; Who can know it? , the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even
to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
If anyone has an ear, let him hear Revelation
13:9
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have
the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:14
Chapter 15
Trust In The LORD With All Your Heart
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
3:9-10
The bible has much to say on the subject about health and
wealth for the righteous including that “The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
but the years of the wicked will be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27). No grave
trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil
(Proverbs 12:21). Yes, for those who fear the LORD and depart from evil it will
be health to their flesh, and strength to their bones. For those who honor the
LORD with their possessions, and with the firstfruits of all their increase
their barns will be filled with plenty, and their vats will overflow with new
wine. And for those who walk in the fear of the Lord and the wisdom He gives,
their days will be multiplied and years of life added to them. God’s word is
unchanging:
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and
understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to
those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way
of His saints. Proverbs 2:6-8
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be
multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. Proverbs
9:10-11
The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.
Proverbs 18:23
Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his
friend. Proverbs 19:4
There is no value in being weak and poor when with God’s
grace and power a person can be wealthy and healthy and mighty. Mind you, He who
has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given
(Proverbs 19:17). One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
gathers it for him who will pity the poor (Proverbs 28:8). He who gives to the
poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses (Proverbs
28:8). The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest
and have nothing (Proverbs 20:4). And although the horse is prepared for the
day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD (Proverbs 21:31).
Yes, riches, wisdom, honor, glory, strength and victory come
not from man, but from the LORD. God’s word is unchanging:
By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and
life. Proverbs 22:4
Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is
established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant
riches. Proverbs 22:3-4
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches
and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and
might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 1
Chronicles 29:11-12
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. Habbakuk 3:17-19
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He
will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all
the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming
shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root
nor branch.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. Zephaniah
4:1-3
The word of God is quite clear health, wealth, success and
prosperity comes from God who alone saves, heals, delivers, blesses and prospers
His trusting ones and does all things no matter what negative circumstances they
fight find themselves in. We see this in the life of Abraham who was very rich
in livestock, in silver, and in gold when there was a disagreement with his
nephew lot about not enough land to graze their livestock. The bible
records:
Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and
tents. 6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell
together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell
together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the
herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the
land. So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me,
and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. "Is not the
whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I
will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."
And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well
watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the
garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot
chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they
separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in
the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men
of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD. Genesis
13:5-13
Lot failed to understand that the blessings of the LORD makes
a person rich and He add no sorrows. As a result when Lot chose the plain of
Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, he was later to lose everything,
including his wife, when the judgments of God, not the blessings of God,
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. While Abraham lost nothing and retained all his
wealth and livestock. God Himself was Abraham’s shield and exceedingly great
reward. God Himself made Abraham exceedingly fruitful amd established His
covenant to be God to him and his descendants after him. God’s word is
unchanging:
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to
Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. "And
I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:1-2
"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
We can trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and
feed on His faithfulness. We can delight ourselves in the LORD, and He shall
give us the desires of our heart. We can commit our way to the LORD, trust also
in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth our righteousness as
the light and our justice as the noonday because He is a faithful covenant
keeping God.
And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the
mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the
children of Israel: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore
you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 'Now therefore, if you will
indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure
to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 'And you shall be to Me a
kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak
to the children of Israel." So Moses came and called for the elders of the
people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exodus 19:3-7
'You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved
image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up
an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.
You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD. 'If you
walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will
give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of
the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last till the time of
vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your
bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. I will give peace in the
land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land
of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase
your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall
chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your
enemies shall fall by the sword before you. 'For I will look on you favorably
and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. You shall
eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new. I will set My
tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you
and be your God, and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26:1-12
"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the
faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those
who love Him and keep His commandments; Deuteronomy 7:9
For those who are of the seed of Abraham, God has a covenant
to be their God, to bless them, to heal them, to deliver them, to prosper them,
to fight for them and to give them power to get wealth! For those who fear Him,
the Lord will show them His covenant (Psalm 25:14)! He will not break His
covenant with them nor alter the word that has gone out of His lips (Psalm
89:4). He remembers His covenant forever for His word is true:
He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand
generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your
inheritance," When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in
it. When they went from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another
people, He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their
sakes, Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm."
Psalm 105:7-15
The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His
precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and
uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His
covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. Psalm 111:7-9
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
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God has
made a new covenant where He puts His law in our minds, and writes it on our
hearts; and He is our God, and we are His people. The new covenant was cut
between God and Jesus and it cannot be broken. As a result of Jesus’ death,
burial and resurrection, the covenant has been extended to us. By making us a
joint-heir with Him, Jesus allows us to share in His covenant relationship with
the Father. Jesus, the last Adam, took back man’s authority and dominion. God
gave Jesus to die for our sins. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,”
He was referring to the Abrahamic covenant. God promised Abraham that his seed
will be blessed and that through his seed all nations shall be blessed.
(Blessing is a key word in the Abrahamic covenant. It
includes: Conferring and transference of beneficial power. Fertility in men.
livestock. and land. Continued growth of succeeding generations. Peace.
Security from enemies. Good fortune. Well-being. Posterity. Liberation from
vain toil. Liberation from carefraught wandering. Liberation from base
servitude. Liberation from destructive choas of the nations. Political unity.
Harmony with neighbors. Victory over enemies. Abundance in the kneading
trough.and Protection. Blessings are: Unconditional. Irrevocable.
Permanent.)
Jesus is the Seed! Jesus entered hell where death, hell and
corruption couldn’t hold Him there. He took back the keys to death, hell and
the grave and made it possible for us to partake of the covenant He has with the
Father.
Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and earth
(Matthew 28:18). Since we were raised with Him, we have all power and authority
as well (Ephesians 2:4-7). As a part of the body of Christ, we have been given
the authority to declare what is lawful and unlawful in this earth (Matthew
16:18-19). We have been given authority to permit or to forbid things on the
earth—even over death (Matthew 18:18-19). We can exercise our power over the
Devil (Luke 10:19). Yes, All the promises of God belong to all descendants of
Abraham’s descendants (Galatians 3:13-16). We possess the promises of God by
right of inheritance through Jesus (Galatians 3:29). As a result belief in
Jesus gives us life through His name and authority over the Enemy (John 20:31).
Our mindset must align itself with God’s Word and not walk in the flesh, or
think carnally. We don’t have put up with whatever the Devil throws at us; God’s
Word says that believers have the authority to tell the Devil to flee and to do
the works Jesus did:
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. John 14:12
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
Everything we need has been made available to us through
Jesus who is our all sufficient one (Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Romans 11:36;
Ephesians 2:7). We have power (authority) over the power (ability) of demonic
forces (Luke 10:19). Although we cannot stand against the Enemy in our own
power (Ephesians 6:10) but our authority is through Jesus. Hence we can command
the devil to cease all His attacks against us through our authority that is in
the name of Jesus. We can demand the Devil submit to the Word, to loose his hold
and to stop his operations against us and our loved ones. The Enemy doesn’t want
us to use our right of the New Covenant of Faith to demand, forbid and permit
but God’s word is unchanging:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I
will do it. John 14:12-14
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:11-13
Chapter 16
The LORD Will Fight For You
And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted
their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very
afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to
Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in
the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? "Is
this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may
serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the
Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the
people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which
He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you
shall see again no more forever. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall
hold your peace." Exodus 14:10-14
Even though many of God’s people are Christians the LORD is
not fighting for them against their enemies as promised! Why? It’s not because
God has changed or His power has change! It’s not because He loves them any
less! It’s because they have moved away from Him. God’s word defines the
problem:
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken
Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns
that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13
One of the first symptoms of being far away from God is the
inability to hear His voice. All those men of God who were greatly blessed by
God in the bible including Abraham, Joseph and Job heard God’s voice and He
heard their voice. They had a conversation that was two way and not one way.
They spoke to God and He spoke them them and they did what He had commanded them
to do, not matter what! No one is going to be greatly blessed by God if he or
she does their own thing and ignore God’s wisdom and counsel of every matter.
As second symptom of being far away from God is the inability
the receive wisdom and revelations from God through visions, dreams and
directly. That is why Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus and told
them:
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
Yes, it is a fact that one word or idea from God when
accepted and applied will change things. A great host of men and woman in the
Bible from Genesis through to Revelation experienced trances, visions, dreams,
angelic visitations, prophecy, visitations of the Lord and the audible voice of
the Lord. Gideon, Daniel, Joseph, Mary, Zacharias, the Father of John the
Baptist, Peter and Paul had a visit from an angel and they changed things in
their generation. Why shouldn’t all of God’s children do the same? They should!
They can have whatever they desire because they are King’s kids! The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much and can have whatever they pray
for! There is no logical reason just to live in the natural world when we are
living in the Spiritual world at the same time! We should partake and enjoy of
all that God has to offer us including trances, visions, dreams, angelic
visitations, prophecy, visitations of the Lord and the audible voice of the
Lord. We need to learn how to touch, access and experience that invisible realm
on a daily basis.
We need to ask for the Holy Spirit to impart to us that
supernatural anointing of eyes and wings eyes to see what He is doing and the
wings to go into the heavenly realm with Him. We need for our Lord open up our
eyes to the realm of angels, trances, visions and dreams and remove every
thought and belief that hinders us from seeing into the heavenlies. We need to
have the supernatural realm become totally natural for us. We were created for
signs and wonders to be a a supernatural testimony to the world – to be a
vessel, a channel for signs and wonders in heaven and on the earth. We need to
walk in the reality of the ministry of Jesus on a daily basis—seeing into the
heavenlies; healing every sickness and disease; casting out demons as well as
preaching and teaching God’s word. We need to do those things that we see the
Father do and be filled with the spirit of wisdom and revelation that our lives
would be a living testimony of the reality of the supernatural realm and our
God, our LORD and Our King. God’s word is unchanging:
"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, '
These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have
become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined
in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with
eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
Therefore be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelation
3:14-21
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He
would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to
comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and
height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in
us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever
and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we
exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own
children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom
and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Yes, by faith and walking with God in a lifestyle of
intimacy, holiness, obedience, and truth we can access the fullness of all God
has for us now. Our sons and our daughters shall prophesy, our young men shall
see visions, our old men shall dream dreams (Acts 2:17). We are called to
receive divine revelation from the Lord through prophecy, dreams, visions, and
trances. We are to walk and live in the revelation of the heart and mind of God.
We are to be solidly grounded in the Word of God, not easily moved by passing
doctrines, fables and teachings. We are to pray continually and for and about
all things, praising God and having favor with all the people We are to live
and walk in all of God’s abundance and supernatural provision. We are to be
filled with God’s presence and glory in our churches, homes and work place and
are to hold, maintain, and pour out the Glory of God into the earth. We are to
walk and operate in our God-given authority and power and freely give what we
have freely received. We are to be all filled with the Holy Spirit and they
spoke the Word of God with boldness. With great power the apostles give witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:31-33).
Yes, we are to walk in a supernatural boldness to proclaim
the gospel with signs and wonders backing them up and demonstrate God’s glory in
the work place where the lost, sick, and dying are. We are to live in a
supernatural joy and see amazing miracles performed by the power of God through
our love, faith and compassion. We are to pray for a great outpouring of the
Holy Spirit everywhere so that many shall be saved, healed, delivered,
transformed, and empowered carrying the tangible anointing of the Holy Spirit.
We are to move in the power of the Spirit and perform the works Christ has
called us to do so that the glory on the latter day will be greater than the
former. We are to carry so much of the Presence of God on us that people will
fall down under the power because it will be like God Himself stepped in with
us. All the workers got saved even though he said nothing! We are to be so
saturated, filled and controlled by the Holy Ghost that the lost get in our
presence they will feel and see Jesus. God’s word is unchanging:
Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that
there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of
every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was
present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed,
whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find
how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop
and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And
the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks
blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But when Jesus perceived their
thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and
walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive
sins"-He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your
bed, and go to your house." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he
had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were
all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have
seen strange things today!" Luke 5:17-26
Chapter 17
An Open Heaven
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the
water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from
heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew
3:16-17
The problem of most 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. God’s presence, mighty power, wisdom,
discernment, love, miracles should be a constant reality in the lives of God’s
people to meet whatever need they have or face! They are to be filled with the
knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they
might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might,
according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
giving thanks to the Father. Because of the mind and life of Christ in them,
they also laborer fervently in prayers for other Christians for their
deliverance and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) that
they may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians
4:12).
People try all kinds of new things seeking health and
happiness, but to no avail. Only Jesus can satisfy the soul, calm the storms of
life and establish our goings. Only God can supply all of our needs
spiritually, physically and financially and we can rest in Christ who changes
not and enjoy His peace. His word is unchanging:
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask Him!" Luke 11:13
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage
that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if
I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7
The Holy Spirit, the Helper, has come to be to us all that
Jesus was to His disciples. He has come to guide us into all truth and to give
us God’s best in everything. He wants to be a friend and Helper to us just like
Jesus was to His disciples. He is the Third Person of the Trinity, the
personality in the order of the Godhead. He is in charge of the affairs of the
kingdom of God and is the Chief Executor of divine programs on the earth. He is
the Motivator, Energizer and Operator of every revealed plan or vision from
God. He is the Revealer of the hidden treasures of the kingdom of God. He
holds the key to the inheritance of the saints of God. He is the most valuable
asset to Christian living. He is the central figure in any breakthrough in
life. He is the only One worth leaning on. He has come to reveal wisdom,
knowledge, abilities, enablements and mysteries to us to show us our
significance, value and power. He has come to reveal our God-nature to us and
cause us to live in a new dimension. He has come to comfort us! He’s our
invisible Partner, who causes things to work for us that won’t work for others.
We are to trust Him with everything big or small and aren’t to do anything
without Him! He gives us the mind of Christ! God’s word is
unchanging:
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely
given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom
teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with
spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of
God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he
himself is rightly judged by no one For "who has known the mind of the LORD
that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians
2:12-16
The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to instruct, minister
and reveal truth to us. His wisdom is supernatural and as we yield to His
wisdom we become successful and prosperous and victorious. He pours the love of
God into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and enables us to live a life of love towards
God and others. However He can be grieved when there is envy, bitterness, strife
or unforgiveness. He can be grieved when we reject the truth or allow ourselves
to be deceived. These things prevent Him from giving us the answers we need for
our life. Though His anointing and giftings we can do all kinds of things. God’s
word is unchanging:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for
the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by
the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits,
to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let
it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let
him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a
tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the
conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the
understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the
understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:12-15
God has promised in Joel chapter 2 that He's going to pour
out his Spirit on all flesh and his sons and daughters are going to prophesy,
our old men shall dream dreams, our young men shall see visions. God’s word also
tells us that we are all kings and priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10)! so why
shouldn’t we bask in the glory that is ours and flow in the supernatural
anointing that God has given us including enjoying miracles, signs, wonders,
visions and dreams? We don’t have to operate in the office of a prophet, to
prophesy when the Spirit of God moves us? Every Christian can have prophetic
mantels and prophetic anointings and that they can learn to exercise the eyes of
their understanding according to Ephesians 1:18. God’s word is
unchanging:
So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD,
and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them
around the tabernacle. Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him,
and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy
elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied,
although they never did so again. But two men had remained in the camp: the name
of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon
them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the
tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told
Moses, and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." So Joshua the
son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, "Moses
my lord, forbid them!" Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake?
Oh, that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His
Spirit upon them!" Numbers 11:24-29
God has put His Spirit on all His people and they are all now
prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief prophet. Yes each Christian can
receive revelation from God, get the interpretation and understanding and then
delivery and manifestation in due season. From the beginning to the end of the
Bible, not just prophets, but every day believers had extraordinary encounters
with God. So why Christians should be surprised when they have extraordinary
encounters with God? They should not! Rather they should be upset that the
extraordinary things from heaven are not the ordinary events of each day! God’s
word is true:
Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth
tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son
Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the
Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The
LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if
the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His
miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up
from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of
the Midianites." Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of
yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not
sent you?" So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan
is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And the
LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the
Midianites as one man." Judge 6:11-16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three
years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the
earth produced its fruit. James 5:16-18
A great host of men and woman in the Bible from Genesis
through to Revelation experienced trances, visions, dreams, angelic visitations,
prophecy, visitations of the Lord and the audible voice of the Lord. Gideon,
Daniel, Joseph, Mary, Zacharias, the Father of John the Baptist, Peter and Paul
had a visit from an angel and why shouldn’t all of God’s children? They should!
They can have whatever they desire because they are King’s kids! The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much and can have whatever they pray
for! There is no logical reason just to live in the natural world when we are
living in the Spiritual world at the same time! We should partake and enjoy of
all that God has to offer us including trances, visions, dreams, angelic
visitations, prophecy, visitations of the Lord and the audible voice of the
Lord. We need to learn how to touch access and experience that invisible realm
on a daily basis. God’s word is true:
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the
law, and also the prophets, wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." And
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to
him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him,
"Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" Nathanael said to Him,
"How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you,
when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered and said to
Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered
and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you
believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Most
assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of
God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1:44-51
We need to ask for the Holy Spirit to impart to us that
supernatural anointing of eyes and wings eyes to see what He is doing and the
wings to go into the heavenly realm with Him. We need for our Lord open up our
eyes to the realm of angels, trances, visions and dreams and remove every
thought and belief that hinders us from seeing into the heavenlies. We need to
have the supernatural realm become totally natural for us. We were created for
signs and wonders to be a supernatural testimony to the world – to be a vessel,
a channel for signs and wonders in heaven and on the earth. We need to walk in
the reality of the ministry of Jesus on a daily basis—seeing into the
heavenlies; healing every sickness and disease; casting out demons as well as
preaching and teaching God’s word. We need to do those things that we see the
Father do and be filled with the spirit of wisdom and revelation that our lives
would be a living testimony of the reality of the supernatural realm and our
God, our LORD and Our King. God’s word is unchanging:
"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, '
These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have
become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined
in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with
eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
Therefore be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelation
3:14-21
Chapter 18
You Are Complete In Him
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory." Colossians 1:27
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
Colossians 2:9-10
God has given us natural senses to touch, taste, smell, hear
and feel the things of the natural realm. In the same way, God has provided a
spiritual creation for us, the spiritual senses to experience the spiritual
world. That is why we have an inner man with inner ears, eyes and other senses
on the inside of us. In fact, because it is eternal, the spiritual realm is even
more real than the physical realm. Everything that we have in the natural
earthly realm came out of the invisible realm.
