The All Sufficient Christ
Walter
Kambulow
August 1, 2009
All rights reserved
Burlington, Ontario
Mail to walthope@mail.com
https://walthope.tripod.com/healing.htm
Walter Kambulow, is a man like King David, "after God's own
heart." I encourage you to read his books. It will fill your souls with
hearty spiritual food and give you new strength to live your faith in Jesus. He
is Jesus centered and saturated with the Word of God and strong in the Spirit
of the Holy Ghost. He is a great fighter for His King and an encourager of the true Saints. –
He is a man of God
with a sincere burden for the Body of Christ and its attack from these wolves
in sheep’s clothing.
He spends his time
trying to warn the sheep that the Wolves are not coming into the sheep pen,
they are already there and ravaging God’s people with their horrible witchcraft
powers.
Dr. Pat Holiday, Jacksonville, Florida
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I Believe, I Receive https://walthope.tripod.com/i_believe.htm
The Lord Is Very Compassionate https://walthope.tripod.com/compassionate.htm
The Greatest Is Love https://walthope.tripod.com/thegreatest.htm
More Shall Be Given https://walthope.tripod.com/begiven.htm
God’s Will Is Healing https://walthope.tripod.com/healing.htm
God Hears And Answers Prayers https://walthope.tripod.com/answers.htm
In Time of Trouble https://walthope.tripod.com/trouble.htm
Blessed To Be A Blessing https://walthope.tripod.com/blessed.htm
Our Wonderful Redeemer https://walthope.tripod.com/redeemer.htm
The
LORD Will Hear https://walthope.tripod.com/hear.htm
Let
God Arise https://walthope.tripod.com/arise.htm
A Nonexistent Thing https://walthope.tripod.com/victory.htm
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All
Authority Heaven And On Earth
God
Hates All Workers Of Iniquity
His
Understanding Is Unsearchable
Those
Who Are Of Faith Are Blessed
What
A Friend We Have In Jesus
The
Exceeding Greatness Of His Power and Name
That
You May Prosper In All Things
The
God Of My Salvation Be Exalted
The
Lord Will Rescue and Redeem His People
All
The Treasures Of Wisdom And Knowledge
The
Eternal God Is Your Refuge
You
Shall Be Blessed Above All Peoples
"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' Matthew 25:24-25
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. 2 Peter 1:3-4
As sure way to end up being a failure or defeat in the storms of life, is to do nothing and ignore the fact that God’s 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! We are not only admonished to use what has been given us in Christ but to add to our 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.
Through Jesus Christ our Heavenly Father has enabled in His word for us to have healing, forgiveness, restored relationships, walk in a glorious relationship with Him, take back from Satan what is rightfully ours that we have been robbed of, and walk in a victorious life in Jesus victorious over ever negative circumstance and thing here on His Earth. Jesus started and ended everything He did through prayer demonstrating His total dependence on God. And we through prayer can take back what is rightfully ours through Christ, in prayer!
It’s a shame many are given over to the whims of any devil due to ignorance or sit down and give up failing to realize that they are children the Most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth and as His children through Jesus Christ, have been given authority and power over the enemy (Luke 10:19). But they can repent and choose to obey and have a life that is victorious in Christ through being an over comer in Jesus!
Prayer is a powerful force because it brings the unseen, the Kingdom of God, on the scene, or into our lives where we and other people need it, so God's Kingdom is seen (manifest and/or experienced). As God’s redeemed ones we are here to be a part of and not a hindrance to the Kingdom of God, and to set the captives free with all of heaven’s riches and resources backing us including the name of Jesus that is above any other name in heaven or earth. And nothing can stand against the proper us of the name of Jesus. God’s word is true:
"Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:6-10
Note – This book evaluates 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 The Great Dream (Http://Apostasynow.com; and from others.
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Acts 3:6-9
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
The
name of Jesus is above ever name in heaven, on earth and of those under the
earth. When we lift up the name of Jesus for ourselves, He is able to move for
any need we may have. By speaking His
name we acknowledge that He is the true and faithful One and that there isn't
anything too hard for Him. We can speak the name of Jesus when troubles come,
when sickness knocks at our door; we can speak it in faith and be expecting God
to move. We can use the name of Jesus to
trample devils underfoot. We can use His
name in prayer and believe for us and others to be healed in soul, mind and
body. Through faith in His name, many
wonderful miracles have been and are wrought.
Jesus is His name! His name is above all other names. Yes God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the
world especially of those who believe. God’s word is unchanging:
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39
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
Today, Jesus still heals, just as He did during His earthly ministry. He not only heals our bodies, but He heals "every kind of disease and every kind of sickness"-physical and mental, spiritual and emotional. We can call on Jesus. Anytime! He still restores marriages and repairs broken homes, soothes the brokenhearted and the emotionally crippled, and brings hope to the hopeless. He is with us right now, to perform miracles for spirit, soul, and body. We can seek Him for the needs in our life and see His miracle working power displayed.
Jesus is Jehovah-Repheka our healer, the One who created us is more than able to heal and recreate us. Jesus defeated sickness and disease for us at Calvary. He gave us authority over the enemy, sickness and disease, Luke 10:19. Healing comes by faith in God’s Word. Faith that what Jesus did was enough. Faith in the name and blood of Jesus. We can resist sickness, disease and pain in the name of Jesus. We do not have to tolerate it in our lives. If we are children of the Most High God we have been healed, made whole nothing missing, nothing broken. Jesus took the power of sickness away from us. He bore it in his body. When we realize our sins our forgiven and we are in right relationship with God through His son Jesus we can be healed for there is healing in salvation. But we need to determine that we have been redeemed, healed and have the blessing of God, the Precious Holy Spirit living in us. When we receive the Word of God with faith, we can receive healing and restoration. 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
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
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
We have been given the grace and blessing to be sons and
daughters of the King of kings and Lord of lords and all the authority and
responsibility that goes with it including to root out and to pull down, to
destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant nations and kingdoms and to
forgive or retain the sins of any. If we
choose not to act or use our God given authority that is in and through the
name of Jesus that is above every principality, power, sickness, diseases, mountain,
foe, enemy, kingdom or problem, that is our right as children of God created in
the image of God with freedom of will and choice. We can choose to have a form
of godliness and deny God’s power and authority He has given to us. Yet Jesus
Christ has made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the
earth (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelation
"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. God’s word is unchanging:
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
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalm 40:1-4
Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen Romans 16:17-20
Divisions, strife, contention, deception, discord, disunity, strife, anger, wrath, murder, criticism, condemnation, pride, envy, jealously, gossip, slander, evil speaking, complaining, lying, false teaching, false gifts, false manifestations, lying signs and wonders, poverty and sickness all come in one way or another Satan and his cohorts who must be crushed in our lives and not just endured! These are things and demons which must be overcome by Christ who strengthen us and have given us the power over all the power of the enemy!
Being born again opened up a whole new world to believers! It meant that we’re not just supposed to experience life on the earth with our natural senses and it all ends there. No! But as a spirit being born from above and born again, we’re to experience the heavenly realm with our spiritual senses. To live in that heavenly realm and to walk in the spirit is to live and believe as it is in heaven so let it be done on earth (Matt. 6:10). It is a fact that the whole ministry of Jesus Christ was a demonstration, picture, and manifestation of the kingdom of God. His whole ministry of the kingdom of God involved bringing creative power out of the heavens to override the natural and the impossible in the earth and to release the supernatural of God. The kingdom of God in our hearts and lives is to destroy or change all other kingdoms that are part of us!
We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are God's property. By our declaration of faith Satan is to be bound from our family, our mind, our body, our home, and our finances! We are redeemed from the curse of the law including a whole slew of negative things that affects unbelievers. As a result we are to confess until it becomes a reality that we are healed and whole. We flourish, we have long lived, stable, durable, incorruptible, fruitful, virtuous, full of peace, patience and love. Whatsoever we set our hands to do prosper for God supplies all of our needs. We have all authority over Satan, all demons and beasts of the field. God’s word is true:
"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
Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:32-34
Through faith, we are to claim a hedge of protection around ourselves, spouse and children and other family members throughout this day and night. We are to ask God, in the Name of Jesus, that He dispatches angels to surround ourselves, spouse and children and other family members today and put them throughout our house, and around our cars, souls and bodies. We are to pray in the Name of Jesus that God sends angels to protect our house and other possessions from intrusion and our family from demonic harm or other physical and mental attacks because we wrestle not against flesh and blood. God’s word is true:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- Ephesians 6:11-18
Every time we pray, if we do so correctly, God’s mighty power is released and made available to bring victory and breakthrough into even seemingly impossible situations. We do not need to overcome God’s reluctance when we pray. That is not the problem. Everything we need is already paid for and created by the work of the cross. But we must take hold of it through the heart of faith and the voice of prayer and make God’s power available in the earth. We have an active part in the Kingdom of God coming to earth as it is in heaven. Who is going to do this praying? Every believer is called to prayer. It is a gift that Jesus has given us.
Our position is one of victory. Because of our position in Christ, we pray boldly and with great confidence. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that we are actually seated in heavenly places with Him. We have a position in the spirit realm, and we pray from that spiritual position – seated with Christ! We don’t pray from defeat, circumstances, or because we’re under attack. We pray out of our position of who we are in Christ, seated in heavenly places, redeemed by the blood, a child of God; we pray because of what Jesus has done for us.
As a result we can break curses and attacks sent against us in Jesus’ name, such as, sickness, disease, strokes, heart attacks, tumors, cancers, alzhiemers, or even a simple flu getting out of control. These can be natural because sin or they can be persistent, perpetrated, organized attacks against us. Because of jealousy and hatred, Satan and his demonic forces want to destroy people. His human servants or agents want to destroy Christians as well. And they will work together to cause all these ailments listed above and more.
Satan’s wimps such as witches and wizards and even so called Christian pastors will send curses at believers. They can astral project as demonically trained or remote viewers can come to see them. They can see believers but believers are not spiritual enough to see them. As a matter of fact most believers are blind when it comes to the spiritual realm, so they are at a spiritual disadvantage. Their unbelief works for their cause against them to break their body down and cause these ailments to take effect against them through demonic power. It’s the most effective and subtle form of assassination tactic the enemy has.
Many pastors or Christian have been complete deceived if not demonized as they cannot tell the difference between the work of the Holy Spirit and the works of the devil. Demons give people a religious experience that causes them to throw aside everything Biblical. They possess people who are not Baptized with the Holy Spirit and they will torment those who have been Baptized with the Holy Spirit. In many “Third Wave” or “Vineyard” churches the leadership there cannot tell the difference between the work of the Holy Spirit and demons and demons have to be cast out of God fearing people who received them by transference of spirits in those meetings.
The victimized people have the symptoms of possession which people seem to be unable to recognize. They have no control over their physical bodies and since demons will imitate the symptoms of various physical, mental and emotion disorders. Most of them look like they are suffering from epilepsy with uncontrollable shaking and twitching, constantly doubling over. They do not speak in tongues but make strange noises which mimic the gift of tongues: barking like dogs and making other animalistic sounds. The so-called prophecy is unscriptural and false when examined by Scripture. The violence of belly bumping is not ministry. The kicking people as a method of healing is not done by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit but rather from the one of whom Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life , and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10: 10). What is being portrayed by these deceived demonized ones is NOT ABUNDANT LIFE. God’s word is unchanging:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1
Jesus warned these deceived ones that He will “blot his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3: 5). This is what Judson Cornwall wrote about in his book, “Let Us Praise” , which he called “the worship of demons” (1 Cor. 10: 20; Rev. 9: 20). This is what is called a “familiar spirit” or plainly a demon. I have cast these kinds of demons into the abyss who have come to people’s home pretending to be the spirits of the dead relatives says Dr. Pat Holiday.
It is not God’s fault that most of God’s people are spiritually blinded. It is theirs. He has given His people the Word of God and spiritual leaders that can help them but they choose to follow those who are spiritually blind and materialistic. These so called spiritual people that walk in darkness lead them to have doubts about Jesus Christ and His Word. This causes them to become spiritually weak. Jesus said in (Matt 15:13-14), “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
The present day church is apostate and it has come to enjoy wild fire of the demonic powers and cannot react to the true anointing of God. There is only “one anointing” and that “anointing” is Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 2: 27). To seek other so-called anointings is to open the door to evil spirits (demons) who will possess and harass and cause sickness and death. Jesus warned, “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mk. 13: 22). And, it is happening today.