When we were born again at the moment of our salvation, we
received the most important and powerful gift in the universe, Jesus Christ and
the Holy Spirit. In other words we have God Himself now living in us along with
all the power, anointing, revelation and glory of heaven. We are also now seated
with Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly places. We
are now complete in Christ but we need to totally yield to the Holy Spirit in
every ways so that we can grow and consume every soulish and fleshly area of our
lives and be all that we can be and have all that we can have! As believers, we
are sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. We are "masters of all." But we need
to grow up and mature so that we can operate in our inheritance and rule in the
kingdom. We need to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ; that we should no longer be children. God’s word is
unchanging:
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you
have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of
milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food
belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews
5:12-14
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual
people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with
solid food; for until now you are not able to receive it, and even now you are
still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and
divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" 1
Corinthians 3:1-3
We need to eat the solid food of heaven including the Word of
God, divine and secret mysteries, and have the great power and anointing from
the Holy Spirit, and the very glory of God as our own atmosphere! And God has
given us the five-fold ministry so that the body of Christ might grow into a
mature man with the fullness of Christ and no longer be children. We need to
exercise our spiritual senses, become more familiar with the spiritual realm
through intimacy with God, and become mature spiritual people full of His
fullness! We don’t need to become quite old physically and still be a baby
spiritually. If we limit how much of God we can have and express or what He can
or cannot do in our hearts and lives we will remain babes and not mature sons of
God. We need to ask God to overshadow us with His Spirit and cause His Kingdom
within us to grow and expand and have dominion over every area of our lives. We
need to allow Him to demonstrate His character, His Glory, and His power in
us.
Fear, ignorance, unbelief, apathy and other things keep us
from constantly living in God’s supernatural realm. The spiritual realm is as
real as the natural realm and by the Spirit it’s just as easy to walk and live
in that supernatural reality as it is in the natural reality. Our heart's cry
should be we want heaven to touch the earth. We want heavenly glory. We want to
open up the windows of heaven and we want to live in the supernatural provision
of God's grace, power and presence. The Kingdom of God is not in word only but
in power. And we need to see the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power. And
we need to walk in God's power.
We need to believe in what God is now releasing by the power
of His Spirit—the prophetic word, angels, dreams, the realities of the
spiritual realm, the manifestation of heaven touching earth and people being
healed and set free. By the power of faith and believing we can ask God to open
up the spiritual realm and release the power of God, favor and resources into
our lives and we shall receive. Believing is the door that opens up the
spiritual realm and that brings heaven; it's the entrance through which heaven
touches earth and through which miracles, signs and wonders come. God’s word is
unchanging:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there
among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks
for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in
heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews
4:16
'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and
mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Colossians
3:1
The Bible encourages us to set our mind on things above where
Christ is seated. Yes, we need to get your mind high up there. Get our mind
heavenly minded. Get our mind thinking about how real it is in heaven and that
that realm is more real than the world that we live in. And we will experience
demonic powers and principalities for the Devil is real and he really does want
to kill, steal and destroy. But thank God there are more for us in the heavenly
realm than those who are against us and Jesus Christ leads us constantly in
victory over all our enemies. However we need to wait upon God and take time to
listen what He has to say to us and act on what He tells us. Because we are in
Christ, we live under an open heaven just like Jesus did after He came up from
the waters of baptism and the heavens opened and the dove came down. We
understanding the reality of the spiritual realm and walking with the
expectation that it is accessible to us, to every believer. As a full heir of
the spiritual kingdom we should be touching, tasting, hearing, seeing and
feeling what is going on in heaven for we are just as much a spiritual being as
a natural being.
The true church of Jesus Christ should be involved in the
changing of weather patterns, the cleansing of lepers, the raising of dead, the
casting out of demons, the healing of sickness and disease as well as seeing of
dreams and visions. We are to be a sign; we are to be a living epistle of God
and the supernatural realm should spill out of our lives and break into the
natural realm everywhere we go. We are made for signs and wonders and we are
called to carry around us an activity of heaven that creates signs and shows
manifestations of heaven touching earth. There is an absence of sin, sickness,
disease, death and poverty in heaven and so should it be the same in our lives.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to come and touch us and heal us and our
spiritual senses so we can touch heaven and God with our spiritual sense. We are
to be carriers of signs and wonders. God has called us to live in the place of
"as it is in heaven" and to walk in the anointing of the spirit of wisdom and
revelation. God’s word is unchanging:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached
Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits,
crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were
paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts
8:5-8
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas
and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them
among the Gentiles. Acts 15:12
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that
even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the
diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts
19:11-12
Yes, we are a natural creation but we are also a spiritual
creation. And God wants to give us that spirit of wisdom and revelation and
enlighten the eyes of our understanding is for the knowledge of Him and He wants
us to live in that intimate place now rather than when we die. We are to enjoy
the presence and power of God every day and have Him speak to us at all times.
We need to cultivate a lifestyle of seeking for and living in the presence of
the Lord and having various levels of visions and revelation and smelling the
fragrances of heaven. Often it's the natural that keeps us from the heavenly—it
keeps us from the fullness of everything we have in God and which is promised in
scripture. There will always be a war between our flesh and a war between our
spirit.
Many saints of old had thrown away their prophetic destinies
because they ended up despising prophecy. They just abandoned them. Others tried
to keep their prophecies by fighting the good fight of faith, but when the
battle became fierce they ran away. When the temptations of the world came, the
Christian warriors just left their post, all their prophetic words and dreams.
Whole churches and movements, cities, nations and individuals walked away from
their vision, abandoning their dreams! But God is in the restoration business
and He wants to restore to us all things not only financial wealth but great
spiritual wealth including fulfillment of our dreams and prophecies. He wants to
release the resurrection life of Jesus in every place where there has been death
in our lives including the death of our dreams. He wants to breathe in every
dream and every vision and remove every cap that we have so that we can lift
that vision higher. He wants us to dream big dreams and see every true prophetic
word or promise come to pass in the name of Jesus. He wants us to call forth
those things that be not as those they are and release them from the realm of
the spirit today. God’s word is unchanging:
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed
on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you
the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And
He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6
Chapter 19
For Profit Mix With Faith
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. Hebrews 4:1-3
The children of Israel after they were delivered from their
oppressors, the Egyptians, didn’t go into the promised land but wandered in the
wilderness until they dropped dead because they believed the evil report of the
cowardly spies who themselves died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua and
Caleb who fully followed the Lord along with their households went into the
Promised Land. It’s also a fact that when God walked the earth as the Son of Man
and Son of God in Christ Jesus He didn’t do much miracles where there was
unbelief. The bible records:
And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in
their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get
this wisdom and these mighty works? "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not
His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? "And
His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these
things?" So they were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor
except in his own country and in his own house." Now He did not do many mighty
works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:54-58
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 6:6-7
The problem we have today is that too many of God’s people
are listening to pastors, priests and preachers who know only slightly more than
them. They listen to pastors, priests and preachers who have a form of godliness
but deny its power. Pastors, priests and preachers who don’t do what Jesus has
commanded them to do:
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 16:14-20
It’s a fact that people need real miracles and healing and
not just words that are dead the moment they are spoken because they don’t have
life in them. Life comes from God and His Spirit and not from them. Life gives
life and not just empty promises of a pie in the sky! God’s word is
unchanging:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man
attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him
in your midst, as you yourselves also know- Acts 2:22
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached
Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits,
crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were
paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts
8:5-8
Phillip was not an apostle but an ordinary layman filled with
faith and the Spirit of God to serve upon the widows. And if Philip could have a
miracle ministry than any pastors, priest and preacher can if He is a true man
of God. For the same Spirit that was on Jesus is available to be on all His
servants. God’s word is unchanging:
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a
Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The
Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of
the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the
hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide
with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod
of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His
waist. Isaiah 11:1-5
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed
Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set
at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the
LORD." Luke 4:18-19
Yes, the same anointing that was upon David, Jesus and all
the Apostles is to be on all of God’s servants today! Yes, they can have the
same Spirit of the LORD resting upon them, the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the LORD. As a result their delight will be in the fear of the
LORD, and they shall not judge by the sight of their eyes, nor decide by the
hearing of their ears; But by the Spirit of the LORD with righteousness they
shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; they
shall strike the earth with the rod of their mouths, And with the breath of
their lips they shall slay the wicked. God’s word is
unchanging:
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not
to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He
said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you
shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him,
saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said
to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in
His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:4-8
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the
gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no
effect. 1 Corinthians 1:17
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with
excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my
speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Chapter 20
Give Attention To My Words
"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice
of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command
you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the
earth. "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because
you obey the voice of the LORD your God: "Blessed shall you be in the city, and
blessed shall you be in the country. "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body,
the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your
cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Blessed shall be your basket and your
kneading bowl. "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be
when you go out. Deuteronomy 28:1-6
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
For those who give attention to God’s words, incline their
ear to His sayings, and observe His commandments by the Spirit of God Abraham’s
blessings of health, wealth, success and prosperity will come upon them. It’s in
the word of God and God doesn’t lie though others do! Mind you the carnal ones
don’t believe God’s word. But God’s word is unchanging:
They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world,
and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is
not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit
of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone
who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God,
for God is love. 1 John 4:5-8
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in
him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has
been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears
has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:15-18
We live and walk in God and in His love which has been
perfected among us. As He is, so are we in this world. We live and walk in love,
not fear! There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. We are of
God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this
we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. If we love one another,
God abides in us and we have eternal life. God’s word is
unchanging:
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we
love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever
hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life
abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this
world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him,
how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in
word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:14-18
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal
life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 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 5:11-15
God has commandment us that we should believe on the name of
His Son Jesus Christ and love one another. And we know that we have passed from
death to life, because we love the brethren. But he who does not love his
brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and no
murderer has eternal life abiding in him. However we know that we abide in
God, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit amd we love one
another.
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
US…"
"The Kingdom of God is WITHIN US…"
"The Spirit of truth will dwell WITH US and IN
US…"
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
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
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,
whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not
confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the
spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in
the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John
4:2-4
Yes, if God be for us, who can be against us? God is in us
now; the Master of creation is in us! Greater is He that is in us than all the
forces that can be arrayed against us including poverty, lack, bills, sickness,
disease, demons, and frail mortal men. We can with boldness proclaim “You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with
oil; My cup runs over. (Psalm 23:5)! For His anger is but for a moment, His
favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning
(Psalm 30:5). Yes, we are filled with joy and victory because God has taken us
over; He is fighting all our battles.” We are not afraid of circumstances
because we can do all things in Him who strengthens us. And He is not only our
strength but He is at our right hand. He is our salvation, our shield, our
defender, our rewarder, our all. He gives us light in the dark and songs in the
night. He is our present help in trouble, our salvation, our deliverance from
every trap the enemy sets for us, from, every snare in which he would enslave
us. God is the strength of our life, of whom shall we be afraid?” We are not
afraid of anything! We have no fear because this God of Omnipotence is on our
side.
We have a redemption that God planned and wrought in Christ.
We are a new creation of which God, Himself, is the Author and the Finisher. We
have a righteousness that permits us to stand in His presence as
though sin had never been done. We have not only have righteousness reckoned to
us we have righteousness imparted to us in the new nature that we have
received from Him. We have received His nature His life. And in this life and
nature is-the Life of God. This makes us righteous even as He is
righteous.
Chapter 21
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 woders 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 22
Double Honor
'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you
came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' "For thus
says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven
and earth, the sea and dry land; 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall
come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says
the LORD of hosts. 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD
of hosts. 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,'
says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of
hosts." Haggai 2:5-9
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the
former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of
many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of
the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be
named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You
shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion
they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess
double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. Isaiah 61:4-7
God has promised that our latter days shall be better than
the former. He has promised to give us double honor in every place we have been
put to shame and to make us great and rich. But everything we receive from God
we receive by faith. Based on God’s word and promises, we believe for whatsoever
we desire that His word says we can have. Whatever things we ask when we pray,
we believe that we receive them, and we will have them (Mark 11:24). Through
the mighty name of Jesus and faith in God we call those things which are
nonexistent into existence through the power of faith. 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. Hebrew
11:1-3
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For
assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast
into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things
he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you
will have them. Mark 11:22-24
God created Adam and Eve in the beginning not only to live
healthy, wealth and prosperous lives but to have dominion in the earthly realm,
to have authority to make decrees on earth. However the devil deceived them and
caused them not only to disobey God's instructions, but to steal their dominion
from them (Genesis 3). Their real failure caused all of us to live inferior and
defeated lives, to suffer under the curse of sin and to lose our dominion over
the earth. We also lost the power to make kingly decrees.
However God did not leave us in this helpless estate forever!
He sent Jesus Christ to redeem and rescue us (Isaiah 53). And He gave us His
living word to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy and wisdom
and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews. 4:16).
God not only restored all things that we had lost but has
given us a better dominion than in the beginning. Our dominion includes the
physical and spiritual dominion where we can take authority over the devil in
the heavenly realm. As sons of God and joint heirs of God, we have been given
the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever we bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. We can also
speak to any mountain and say 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and it will
be done. But for many of God’s people this doesn’t work because they have failed
to heed what Jesus told them:
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in
Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide
in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and
throw them into the fire, and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My
disciples. John 15:4-8
We are to look to and abide in Jesus and His words and then
we can make decrees that will work for God 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. So everything must bow at the decrees
that are spoken in Jesus name as we speak what the Father tells us to speak.
It’s to be noted that we have no choice but to abide in
Christ or we will be defeated and even destroyed by the onslaught of the enemy
that will come against us from Satan who is very jealous of us. 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 we must take up the whole armor of
God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand (Ephesians 6:12-13). God’s word is unchanging:
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
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
Everything that we get from God including the new birth must
be first conceived in our spirit and then proclaimed with our mouth. But we
cannot conceive in our spirit what has not been revealed to us! Hence we need to
ask God to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance, 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.
Through anointed eyes and ears we need to learn to access the
realm of heaven and live in the presence of God. We need to be marked by an
element of heavenly DNA and atmosphere that we will carry with us so that the
people might know and sense that we have been with God and heaven is our
dwelling place. And for this we will even require many angelic visitations from
the realm of heaven! God’s word is unchanging:
Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So
he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set.
And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay
down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up
on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were
ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I
am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which
you lie I will give to you and your descendants. "Also your descendants shall
be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east,
to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the
earth shall be blessed. "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you
go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have
done what I have spoken to you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,
"Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:10-16
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and
ministered to Him. Matthew 4:11
But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right
hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews
1:13-14
We need an encounter with Jesus and with angels to see the
promises of God’s word fulfilled in our hearts and lives. The rational ascent
and belief in the Word of God will not cut it. Scriptures are meant to lead us
to a supernatural encounter with God and His Son, His Holy Spirit and His
angels. God’s word is unchanging:
"But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He
sent, Him you do not believe. "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think
you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. "But you are not
willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:38-40
Mighty promises of God in the bible are birthed and
manifested on earth through those are who in direct fellowship with God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Believers can't just go to the Word
and claim the Lord's promises and expect to see it happen just because they read
them. God’s word says that we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3). The only way to see spiritual
blessings in heavenly places turned into manifestations of blessing in the
natural realm is to access the heavenly places and bring them back with us. Our
promises are accessed in the heavenly realm where we are seated with Christ!
Each time we have an encounter with the Lord we are filled with more of His
fullness and carry more of His presence and we are changed from glory to glory.
And from the glory that comes upon us and who we are in Christ we do things as
we He made us accepted in the Beloved, we are "highly favored" ones who have
been freely blessed. With our deep intimate fellowship resulting in heavenly
encounters with the Lord we therefore take dominion and destroy the works of the
devil by the power of God. We have been given free access to the Throne of
Grace (Hebrews. 4:16) and encouraged to seek the things above (Colossians 3:1-3)
and have the Holy Spirit will come upon us and the power of the Highest
overshadow us (Luke 1:35).
In the intimacy with the Holy Spirit anything and everything
is possible but without Him we can do and are nothing. Jesus Christ was totally
dependent on the Holy Spirit for all things and so should we be. We must get to
know the Holy Spirit! We are not to be afraid to worship the Third "Person" of
the Godhead in addition to the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit is just as much
God as the Father and the Son. God consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We
need the intimacy of the Spirit for those who develop an intimate relationship
and exchange with Holy Spirit will have the strongest anointing and power in
their lives and ministry for it's the Holy Spirit that brings the manifestation
of heaven to earth! Yes, we need to fellowship with God, the Father, God, the
Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, for then we will have our delight in the
Almighty, and lift up our face to God. Then we will make our prayer to Him, He
will hear us, and we will pay our vows. We will also declare a thing, and it
will be established for us. God’s word is unchanging:
"Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby
good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up
His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents. Then you will lay your gold in
the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 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. When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then
He will save the humble person. Job 22:21-29
We need to press into God as never before and get to know and
experience Him more in all His facets. Then the glory of heaven, the deposits of
heaven, will rest on us and will simply overflow and people will be filled with
the Holy Spirit and be blessed by us. We will be vessels who cause heaven to
invade earth. God’s word is unchanging:
"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men
shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into
blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall
come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said,
Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. Joel 2:28-32
Chapter 23
The God Of Peace
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of
the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with
you." John 20:19
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and
may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
God has made us spirit, soul and body and we are supposed to
function in the spirit world all the time. But ever since man sinned, the soul
of man has degenerated into a mere natural function and we have neglected the
spiritual function of our soul. We need to be able to know how to move into the
spirit realm and how to get back into the natural realm. God made us to be
spiritual beings that also live in the natural world. In the natural world we
have five senses to relate to the natural world. The sense of sight, the sense
of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of taste and the sense of touch. These
five natural senses relate to the natural world. They are senses that are part
and parcel of our physical body. We also have the spirit man. Our spirit was
created to relate to the spirit world. We have taught before that there are five
spiritual senses. Just as in the natural, so is the same in the spiritual. In
fact, the spiritual came before the natural. There is the spiritual sense of
sight, spiritual sense of taste, spiritual sense of smell, spiritual sense of
hearing, and spiritual sense of touch.
Regarding the spiritual senses, the bible talks about the
eyes of our understanding, the inner eyes of our spirit and seeing with the eyes
of our spirit. The bible talks about hearing the Word that causes faith. He that
has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. He is talking
about spiritual hearing. There is a spiritual sense of taste. O taste and see
that the Lord is good. Spiritual sense of smell is found in Phil. 4 where the
offerings that Paul received from the Philippians were a sweet savor onto the
Lord. There is a spiritual sense of touch. There is a spirit of heaviness and
there is a spirit of liberty. With our spirit, we relate to the spirit world.