“How can so many Christians be deceived?” Most churches & pastors have rebelled against the necessity to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 4), the authentic “signs” of a real believer (Mk. 16: 17- 20) and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12: 6-8; 1 Cor. 12: 8- 10) and, therefore, church members have absolutely no way to tell the difference between the authentic “gifts from heaven” and the devil’s counterfeits (Thess. 2: 9). There is only one “order of worship” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 14: 26- 40). If followed, our worship is “done decently and in order”. If it is not followed, our worship services are “indecent and out of order”.
Many people try to suggest that they would rather have the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5: 22-23). There is no such choice. No gifts means no fruit. Paul commanded~ “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12: 2) which is done by using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so people can have their needs met (Rom. 12: 6- 8). Because most Christians have rejected the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are easily deceived because they cannot tell the difference between the authentic gifts of the Holy Spirit and Satan’s counterfeits (2 Thess. 2: 9).
As believers the Lord will protect us. But He also expects us to learn how to recognize the false prophets the attacks from them and Satan and his cohorts and break them off ourselves through His Name. In John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” It is through the power of His name that we are able to overcome the wiles of the Devil. God’s word is unchanging:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20
"But you
shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of
the earth." Acts 1:8
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
It is a fact of life that anyone who embarks upon going all the way with the LORD will be rejected and falsely accused, attacked and cut off (financially) by the antichrist spirit operating in the organized church world (See Matt. 10:22; Jn. 16:1-3; Matt. 5:10) Aand they will be ousted by those professing to know Christ, namely those in positions of leadership. Jesus was! Paul was! The Jewish prophets were!
Scripture tells us that "ALL" authority has been given unto our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and He only gives it to those who obey Him (Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 14:21,23; 2 Cor. 10:6; etc.). The unchanging Son of God, in whom "ALL" authority is vested, never grants His divine authority to any person who holds a position of leadership in a corporate setting - unless that individual is abiding fully in Him which is rare 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 6:10). Yes power and greed corrupts people including pastors and preachers.
How much power/authority has been given to the Son of God? "ALL power!" What/Where is the sphere of this power specifically? “Heaven and in earth." Where do we live? On us on “earth?” And if we are living in fervent obedience to the Master of the Universe in Whom all authority abides we can have much of God’s power entrusted to us for God’s word is true:
"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. John 3:34-35
"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
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Ephesians 3:20
It’s to be noted that while on earth, Jesus walked a life flawlessly committed to His Father and purposely did not commit Himself to mere men. Unlimited authority was invested in Him (Jn. 2:24-25; 3:34; 5:30, etc.). And God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) As a result God can anoint His true ones with the Holy Ghost and with power to go about doing good, and healing all that are oppressed of the devil!
However there are the 5 sins listed here that kept God's people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul's pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are "examples" (v6,11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors - Ps 68:21, 73:28, 125:5, etc.). If not ridded out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:
• Lust
• Idolatry
• Fornication
• Tempting Christ
• Murmuring
This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. "Keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22)
If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of our heart, we are simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives. And we are to note the words of Jesus who told His disciples that men always ought to pray and not lose heart:
"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
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8
For those who come to Jesus Christ and touch Him by faith He is able to do for them exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask think or pray just like Jesus promised, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mark 11:24).
But for some people the whole process of touching Jesus is a complete waste of time because they don't mix the word of God with faith and it doesn't profit them. God’s word is unchanging:
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:1-3
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:11-15
Yes there are 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 or healed or delivered. Then there 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. Then there 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 then there are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Faith is our friend and unbelief is our enemy.
Unbelief if unchecked robs us of all the things that God has for us just like it robbed the children of Israel who were miraculously delivered from their Egyptian captors and spoils with the wealth and riches of Egypt from going into the promised land. Only Joshua and Caleb who had a different spirit in them and has followed the LORD fully, did He bring into the land where they went, and their descendants inherited it. God’s word is unchanging:
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
Just because the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all flesh doesn't mean that everybody is saved or healed or delivered. And the number of deceived fools that we have in the world is proof of this!
There are two sides to this issue: the legal and the experiential. Legally, by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. Experientially, most people have not entered into the experience. In faith, we must appropriate in experience all that is already ours by legal right through our faith in Christ. The same is true with salvation. Derek Prince in his book “BLESSING OR CURSE YOU CAN CHOOSE!” brings out the following truths:
In John 1:12—13 the apostle says, concerning those who have been born again through receiving Jesus, that God has given them “the right to become children of God.” The Greek word translated “right” is exousia, usually translated “authority.” That is what a person actually receives at the new birth: authority to become a child of God.
Authority is effective, however, only insofar as it is exercised. The potential of the new birth is unlimited, but the actual results depend on the exercise of the authority that goes with it. What a person will become through the new birth is determined by the extent to which he exercises his God-given authority.
There is a close parallel between the experience of believers entering into the blessings of God in the New Covenant and that of the Israelites entering into Canaan under the Old Covenant. In the first covenant, under a leader named Joshua, God brought His people into a promised land. In the second covenant, under a leader named Jesus (which is another form of Joshua), God brings His people into a land of promises. Just as the land of Canaan was the physical inheritance appointed for Israel, so the promises of God, offered through Jesus, are the spiritual inheritance appointed for Christians in this dispensation. The same principles that applied to Israelites then apply to Christians now.
In Joshua 1:2—3 God gave Joshua instructions on how the Israelites were to take possession of their inheritance:
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and this entire people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”
There is precisely the same contrast of tenses here as in Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.. In verse 2, the Lord uses the continuing present: “I am giving” summed up in Revelation 21:7: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things.”
To further strengthen and encourage us, God has also set before us the example of Abraham, who is called “the father of us all.” Through Abraham, God did not merely establish the measure of the blessing He has prepared for each of us, which is “in all things.” He also marked out ahead the path that leads to that blessing. The life of Abraham is both an example and a challenge in three main areas: his prompt obedience, his complete confidence in God’s word and his stead- fast endurance.
In Hebrews 11:8 the writer emphasizes Abraham’s prompt, unquestioning obedience: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Abraham did not ask for any explanation of why he should go, or any description of the place he was going to. He simply did what God told him to do, promptly, without questioning. The same kind of obedience characterized his entire life: for instance, when God required him and all his household to be circumcised (Genesis 17:9—14, 23—27); and even when God asked him to offer up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1—14). At no time did Abraham ever hesitate in his obedience or question God concerning what he was asked to do.