With our physical bodies, we relate to the physical world. How our mind is set
determines whether we can move into the anointing or not. When our mind is set
on the things of the Spirit, we are in a position where we can yield to the
things of God. When our soul breaks into the spirit realm, it’s easy to break
through. It just takes a yielding of the soul to the things of the spirit to
break into the spirit realm. It looks hard but it’s easy. The renewal of the
mind takes time. But the yielding of the mind is instantly decided by our will.
To yield is an act. To renew is a continuous process.
What God wants from us is to obey first then understand.
Whatever happens to the soul determines how much our soul can move in the
spirit. When our mind is not set on the spirit world, we are just in the natural
world. It takes a lot out of us to get into the spirit. But if the spirit realm
becomes a realm that we are acquainted with, we can move in the spirit and in
the natural world quite easily. And in the spirit realm is where we find peace.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom (both adjective and
substantive), meaning, primarily, "soundness," "health," "prosperity,"
well-being in general, all good in relation to both man and God. Yes, God wants
peace and prosperity to be within our walls and palaces. He wants His people and
His church to be sound, healthy, wealthy, and prosperous and have favor with God
and with men. And this is not done for them not by the works of the flesh but by
the anointing and grace of God which He freely gives to those who believe Him
for it!
The touch of God, the fire of God and the presence of God
does more for us than anything else in this universe. And it’s the pearl of
great price that Jesus talked about, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant seeking beautiful pearls, "who, when he had found one pearl of great
price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46). It’s God
Spirit and presence that is important and moves out the mountains in our lives
through grace and not other things. God’s word is unchanging:
Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me,
"Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and
said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by
power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great
mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth
the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' " Zechariah
4:5-6
Only the Spirit and function of the Holy Spirit can remove
every hindrance and obstacle in our lives and make something out of nothing!
Only the Holy Spirit does something so supernatural from nothing to something by
the Spirit called grace, grace, just like God created heaven and earth out of
nothing and sustains it by grace! But we must do our part by cooperating with
God and doing whatever He tells us to see our miracles. God’s word is
unchanging:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and
the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to
the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him,
"They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to
do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants,
"Whatever He says to you, do it."
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to
the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons
apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled
them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the
master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted
the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the
servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the
bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good
wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the
good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John
2:1-11
Mary told said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do
it." And when they did what Jesus told them to do they saw a miracle. For many
reasons including ignorance, fear, and unbelief, God’s people are not doing what
God’s word has told them to do because don't understand the power in the
declarations: "Exaltation will come," and "Decree a thing and it will be
established" (Job22:28-29). Our ministering angels carry out our earthly
prophetic decrees which line up with the truth of God's word and His will. When
we declare "Restore!" "Restore!" Then the angels in heaven are released to
execute this decree! God’s word is unchanging:
But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are
snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no
one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!" Isaiah
42:22
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done
marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open
pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the
vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in
the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will
cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the
first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall
overflow with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the
swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the
chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty
and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt
wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall
know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no
other. My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:21-27
Yes, God wants to save and bring restoration to the humble,
His people and His church. Yes this is the day of God’s vengeance on our enemies
and the year of His favor ones. This is our acceptable year, liberation, Jubilee
and our victory! When through our faith we release God to save the humble and
to deliver those who are bound exaltation comes to us. When we say, "Restore!"
we release God's 'repairer of the breach' anointing (Isaiah 58:12) which causes
everything in our lives that is lost and broken to be restored—the thief must
repay God's people.
Yes we can let the angelic hosts overcome every demonic power
or stronghold and every assignment that is aimed against our inheritances! Yes
we can throw it down! We can take authority concerning our kingship over every
power that resists. Yes, restoration happens when we declare, "Restore!"
"Restore!" "Exaltation comes!" And we will see breakthroughs in every area of
our lives including receiving our inheritance and stepping into our destiny. We
will experience prosperity in our businesses; even the number of businesses
increase. Yes, the Lord will rebuke the enemy who brings sickness and disease by
stealing, killing and destroying. He will turn all the negative things around in
our live and give us justice where there is injustice, make the wrongs right and
the crook straight.
Yes, when we ascend the courts of heaven and petition the
Ancient of Days to come and pronounce judgment in our favor. We will that
receive supernatural intervention by God when events are out of our hands
because a higher court system has come into place when we approach His throne
and present our case to Him. Yes, we can begin to bring justice and mercy for
the poor and needy, the afflicted and the widow, with the Word of God in our
mouths. He gave us authority to set the captives free, in Jesus' Mighty name!
God’s word is unchanging:
"But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit
my cause- Who does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without
number. Job 5:8-9
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were
like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue
with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things
for them." The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad. Bring back
our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for
sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with
him. Psalm 126:1-6
Chapter 24
The Stone Had Been Rolled Away
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb
when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the
stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that
the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. And entering the tomb,
they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and
they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where
they laid Him. "But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you
into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." Mark
16:1-7
God has promised to go before His trusting ones and make the
crooked places straight; to break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars
of iron. He has promised to give them the treasures of darkness and hidden
riches of secret places, that they might know that He, the LORD, who calls them
by their name, is their God. He has promised to roll away all the stones that
prevent their victories and miracles from coming forth. His word is
unchanging:
'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I
will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give
you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may
know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. Isaiah
45:2-3
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
Yes, God in Christ Jesus has promised to fight for His
trusting ones according to all that He did for His people in Egypt where God
judged and plagued and dismayed a whole nation along with Pharaoh’s with
destructive miracles, signs and wonders. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
using a murderer named Moses saw the oppression of His people n Egypt, knew
their sorrows and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, and had
come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up
from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.
The king of Egypt would not let His people go, not even by a
mighty hand, so God stretched out His hand and struck Egypt with all His
wonders and caused Pharaoh to let them even saying to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the
LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. "So I say to you, let My son go that he
may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your
firstborn (Exodus 4:22-23). He gave His people favor in the sight of the
Egyptians and when they went they did not go empty-handed but plundered the
Egyptians. And to ensure their safety and peace and to avenge them He caused
Pharaoh with his mighty army to purse His people and then He destroyed them as a
result miraculously at the Red sea where God miraculously parted the waters and
enabled His people to safely cross on dry land to the other side. And then He
closed the same waters on their enemies and caused them all to drown. God’s word
is unchanging:
Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD
looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud,
and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. And He took off their chariot
wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, "Let us
flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the
Egyptians."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the
sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on
their horsemen." And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the
morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were
fleeing into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the
army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them
remained. But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the
sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel
saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in
Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant
Moses. Exodus 14:24-31
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the
LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed
gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my
strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will
praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war;
The LORD is His name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the
sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. The depths have
covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. "Your right hand, O LORD,
has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in
pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who
rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.
Exodus 15:1-7
The same God whose right hand is glorious in power and dashed
the enemy in pieces, consuming them like a stubble, has promised to fight for
His trusting ones and to give them victory over all their enemies (Deuteronomy
20:1-4, 28:1-15, 33:26-29). He has promised their enemies would submit to them,
and they shall tread down their high places. He has promised to give them every
place that the sole of their foot will tread upon; no man shall be able to stand
before them all the days of their life; as He was with Moses, so He will be with
them. He would not leave them nor forsake them and would be with them wherever
they go (Joshua 1:4-9). He has promised to do whatever they ask in Jesus name
(John 14:13-14, 15:16, 16:23-26). 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
"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. John
14:12-17
Though we walk in the midst of trouble, God will revive us;
He will stretch out His hand against the wrath of our enemies, and His right
hand will save us and give us concrete victory over all our enemies. The LORD
will perfect that which concerns us and we will do the works that Jesus did and
great works also because God, Himself, is for us, with us and not against us.
It’s to be noted that God’s character and nature does not change just because we
had a bad day. He doesn’t stop loving us just because we were overcome in some
area. He doesn’t disqualify us because we made a wrong turn or didn’t heed His
voice again telling us what to do or where to go. He doesn’t become angry with
us when we become tired and discouraged. He doesn’t disown us because we require
His correction. His love and care for us is constant and there is no searching
of His understanding. His word is unchanging:
Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these
things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the
greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. Why
do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, And
my just claim is passed over by my God"? 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 40:26-31
When circumstances are negative in our lives, it is not a
sign of God’s displeasure with us. On the contrary sometimes God allows us to
experience attack so that we can learn to war and to overcome the enemy and be
dependent on the LORD and not ourselves. So that we can see great and wonderful
victories just like the bewildered and besieged children of Israel did at the
Red Sea where God miraculously made a way where there was no way and in the
process destroyed their enemies. Yes, there are times when God appears to silent
to our cries for a season because He wants us to learn to stand in faith and to
trust in His goodness, His love and His faithfulness which He has demonstrated
to us over and over again and see the great and wonderful things that He will do
for us. God’s word is unchanging:
And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted
their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very
afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to
Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in
the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? "Is
this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may
serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the
Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the
people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which
He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you
shall see again no more forever. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall
hold your peace." Exodus 14:10-14
God is our loving Father and He will always remain our loving
Father. That is part of His nature and that is Who He is. He does not change.
He doesn’t behave towards us like a human. He is not a man and His ways are far
above the ways of man. He is not fickle. A bruised reed He doesn’t break and
smoking flax He doesn’t quench. He doesn’t abandon His children because they
have gotten lost once again or misread His signs and direction. He doesn’t
remove His calling and anointing on them because had failed once again or were
discouraged by the enemy. No! He loves them at all times and forever and they
must stop listening to the lies and accusations of the enemy.
He has adopted them into His family and has put His
indwelling Spirit within them. He has shown them His faithfulness, and His
mercies are now every morning. He has demonstrated His love and His forgiveness
to them. While circumstance might change He doesn’t change. He is the same
yesterday today and forever – faithful and true and dependable and full of
integrity. Just because they go through difficulties and trials doesn’t negate
any of His promises towards them. He is still the great Deliverer, Redeemer and
Restore of His people who break the strong gates of iron that have been over His
people.
In due season He brings release from the hand of the
oppressor and with His strong hand rids His people of the giants in their land.
He makes them victorious people to rise to the occasion and walk in His freedom
and in the Jubilee season. He increases the anointing in their lives so that the
yoke of the enemy over them can be broken. He teaches them to know that it is
not by might or power but only His Spirit that they can live, breathe and have
their being and success and victories. He rains down His Holy Spirit afresh upon
His trusting ones to give them season of refreshing. They learn from His gentle
hand that He is their provision and their everything. They learn to know His
Spirit as their Sustainer and their source of Strength. They come to understand
the concept of His being the vine and them being the branches and the fact that
without Him they are disconnected and without stable ground.
As they remain in Christ and allow Him to be their source, He
leads them their abundance and give them all the wisdom that they need. He has
paid the price for their total salvation, healing, abundance, victories and
prosperity. He teaches them to war in the Spirit on a higher level than they
have known and to serve Him out of love for Him. He wants what is best for them
at all times for they are precious to him. He desires that they be healed body
soul and spirit and be blessed financially. Though the world may despise them
and use them, He is able to sustain them and lead them through it as they hear
His voice and heed the call He has placed upon them.
God’s true ones don’t allow the circumstances that surround
them affect their faith in Him. They don’t allow them to effect their sense of
well-being or their relationship with the LORD. They don’t allow circumstances
to define them but instead look to His character, faithfulness and goodness.
Mind you for many of God’s people provision is a word God’s children don't fully
understand. It’s difficult for them to rely on God when they have so long
trusted in the toil of their hands and the sweat of their brows. But God’s hand
will provide to those who trust in Him. His provision can be in an instant and
His timing is perfect. It gives God great pleasure as their Heavenly Father to
provide their needs as they than and praise Him for it. He causes their spirit
to soar like an eagle far above all power and principalities and to reach out to
the brethren with love and encouragement so that they can overcome in the
onslaughts of the enemy. He wants to bring all His children into victory and not
just some special few.
He wants to teach them not to give up on Him promises to them
when they see no positive results to their prayers, especially when it looks
like things are getting worse. They need just to stand on His word which is the
truth for everything else is a lie. They are not to go by what they feel or
see, but by what they believe in their heart through His word given to them. The
enemy is defeated in their life if they stand on what He did at Calvary and not
lose vision of His victory when they see things growing worse around them. The
best is yet to come. In the heavenly realm they are seated with Christ at the
right hand of the Father and can rejoice and reach out a helping hand to those
in need and give encouraging word to those who feel defeated. They can share
His love, peace and joy for their God is in control and He reigns as King of
kings and Lord of lords forever. They can pray with faith believing that God
will hear and answer all their prayers and enjoy the spoils of war just like the
children of Israel did and so did Hannah. God’s word is
unchanging:
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
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 4:4-16
Yes, God’s true anointed ones are mighty men of War who
through faith subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtained promises and do
great exploits. They pull down the strongholds that are effecting God’s people
for many don't know how to war for themselves and need those who will stand in
the gap and roar on their behalf. They let out mighty power of God’s love that
repels the powers of darkness so that many can receive His love. Many are so
bound with deception that they don't even know that they are bound in chains and
fetters and the enemy must be commanded to let God's people go. God’s anointed
ones follow the leading in the fight of their Commander in chief. They are full
of compassion, and do not stop warring until they know in their hearts that they
have conquered the land. Their travail is not in vain as they hold on to their
faith in God’s word and promises and do let go of them until they get their
mighty breakthrough. They don’t look at circumstances stating that things are
growing worse and that they have lost the fight. They don't believe the lies of
the enemy by confess that the nations are their inheritance. God’s word is
unchanging:
Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your
inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. Psalm
2:8
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, Hebrews 11:29-33
I Am For You
Gerdi Marais (gm@raphacareer.co.za)
Do not lose hope! Do not give up and do not despair! For I
am your hope!
I am your future and I am your breakthrough!
Breakthrough is near. I have made the way and will keep on
making the way.
Do not despair. Do not lose hope. Only keep your eyes on Me.
I will not fail you. I will not let you down. What has been
promised will come to pass.
Am I a man that I should lie? Behold I am God of the
Universe, the Creator
of heaven & earth. Is anything too difficult for
Me?
I tell you the truth. Your breakthrough is near.
Do not lose hope. Do not lose focus. Salvation is near.
Only believe. Only keep beholding Me.
I will bring you through. I am for you, not against you and I
will
bring you into a future and hope that is good and not evil.
Trust Me and let Me carry you through. Do not lose
hope.
Chapter 25
'They Shall Not Enter My Rest'
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let
us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was
preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit
them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have
believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They
shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation
of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this
way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; and again in this
place: "They shall not enter My rest." Hebrews 4:1-5
God is trying His people like fire that purifies pure gold.
God tests many of His children to see what kind of character that they have at
this time of their life. How does a person know what he is made of unless he is
are tested? Many are failing the test but at the same time many are beginning
to see that there are major adjustments that need to be made in their character
and makeup. Unless they are tested they don’t know what kind of faith that they
have. Is it true faith based on the character and fruit of His Son, or is it
faith based on head knowledge only? Once they begin to see where they are
lacking, they need to repent and begin to dive into God’s word even deeper to
get His word really grounded in their heart so that nothing by any means can
shake them.
Some fall asleep in peace like Jesus in the bough of the ship
while the disciples cried out for their lives. They didn't follow the example
of their Lord and lie down in peace knowing that He was in complete control and
that they would be safe. Why would their Lord lead them out to sea knowing that
a dangerous storm was out there to destroy them? God’s people must let the Lord
lead them and guide them into all truth. And at the same time they must allow
Him to crucify their flesh so that they would only rejoice in time of trial
being content with all that they have. Each trial will bring them closer to
the mark that they will need to bear. Each trial through the fire of God’s love
will purge their heart of all that is not of God.
God is the God of Miracles and of extraordinary things. Hence
His people must walk in His grace
and peace and not limit Him in any way especially by their
head. He is the God of the impossible and He must be released by faith do the
impossible especially by dreaming big and let Him fulfill all that He has placed
inside of His trusting ones. Yes, God’s people must let God be God, dream big
and flow with His Spirit and not resist His Spirit. Opportunities in God are
endless for He is without limit and from everlasting to everlasting for those
who have been and will keep on being empowered by His Spirit.
Men judge God and others by themselves and the way they have
been treated. But God is God and He is not a man. His store houses are full with
all that His trusting ones need. When they ask He does not give sparingly and He
doesn’t count all the blessings as if they are limited. His store houses are
full and He is God who gives and all they need to do is ask. And in due season
as they hold on and look only to the LORD the heavens will open and pour water
and blessings upon the dry and thirsty land. And then their dry rivers will
overflow and burst from their banks.
Yes, God has promised the abundant life full of prosperity
and health for who dwell in Him with a pure heart and bless others. But they
must commit all things into His hands. Let go and allow His ministry flow
through them to prosper, for only those things they commit to Him will dwell in
safety. He will only prosper the fruit of His hands, and all else He will
destroy.
Yes, God always gives the needed rains and breakthroughs in
due season. So His children don’t have to accept defeat and despair for God will
give them life and victory and peace and joy. But they must fight for their
promised land and He will be with them in the battle to support them and make
them as they depend on Him. But they must wield their sword, the Word of God, in
obedience to His commands to defeat the enemy of their soul and to push aside
any hindrances that keep them from walking in the destiny that He has prepared
for them. They must not be like first generation of the children of Israel who
weren’t willing to obey God to go fight for their promise, and they did not
receive it. They chose to allow fear and disobedience to
rule over them. And all that yielded them as a result was useless wandering in
the desert. They died without receiving their promise and they never walked in
their destiny.
But Joshua and Caleb trusted God because they had a different
Spirit and crossed over the Jordan and to enter into the Promised Land. They
fought at God’s command and instruction and He thrust them into victory after
victory and gave them all that He promised them. And the LORD will do the same
for all those who look to Him for their all. Nothing can prevent God’s obedient
trusting ones from possessing the promises that He has made to them, for He will
surely perform it on their behalf as they step forward in obedience. The best is
yet to come and God’s Spirit is still to be poured out. And people everywhere
will be drenched in His glory. Every dry place will become saturated. There will
be no getting away from the powerful flow. A flow that will bless some people
and destroy those who have hardened their hearts against God’s once again. Those
who will humble themselves and repent shall be greatly place but those who don’t
will be destroyed by the forces of darkness who seek to destroy them. God’s word
is unchanging:
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened
himself against Him and prospered. Job 9:4
"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the
day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me,
though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know
My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' "Do not
harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the
wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My
work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, 'It is a
people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.' So I swore
in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' " Psalm 95:9-11
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ' These
things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: "I know your works, and where
you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not
deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was
killed among you, where Satan dwells. "But I have a few things against you,
because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak
to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed
to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. "Thus you also have those who hold
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 'Repent, or else I will
come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
Revelation 2:12-16
Yes, God doesn’t want to spew people out of His mouth, but if
they don’t repent He will. He will come to them quickly will fight against them
with the sword of His mouth. But to those who come before Him and pour out a
heart that longs for repentance and change, He will bless them with His presence
like never before. He will take their hand and heart and change it to having a
heart of love and compassion for His will and His ways. And then they will see
the signs and wonders following His true word. And then they will see the
multitudes come forth who seek after a word that is full of His grace and
truth. He will deliver them from complacency and apathy. He will heal their
land and bless them beyond their wildest dreams. They will bask in the rivers of
living water, and He will fill them to overflowing. They will excel in His
gifts, and they will once again see His truth and holiness reign among those who
are called by His name. But they must cast down their idols of pride and mammon
and just delight in having Him move in their presence. As they return to the
simplicity of just knowing and loving Him, and He will do the rest for HE IS
THEIR GOD and HE IS faithful. God’s 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
"Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that
your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now
the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and
those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30
Chapter 26
There Is Nothing Too Hard For God
'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the
earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for
You. Jeremiah 32:17
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there
anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27
There is nothing too hard for the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, for the God of all power. He is in control of human destiny and nothing
is able to overcome His purposes and intentions. He will accomplish His will in
the life of His trusting ones and He will keep His promises to them, even when
the promise is a long time in coming, just like He did for Abraham. God’s word
is unchanging:
Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he
said, "Here, in the tent." And He said, "I will certainly return to you
according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son."
(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 1 Now Abraham and
Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of
childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have
grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the LORD said to
Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am
old?' "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return
to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah
denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but
you did laugh!"
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 18:9-21
Yes, God will bless those who keep the way of the LORD, to do
righteousness and justice and He will curse those who do evil and wicked
things. God will take care of His own and He will protect them from their
enemies. He is the God of Israel, who heard their cry when bondage and
difficulty came upon them, and He raised up a deliverer for them. He is the God
of Moses, who performed signs and wonders and who caused the Red Sea to part
that His people might pass through on dry ground. He is the One who closed the
waters over the enemy that pursued them, delivering them from those who wished
to destroy them. He has not lost any of His strength or power and He will
likewise deliver His trusting ones today, for He is able to do so.
Hence God trusting ones don’t look at their difficulties and
be overcome by them but instead they look their LORD, their mighty deliverer who
is committed to take care of them. There is nothing that comes their way that
is too hard for Him! There is nothing in their life or situation that He cannot
handle! There is nothing that is too hard for God. He is God Almighty. He is
bigger than any of their problems and He is greater than any of their foes. He
is always willing to rise up on behalf of those who are called by His name, on
behalf of those who obey and honor Him. Just as He had delivered Judah from the
numerous soldiers who surrounded her when King Hezekiah looked to Him for help,
so He will deliver them. God’s word is unchanging:
I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock
and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the
LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm
18:1-3
Hence God’s trusting ones don’t fix their eyes upon the
problems, which only cause them anxiety and despair but instead they fix their
eyes firmly upon the LORD, their help and their deliverer. He is their God who
is with them and will take care of them, no matter what perils beset them. He is
willing and able to take care of them, to save them, to heal them, to deliver
them, to bless them and to prosper them. He will deliver them because He
delights in them. He will bring them out in to a brad place. As a result they
will experience abundance of life and they will experience His victory, for this
is what is have called them to. God’s word is unchanging:
The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His
voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the
foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the
sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O
LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from above, He took
me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From
those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the
day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a
broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me
according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has
recompensed me. Psalm 18:13-20
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is
proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the
LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me
on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a
bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right
hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. Psalm
18:30-35
A Season Of Abundance and Release
By Musa Opiyo
I am breaking the strong gates of iron that have been over My
people. I am bringing release says the Lord from the hand of the oppressor. No
longer shall you be stolen from or overpowered, for now I am come with My strong
hand to rid My people of the giants in their land. I now call you, My victorious
people to rise to the occasion and walk in My freedom. Walk in the Jubilee
season for what has held you back has been destroyed. You have My anointing that
has broken the yoke of the enemy. No longer shall My people groan under the
spirit of heaviness for I have released My Joy over you. Rejoice, even shout for
joy, for I have overcome all your trials and all that has beset you and I have
given you the victory. As you stand in My authority and walk in My presence, you
will see the dark clouds of discouragement and despair dissipate as My Son (Sun)
shines upon you. Along with My Son I am raining down My Holy Spirit afresh upon
My people to give you a season of refreshing.
For many of you, you have been in the desert where you have
been tried and tested by My Spirit. You have come to know that it is not by
might or power but only by My Spirit that you can live, breathe and have your
being. You have by experience come to know My Spirit as your Sustainer and your
source of Strength. That I AM your Provision. That I AM your Everything. Yes,
you have come to understand the concept of Me being the vine and you being the
branches and the fact that without Me you are disconnected and without stable
ground. It has not been easy but I have led you by My wisdom as you simply
trusted in My ability to lead you day by day. You are now coming to a season of
abundance both spiritually and physically yet My beloved the principle of
complete trust in Me is still vital. The enemy wants to distract you and lead
you into passivity while he plunders you, yet I call you to be alert concerning
his wiles. As you remain in Me and allow Me to be your source, I will lead you
to your abundance and give you the wisdom. I will open your eyes to what the
enemy is doing so that you pray accordingly and take action. For indeed the year
of 2005 will be a year of abundance, an expansion and an explosion of more. It
is also a year that I am training My people to war in the Spirit on a higher
level than they have known.
Be ready! Be strong and courageous and do not lose sight of
the vision. In all your endeavors I am with you guiding you by the Holy Spirit
if you will listen to My voice and take heed. Great things are coming for My
people says the Lord.
Chapter 27
Put On Love
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perfection. Colossions 3:14
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should
write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 1
Thessalonians 4:9
Jesus Christ, Himself, gave us His commandments to love one
another as He has loved us. And He also gave the Holy Spirit so that we can love
with God’s love and not our own fleshly love. Yes, the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).
Apostle Paul also told us in Romans 12:9-10 to love without hypocrisy. Abhor
what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with
brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. But if we show
partiality to others we are not loving but committing sin. And unconfessed and
unrepentant sin brings the judgment of God. God’s word is
unchanging:
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who
loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit
adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear
false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment,
are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of
the law. Romans 13:8-10
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the
Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you
show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty
of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."
Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a
transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the
law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:8-13
One of the reasons many of God’s people are not blessed by
God with perfect health and abundant wealth is because they have transgressed
the commandment of God that states “Owe no one anything except to love one
another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” If you really fulfill
the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are
convicted by the law as transgressors. Those who harm their neighbor by showing
partiality will not be blessed by God because of their lack of love and
hypocrisy is sin. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the
scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night.He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of
water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not
wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
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 1:21-27
Love is expressed by action, not just words. God so loved
that He gave His only begotten son. Those who love give of themselves of their
time, talents and money to the poor and needy. Hence another reason many of
God’s people are not blessed by God with perfect health and abundant wealth is
they are not doers of the word but hearers only, deceving themselves. God has
promised to bless and prosper those who are doers of the word, not those who are
just deceived religionists. 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. 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. … Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you
know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John
3:10-15
"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his
brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You
fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave
your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge,
the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
"Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have
paid the last penny. Matthew 5:22-26
Contrary to the doctrine of demons of once saved always
saved, whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does
not love his brother. Unrighteous people and does who hate the brethren don’t
have eternal life abiding in them. The LORD never goes where He is not invited
nor remains where He is not wanted. He has come and gone in many people's lives.
They have felt His passing but they continued on their way without Him and
wonder where He had gone? He went where He was wanted and received and loved.
He went where He was heeded. He went where love for one another was expressed in
deeds, not just words. God’s word is unchanging:
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning
together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the
first commandment of all?" Jesus answered him, "The first of all the
commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 'And you
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the
second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is
no other commandment greater than these." Matthew 12:28-31
And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was
moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew
14:14
"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things
says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of
the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and
that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they
are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered
and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become
weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first
love. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first
works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its
place-unless you repent. Revelations 2:1-5
Chapter 28
God Himself Fights For You
"And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have
seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do
to all the kingdoms through which you pass. 'You must not fear them, for the
LORD your God Himself fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:21-22
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. Hebrews 4:9-11
Fear robs God’s people of security and rest in the LORD who
has promised to fight for them no matter what enemy they might face. And enemies
do vary even daily – enemies such as poverty, lack, sickness, demons, and other
negative things. The bible teaches us that fear is a demonic spirit which
doesn’t come from God:
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
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. 1 Corinthians 1:8-11
We are not to be afraid of anything or anybody because we
trust not in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, and is the Great
Deliverer. We trust in God and has promised I will be with you. I will not leave
you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5).We are commanded to "Be strong
and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God,
He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake
you"(Deuteronomy 31:6). I f we given into fear we open the door to other evil
spirits including doubt, unbelief, lies. But God’s word is
unchanging:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power
of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your
waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having
shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking
the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in
the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication
for all the saints- Ephesians 6:10-18
Apostle Paul used the terms “the wiles of the devil” and “we
do not wrestle.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines wile and wrestle
as:
wile (wºl) n. 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or
ensnare. 2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure. 3. Trickery;
cunning. --wile tr.v. wiled, wil•ing, wiles. 1. To influence or lead by means of
wiles; entice. 2. To pass (time) agreeably.
wres•tle (rµs“…l) v. wres•tled, wres•tling, wres•tles.
--intr. 1. To contend by grappling and attempting to throw or immobilize one's
opponent, especially under contest rules. 2. To contend or struggle.
Wile also means “A clever, often devious means for achieving
an end: trick, maneuver, bluff, contrivance, device, beguilement, feint,
gimmick, ploy, ruse, sleight.” In sport to wrestle implies direct bodily contact
with the opponent. It means to struggle hand to hand against an opponent:
grapple, fight, scuffle, tussle. One of the wiles of the devil with results in
real contact is to bring sickness upon a person and financial losses just like
he did to Job. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant
Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one
who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job
fear God for nothing? "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his
household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work
of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. "But now, stretch
out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your
face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power;
only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of
the LORD.
Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating
and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; and a messenger came to Job
and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, "when the
Sabeans raided them and took them away-indeed they have killed the servants with
the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" While he was
still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven
and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have
escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another also came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes,
and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to
tell you!" While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons
and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
"and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four
corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I
alone have escaped to tell you!"
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he
fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's
womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken
away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:8-21
The devil, who is a believer and believes God’s word and what
He does, told the Lord “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his
household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work
of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” He acknowledged
that the Lord was the source of Job’s blessing, protection and even health. So
when he did his evil things and Job didn’t curse God, he told the Lord “But
stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely
curse You to Your face! The bible records:
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant
Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one
who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although
you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause."
So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all
that a man has he will give for his life. "But stretch out Your hand now, and
touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And
the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life." So
Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils
from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a
potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God
and die!" But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.
Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all
this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:3-10
It’s to be noted that no matter what Job went through he held
on to his faith in God that God would deliver him and heal him! And he was not
put to shame. It’s also to be noted that God’s power is greater than the devil
and He has to power not only to heal and deliver but to restore. The Word of God
records for our profit and instruction:
And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his
friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his
brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before,
came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and
comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one
gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the LORD blessed the
latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep,
six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female
donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. Job
42:10-13
The other important term that Paul uses concerning our bout
with the devil is “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth” for the
devil loves to play mind games as well as use different tricks, bluffs,
beguilements, ploys or ruses such as bringing real fear and affliction to a
person. Many Christians are seduced in their minds by the devil’s wiles! But
God’s word is unchanging:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in
him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has
been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears
has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. 1
John 4:15-19
Yes, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and
of love and of a sound mind and we are to swing the sword of the Spirit, the
Word of God, against the devil telling him what God’s word says about a matter
and not what things appear to be like. When he brings sickness upon us we tell
him “by Jesus stripes we are healed and God is our healer.” When he brings
troubles and problems upon us we tell him “the Lord is our deliverer and a very
present help in time of trouble.” When he brings fear and doubt upon us we tell
him “God has not given us the Spirit of fear and He makes our way perfect.” As a
Christian, there are fights of faith we must fight in this life by declaring
that what we have not seen is ours (Romans 4:17.) Despite the pressure, we must
make a confession of faith and maintain our confession, that we are a success,
we are the healed of God, and we are rich in Jesus Name and live our life to the
fullest in victory. Hence are some suggested confessions:
Lord, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for my deliverance
from blindness, sickness, diseases, debt, oppression, shame, sin, lusts, lack,
poverty, defeat, despair, failure and unbelief and that you have given me
faith, hope, prosperity and love which is wrapped up in Jesus Christ. Your Word
says that I am to owe no man anything but to love him. Your word says you have
become unto me all things. As I continue to build my faith in this area, I fully
expect to receive much unexpected income(s), answers, miracles and debt
cancellation and great and wonderful healings and miracles and deliverance and
blessings including financial breakthroughs. I confess for the glory of God in
Jesus name I am wealthy and prosperous and victorious and more than a conqueror
in every area of my life. I confess that all my needs are met and my storehouses
overflow with abundance and that I am a great and true and holy man of God.
In Jesus name I come against all oppression in my life and
declare that I have supernatural protection against the onslaughts of the enemy.
In the name of Jesus I command the angels of God to go now and bring to pass my
financial and physical soundness and wholeness and blessings and provisions and
prosperity. I confess I am a wise and faithful and good steward; therefore, I
walk in manifested abundance and debt-freedom daily. Your Word says that You
delight in the prosperity of Your servants. As I serve You with my finances, I
declare that I have my harvest of debt-deliverance right now.
Amen!
In the name of Jesus, I confess that right now I'm out of
debt, my needs are met and I have plenty more to put in store. I walk in
abundance and good health daily. Lord, Your Word says that it is Your will for
me to prosper and excel in every area of my life. Because I am a faithful and
wise steward over my finances, the wealth of the wicked is being transferred
into my hands. I know what to do with it because I place You first in all
things. You direct my path and give me wisdom to manage what You have placed in
my hands. As a believer, I am blessed to be a blessing until all families of the
earth have been blessed. I am a distribution center. I am a money magnet. Money
cometh to me now! I command unexpected and expected income to come my way. Lord,
I receive Your blessing-Your power to get wealth-right now. In Jesus' name,
Amen!
In the name of Jesus, I declare that I have a blood-bought
right to answered prayer. The Word of God is my guarantee. Father, by prayer,
supplication and with thanksgiving, I can make my requests known to You. You
hear the prayer of the righteous and answer them. Your eyes are on me and Your
ears are open to hear my prayers. I am connected to Christ Jesus, and I am
anointed. In everything I do I am more than a conqueror. Because I abide in You,
and Your Word abides in me, I see the manifestation of answered prayer. When I
speak Your Word, it does not return without accomplishing what it was sent to do
Amen and amen.
Lord, I thank You that I walk in favor with man and with You.
Wherever I go and whatever I do, Your favor goes before me. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much. Therefore, I believe I receive
what I pray for right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!
In the name of Jesus, I do not neglect my great
salvation-soteria. I declare that I am established in "protection, preservation,
prosperity, promotions, provisions, soundness, healing, deliverance and the
ministry of angels." I do not fear. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
Every tongue that rises up against me, I will condemn, for it is my heritage. I
loose my angels to bring me great wealth, perfect health, great anointings,
total victories, houses, lands, cars and boats and every good thing and
especially my miracle ministry.
Thank You, Lord, for being my help in the time of trouble.
When I call, You answer me. You are always with me. You deliver and honor me. No
evil ever comes near my dwelling. With a long and prosperous life You will show
me Your salvation.
I declare that the healing power of God is flowing through my
body right now. I declare that every organ, tissue, cell and system in my body
functions in the perfection to which God created it to function. I command all
infection and abnormality in my body to cease and die and pass out now never to
return in Jesus Name. Divine health is restored into my body in Jesus Name. I
rebuke every ear deafness blindness sickness disease and spirit of infirmity and
command it to go away and not come back in jesus name I speak the Word of God in
Jesus name that by Jesus stripes I am healed and it will not return to me
void.
I am established in Your Word. I declare that I am preserved
from trouble. I overcome trouble by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my
testimony. I am established in righteousness through Jesus. As the redeemed of
the Lord, I declare this to be so right now. In Jesus' name, I command and loose
Your angels to go forth now and bring these confession to pass in my life. I
believe and I have received the manifestation of these promises and your great
and wonderful miracle working power.
Chapter 29
Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my
flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body,
which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship
from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery
which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed
to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also
labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossions
1:24-29
Years ago the devil started a rumor. He told a few Christians
that as long as they lived in the world, they had to suffer as the world did. He
told them they had to share the diseases and the defeat, the poverty and the
failure of those around them. Health, prosperity and victorious living aren't
concepts some comfort-hungry believer selfishly dreamed up. They are God's
ideas. Even Jesus said, "In the world you have tribulation and trials and
distress and frustration." "But be of good cheer-- take courage, be confident,
certain, undaunted--for I have overcome the world.-- I have deprived it of power
to harm, have conquered it [for you]" (John 16:33, The Amplified Bible). The
truth is that everything that we need has been deposited in us of us in the
form of Jesus Christ. Everything that God is and has is inside of us and has to
be released by our faith to come out. We have Christ in us, the hope of Glory.
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 what God will do for us by
His Spirit. God’s word is true:
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!" ' " Zecharian 4:6-7
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
For believers tribulation produces perseverance; and
perseverance, character; and character, hope. And 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. So when we use our faith the things hoped more become a reality
for faith gives substance to the things hoped for. Heaven is not sick, broke or
sad but is a wealthy place. And heaven is now in our hearts because Jesus Christ
now lives in us. All that belongs to Jesus including perfect health, great
wealth, unlimited power and love, now belongs to us as Abraham’s seed and heirs
according to the promise. God’s word is unchanging:
"The sower sows the word. "And these are the ones by the
wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and
takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. "These likewise are the ones
sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with
gladness; "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.
Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake,
immediately they stumble. "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are
the ones who hear the word, "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of
riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it
becomes unfruitful. "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear
the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a
hundred." Mark 4:14-20
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
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
The economy of heaven is never poor and God is able to make
all grace abound toward us, that we, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may have an abundance for every good work. Through His word God is able
to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us that we might be perfect, whole
and complete lacking nothing. And His word is unchanging:
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For
assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast
into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things
he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you
will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against
anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your
trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven
forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:22-26
When we pray, we must believe that we have received what we
have requested. To be in faith means that we are not moved by what we see or
sense with our physical senses, but instead we act on what God says in His Word
-- nothing else, just His Word. To ask in faith means to believe God regardless
of what we see. If God says He will heal, if God says He will provide, if God
says He will supply, then asking in faith means we believe Him so completely
that in our minds and mouths it has already been accomplished. Praying in faith
produces faith words. We need to speak God’s promise and not the problem.
Instead of talking about how things “look,” we talk about what God has
promised. We quote His Word. We pray in faith. And, according to Jesus, we
will receive our request if we forgive anything that we have against anyone.
Unforgiveness or lack of love weakness our faith, bring us into condemnation,
and prevents God’s blessing from manifesting in our lives. God’s word is
unchanging:
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who
wanted to settle accounts with his servants. "And when he had begun to settle
accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. "But as he
was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and
children and all that he had, and that payment be made. "The servant therefore
fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you
all.' "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him,
and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his
fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and
took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant
fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will
pay you all.' "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he
should pay the debt. "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they
were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. "Then
his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave
you all that debt because you begged me. 'Should you not also have had
compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' "And his master
was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was
due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his
heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." Matthew
18:23-35
Chapter 30
God Has Blessed Us
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He
chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by
Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the
Beloved. Ephesians 1:2-6
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,
like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your
fathers, He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised
Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1
Peter 1:18-21
Because of what Jesus did on Calvary, we have been born again
and Baptized with the Holy Spirit and God is now our Father, we have a right to
fellowship with Him intimately and live by the words that proceed from His mouth
which strengthens and leads us to prosperity, not to poverty. We can abide, rest
in and trust the promises outlined in God's Word, and anticipate for Him to
manifests His goodness in our life! We are connected to our Father's power and
we can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing Who strengthens
us! Our earnest and heartfelt prayers connect us to the supernatural power of
God as we in faith humble ourselves, pray continually and turn from wickedness.
(2 Chronicles 7:13-14) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails
much. (James 5:16).
We have a blood-bought right to answered prayer. The Word of
God is our guarantee. We can by prayer, supplication and with thanksgiving, make
our requests known to Him who hears the prayer of the righteous and answer them.
His eyes are on us and His ears are open to hear our prayers. The righteous cry
out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. (Psalm
34:15-17). We can be confident that when we pray according to God's Word, we are
praying in line with His will and that He hears us and we receive our answers in
due season (1 John 5:14).
We were taken out of the realm of darkness where men walk by
their senses and have been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son and His
love. We were translated into God’s family. We are partakers of His divine
nature. The same life that was in the Son of God is in us. The same light that
was in Jesus is in us. That is part of the new creation. Jesus’ life and love
in us is the source of life.
Yes God wants His people to be out of debt, have their needs
meet and have plenty more to put in store. He wants them to in abundance and
good health daily. His Word says that it is His will for them to prosper and
excel in every area of their life (2 Corinthians 9:8, 3 John 1:2). For those who
are faithful and wise steward over their finances, the wealth of the wicked will
be transferred into their hands as they have placed God first in all things.
Hence He directs their path and gives them wisdom to manage what His has placed
in their hands so that they can be blessed to be a blessing until all families
of the earth have been blessed. Through faith they can receive all of God’s
blessing and His power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:1-14). God’s word is
unchanging:
"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And
all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is
coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them
neither root nor branch. 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 4:1-3
As sons of God, by adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself,
we are seated in heaven places with Christ and have been blessed with every
spiritual blessing. Just like Jesus we now have power to cast out demons and
heal the sick and make people whole so that they can live a long life in victory
and prosperity. God’s word is unchanging:
"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.
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. Isaiah 61:1-6
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not
know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love
one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1
Corinthians 4:7-12
Because we love God we love one another for love is of God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love. And because we love one another We speak with
tongues and intercede for others. We pray for the sick! We prophesy. We use
faith to move mountains, And we feed the poor. Love is the catalyst that causes
us not to become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal but the extension of God.
As a result we are anointed by God to preach good tidings to the poor, to heal
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to those who are bound. Love causes us to proclaim the acceptable year of
the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God so that God is able to comfort and
console all who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be
glorified. God’s word is unchanging:
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And
there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in
all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of
all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the
word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another
different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one
and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:5-11
Spiritual riches, perfect health, abundant prosperity and
total victory all belongs to us and by faith we can lay claim to it and see it
become a reality in the current time of life. Yes, all these wonderful things
belong to us as heirs of the kingdom and sons and daughters of the King and
kings and Lord’s of Lords and as kings and priests who rule and reign with
Christ. We are blessed by God with spiritual and financial gifts not to consume
them on ourselves but to be a blessing to others. God’s word is
unchanging:
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country,
From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And
you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him
who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Genesis 12:1-3
Chapter 31
God Is Good!
The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all
His works. Psalm 145:9
"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
Adams disobedience in the garden of Eden caused us to inherit
sickness, poverty and death as our inheritance. Because God is good, Christ has
redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is
written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of
Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14). As a result God's love
is unfailing and His grace abounds for us. As we walk hand in hand with Him in
faith and obedience, He pours out blessings in abundance for soul, mind and
body. We are weak, but He is strong. He sees what we cannot see, and He guides
us with His light. And best of all His anointing breaks yokes and bondages that
could never be broken by human power alone. Through prayer and faith in God we
can believe for wonderful things to happen in our lives as our God is a great
and wonderful miracle worker.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide
in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants,
and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made
free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin
is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son
abides forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36
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
Many of God’s people have a poor self image about themselves
and have allowed lies from the enemy to take roots in their minds and lives. The
enemy constantly assails and bombards God’s people with lies about their
unworthiness and inadequacies! They have not allowed their mind to be renewed by
God's Word, and don’t know God’s perfect will for their life and that His
purpose for them includes total life prosperity and His expected end does not
include evil. They need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead them to the good life,
be filled with peace and God's anointing on their life. God’s word is
true:
'Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them
and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 'And I will cause the
captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those
places as at the first. 'I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which
they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which
they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. 'Then it shall
be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth,
who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for
all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.'
"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, For 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 33:6-11
Yes, the bible tells us that God sent Jesus to die on earth
so that we might be healed and delivered from our destruction. As a result He
bore our griefs (pains) and carried sorrows (sicknesses). He was pierced through
for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The punishment for our
well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter
2:24). And when we accept the life of Christ and His words, they bring us life
healing and health to our flesh (Proverbs 4:22), especially as the same Holy
Spirit Him who raised Christ Jesus from the dead now dwells in us and gives life
to our bodies (Romans 8:11). He has forgiven all of our iniquities and healed
all of our diseases (Psalm 103:3). And in time of trouble the Lord, restores our
health and heal our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). Therefore our light breaks forth as
the morning and our health springs forth speedily (Isaiah 58:8).
Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests to our God; and we
shall reign on the earth (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation 5:10). We can reign in
the present or the future. We have been given the grace and blessing to be sons
and daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords and all the authority and
responsibility that goes with it including to root out and to pull down, to
destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant nations and kingdoms and to
forgive or retain the sins of any. If we choose not to act or use our God given
authority that is in and through the name of Jesus that is above every
principality, power, sickness, diseases, mountain, foe, enemy, kingdom or
problem, that is our right as children of God created in the image of God with
freedom of will and choice. We can choose to have a form of godliness and deny
God’s power and authority He has given to us. That is our choice but God’s word
is unchanging:
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him
his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother. "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' "And if he
refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the
church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. "Assuredly, I say
to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again I say to you that if two of you
agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My
Father in heaven. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am
there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:15-20
God given freedoms, rights and privileges can only be
abrogated by God or ourselves for we are complete in Christ, who is the head of
all principality and power who has disarmed principalities and powers, He made a
public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it and causes us to triumph
and be more than conquerors. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. And
since we are primarily spiritual beings created by God then it makes sense that
the solutions to all our problems are spiritual! God’s word is unchanging about
any mountain, foe, kingdom, problem, sickness or lack:
When evening had come, He went out of the city. Now in the
morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And
Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has
withered away." So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For
assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast
into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things
he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you
will have them. Mark 11:19-24
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth
and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For
the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is
rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall
be saved." Romans 10:8-13
Yes, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. Yes, God created His children for victory and
through the cross of Christ He has given them victory and the power over all
things (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Isaiah 51:1-3,61:1-11,65:13-16, John
14:12-14,16:7-14, Romans 12;6, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22, 2 Corinthians 8:9,
Ephesians 4:8, Galatians 3:3, James 2:5). Through Christ Jesus, we who once
were poor have became rich in faith for through the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we
through His poverty might become rich and inherit the blessings of Abraham,
spiritual and physical. And as a result whatever we bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven and
whatever things we ask when we pray, believe that we receive them, and we will
have them.
Now if we allow ourselves to be deceived or blind to what God
in Christ Jesus has done for us that is our right and God will not interfere
with our right to make mistakes and our own choices! Negative circumstances,
the size of the enemy, or demons have nothing to do with us for God’s word is
unchanging:
Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall
your strength be. There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the
heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is
your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the
enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel shall dwell in
safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His
heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a
people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help And the sword of your
majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high
places." Deuteronomy 33:25-29
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God,
to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the
words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:10
Chapter 32
Abram Was Extremely Rich
NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for
your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your
father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great
nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your
name famous {and} distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to
others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or
happiness upon you] and curse him who curses {or} uses insolent language toward
you; in you will all the families {and} kindred of the earth be blessed [and by
you they will bless themselves].Genesis 12:1-3 Amplified Bible
SO ABRAM went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that
he had, and Lot with him, into the South [country of Judah, the Negeb]. Now
Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold. And he
journeyed on from the South [country of Judah, the Negeb] as far as Bethel, to
the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
Where he had built an altar at first; and there Abram called on the name of the
Lord. But Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. Now
the land was not able to nourish {and} support them so they could dwell
together, for their possessions were too great for them to live together Genesis
13:1-6 Amplified Bible
God promised to Abraham and his seed that he would be the
heir of the world but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:10). He
promised to make an everlasting covenant between Abraham and Himself and
multiply him exceedingly. He promised to make a father of many nations, make
him exceedingly fruitful; and He would make nations of him, and kings shall
come from him. And God kept His promise to Abraham as a result he was extremely
rich in livestock and in silver and in gold. The land was not able to nourish
and support Abraham and Lot so they could not dwell together, for their
possessions were too great for them to live together. Gen 24:34 And he said, I
am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master mightily, and he had become
great; and He has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, menservants,
maidservants, camels, and asses (Genesis 24:5).
God didn’t blessed Abraham spiritually but materially
because he lived under the Old Covenant and the Holy Spirit was only poured out
under the New Covenant. Abraham didn’t have the new birth and the gifts of the
Spirit. But for believers in Christ, a new creation, God made a New Covenant
that included both spiritual and material blessing for the seed of Abraham. As a
result not only the Jews are blessed with material blessings today but
Christians believer’s also. God’s word is unchanging:
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah- "not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they
broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. Jeremiah
31:31-32
Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of
Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the
nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with
believing Abraham. Galatians 3:7-9
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood
of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews
12:24
Yes those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham
including both spiritual and material blessing. Yes, those who obey the
commandments of the Lord and His voice are also blessed with believing Abraham.
God’s word is unchanging:
IF YOU will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your
God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the
Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all
these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of
the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in
the field.Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground
and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your
flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough. Blessed shall
you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.
The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to
be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee
before you seven ways. The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your
storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land
which the Lord your God gives you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy
to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord
your God and walk in His ways. And all people of the earth shall see that you
are called by the name [and in the presence of] the Lord, and they shall be
afraid of you. And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity,
through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the
land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord shall open to
you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season
and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but
you shall not borrow. Genesis 28:1-12 Amplified Bible
God wants His people to be greatly blessed just like Abraham
was so that they might be distribution centers for others. He wants them not
only to enjoy the benefits of their inheritance and do His will and be healthy
and wealthy. God’s word is unchanging:
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to
the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the
praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until
the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:11-14
The LORD Jesus got our inheritance for us. It is reserved for
us and we need to access as joint heirs of Jesus Christ. The last will and
testimony of Jesus Christ tells us that everything that Jesus has we have. We
have His life, His name, His authority, His joy, His righteousness, His
strength, His boundless, His riches, His victories, His triumphs, His glory, His
Honor, His prosperity and His fullness. God has accomplished all things for us
and there is nothing more for Him to do except for us to do our part by grace
and believe and go in and possess the Promised Land and get our inheritance.
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let
us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." But
the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the
people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a
bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which
we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people
whom we saw in it are men of great stature. "There we saw the giants (the
descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our
own sight, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:30-33
"The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes, saying,
'Even you shall not go in there; 'Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you,
he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
'Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who
today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will
give it, and they shall possess it. Deuteronomy 1:37-39
'But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him;
for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the
land which you will see.' Deuteronomy 3:28
Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things
present or things to come-all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is
God's.1 Corinthians 3:21-23
PRAYER FOR PROSPERITY
Father God, I pray over every meeting, conversation and
activity I engage in today. I pray that all my steps be ordered by you, that my
heart and my mind always respond in obedience to your directions. I pray that I
choose the way of righteousness when faced with many paths of judgment, that I
will always fulfill your priorities and never allow my flesh to dictate my
actions or attitudes. This day, I do all things to the glory of God and I am
fruitful in every good work.
Father, in the Name of your Son Jesus, I confess your Word
over my finances this day. As I do this, I say it with my mouth and believe it
in my heart and know that your word will not return to you void, but will
accomplish what it says it will do. Therefore I believe, in the Name of Jesus,
that every need is met according to Philippians 4:19. I believe that because I
have given tithes and offerings to further your cause, Father, gifts will be
given to me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will
they pour into my bosom. For with the measure I deal out, it will be measured
back to me. Father, you have delivered me out of the authority of darkness into
the Kingdom of your dear Son. Father, I have taken my place as your child. I
thank you that you have assumed your place as my Father and have made your home
with me. You are taking care of me and even now you are enabling me to walk in
love and in wisdom, and to walk in the fullness of fellowship with your Son
Jesus.
Satan, I bind you from my finances, according to Matthew
18:18, and loose you from your assignment against me, in the Name of Jesus.
Father, I thank you that your ministering spirits (angels)
are free to minister for me and bring in the necessary finances. Father, I
confess you are a very present help in trouble, and you are more than enough. I
confess, God, that you are able to make all grace - every favor and earthly
blessing - come to me in abundance, so that I am always, and in all
circumstances, furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable
donation.
Scripture References:
Romans 10:9, Isaiah 55:11, Philippians 4:19, Luke 6:38,
Colossians 1:13, Matthew 18:18, Hebrews 1:7, Psalm 104:4, Psalm 46:1, II
Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)
Reigning talk is defined as, putting aside all notions of
doubt and unbelief and speaking faith-filled, positive words. Romans 10:10 says
that "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation". Therefore when we pray the Word of God, we
are confessing not our own words, but God's. His word will not return without
accomplishing that which it was sent (spoken) to do.
So what happens when I confess the Word?
• Causes faith to come
• Stops satanic hindrances
• Angels get their assignment from the Word of
God (Angels are assigned to assist in the will of God to come to pass in your
life).
• Conditions your spirit to produce
Daily Spiritual Warfare Confession
Father God, this day I release words of faith into the earth,
spiritual seed that bring both a spiritual harvest, and a natural, physical
manifestation into my life.
I have no cares for I cast the whole of my cares over on
Jesus, for He cares for me. I have no heavy burdens because I've taken Jesus'
yoke which is easy and His burden which is light.
I will not allow my soul to be cast down for I put my hope
and trust in God. I am above only and not beneath. I am the head and not the
tail. I'm blessed coming in and blessed going out.
I am one spirit with God and I abide in Him always. I have
the mind of Jesus Christ and the wisdom of God flows in me and through me. My
body is the temple of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, for the
fullness of God dwells in me.
I tread upon serpents and scorpions and I exercise righteous
authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt me. I
am skilled in the word of righteousness and I call things that be not as though
they were. I will not fear what man or spirit can do unto me because no weapon
formed against me shall prosper. Any tongue that rises against me in judgment
shall be condemned.
The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ covers my spirit, soul and
body, and has sanctified me and separated me from the world, the flesh and the
devil. I not only have my senses exercised to discern both good and evil, but I
aggressively come against the kingdom of darkness and spoil every plot and
scheme Satan has waged against me and those around me. I am more than a
conqueror through Jesus Christ.
I take my shield of faith and quench Satan's every fiery
dart. I will not be distracted from doing the will of God, and I will not stray
to the left hand or to the right. I have sound judgment and discretion and I
refuse to be deceived by Satan in any way.
My mind is sharp and my spirit is keenly sensitive to
disturbances in the spirit realm. I watch and pray and prevent evil from taking
place because the Holy Spirit shows me things to come. I am equipped with
spiritual armor and weaponry and I am never caught off guard by the wicked one.
I sow fruits of righteousness and will never back down from
the truth. I am bold as a lion and I refuse to be intimidated by the enemy.
All things are mine and I exercise dominion over the earth. I
reign in life by Jesus Christ through grace and righteousness. My love weapon
casts out fear and I aggressively love others unconditionally. For love never
fails!
All of my days are filled with abundance and prosperity
because Jesus is Lord over all. I choose to be a vessel through which His will
can be done in the earth.