In Romans 4:16—21 Paul points out that when God called Abraham “a father of many nations,” he had only one son by Hagar, a slave woman, while Sarah, his wife, had been barren for many years. Yet he reckoned God’s description of him as true from the moment it was spoken. Because he thus accepted God’s word without questioning, even against the evidence of his own senses, ultimately there came a physical fulfillment that was confirmed by his senses.
Actually, about 25 years passed from the time God first promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, until the birth of the son who was the promised heir. Through all those years he had nothing to hold onto but God’s promise. He must have faced endless temptations to discouragement. Yet he never gave up or abandoned his faith. Finally, the reward of his steadfastness is summed up in Hebrews 6:15: “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
In Romans 4:11—12 Paul tells us that we are children of Abraham “if we walk in the steps of Abraham’s faith.” This is the scriptural requirement for entering into “the blessing of Abraham,” promised in Galatians 3:14. Like Abraham, we must accept God’s Word as the one sure, unchanging element in our experience. All the variable opinions of men, and all the fluctuating impressions of our senses, are just “grass that withers.” “But the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Our acceptance of God’s Word, however, must not be purely intellectual or theoretical. We must demonstrate it in our actions just as Abraham did: by prompt, unquestioning obedience and by steadfast endurance in the face of all discouragement. In this way, we shall find that God’s Word will ultimately be proved true in our experience. We shall come to know God’s blessing—just as Abraham did—”in all things.”
Satan will continually oppose us with mental and emotional pressures: doubts, fear, guilt, confusion and so on. He may also assail our bodies with various forms of physical infirmity. Against all this God has provided us with one supremely effective weapon: His Word. In Ephesians 6:17 Paul directs us: “Take . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
This requires the interplay of the human and the divine. The sword is the sword of the Holy Spirit, but it is our responsibility to “take” it. If we take it, the Holy Spirit will wield it. But if we do not take it, the Holy Spirit has nothing to wield.
…Faith …reckons God’s promises as effective from the moment they are apprehended. We do not wait for confirmation from the senses. By prompt, unquestioning obedience and patient endurance, we move from our legal rights in Christ into the full, experiential enjoyment of them. We meet all satanic opposition with “the sword of the Spirit”: the spoken Word of God.
LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalm 3:1-8
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
The Lord remains to His trusting ones a great Savior, Healer, Deliverer and Provider. No matter what negative circumstance they might find themselves in, they can always call upon the Lord and He will answer them. He will be with them in trouble. He will deliver them and honor them. With long life He will satisfy them and show them His salvation. He has already sent His Word, Jesus, and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. His eyes are always upon them and His ears are open to their cries. His word is unchanging:
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:17-20
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies. Psalm 112:1-8
The Lord doesn’t forget the cry of the poor and needy! He still raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes- with the princes of His people. He still grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. He still blesses those who fear the LORD, both small and great. It is still better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Our help is still in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The LORD is great, and is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S; but the earth He has given to the children of men. His word is unchanging:
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:6-8
I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence. Psalm 140:12-13
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11
Yes, the Lord will save us with His right hand. He will perfect that which concerns us. He will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and give justice for the poor. And He will empower us to care for the poor and needy. Yes, the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit provide power for caring for people who seek to overcome problems of living including casting out demons and healing the sick. God’s word is unchanging:
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20
Any person who can be used by the Holy Spirit to lead another to salvation or along the way of sanctification is competent to be used by God to give wise counsel and give healing and deliverance without needing specialized biblical counseling training. The ordinary believer, who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and has found the Lord and His Word sufficient in his life, is equipped to minister to a fellow believer who is struggling with personal issues of life.
The very first Christians ministered to those suffering from problems of living. They preached the Gospel, taught new believers, and cared for their souls and bodies. Rather than basing their ministry on psychological theories, they based their ministry on what Jesus had taught them and on the Old Restatement scriptures. They did not seek or use psychological methodology, but relied on revealed truth. They believed Jesus’ words when He said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8: 31,32). They counted on Christ working in and through them as He had clearly explained in His analogy of the vine and the branches (John 15). They relied on the work of the Holy Spirit. They understood the centrality of the spiritual life, of Christ in them. When they drifted into following the ways of men, the Apostle Paul wrote to them and urged them not to follow the wisdom of men, but to rely on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:2-5; Colossians 2:6- 10).
The early Christians didn’t charge anyone for ministry but freely gave what they had freely received. They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. The ministry of mutual care, given to edify the church and to glorify God, is a calling of God on the life of every believer. We as believers are called by God to minister to one another according to the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Struggles of the soul and problems of living are to be dealt with as spiritual problems with spiritual solutions.
The Reformation was a turning point in church history and it produced two great teachings Sola Scriptura and the priesthood of all believers. Sola Scriptura means by Scripture alone. The priesthood of all believers means that believers, guided by the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, are equipped and called to minister to one another in the Body of Christ. We can have confidence in the efficacy of Scriptures and the knowledge that:
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:12-17
James, the leader of the first Christian church in Jerusalem, wrote, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). Biblical doctrines of confession, repentance, forgiveness, exhortation, encouragement, and comfort were taught and practiced in the early church. Doctrines of the believer’s position in Christ and Christ in the believer and of the active work of the Holy Spirit were taught and followed. These spiritual ways of living the normal Christian life were also the believer’s means to mental, emotional, and spiritual healing through the centuries. The cure and care of people was the application of Scripture to the life of the believer through the ministries given to the church through the Holy Spirit. The care of people depends upon all of the “alones” of the Reformation:
Sola Scriptura by Scripture alone
Sola Gratia by grace alone
Solo Christo by Christ alone
Sola Fide by faith alone
Soli Deo Gloria glory to God alone
These principles apply to all aspects of salvation, including justification, sanctification, and glorification. Believers are to continue their walk with the Lord on the same basis as their initial salvation by Scripture alone, by grace alone, by Christ alone, by faith alone, and to the glory of God alone. We don’t reject the individual life of the believer within the Body of Christ, in which we have the fellowship and the priesthood of all believers. We embrace mutual care within the Body of Christ, performed by a priesthood of all believers We reject psychological counseling for theories and methodologies underlying psychotherapy come from the wisdom of men and cannot be integrated with Scripture without doing violence to the Word of God.
Psychological counseling depends on the works of the flesh rather than the grace of God, even when practiced by Christians. Thereby the flesh is strengthened and spiritual growth is retarded or stagnated. Psychological counseling is not by Christ alone, even if the counselor is a Christian, because the models and methods are unsanctified human means and depend upon unsanctified human effort. Psychological counseling depends on a faith other than faith in the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Psychological counseling depends on faith in the counselor and the counseling process. Psychological counseling cannot be Soli Deo Gloria, because the psychology together with the counselor and the so-called counselee get the credit.