In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Chapter 33
Repent, And Believe In The Gospel
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Mark
1:14-15
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that God has
come to restore to His children all that Adam has lost including abundance,
authority, life and dominion. Adam lacked nothing in the garden of Eden and had
dominion over all things, over the whole earth. But then paradise was lost when
the enemy deceived Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of of the
knowledge of good and evil. As a result Adam and Eve were driven out of paradise
to live in a world of curses, pain, suffering, poverty, loss and sickness and
the whole world became under the control of the evil one, our enemy. And in
this hellish, darkened, demonically manipulated world things only get worse, not
better. In the diabolic kingdom of the world wars become more destructive,
immorality becomes more rampant; disease multiplies out of control, and fear
strengthens and becomes immobilizing. God’s word is unchanging:
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will
come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a
form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of
this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible
women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
But the good news is that God had given to king
Nebuchadnezzar a prophetic dream how God 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 (Daniel
2:44). Through the life and death of Jesus Christ for those who believe and are
born again God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into
the kingdom of the Son of His love. We don’t have to live in or be influenced by
the kingdom of this world for now the kingdom of God is in us and we are in 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.
"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' "The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes
from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus
answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to
him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? "Most
assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen,
and you do not receive Our witness. "If I have told you earthly things and you
do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? "No one has
ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who
is in heaven. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up, "that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:5-17
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
And so it is written, "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. As was the man
of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so
also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of
dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1 Corinthians
15:45-49
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians
5:17
Because we have been born again and are a new creation, a
spiritual being, bearing the image of the heavenly man, we now have available
through faith all the riches, power and resources of heaven to live not under
the kingdom of the world but in the kingdom of God which has been established
in our hearts. It’s a kingdom that that full of miracles, divine health, divine
prosperity, divine restoration, divine reversals and divine intervention. It’s a
kingdom of restoration, overflow and abundance fulfilling the prophecy of Joel.
God’s word is unchanging:
Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD
your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause
the rain to come down for you- The former rain, And the latter rain in the first
month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow
with new wine and oil. "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming
locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing
locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be
satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously
with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:23-26
It’s a kingdom of God where the latter rain brings the rains
of the Spirit, the revelation and wisdom of God, total restoration, plenty,
satisfaction, victory and glory. It is the world of sin confronted, conquered
and redeemed by the power of heaven and ruled by Jesus Christ the King of kings
and Lord of Lord’s. It’s a kingdom where we have become kings and priests and
are able to conquer and overcome all things. It’s a kingdom where man has been
made in the duplicate of God and can do the things which God did. In other
words when we believe and speak God’s words all things become possible as we
speak things into existence through our faith. God’s word is
unchanging:
So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for
assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to
this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be
impossible for you. Matthew 17:20
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that
they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew
18:18-19
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are
possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23
But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are
possible with God." Luke 18:27
We live in a world of the unseen where more are those who are
for us than against us. But in order to enjoy all the benefits of the kingdom of
God, including miracles, signs and wonders, we must live in the Spirit and speak
out of the Spirit. We must live in total dependence on God, not ourselves or
others. We must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of our mind based on God’s word. We must be doers of the world, not
hearers only! We must speak God’s word rather than our words. We must live on
the knowledge, wisdom and revelation that God gives and our spiritual senses,
rather than the knowledge, information and wisdom of the world based on our
physical senses. Hence we believe God’s report about anything rather than the
report of the world or men. And God’s report tells us:
"Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt
with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out
great exploits. Daniel 11:32
"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." Mark 16:17-18
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the
works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. John 14:12
Chapter 34
God Worked Unusual Miracles
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that
even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the
diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts
19:11-12
“A miracle is an event which the forces of nature – including
the natural powers of man – cannot of themselves produce, and which must,
therefore, be referred to a supernatural agency” (Fisher, p. 9).
“With the completion of Apostolic testimony and the
completion of the Scriptures of truth (‘the faith once for all delivered to the
saints’, Jude 3. R.V.), ‘that which is perfect’ had come, and the temporary
gifts were done away” (p. 184).
When Jesus performed signs, even His enemies did not deny the
effect of such; they merely attempted to attribute His power to some other
source (e.g., Satan - Matthew12:24). The leaders of the Jewish community did not
doubt that Peter and John had performed a notable miracle when they healed the
lame man at the temple; rather, they sought to mute the sign’s impact by threats
of violence (Acts 4:14). However some foolish ones today believe that the
working of miracles by God’s true servants have ceased. But nowhere in the bible
does it say that miracles or other God given positions have ceased especially
considering the fact that the church of Jesus Christ has not ceased. As a matter
of fact miracles and gifts of healing are to be part of the church of Jesus
Christ. God’s word is unchanging:
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? 1 Corinthains
12:28-30
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Christian religionists today who deny the miracle working
power of God in the current time of life are no different than the children of
Israel who were miraculously delivered from Egypt and saw their enemies
miracaulously destroyed in the Red Sea. But when faced with impossiblities of
taking the promised land, they believed that bad report given my their
leadership. The bible records:
So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried,
and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained
against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we
had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! "Why
has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and
children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to
Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to
Egypt." Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the
congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the
son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their
clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel,
saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. "If
the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us,
'a land which flows with milk and honey.' "Only do not rebel against the LORD,
nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has
departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." And all the
congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared
in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. Then the LORD
said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not
believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? "I will
strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a
nation greater and mightier than they." Numbers 14:6-12
The foolish religionists cannot believe that God will work a
miracle for them so they have created a theology of cessationalism that things
of God have ceased including miracles, apostles and prophets. Cessationalists
have chosen to falsely assume that all of the sign gifts as well as apostles and
the prophets are gone. But Jesus Christ is the Chief Apostle and Chief Prophet
over other apostles and prophets. If there are not apostles or prophets then He
the Chief of nobody. And if it is not in the Bible that the gifts are gone, then
it is extra-biblical, which means that cessationalism is therefore, heresy. It
is not a faith that comes from God but a faith that comes from the devil.
However God’s word is unchanging:
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. James 1:16-17
"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, '
These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. "Because you say, 'I am rich, have
become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked- "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined
in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with
eye salve, that you may see. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore
be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears
My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he
with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I
also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' " Revelations
3:14-22
Jesus didn’t go around blessing all people especially the
wayward and rebellious ones? He didn’t bless the religious and political leaders
of His day but cursed them. ‘Woe to you’ doesn’t mean something good is going to
happen to you. He called them all kinds of name including hypocrites,
murderers, serpents, brood of vipers, liars, blind guides, sons of hell, etc. He
told them they would not escape the condemnation of hell (Matthew 23:15, 33,
Luke 11:24-25, 23:38-31) and they didn’t! But when it came to the poor and needy
Jesus attitude and approach to such as these was completely different.
The bible says of Jesus ‘A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; And
in His name Gentiles will trust’ (Matthew 12:20-21). He was and is very kind and
compassionate towards those who are poor and needy and need a miracle. When he
saw a bereaving widow whose only son had died, he had compassion and brought the
son back to life and presented him to his mother (Luke 7:12-15). When He saw a
great multitude, He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick
(Matthew 9:36, 14:14). When the blind men asked for healing, He had compassion
and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they
followed Him (Matthew 20:30-34).
The Word of God tells us in Isaiah 11:1-5 that Jesus was
totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, direct, help and anoint
Him, as well as to do the miracles. The power of the Lord was present to heal
all (Luke 4:18, 5:17). Everyone who came to Jesus was healed by Him! He had a
perfect track record in the area of healing. He unlike others never made an
excuse why some were not healed. He didn’t collect the names of people who were
healed to show them off or to build a mass mailing list, or see and use them as
usable commodities as some Christian ministries do? Jesus’ anointing was
unlimited or without measure for the purposes of healing and delivering all that
came to Him. And we can all have the same anointing for all that belong to Jesus
belongs to the Father, and what belong to the Father belongs to Jesus and what
belongs to Jesus belongs to us (John 16; 14-15)? And this includes Paul, Apollos
and others. God’s word is unchanging:
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through
whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but
God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who
waters, but God who gives the increase.
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one
will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow
workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of
God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation,
and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For
no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will
declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each
one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it
endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer
loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.(1 Corinthians
3:5-15)
It’s to be noted that ministry is not to facilitate the
vision of the house and its evangelist or pastor. Ministry is not to get rich
off the sheep. Ministry is not to purse a secret hidden agenda for prominence,
fortune and fame like Judas who betrayed Jesus for his greed (Matthew 26:24,
Luke 6; 16, Luke 22:3). Yes Judas healed the sick, cast out devils and
fellowshipped with Jesus and also stole money from the treasurer and was a
betrayer and traitor! Unlike others even of our day, Jesus did not just teach or
preach but He did real works such as cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the
dead, cause cripples to walk, and rebuked religious Pharisees who didn’t do such
things! What Jesus lacked in any area of His life He made up for it by the power
of the anointing. Prayer, knowledge of the Word of God and the anointing were
the only things Jesus needed to minister to the poor, hurting and needy people.
And He did a very successful job!
Because the bible teaches that seedtime and harvest shall not
cease (Genesis 8:22) and what we give shall be measure back to us (Matthew 7:22,
23:32), those who are in the ministry must sow the Word of God in the lives of
others and do practical works such as opening the eyes of the blind and healing
the cripples like Jesus, Philip, Barnabas and Paul did. The bible
records:
Then 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
Chapter 35
What Is In Your Spirit?
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
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel,
and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I
did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for
Macedonia. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and
through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians
2:12-14
Most people know the expression “Garbage in, garbage out” or
“You are what you eat.” As a matter of fact many of us are destroying our
bodies by consuming food that is not good for us and then we have to run around
looking to be healed and delivered by doctors or God! Well we not only live in
a body that is made of flesh but we also have a spirit and a soul. And what we
allow to come into our spirit and soul affects us greatly. That is why the lust
of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life which is not of the
Father but is of the world are very dangerous and harmful because they pervert
and corrupt us and ultimately destroy us. We need to be filled with the fullness
of God and be under the constant control of the Holy Spirit and by the Spirit
put to death the deeds of the body so that we might live. God’s word is
unchanging:
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of
disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 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. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in
one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians
3:5:16
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do
the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy,
murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,
just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will
not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk
in the Spirit. Galatians 5:17-25
Yes, we suffer in our body in the current time of life
because of the works of the flesh including adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness,
revelries,. We open the doors to demonic spirits that cause us sickness and
pain. And if we accept them directly or indirectly including spirits of
infirmities, we will have trouble sickness and diseases in our bodies.
But we don’t have to accept any of these things because of
what Jesus did on Calvary and by His stripes we are healed. So we can rebuke all
sickness, diseases and oppressive spirits from our bodies and tell them to go to
hell where they belong in Jesus name. Through the avenue of bitterness,
unforgiveness, we open the door for demons to enter into our bodies and lives
and suffer as a result. God’s word is unchanging:
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the
kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall
not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say
to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of
the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and
go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your
gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him,
lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the
officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no
means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew
5:20-26
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were
demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who
were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,
saying: He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew
8:16-17
But some Christians refuse to accept that afflictions and
sickness are oppressions of the devil and they can be healed off them. Yes,
there are those Christians who say that only Jesus Christ is important and
nothing else and they are suffering for Jesus sake, His suffering. Even though
by Jesus stripes they were healed and He Himself took our infirmities and bore
our sicknesses. They literally don’t fellowship with God the Father and God the
Holy Spirit. They don’t know and experience the love of the Father or the
comfort of the Holy Spirit. Their faith is composed on solely knowledge of the
written Word of God. They forgot that the new birth is not known solely by
knowledge but solely by experience. Yes, through the avenue of faith, they
believed on Jesus, called on His name and were saved and He gave them an
experience call the new birth or being born again. They didn’t go on to being
baptized by Jesus Christ, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit with fire and tongues
of fire, because it’s an emotional experience which doesn’t make sense to their
carnal mind. But being born again is an emotional in body experience and so is
the Baptism of the Spirit and operating in the gifts of the Spirit and is not
based solely on intellect!
Then there are others who have experienced the Baptism of the
Spirit and only relate to the Holy Spirit solely on the basis of power, gifts,
shaking, electricity, someone falling down under the power. While others relate
to the Holy Spirit in the context of the work He does for us, or the times He
gives us a word of wisdom, knowledge or prophecy, we grieve Him. But the Holy
Spirit is a person who wants to be loved, accepted and fellowship with us as a
unique person just like each one of us wants to do as a unique person and not
just some creature or entity. And God is interested in us not only having the
gifts of the Spirit but demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. God’s word is
unchanging:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but
have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I
have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I
am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give
my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians
13:1-3
Understanding the Person of the Holy Spirit, having an
encounter with Him, worshipping, respecting, embracing the Holy Spirit and
loving Him in His function are the keys that will bring His power and anointing
on our lives. We need to have on going visitations and relationships with the
Holy Spirit. God’s word is unchanging:
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria
had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31
Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they
sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship
with demons. 1 Corinthians 10:20
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and
evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave
you. Ephesians 4:30-32
Yes, when we are full of God, the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit, it will come out of us including love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and
not uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy. As God’s
word is unchanging:
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings
forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth
evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to
those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and
dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out,
saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before
me, for He was before me.' " And of His fullness we have all received, and grace
for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ. John 1:11-17
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
If we have an intimate bond and relationship with the Holy
Spirit we will be able to know and do many things that are humanly impossible
because it’s what God does through us that matters and not we do in the flesh.
We will be surrounded by God’s presence and glory and people will know and
experience not only that something is different about us but God Himself. That
is why the bible records about healing and Peter’s shadow:
And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes
of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and
laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by
might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding
cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by
unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:14-16
Yes, we must honor and give proper place in our lives to our
Wonderful Counselor, the Spirit of Truth and be totally dependent upon Him for
everything including guiding us into all truth and delivering us from lies of
men and demon! We must consciously acknowledge His presence in everything that
we would do and ask Him to possess us and direct us so that we will walk Him in
all things. Then we will know the blessing of partnership with the Holy Spirit
as we bring the saving, healing, and delivering power of Jesus to the world. We
need to present ourselves, all of us to the Holy Spirit and line ourselves up
with Him. We have to keep asking Him to help us; we can't accomplish the
purposes of God on our own, apart from His guidance. God’s word is
unchanging:
"If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the
Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you
forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it
neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and
will be in you. John 14:15-17
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage
that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if
I depart, I will send Him to you. "And when He has come, He will convict the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: "of sin, because they do
not believe in Me; "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me
no more; "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. "I still have
many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "However, when He, the
Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not
speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine
and declare it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I
said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John
16:7-15
Chapter 36
The Mysteries Of The Kingdom Of Heaven
And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to
them in parables?" He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to
you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been
given. "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance;
but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew
13:10-12
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this
grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from
the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through
Jesus Christ; Ephesians 3:8-9
The American Heritage Dictionary defines mystery
as:
mys•ter•y n., pl. mys•ter•ies. 1. Something that is not fully
understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma. 2. A
mysterious character or quality. 3. A work of fiction, drama, or film dealing
with a puzzling crime. 4. Often mysteries. The skills, lore, or practices that
are peculiar to a particular activity or group and are regarded as the special
province of initiates. 5. Theology. A religious truth that is incomprehensible
to the reason and knowable only through divine revelation.
God reveals to His trusting ones mysteries that only come
through divine revelation and eludes the carnal mind. Mysteries or truth such as
that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us. Mysteries or truth such as Christ in
us, the hope of glory, the all sufficient one for anything that we need.
Mysteries of the faith such as God wants each of His children to be healthy and
wealthy and successful and prosperous. God’s word is unchanging:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the
scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of
water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not
wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the
same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Romans 10:12
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. But also for this
very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter
1:2-8
God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness. It’s all in heavenly place in Christ Jesus. And the
Amplified Bible tells us that in every nation he who venerates and has a
reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living
uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed by Him.
The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him who adheres to, relies on, and
trusts in Him will ever be put to shame or be disappointed. No one for there is
no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all of us and
He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him in faith. Heaven is
not broke, sick and sad but is a wealthy place. God made a promise to Abraham or
his posterity, that he should inherit the world, through the righteousness of
faith. Abraham’s blessings including health wealth and prosperity belongs to
each believer. By faith we access all that God has given to us and see it
manifested as a reality on earth. God’s word is unchanging:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your
own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your
paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It
will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with
your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns
will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs
3:5-10
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The
victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours
is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and
honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles
29:11-12
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide
in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants,
and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made
free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin
is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son
abides forever. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:31-36
Those who are Christians abide in God’s Word and they know
what God in Christ has wrought for them. They enjoy and walk in what God through
the Word and the Spirit has wrought in them. They know what they are to the
Father in Christ and what power and authority they have in Christ including the
power of their words. They confess the Lordship of Jesus and that they have
become the righteousness of God and are saved. God’s word is
unchanging:
You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for
you; So light will shine on your ways. Job 22:28
Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was
hungry. 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
21:18-22
Yes, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will say to a
mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever
things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive because you know who you
are in Christ, a son of god. Yes, if any man is in Christ, he is a new
creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) He is a new creation created in Christ Jesus with
the life of God, the nature of God, and the ability of God in him. In Christ we
have our redemption through His blood, the remission of our trespasses according
to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and
prudence. (Ephesians 1:7-8). Satan’s dominion has been broken. He lost his
dominion over our life the moment we became a new creation. We received a new
Lord, Jesus Christ, to reign over us. Satan’s dominion ended and Jesus’ dominion
began. Disease and sickness can no longer lord it over us. The old habits can no
longer lord it over us. We are a new creation created in Christ. Yes, He who is
in us is greater than he who is in the world. God’s word is
unchanging:
"But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of
the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, 'You are My
servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with
you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will
help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' "Behold, all those
who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as
nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and
not find them- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be
as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your
right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' Isaiah
41:8-13
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
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,
whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not
confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the
spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in
the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John
4:2-4
Yes, if God be for us, who can be against us? God is in us
now; the Master of creation is in us! Greater is He that is in us than all the
forces that can be arrayed against us including poverty, lack, bills, sickness,
disease, demons, and frail mortal men. We can with boldness proclaim “You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with
oil; My cup runs over. (Psalm 23:5)! For His anger is but for a moment, His
favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning
(Psalm 30:5). Yes, we are filled with joy and victory because God has taken us
over; He is fighting all our battles.” We are not afraid of circumstances
because we can do all things in Him who strengthens us. And He is not only our
strength but He is at our right hand. He is our salvation, our shield, our
defender, our rewarder, our all. He gives us light in the dark and songs in the
night. He is our present help in trouble, our salvation, our deliverance from
every trap the enemy sets for us, from, every snare in which he would enslave
us. God is the strength of our life, of whom shall we be afraid?” We are not
afraid of anything! We have no fear because this God of Omnipotence is on our
side.