Yes, Christ paid the price for sin through His own substitutionary death. Then He rose again to give new life to every believer. His death canceled the debt of sin. That is the initial cure for sin and hell-bound death. Christ’s life in every believer provides the ongoing care, not only for each individual believer but for the entire Body of Christ. Jesus Christ ministers directly to each believer and also indirectly through believers to one another. This is the outworking of the care of people who “joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22). God’s word is true:
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47.
Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against You. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:1-12
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:1-3
Yes, according to God’s word, by which heaven and earth were made, God, who is love, hates all workers of iniquity. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. He shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The judgment of deceivers, false prophets, judgment is not idle, and their destruction does will come and even speedily. Their day of judgment will come. But the LORD will bless the righteous; with favor He will surround him as with a shield. And God’s word is unchanging:
But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:12-22
Todd of Safeguardyoursoul.com writes something that deceivers need to consider :
DEAR PASTOR...[i]
You should know that as a blood-bought disciple of Jesus Christ……
· I am not going to help you build your own vision or ministry. In God’s eyes, you have no authorization to build your own ministry, and if you attempt such, I will not help or assist you or be brought under the evil condemnation that I am obligated to submit to you as you rebel against the LORD you claim to be serving. I refuse to betray Christ and therefore will not join you in your rebellion if you ever begin building your own work/kingdom in lieu of Christ’s.
·
When I give financially, it is not always going
to be within your 4 walls. You calling and ministry is one of several true
ones. I will obey the leading of the divine Person of the Holy Spirit who told
us in His Word that when the money came in, “distribution was made unto
every man according as he had need.” (Acts 4:35) Today, the visible church
is apostate and the money model it espouses is for the self-serving benefit of
the leader(s) and not according to the biblical revelation. In the early
church, not all the money, not even a majority percentage of it, went to the
leaders. Everyone - every individual believer and ministry - was important in
the early church. This is the kingdom way and I will operate accordingly as
this is the biblical revelation and therefore God’s way to handle/steward
money.
·
I will not be coerced by any manipulative language
to pour my money into your physical church-building program. Jesus never built
even one physical building to further His kingdom. His true kingdom is only
built in the hearts of men (Lk. 17:21).
· I possess a kingdom mindset and will do nothing outside of lifting up and worshipping the King of the kingdom and being used to see His true kingdom/church built as He promised He would do (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 3:1; Col. 2:18-19).
· Pastor, you are a mere man and I am not impressed with you because my heart’s affections are set upon the LORD Himself. No one compares to Him. I will honor, respect, and co-labour with you in His kingdom fellowship and work, but only as you follow God’s Word and Holy Spirit (Who will never lead you in contradiction to the Word). Jesus will always be my supreme Master and not you or any other man. If you do not preach this Bible truth and seek to lead others to render loyalty to you, you are a wolf, hireling, and false prophet (2 Cor. 1:24; 8:5).
· My loyalty to Jesus is my supreme loyalty and church attendance at your building has little to do with my relationship with Him. I fully understand that fellowship with other true born again, truth-loving saints is very important, but your little church program is not the only place to get that kind of godly fellowship. God’s kingdom is simply not limited to your little local fellowship and for me to share fellowship with other true believers I do not need your permission and will not ask for it (Acts 2:42-47).
· I am
not going to blindly or unduly “submit” to you nor your leadership unless you
are following God’s Word and truly watching for the souls of those you lead
(Heb. 13:7, 17). When we read the WHOLE truth in Hebrews 13:7 & 17 we see
that these 2 things are essential when measuring who to “submit” to. I am
under Christ’s lordship and not yours.
· Have you truly studied 1 Peter 5:1-6, Acts 20:20-32, Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, and Matthew 23?
· Have you considered repenting of doing things your own way and coming off of your power trip (sinful pride)? Isn’t it time for you to die to yourself, your own desires and agenda to build an income or ministry and truly lay down your life for the LORD and His people? Isn’t it time that you practice the simple truth the Word commands – to deny self, take up your cross and follow Jesus? (Lk. 9:23-24)
· When is the last time you preached the true law and Gospel outside of your pulpit? Do you care for lost souls? If so, do you have evangelistic proof in your daily activity? Are reaching out with the Word to win lost souls and exhorting other disciples in the same?
· What eternal value is there in building that physical building? Is that just a ploy to have a bigger place for you to perform in and to feature yourself and your “ministry”? What about investing the money in local missions, the poor, the needs of those people right under your nose, and the support of other ministers in your very midst? Is your calling any more valid or important than any other member of the body of Christ?
· I am fully aware that you do not have nail-scarred hands and feet and even if you did, your blood is contaminated with sin and would not have redeemed anyone. It’s time to elevate Jesus Christ alone and forsake using your position of leadership for your own glory (2 Cor. 3:5; 4:5). - “was Paul crucified for you?” (1 Cor. 1:13) You are going to give answer to the Almighty (James 3:1; 4:17).
·
The LORD told me in His Word that I am bought
with His holy blood and am not to serve mere men - “Ye are bought with a price;
be not ye the servants of men.” (1 Cor. 7:23 ) Submitting to Christ is priority
and must be first and foremost in priority (2 Cor. 8:5).
·
I will not participate in your “ministry” if in
fact and deed you do not profoundly honor God’s written, holy Word as final
authority and preach it only. The Holy Bible must be the only Textbook for life
and godliness among His true remnant (Jn. 10:35; Rom. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet.
1:3-4; 16-21).
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. Job 42:10
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Psalm 23:3
For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: "This is Zion; No one seeks her." ' Jeremiah 30:17
Christian Word Ministries writes about Restoration and states:
RESTORATION
Restoration is to be brought back to our position and condition before the foundation of the world when we were chosen. At our spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, we were immediately made the righteousness of God in Christ. We were justified, cleansed and redeemed from the curse of the Law of sin and death. We were purchased with the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, made His Own and adopted into His family. We are given the mind of Christ as we were reconciled to God and given the Ministry of Reconciliation as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. We have been by grace justified and made whole.