We have a redemption that God planned and wrought in Christ.
We are a new creation of which God, Himself, is the Author and the Finisher. We
have a righteousness that permits us to stand in His presence as
though sin had never been done. We have not only have righteousness reckoned to
us we have righteousness imparted to us in the new nature that we have
received from Him. We have received His nature His life. And in this life and
nature is-the Life of God. This makes us righteous even as He is righteous.
God’s word is unchanging:
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God
abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we
abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have
seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in
God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love,
and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him. Love has been perfected
among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as
He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts
out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made
perfect in love. 1 John 4:12-18
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a
Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The
Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of
the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the
hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And
decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with
the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the
wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt
of His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5
Chapter 37
The Word Of Our God Stands Forever
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way
of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley
shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places
shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD
shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the
LORD has spoken." The voice said, "Cry out!" And he said, "What shall I cry?"
"All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon
it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the
word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:3-8
Many of God’s people don’t understand and appreciate the
power of God’s word how Christ upholds all things by the word of His power.
Every things in the universe and beyond is sustained by Jesus Christ who is the
Word of God. We are not to underestimate the importance of the Word of God in
our lives and in our circumstances. Jesus told us, "It is written, 'Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'
" (Matthew 4:14). He also told us, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you
will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20). So the words that God
speaks and the words that we speak change things in our life as they bring
heaven on earth and make the impossible become possible. God’s word is
unchanging:
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My
righteous right hand.' "Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall
be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with
you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them- Those who contended
with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent
thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 'Fear
not, I will help you.' Isaih 41:10-13
In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far
from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come
near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever
assembles against you shall fall for your sake. "Behold, I have created the
blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for
his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against
you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You
shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their
righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. Isaiah 54:14-17
God, who made everything that we see and don’t see by His
spoken word, has no problem to do the impossible in our lives including making
the crooked straight, the wrongs right, the injustice justice, the lack to be
plenty, restoring all things and to make all our contenders to be as nothing,
as a nonexistent thing. There is no one who can deliver out of His hand; He
works, and who will reverse it?" No one! He still makes for His trusting ones a
way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters. He still makes for them a
road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. He still pours water on him who
is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; He pours His Spirit on their
descendants, and His blessing on their offspring. He is the First and He is the
Last; besides Him there is no God. Indeed there is no other Rock, no other
Refuge, no other Tower, no other Shield, and no other Savior! His word is
unchanging:
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from
the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens
all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of
the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes
their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs
the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,'
To the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built,' And I will raise up her waste
places; Isaiah 44:24-26
"Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I
am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out
of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee
shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, 'Surely in the LORD
I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be
ashamed Who are incensed against Him Isaiah 45:22-24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I
am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you
should go. Isaiah 48:17
Yes, God teaches His trusting ones to profit and leads them
by the way they should go. But He also casts unprofitable servants into the
outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matthew
25:15-30). Jesus Christ told us that the man who when he received his one talent
and went and buried his lord’s money for safe keeping was a wicked and lazy man
who knew that God wanted more from him and wasn’t wise with what was entrusted
to him. As a result the unprofitable servant would be cast into the outer
darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. A place where all
the hypocrites cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, would also be (Revelation 21:8)!
Yes, no lazy person, fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God
(Ephesians 5:5). Those practice adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like will not inherit the kingdom of God even if they are Christians (Galatians
5:19-21). They all will share the same fate as the unprofitable
servant!
There are Christians who believe that God knows everything a
man will choose to do in life. While others state God does not know everything,
and He has limited His knowledge of the future. While we as humans cannot know
everything, God’s word tells us that from the LORD comes knowledge and
understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to
those who walk uprightly. If we cry out for discernment and for understanding,
we will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Then we
will also understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
When wisdom enters our heart, and knowledge is pleasant to our soul, discretion
will preserve us; understanding will keep us to deliver us from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of
uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice in doing evil, And
delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, And who are
devious in their paths (Proverbs 2:3-9).Obviously such knowledge is impossible
for a fool or a proud and arrogant man because God gives grace to the humble and
contends with the proud.
Yes, God's has indescribable love and mercy toward man in
spite of his ignorance and errors, and He does respond to the use of faith. He
has told us in His word what faith can do:
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
Yes, many Christians have a spirit of religion and have
misconstrued faith to be is to think and act like Apostle Paul, even be his
clone and even go to be a missionary in a foreign land or to be a pastor or a
preacher. While I was in University I was very active in Inter-Varsity
Christian Fellowship studying the bible, fellowshipping with other Christians
and witnessing. But most of my male friends became clergy because they were
indoctrinated through this movement that this was the only way to serve God.
They could have been successful and prosperous Architects, Engineers, Lawyers or
Bankers and still have serve God in their particular field and not have given up
their hearts desires that God had placed in them in the first place. God wants
primary the heart of a man and not his vocation or location. This is something
that many Christians have not understood. They have accepted what other’s had
wanted for them and not what they or God wanted for them! Shepherd boy David was
called to be a man of war and a king and though it required many years of fights
and killing people he finally achieved his desire. The bible
records:
Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the
day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from
the hand of Saul. And he said:
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The
God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my
salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel
22:1-4
"He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many
waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; For
they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But
the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He
delivered me because He delighted in me. "The LORD rewarded me according to my
righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 2
Samuel 22:17-21
"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your
gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not
slip. "I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; Neither did I turn back
again till they were destroyed. And I have destroyed them and wounded them, So
that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me
with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against
me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those
who hated me. They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but
He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I
trod them like dirt in the streets, And I spread them out. 2 Samuel
22:36-43
Chapter 38
Angels Are Here Today
And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by
Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Mark
1:13
"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.' " Luke 4:10-11
And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter
you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon
the Son of Man." John 1:51
When Jesus was the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan,
He was not alone. His Father God was with Him and the angels minstered to Him.
God had assigned on earth angels to minister to the Son of God and for those who
would inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Satan and his supporters, angels, spirit
beings, were cast out of heaven down to earth in preliminary judgment. As a
result the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the
deep. Then God ressurected earth by His great and wonderful miracle working
power and created man in His image, crowned him with His glory and honor and
gave Him dominion over all things in the midst of the fallen angels. God’s word
is unchanging:
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man
that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And
You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion
over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep
and oxen- Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of
the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. Genesis 8:4-8
But the jealous and envious demoted devil who now lived on
earth tempted Adam and Eve and caused them to disobey God and eat of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil. And paradise was lost to man. The bible
records:
Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one
of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of
the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"- therefore the LORD God sent him
out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He
drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and
a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3:22-24
God never gave up on man and set forth the plan of redemption
to redeem Him totally and completely. And He would continue to visit man on
earth along with His angels. The bible records many events where angels visited
man created just like He visited Abraham, Jacob, Gideon, Daniel, Job, Mary, and
Zacharias.
Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of
Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted
his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw
them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by
Your servant. "Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and
rest yourselves under the tree. "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you
may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come
to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said." Genesis
18:1-5
Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So
he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set.
And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay
down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up
on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were
ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said:
"I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on
which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. "Also your descendants
shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the
east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families
of the earth shall be blessed. "Behold, I am with you and will keep you
wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you
until I have done what I have spoken to you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep
and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis
28:10-16
Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth
tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son
Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the
Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The
LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if
the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His
miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up
from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of
the Midianites." Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of
yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not
sent you?" Judges 6:11-14
Through out the bible we can see that angels not only brought
a word from God to man but they strengthen him, guided him, delivered him and
fought for him. The bible records:
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them. Psalm 34:7
He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath,
indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. Psalm
78:49
And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the
LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and
eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the
corpses-all dead. 2 Kings 19:35
Yes, there are angels of destruction who bring wrath,
darkness, indignation, trouble, shame. Dishonor, confusion and even death upon
the enemies of God’s people. And Jesus Christ to fulfill the plan and purposes
as a son of God chose not to use these kinds of angels on His behalf. The bible
records:
Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek
after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my
hurt. Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD
chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD
pursue them. For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him
unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very
destruction let him fall. Psalm 35:4-8
Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I
kiss, He is the One; seize Him." Immediately he went up to Jesus and said,
"Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have
you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 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 26:48-54
Imagine if Jesus did pray to the Father and ask that He would
provide Him with more than twelve legions of angels, how many people would have
died? What destruction would have come upon them unexpectedly just like it came
to King Herod who stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. He
killed James the brother of John with the sword. Then he had arrested Peter and
put him in prison. But constant prayer was offered to God for him by the
church. So God sent an angel to get him out of prison and then He dealt with
arrogant and proud Herod. The bible records:
Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and
Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's
personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was
supplied with food by the king's country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in
royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people
kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel
of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten
by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts
12:20-24
Contrary to what religonists preach or think angels have not
left earth. We have on earth good and bad angels who carry out their
assignements. But God who works out all things to the good to them who love God
even uses bad angels for His purposes. The bible records:
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
But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right
hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering
spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews
1:13-14
We need an encounter with Jesus and with angels to see the
promises of God’s word fulfilled in our hearts and lives. The rational ascent
and belief in the Word of God will not cut it. Scriptures are meant to lead us
to a supernatural encounter with God and His Son, His Holy Spirit and His
angels. God’s word is unchanging:
"But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He
sent, Him you do not believe. "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think
you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. "But you are not
willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:38-40
Mighty promises of God in the bible are birthed and
manifested on earth through those are who in direct fellowship with God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Believers can't just go to the Word
and claim the Lord's promises and expect to see it happen just because they read
them. God’s word says that we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3). The only way to see spiritual
blessings in heavenly places turned into manifestations of blessing in the
natural realm is to access the heavenly places and bring them back with us. Our
promises are accessed in the heavenly realm where we are seated with Christ!
Each time we have an encounter with the Lord we are filled with more of His
fullness and carry more of His presence and we are changed from glory to glory.
And from the glory that comes upon us and who we are in Christ we do things as
we He made us accepted in the Beloved, we are "highly favored" ones who have
been freely blessed. With our deep intimate fellowship resulting in heavenly
encounters with the Lord we therefore take dominion and destroy the works of the
devil by the power of God. We have been given free access to the Throne of
Grace (Hebrews. 4:16) and encouraged to seek the things above (Colossians 3:1-3)
and have the Holy Spirit will come upon us and the power of the Highest
overshadow us (Luke 1:35).
In the intimacy with the Holy Spirit anything and everything
is possible but without Him we can do and are nothing. Jesus Christ was totally
dependent on the Holy Spirit for all things and so should we be. We must get to
know the Holy Spirit! We are not to be afraid to worship the Third "Person" of
the Godhead in addition to the Father and the Son. Holy Spirit is just as much
God as the Father and the Son. God consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We
need the intimacy of the Spirit for those who develop an intimate relationship
and exchange with Holy Spirit will have the strongest anointing and power in
their lives and ministry for it's the Holy Spirit that brings the manifestation
of heaven to earth! Yes, we need to fellowship with God, the Father, God, the
Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, for then we will have our delight in the
Almighty, and lift up our face to God. Then we will make our prayer to Him, He
will hear us, and we will pay our vows. We will also declare a thing, and it
will be established for us. God’s word is unchanging:
"Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby
good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up
His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents. Then you will lay your gold in
the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 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. When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then
He will save the humble person. Job 22:21-29
We need to press into God as never before and get to know and
experience Him more in all His facets. Then the glory of heaven, the deposits of
heaven, will rest on us and will simply overflow and people will be filled with
the Holy Spirit and be blessed by us. We will be vessels who cause heaven to
invade earth. God’s word is unchanging:
"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men
shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into
blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall
come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said,
Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. Joel 2:28-32
Chapter 39
The God Of Increase
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. O
LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! PS 84:11-12
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That
glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness
and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness
shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land
will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His
footsteps our pathway. Psalm 85:9-13
God has provided, by faith in His Word, good things for those
who believe in Him. He has promised health, increase, prosperity, peace and
deliverance. All of these things are promised in His Word for those who seek
Him in faith. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly and
trust in Him. And unlike others, God doesn’t lie. His word is true and it stands
forever:
"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 28:8-12
Twenty-seven covenant blessings 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). In essence, these are the same covenant blessings that Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and the Nation enjoyed before the giving of the
Law.
Now the love of money is the root of all evil but money is
not evil in itself. Our money can magnify the Lord and His work if we are using
it properly. First, it can pave the way for the Gospel to be preached and the
greater works to be wrought. Second, it can show the world that God cares for
His own. What our money does depends on us and what we do with it. When we yield
it to God, our money can do astounding things. It can cause the lost to be
saved, the sick to be healed, and the captive to be loosed. And it can position
us to receive wave after wave of God's richest blessings! God wants the world to
acknowledge the fact that we are blessed because of Him. People are supposed to
see that God's hand is upon the Christian and not just spiritually; they're
supposed to see that God's people are financially blessed. God’s word is
unchanging:
Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the
way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall
inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He
will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:12-14
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
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD,
"Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they
are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be
devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah
1:18-20
Reason and logic of the carnal mind are not the ways of
salvation and prosperity but God and His word are. Those who are willing to
receive from God and are obedient to His Word shall eat the good of the land.
But they others shall be devoured by the sword or different curses that come
upon the disobedient ones (Deuteronomy 28:1-65). God doesn’t have a problem with
men being rich, great and prosperous. He made Abraham exceedingly rich. He
also did the same for Isaac, Jacob, Job, Joseph, David and the rest of the Old
Testament men and women who walked in their covenant with God. Dr. Basil Frasure
points out that prosperity is not instant riches, but rather a progression
toward gaining wealth and gives Twelve Steps Toward Prosperity
I. God is the source of prosperity.
Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work."
Psalms 24:1 "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness
thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Note: Since everything belongs to God, we only become
stewards of what belongs to Him.
II. God desires to prosper us.
III John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Psalms 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not
want."
Deuteronomy 8:18 "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy
God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish
his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."
Note: Since it is God's desire to prosper us, we should
look to see what the prerequisites are.
III. We should seek the counsel of God.
Proverbs 8:12 "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out
knowledge of witty inventions."
Luke 11:9 "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you."
James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him."
Note: Wisdom is seeing from God's perspective. If we ask
in faith, He will reveal His wisdom to us.
IV. We should make plans to receive
prosperity.
Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a
tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient
to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able
to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to
build, and was not able to finish."
Proverbs 21:5 "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to
plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want."
Note: Why should God give us what we don't plan
for?
V. We should listen to the counsel of others.
Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own
eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
Proverbs 13:10 "Only by pride cometh contention: but with
the well advised is wisdom."
Proverbs 15:22 "Without counsel purposes are
disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are
established."
Note: God has made us to work together as a body with
each part having a function.
VI. We should make corrections as needed.
Exodus 18:17-27 "And Moses' father in law said unto him,
The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou,
and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou
art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will
give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to
God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach
them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk,
and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the
people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place
such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of
fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons:
and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every
small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall
bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee
so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to
their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law,
and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and
made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers
of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the
hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged
themselves. And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into
his own land."
Note: The need to make corrections from time to time is
God's way to keep us humble.
VII. We are to live by faith.
Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.
Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make
thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
Psalms 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the
seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Note: Faith comes from hearing, meditation upon, and
applying the Word of God.
VIII. We should expecting a testing of our
faith.
Ps 66:10 For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as
silver is tried, refined, {and} purified. 66:11 You brought us into the net (the
prison fortress, the dungeon); You laid a heavy burden upon our loins. 66:12 You
caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire
and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to
abundance and refreshment and the open air]. Amplified Bible
I Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more
precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ."
I Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that,
when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy."
Note: Metal is tested to be sure that it can withstand
the stress. Prosperity may also bring stress in our lives as
well.
IX. We should learn endurance.
Hebrews 6:14-15 "Saying, Surely blessing I will bless
thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently
endured, he obtained the promise."
James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye
have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the
Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."
Note: Prosperity comes after endurance.
X. By faith we are to go beyond what is expected of
us.
Luke 17:5-10 "And the apostles said unto the Lord,
Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and
be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. But which of you, having
a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is
come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him,
Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have
eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that
servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So
likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you,
say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to
do."
Note: When we have done what was expected, "We also
should say that we have done nothing." Faith is going beyond the required,
believing that God will honor our efforts.
XI. We must also be patient.
James 1:3-4 "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing."
Note: Patience is waiting faithfully upon God when we
don't see the results in the natural.
XII. We should look beyond the circumstances and see the work
of God.
II Corinthians 9:8-10 "And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he
hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that
ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply
your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)"
Note: We must hold to the promise that God will provide both
the seed to sow and also bring the harvest. Amen.
Increase, Baby!
(The Sign That Will Make Them Wonder)
By Maria Magruder :
mariam@lifelineoutreach.com
What? Increase in these times? Increase in some of the most
difficult times of the world’s economy? Are you sure you have the right word?
Increase? Absolutely! During these difficult times in the world, is where the
strength of the Believer will be the greatest. While the world is struggling
along financially, in its “system”, the Believer will be prospering and
increasing. The Church will be prospering and is prospering. We see this over
and over throughout the Word. Whenever there were tough financial times, and
famine, it was always someone who was obedient to the man of God, in the Old
Testament, or to Jesus in the New Testament.
The widow woman with the empty vessels; she was a sign of
prosperity and definitely increase, to all those around her as her vats were
overflowing. Isaac sowed in famine, He was a sign of prosperity and increase to
the world, as he reaped 100 fold, though days before, he had nothing. Joseph,
who once was a slave, stayed obedient to God, and during the worst famine Egypt
had seen, he was able to feed a whole nation. Joseph was a sign of prosperity
and increase. When the disciples were obedient to Christ to throw their nets on
the other side, and brought in that great catch, they were a sign to the world
of provision and increase, we could go on and on here of examples in the Word of
God.
My friends, as the Church and as Believers, YOU, are called
to be a sign and a wonder to the world! You are called to INCREASE and prosper
in every part of your life. From finances, to health, to better jobs, to a
family flowing in harmony and unity. You are the SIGN to the world that will
make them WONDER about who you are serving. Make them wonder, how you got where
you are at in your life. Make them wonder, how they can get what you got! Make
them wonder how you went from a 2 bedroom apartment to a 4 bedroom house with a
garage during this economic distress. How you went from an entry level position
at your job, to being promoted 2 or 3 times in one year. How you went from
being laid off to getting even a better job than you had before. From you,
going from a old run down car to a new car. From everything you touch,
beginning to increase and prosper, in everything you do. From seeing you walk
in divine health and relationships. From seeing you go from glory to glory in
your walk with the Lord, seeing you in peace, walking in the power of God.
There will be a great harvest coming in because of the
INCREASE in YOUR life. Due to the increase of the Church, the harvest will
begin to seek out help, seek out “the Way”, seek out “the Truth”, so they too
can be free. You are the Sign that will make the harvest wonder, for you are a
sign and a wonder to the world! Glory! For the world is looking for the
Truth. The world is not looking for truth in poverty, sickness or disease. Its
looking for Truth in Power, that can only be found through Jesus Christ.
Now, lets bring this increase “home” a little more, to the
Believer, and take a closer look:
1 Thessalonians 4:10 “…but we urge you brethren and sisteren
that you INCREASE more and more.”
There is an INCREASE in the body of Christ. For too long the
body of Christ has focused on the “decrease”. The scary thing is the Word says
you can have what you say, and believe. So if you have declared that you are to
decrease, as many of the body of Christ has, then that’s what you get, but I
declare to you today an INCREASE!
John 3:30 “He must INCREASE, but I must decrease.”
Oh my…how this verse has been mis-interpreted over the years,
and oh how we have allowed religion to grab a hold of this verse. The body of
Christ has always, always, always focused on the “decrease” part of this verse.
Religion has used this verse to declare “poverty vows”, to declare a “lowly
worm” state of being, to declare a “loser” mentality about oneself, and most of
all focus’ on, what we call “dying to flesh”, and how we must “die”.
Now there certainly isn’t anything wrong with dying to
flesh. However we can’t seem to get past that part. It’s almost like we are
stuck there. And there seems to be a lack of revelation that, “hello” the old
man is dead! When you gave your life to Christ, your spirit became PERFECT!
Glory! Grant it, our soul realm still has issues, but your spirit is perfect.
That old spirit that was born in sin is no longer, it has DECREASED and you are
now a new creation. So quit calling yourself a “sinner saved by grace”! You
are a saint, you are sons and daughters of the most high God!
So, with that out of the way, lets focus on the INCREASE
baby! When you receive Christ in your life as your Lord and savior, you cannot
help but INCREASE! Increase becomes a part of your life. Everything about you
should be increasing.
“HE MUST INCREASE..."
Or He (Jesus) absolutely has to increase! It’s not an
option. And when Christ lives IN you, and He is increasing every day, of every
moment, don’t you think that will impact your life? Don’t you think that your
job will increase? That your bank account will increase? That your healing
will increase and accelerate? That your family will increase in harmony and
unity? That everything you own will increase?! Everything you touch will
increase? This is what the believer is called to, INCREASE BABY! Glory!
Increase by bible dictionary means: “Multiplication, growth,
reproduction of livestock (or what you own/property you own), reproduction of
harvest. (which is a representation of what is to come)
So if Christ must, absolutely, has to increase, and He dwells
in you, you WILL see multiplication in your life, you WILL see reproduction of
your property and the things you own, of the business you own, of the
possessions God has already given you, an increase in the lives touched by
Christ through you!
My friends it is impossible for you not to increase, when He
lives in you! The only thing that can stop the increase is your thinking.
Renew your minds to the Word of God where there are no limits my friends! The
sky isn’t even the limit! Whahoo!
It’s not necessarily about “material” things here. Its about
obtaining what Christ has already purchased for you, and that the world isn’t
going to want what you have if you don’t have “anything”! The world doesn’t
want sickness and disease, so increase and get your healing, the world doesn’t
want poverty, so increase and come out of that poverty mentality, the world
isn’t looking for more problems, so increase in your revelation knowledge of the
Word, and walk in the power of God.
Isaiah 9:7 “Of the INCREASE of His Government and peace
there WILL BE NO END.”
The awesome thing about this increase is that it belongs to
you, is there is no end to it! We are to partake of God’s divine nature,
(according to 2 Peter 1:4) and God’s nature absolutely does not DECREASE! It
absolutely is NOT in God’s nature to decrease, but only to INCREASE. Glory! It
continues to increase, and increase, and prosper and prosper, and grow and grow,
enlarge and enlarge…there is no end to God’s increase. It goes on for
eternity! Every time the angels circle around the throne they discover
something new and glorious about God! God’s increase is for eternity. There
is NO END! That means that there is no end to the increase in your life! You
go from glory, to glory, to glory, to glory, to glory, baby!
When you allow Christ to step into your life, you, the
believer, have access to this increase immediately! Not tomorrow, not 2 days
from now, not next week, but immediately! God is the God of immediately, not
yesterday, not tomorrow but NOW! Your healing is NOW, your deliverance is NOW!
Your increase is NOW! When He increases, you increase! Greater is He that is
IN you, than he that is in the world.
Some of you reading this may say, “why am I not seeing an
increase in my life, Maria?” Well, up till this point you didn’t have a
revelation of the Word of increase for you life. Without a revelation of
increase in your life according to the Word, you are in disagreement with the
Word, therefore you have limited yourself. God cannot bless dis-agreement of
His Word. Again, renew your mind, and get in agreement with the Word, get in
agreement with increase for your life.
So many times we put out a prophetic word about what is going
to happen in the body of Christ and for the believer and they get excited about
it, but never see it come to pass. My friends faith without works is dead! So
we need to put action to our faith, do our part, and line ourselves up with the
Word, and the Word will not return void! For it cannot lie.
God wants you to INCREASE! He wants you to increase more
than you do! He desires to see you prosper, He desires to see you increase, He
desires to see that you have everything you need in life, that pertains to life
and godliness. He is going to cause you who love Him to inherit wealth, so that
He can fill your treasuries! (Proverbs 8:21)
2 Thessalonians 3:12 “And may the Lord MAKE you INCREASE, and
ABOUND, in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.”
This is my prayer for each one of you, that the Lord will
MAKE you increase, and the key in all this increase always comes back to “love
one another”. So as we increase, lets love one another in the love that Jesus
has given us, we give back to others. Love-the biggest SIGN, that will cause
the Harvest to “Wonder”.
You, the Church, you the Believer, the Sign that causes the
world to wonder. Increase is yours. Its already been paid for on the cross by
the love of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 40
Is Christianity inferior to Judaism?
…We went through fire and through water; But You brought us
out to rich fulfillment Psalm 62:14
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
The Abrahamic Covenant guaranteed the blessings of physical
health and material prosperity for Old Testament Judaism. The Christian religion
must do the same in the Christian era; otherwise, Old Testament Judaism is the
superior religion. If the Christian religion doesn't provide and guarantee
physical health and material prosperity in the New Testament era, equal to that
provided and guaranteed by the Abrahamic Covenant during the Old Testament, then
plainly Christianity is inferior to Old Testament Judaism.
The bible tells us that God is the source of blessing in the
Old Testament and New Testament. As the source of blessing, God himself endues
with power in the following areas of blessingsl; power for an abundant life,
power for an effective life, power for the salvation of the soul, power for
success power for prosperity, power for fecundity and power for longevity. The
bible also tells us that You see, prosperity for God’s children is his way of
demonstrating his continuance of his Abrahamic covenant with each of us. God’s
word is true:
"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
He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was
none feeble among His tribes. Psalm 105:37
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
It’s a fact that you cannot have from God what you cannot
believe that He can do or give you. It’s also a fact that God’s people have been
given a bad report by their leadership who have told them lies about God’s will
for their lives and who themselves have never possessed the Promised Land, all
the promises of God. God’s word is true:
And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land
which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies
is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are
men of great stature. "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came
from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were
in their sight." Numbers 13:32-33
Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned
and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of
the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by
the plague before the LORD. Numbers 14:36-37
Yes by believing the bad report of their leadership, many of
God’s people die in the wilderness of their own choosing devoid of divine
health, divine wealth, divine strength and divine prosperity. The don’t
experience Jesus Christ miraculously turning the water of their lives into wine
just like He did at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when they ran out of wine.
There were six water pots of stone, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they went ahead and did
exactly that. And the water became wine! (John 2:1-11).
Faith is that almighty force in the realm of the spirit, that
is able to take a man from the pit of hell and translate him to the glorious
realm of heavenly places! Faith is also able to make a man whole, healthy,
wealthy and prosperous. There is nothing in the world that will not answer to
faith - be it physical, mental, material or spiritual, name it. Everything on
earth answers to this powerful force called faith. It overcomes all forces of
darkness - economic problems, sickness, disease, family disintegration, untimely
death, and every other obstacle we can imagine on earth. Every problem on earth
just must answer to faith, and this is why we must seek to understand and
appreciate it. Jesus told Peter:
… "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may
sift you as wheat. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;
and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Luke
22:31-32
Until our faith fails, we don't become a failure. Once our
faith fails, our spiritual life fails! Because Habakkuk 2:4 tells us that"...the
just shall live by his faith." JAY SNELL a former Southern Baptist Evangelist,
who holds the Southern Baptist record for the number of evangelistic campaigns
held in a given time span, wrote a very interesting article titled “Is
Christianity Inferior To Judaism?” In this article he stated:
"One day, God looked down from heaven and saw that Judaism
was not working the way he thought it should. He saw the people breaking the Law
of Moses right and left...and they were not making the sacrifices in the right
spirit either...if they made them at all. So he said to himself, "I'm going to
set me up a brand-new religion…something that’s entirely new...a religion the
world has never seen before. I'll name it after my Son. I'll call this new
religion Christianity. I'll send my Son to fulfill the Law of Moses and he will
be the final sacrifice for sin.
Other than his final sacrifice for sin, there will be nothing
in my new religion that even resembles Judaism, my old religion. Sure, I
inserted some prophecies in the Old Testament to alert the people that I was
sending a Messiah. And yes, I worded those prophecies in such a way that the
Jews would be looking for a Jewish king. But, that's not the way my new religion
will be. I'll throw out everything pertaining to Judaism but one…my Son will be
the final sacrifice for sin and fulfill the Law of Moses forever. By his
sacrifice, everybody, Jew and Gentile, can be saved. The vehicle of my new
religion, this new Christianity, I'm going to name the Church. From now on, the
Church will be my brand new covenant. And since I have now set up a brand new
covenant, I'm going to throw out all my promises to give the Jews the land of
Palestine forever. Over one thousand times the word give is used in my Old
Testament, the preponderance of which pertains to my giving Palestine to the
Jews. But, no matter. All that's over now. That doesn't count any more. After
all, I've set myself up a new religion, a brand new covenant, and called it
Christianity.
They don't need to think that I'm obligated to heal teir
sickness anymore. Sure, I promised them that if they would keep the Law of
Moses, or make the appropriate sacrifices if they broke it, I'd be their healer
and take all sickness away from them. But, I'm not going to worry myself about
keeping this promise. After all, I've got myself a new religion now. If they get
sick, they will just have to pray, "If it be thy will," please heal me. Then,
I'll check my will out and see if I happen to want to heal them.
My new religion is going to be based on poverty too. No
matter that I promised the Jews that I'd prosper them and bless everything they
set their hands to. No matter that I promised to bless their land, barns,
fields, and cattle. Why, everybody ought to know that they can be a better
Christian if they are extremely poor anyway.
My new religion will save their souls, but it will take away
their land, their security in the land, their prosperity, and their healing.
This is enough to do for anybody. Anyone who is grateful at all should be
content to be saved from hell and let well enough alone concerning the rest.
This is my new religion, my brand new covenant, called the Church and
Christianity. And, if those Jews want to be saved from hell, they are going to
have to forget everything in their old religion and join the Church and get
baptized like everybody else!"
Is it any wonder that a Jew looks at a Christian as if he is
insane when we witnesses to him about his new "superior religion" called
Christianity? The Jew at least thought he had the blessings of salvation, land,
security in the land, health, and prosperity promised by Moses if he kept the
Law and its attendant sacrifices. He cut himself off from the above promises
when he disconnected Moses from Abraham, but he still thought he had them. He
based his thought upon The Great Disconnect Theory, still thinking, however
wrongly, that he could secure the blessings listed above by obedience to Moses'
Law.
The God-Looked-Down Theory of the Church corrects this error,
this doctrine of works, but in correcting it, all the Jew is granted is the
salvation of his soul. But, this "brand new religion" takes away his land,
security in the land, health, and prosperity and doesn't replace it. The
God-Looked- Down Theory doesn't replace it because this theory, also, views the
Church as disconnected from Abraham, unaware that only through Abraham can the
above blessings be realized. If The God-Looked- Down Theory of the Church is
correct, we would all be better off if we were Jews under Moses, maintaining the
blessings of Abraham by making the appropriate sacrifice when we've sinned,
since those who did so were saved (Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 9:15). And salvation
of the soul is all The God-Looked-Down Theory gives the members of the Church at
this present hour. But according to the Abrahamic Covenant, in addition to the
salvation of their soul, the Jews also had the promised land, security in the
land, health, and prosperity guaranteed to them.
The "superiority" of this view of Christianity is not
"superior." Judaism offered more, much more. The obedient Jew, standing before
the altar of old, an ax in one hand and the warm body of a sacrificial animal in
the other hand, his clothes drenched with the blood still spurting from the
freshly made wounds, was better off in many ways than a member of The
God-Looked-Down Theory Church today. Why? He was as saved from hell as any
Christian today, but he also had the temporal blessings of Deuteronomy 7:12-26
and Deuteronomy 28:1-14 going for him. The God-Looked- Down Theory, however,
takes it all away from him. Neither does this theory grant these blessings to
the Church today.
Consequently, we are forced in our "superior, new religion"
to pray, "If it be thy will" concerning sickness or financial needs. Then, when
God checks the agenda for "his will" for that day, and perhaps, makes a decision
to help us (based on nobody knows what), then so be it. Otherwise, we must
content ourselves with being raped, plundered, ravaged, and devastated by the
Devil.
And we wonder why it is so hard for a Jew to become a
Christian. The God-Looked-Down Theory has taken his land, his security in his
land, his healing, and his prosperity. It grants him salvation for his soul.
But, he at least thought he had that anyway. No wonder it is difficult to win
the Jews (God's chosen people, his people beloved above all people) to Christ as
their Messiah, Savior, and Lord. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
"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
6:38
And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly
blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all
circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to
require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and
charitable donation]. As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters
abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice {and} goodness {and} kindness
{and} benevolence will go on {and} endure forever! And [God] Who provides seed
for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your
[resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which
manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. Thus you will be
enriched in all things {and} in every way, so that you can be generous, and
[your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to
God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Amplified Bible
Chapter 41
The Redeemed Of The LORD
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy
endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed
from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and
from the west, From the north and from the south. They wandered in the
wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and
thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their
trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth
by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Psalm
107:1-7
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
Jesus Christ has redeemed us from poverty, sickness, death
and every curse that was brought upon us by the sin of Adam and Eve. Jesus
Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we
through His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).God made Jesus who
knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in
Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yes, Jesus Christ was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of
us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs
on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us in Christ Jesus
(Galatians 3:13-14).
What was the blessing of Abraham? Spiritual or material? The
bible tells us:
NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for
your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your
father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a
great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make
your name famous {and} distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing
good to others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or
happiness upon you] and curse him who curses {or} uses insolent language toward
you; in you will all the families {and} kindred of the earth be blessed [and by
you they will bless themselves]. Genesis 12:1-3 Amplified Bible
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there
anything too hard for Me? ... Jeremiah 32:27
Yes, the blessing of Abraham were material - I will bless you
with abundant increase of favors and make your name famous and distinguished,
and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others. Abraham was very rich in
livestock, in silver, and in gold (Genesis 13.2). And yes God has promised to
bless us with the blessing of Abraham including houses, lands, banks, cars, and
a surplus of prosperity. God’s word is unchanging:
Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and
followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, "who shall not receive a
hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and
children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark
10:28-30
If something doesn’t work it must be because we are doing
something wrong. We need to go back to the manufacturer’s manual, the Bible, and
see what is wrong? There is no sickness, diseases, poverty, loss or judgment in
heaven. Heaven has no shortage of any good thing. Heaven is full of abundance
which God wants to make real on earth according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. God’s desire and will for His children, just like any earthly parent, is
for them to be healthy, wealthy, rich, prosperous and successful and He gives
them the power to make it so:
"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
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
So if good things are lacking in the lives of God’s children
including perfect health and abundant blessings, they need to go to the Word of
God and check out what they are doing wrong including considering their ways?
For if they build God’s house He will remove drought on the land and the
mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground
brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of their hands and will
open the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that there will be no
room to contain them! God’s word is true:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be
food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will
not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That
there will not be room enough to receive it. "And I will rebuke the devourer for
your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall
the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts;
Malachi 3:10-11
Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse
without cause shall not alight. Proverbs 26:2
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken
Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns
that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13
Most of the curses in life are self-procured. For every curse
that anyone is experiencing in his life, there is a cause. And when that cause
is discovered and taken care of, the curse is broken. There is always a reason
behind every affliction in a man’s life. Behind every curse there is a cause. To
every affliction in life, there is a root; and when the root is discovered and
rooted out, then there comes a refreshing.
God is greater than any curse or thing that could come
against His children. For every curse upon any life, there is a reason
somewhere; which when uncovered and properly handled, the person is on his or
her way to liberty. If we can get rid of the causes of these curses, then we
will live a life of liberty and victory just like Joshua did when he dealt with
the sin of Achan which affected all of the children of Israel:
But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the
accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah,
of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD
burned against the children of Israel. Joshua 7:1
So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on
your face? "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which
I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have
both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
"Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but
turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to
destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed
from among you. Joshua 7:10-12
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as
He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His
word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10
We need to humble ourselves and ask to show us the causes of
our curses or affliction in the precious name of Jesus so that we can deal
with it. Whatever won’t let rain fall on our life, may it be discovered now, so
that we can enjoy the refreshing that comes from heaven, because it’s our
birthright. Every curse on our life that makes life choking, God will bring them
to light and we will be delivered from them! Different curses that people suffer
in their lives include; The Curse Of God. The Curse Of Man: The Curse Of The
Law; The Curse Of Seed Time And Harvest: The Curse Of Bitterness: The Curse Of
The Prophets: The Curse Of Satan. But God’s word is unchanging:
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother
conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden
part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and
gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my
sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And
renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:5-10
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my
anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way
everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Victory Ministries
Walter Kambulow
June 1, 2009
All rights reserved
Burlington, Ontario