We were restored to that place in God, before the fall, in which Adam fell from dominion into sin consciousness (where Adam saw his own nakedness before God). This means there was a point in time however before Adam had "fallen" into sin consciousness. At this point before Adam's fall mankind did not need restoration back to God. The time I am referring to, even before Adam, was the laying of the foundation of the world. Even before that scripture states that BEFORE the foundation of the world the Lord knew us (meaning we had an interactive relationship with Him, He knew us and we knew Him). In restoration, we are brought back into that vital relationship of knowing Him again. This is the place the Lord wants us to realize that in Christ, we are, in Him.
It is all about Him, God, Jesus. It is all about knowing Him Face to Face, knowing Him and His Ways. The Word says Moses knew His Ways, and the children of Israel knew His "acts". God's "acts" are great and wonderful but not as near as He is!
We are seated in the Heavenly Places with the Lord, BE STILL, and know that He is God, He is in control. Do not fret, nor squirm, do not get up out of your protected Heavenly position and get back into the "Adam" mind set trying to figure things out, that is Adam thinking. We are to possess and have the mind of Christ! The devil is defeated! LET GOD! Let God arise and defeat your enemies and heal you. The Word of the Lord says to Call Upon the Lord. Let God be God, so you are healed, made whole, and restored in all areas. What ever ailes you take it to God in prayer, confessing God's Word believing! Stop that mind set! (Gal. 5:1) That is why Jesus shed His Blood for you in the first place, RESTORATION to the Heavenly Father! That is whole, that is complete in spirit, soul, and body!
Be restored and don't let anyone rob you of your inheritance! Know Whose you are, Who you are, where you came from, where you are (seated in the Heavenly Places with your Lord!) and where He is leading you (speaking to you now!) Just BE, learn to Be content IN Him(!) as you were before the foundation of this world were formed, in Him! (!!)
We are to become Ambassadors of Christ and His Kingdom reconciling men and women to Christ. We are also called by the Lord to be Restorers of the Breach between mankind (others) and God. God through the Holy Spirit desires to restore other's spirit, mind, desires, will, emotions, and body in to that divine creature we are to be.
Walking in the Mind of Christ - Restored and Walking in the Light with Our Lord
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Phil 3:7-11
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first-fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine." Prov 3:5-10
Recommended reading: "Chosen For Greatness" by Kelley Varner
The living God is the Savior for all those who believe and trust in Him no matter what their negative circumstances might be. He is the God of restoration who has promised to restore all that the different kinds of locusts have eaten. His 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
Even though we are sincere, have good intentions, have made Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the head of our life, have completely yielded ourselves to Him, and have accepted the gift of righteousness and all that gift including health, prosperity, peace, joy and life abundant, there are some situations and circumstances that do not change. And we are not just talking about putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. While it’s true that according to God’s Word, we can now reign in this life as a king and the power of sin and death in our life has been overcome, we must still exercise the power and authority that God has given us over forces of evil, demons, principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). God’s word is unchanging:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16
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
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:18
There is no sickness, disease, poverty, lack, defeat, failure or unmet need in the kingdom of God. For those who live and walk in the kingdom of God demons and circumstances don’t determine their success and prosperity and well being but God Himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit, which brings both the manifestation of the kingdom of God and the nature of the God who is a good God, a creative God, a miracle working God and a God of restoration. When God’s comes on the scene through the presence and personality of who the Holy Spirit is miracles come forth, miracles are manifested and God’s creative power is unleashed to change things in and around the live of the believer.
Most Christians are waiting for the kingdom of heaven to happen when they die—“absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). But Jesus said, “… the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And from the beginning of the time that Jesus first began to walk on this earth in His earthly ministry and He released the dynamic and the presence of the Holy Spirit, He ushered in the kingdom of heaven. AND IT’S STILL HERE! We don’t have to wait until we die or for another time to experience the kingdom of heaven! We can come into the realm of the kingdom of heaven now by experiencing what Jesus meant when He said: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). The kingdom of heaven is the manifestation of the kingdom of God on the earth, as it is in heaven. The reality is this: as it is in heaven means that there is no sorrow, or pain, or sickness because such conditions do not exist in heaven. So we can pray that as it is in heaven so let it be done in the earth. We can bring ‘as it is in heaven’ to the earth not only in the area of miracles, glory and angelic activity but into our hearts and lives. As a result we will have no more sorrow, no more pain, no more sickness, into the earth and know and experience the comfort of God in all our tribulation. God’s word is unchanging:
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
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Yes, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power that is God and not of us. We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal! We need to focus on what’s eternal because what’s eternal is going to last forever and it’s in the Spirit realm. We bring heaven on earth into our lives. The eternal is the unseen substance of what’s in heaven. In fact, the eternal overrules the material or physical realm, the physical symptoms of the sickness that are in our body, and the physical circumstances of our life. And we do this by saying “Come Holy Spirit; so as it is in heaven, it will begin to be on earth.”
As we invite the kingdom of God and as we say, “Holy Spirit come,” He brings the realm of God, He brings the activity of God. When the Holy Spirit shows up, a superior order shows up, and it breaks the law of science, it breaks every doctor’s report and what every person has said about you concerning what you can and cannot do. It breaks the law of physics and the realm of the impossible. It begins to open up the impossible! It begins to open up the eternal! It begins to open up the supernatural! People get healed! Sickness, diseases, poverty and lack leave our bodies and leave our lives to the dismay of the unbelievers as God’s kingdom is manifested in our lives. As it is in Heaven so is not now on earth in our hearts and lives.
Through being born from above means that we not only experience life on the earth with our natural senses but we experience the heavenly realm with our spiritual senses. We can now live in that heavenly realm and to walk in the spirit is to live and believe as it is in heaven so it is to be done on earth (Matt. 6:10). Just like Jesus demonstrated and manifested the kingdom of God bringing the creative power out of the heavens to override the natural and the impossible in the earth and to release the supernatural of God we can do the same. We can walk in a great measure of miracles, signs and wonders like Jesus did for we now live by another set of rules. We live by a superior order. We are in the realm of God where miracles are the natural order of things through the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost. 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
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:11-14
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. Psalm 118:14-16
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
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 40:27-31
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:15-16
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Victory over all kinds of things is ours because of what Jesus Christ has done on Calvary and as a result "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."(Ephesians 4:8). And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever and so are His benefits. He still forgives all our iniquities, heals all your diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfies our mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. He still executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He still is the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He still gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. And 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. His word is unchanging:
But
As I live," says the LORD, "You shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, And bind them on you as a bride does. "For your waste and desolate places, And the land of your destruction, Will even now be too small for the inhabitants; And those who swallowed you up will be far away. The children you will have, After you have lost the others, Will say again in your ears, 'The place is too small for me; Give me a place where I may dwell.' Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has begotten these for me, Since I have lost my children and am desolate, A captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; But these, where were they?' " Isaiah 49:14-21
"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him." For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 52:1-3
Yes, the Lord will do for His trusting ones what no other
can do. He will give them peace, healing, blessings, restoration and prosperity
for He has not changed. He, who called Abraham alone and blessed him and
increased him, will comfort His trusting ones. He will comfort all their waste
places; He will make their wilderness like
Thus says the LORD: "As the new wine is found in the
cluster, And one says, 'Do not destroy it,
For a blessing is in it,' So will
I do for My servants' sake, That I may not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from
Jacob, And from Judah an heir of My
mountains; My elect shall inherit it,
And My servants shall dwell there.
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 65:8-16
No matter what the problem or mess a person might be in, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. His word is unchanging:
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you-The sure mercies of David. Isaiah 55:1-3
God has nothing but blessings and the best of all things for His people in abundance. He desires that they incline their ear and come to Him. Hear and their soul shall live and He will make an everlasting covenant with them, a covenant of peace and prosperity and to do better do better for them than at their beginnings. His word is unchanging:
"I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 36:11
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. "Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. "I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. "And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Ezekiel 36:25-30
There is no one who will do for them what God will do for them, including cleansing them from all their filthiness and from all their idols; giving them a new heart and putting a new spirit within them; taking the heart of stone out of their flesh and giving them heart of flesh; putting His Spirit within them and causing them to walk in His statutes, and keeping His judgments and doing them; delivering them and prospering them; taking all famine away from them and rebuilding and restoring all things. No one can bless and prosper them like the Lord whose riches and resources and power are unlimited. His word is unchanging:
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed." Isaiah 61:4-9
God wants His people to dream big dreams and He will fulfill those dreams for He is God, not man! He who has already given them His best, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit, desires to give them the rest and do exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask or think, according to the power that works in them, the same power that created heaven and earth and raised Jesus Christ from the dead. His word is unchanging:
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-32
Because God is a great and wonderful miracle working God there is nothing that He cannot or will not do for those who believe. Nothing is too big or too small for Him to look after and nothing is impossible with God. His word is unchanging:
Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, "This is David's spoil." 1 Samuel 30:17-20
And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the
islands of the sea. Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the
account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they
not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph
into
Yes, the God who took nobodies like Joseph, David and Mordecai and made them into somebody’s is alive and well and able to do the same for anyone who trusts in Him and walk with Him no matter what the negative situation and circumstance they might face. Yes, the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (James5:15). The battle is of the Lord’s and our Lord Jesus Christ has won the battle on the Cross, so we can believe in our heart and pray in faith and claim the healing for our loved ones as our Lord is a God of compassion. He has seen our tears and He will wipe all our tears and we will have no more sorrows and no more tears. God’s word is unchanging:
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord-that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:11-16
.
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? "And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 'If disaster comes upon us-sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine-we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' "And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir-whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them- "here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chronicles 20:5-12
When it comes to fighting battles for His trusting children the size or the magnitude of the enemy doesn’t matter to God. He who made heaven and earth and rules over all with only small amount of His family can destroy, annihilate and dismay any enemy just like He did for Jehoshaphat who walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. As a result the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD ( 2Chronicles 17)! Jehoshaphat also set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. "Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes." ( 2 Chronicles 19:6-7)
So when a great multitude the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came from beyond the sea, from Syria to battle against Jehoshaphat, he had real fear, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. As a result Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court and asked God to judge His enemies because they had not power against this great multitude that nor did they know what to do but their eyes were upon the Lord.
Consequentially then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel in the midst of the assembly and he said:
"Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 'Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
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 20:15-30
And the good news is that God has changed one bit He will still help and defend those who put their total trust in Him! And God is not restricted by the method He will use to help them and to give them victory! The righteous have a great advantage over all people on the face of the earth – The eyes of the LORD is upon them and His ears are open to their cry! And God is still able and will do great things for His trusting ones just like He did for Hannah who proclaimed:
"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)
There is none like the Lord who gives victories over real enemies and Who is a God of knowledge and by Him actions and not just words are weighed. He breaks the bows of mighty men. He kills and makes alive. He makes poor and makes rich. He sets the beggars among princes to inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth, righteousness, justice and truth are the LORD'S. He guards the feet of His saints and makes the wicked silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail as the Lord will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the earth and exalt His anointed. Therefore, Hannah and her son Samuel were exalted in a time when the Word of God says:
Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. (1 Samuel 3:1)
As a result, Samuel didn’t sleep all night thinking of the vision the Lord gave him about Eli and he was afraid to tell him. However, in the morning Eli said to Samuel:
"What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you." Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him."
So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (1 Samuel 3:17-20)
The real deeds and wickedness of the sons of Eli had caused the Word of the Lord to dry up. For Eli was very old and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel. How they slept with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. He asked them:
"Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. "No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD'S people transgress. "If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. (1 Samuel 2:23-25)
God was waiting on His prophet Samuel who grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men. He then sent a man of God who came to Eli and said to him:
"Thus says the LORD: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 'Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'
"Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.
'Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 'And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 'But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
'Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. 'Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. (1 Samuel 2:27-35)
It’s amazing how even prominent servants of God failed to do what God has required of them to do in raising up their children properly. They didn’t teach them to walk in the ways of the Lord and avoid stealing from God’s people. God doesn’t forget nor does He forgive such evil behavior, unless those who did it repent and make restitution. Though, God in His wisdom and patience delays His judgments, nevertheless, He will require man to pay for all he does wrong.
God who blesses some and destroys others blessed and prospered Samuel but then He destroyed Eli, the anointed High priest and his family. God who doesn’t change does the same things today as He did for Hannah and Samuel. He answered their prayers and gave them real victories over their enemies, who were also God’s people. What an amazing, powerful, mighty and wise God that we serve who doesn’t do things by man’s understanding but by His own wisdom. Hannah was the fighter who overcame and Eli was the high priest and the loser who was overcome. Their ending was so different from their beginnings and yet they both worshipped the Lord. God‘s Word states:
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (1 Samuel 4:4)
Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (1 Samuel 4:11)
Eli was sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God and a man said to him:
"I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line." And he said, "What happened, my son?" So the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured." hen it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (1 Samuel 4:16-18)
It doesn’t pay to become an enemy of God, for God will not honor those who dishonor him and those who despise Him. They shall be lightly esteemed even if they are a high priest like Eli or a king like Saul. They shall be cut off like Eli and his sons were--totally and completely. For God’s Word states:
So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh. (1 Kings 2:27)
'for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' Deuteronomy 20:4
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:23-30
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians
6:17
When we have united ourselves to God by receiving Jesus as Lord, victory now lives inside of us for he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. The wisdom of God, the power of God and victory lives inside of us. God is inside of us, talking to us, teaching us, counseling us, empowering us, and enduing us with Himself. As a result every time we face a problem, every time we face an evil spirit that tries to influence and hinder our lives, God is facing it too. When we meet those things, God meets them. And He's already overcome them! Yes, the LORD our God who lives in us goes with us, to fight for us against our enemies, to save us, to give us victory. And no one or nothing is bigger than God! 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
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
Yes the God of all power and unlimited might and resources lives inside of us, is our friend and is for us with us and not against us. As a result God plus one is a majority in any negative circumstance or situation.
So why are many of God’s people whom Jesus made them to be kings and priests to His God and Father (Revelation 1:6) are not ruling their life as king and priest? Because of lack of knowledge, unbelief or listening to false prophets: God’s word is true:
"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
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6
"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." Matthew 7:15-27
God Himself told us 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. Jesus Himselm clearly told us 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. He also told us 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.
And Jesus said that His sheep would know His voice and another they will not follow. We need to listen to the voice of Jesus daily as He speaks to us through the voice of His Holy Spirit. Then when the false prophet comes along stealing, killing and destroying, we will not be led astray because we will know that the voice is another voice and not the voice of the great shepherd, Jesus.
In the bible many times God warns us of false prophets. He warns us because He loves us and He does not want us to be led away by false teaching and the greed of men. He wants us to only know the truth and to only listen to His voice. And we know that in the last days there will be many false prophets, apostles, teachers and brethren, and they will be led by their master, Satan. In 2 Corinthians 11:13 we are given some insight into their method of operation. It says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end will be according to their works.”
Second Peter 2:1 says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
There are two points to be noted by all:
First, these false prophets and false teachers will not appear to be false. Second Corinthians 11:13 says that these leaders will appear to be righteous men who appear to radiate the light of Jesus. They will be so camouflaged that many will follow them. But that should not be.
Second, they will teach false doctrine. Without the true Word of God being taught, faith will not grow. With undeveloped faith we will not be as effective in our witnessing and we will not be walking in the promises of God. Instead we will be walking in the problems and the ways of the world. And that’s what Satan wants for us.
One of the great marks of a true Christian is compassion and it’s something only few men of God have. Dr. Paul Dhinkarian of Jesus Calls in his article "God Shall Dwell With You" talks about compassion and writes:
On 10th October 1962, my father Bro. D.G.S. Dhinakaran had an encounter with Lord Jesus Christ. My father returned after his work from the bank and before retiring to bed the family gathered together for prayers. My grandfather was praying when my father felt something being lifted from his eyes. He saw Lord Jesus Christ before him, full of love and the Lord filled him with unspeakable joy. He began to laugh uncontrollably with joy and the grace of love flowed into Him. The Lord said, “My son, I am Lord Jesus Christ! Because you sought me diligently, I have come to bless you personally. I am anointing you with my love and when you pray for the people with compassion, I will come and bless them.” He then entered the heart of my father and filled him with the Holy Spirit.
We must not only live as a king and priest with an excellent lifestyle that will produce abundance and fruit in our life but also demonstrate compassion to others as Jesus did. God’s word is true:
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9:35-38
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
Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:29-34
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment-This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! Psalm 149:1-9
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 14:15
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 6:18
The Word of God encourages to praise the LORD with the dance, sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp and pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and the LORD will beautify the humble with salvation! In the bible the word “salvation” is not limited in its meaning but rather quite unlimited. It encompasses preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil as well as great blessings including spiritual, physical and financial! God’s word is unchanging:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil. 90:16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children. 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:13-16
He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Psalm 105:37
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
Through our faith we can have not only victory over the world but abundance, wealth, riches, joy, miracles, healing, deliverance, salvation, wisdom, redemption, renown, honor, silver and gold, and every good thing as inheritors of the covenants of promise! Yes faith in God produces concrete things in due season. Yes Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens (Hebrews 11:32-33).
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. Through faith and obedience to God's voice and word we can receive wave after wave of God's richest blessings! God’s word is unchanging:
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' Revelation 2:7
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3;5
"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:12
"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. Revelation 3:21
"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:7
We are commanded by God to overcome all things and to crucify the flesh. As a result our spirit man must dominate our body. And praying in the Spirit by the Holy Spirit applies spirit to flesh. It causes our spirit to rise up and take charge. Just like using barbells strengthens our arms, praying in other tongues strengthens our spirit. Our spirit is more powerful than our flesh, and as we give it outflow, the flesh will simply have to yield to it.
Most believers don't understand that. They'll be overwhelmed by some sin, and instead of conquering it by the things of God such as praying in the Spirit, they'll simply keep struggling to overcome in natural ways. So they end up failing again and again. They fail to understand the importance of living, walking and praying in the Spirit.
God knows our weakness and He's given us a way to overcome it. He's given us the ability to pray in tongues-- and with our understanding to wield the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And no matter how badly we're failing in everything else, we can do these things and we will be more than conquerors in all things! Jesus Christ rose from the dead, stripped Satan forever of his authority, and openly displayed his defeat to all of heaven and hell. As a result we are not to let the devil to talk us out of our inheritance with trials and tribulations.
When pressure comes, when troubles and trials are bearing down on us, we are to keep in mind and confess that Jesus Christ, rose from the dead and conquered and defeated all our enemies! When Jesus arose, we arose. When He came out of hell and defeated the enemy, we came out of hell and defeated the enemy. His victory is our victory because we're in Him. We have Christ, the Anointed One, the Victorious Conqueror, risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father making intercessions for us and enabling us to be more than conquerors and to have “Shalom.” Shalom is a Hebrew word that sometimes we think just means “hello.” But it means much more than that. In Hebrew when you say shalom what you mean is completeness. In other words, there is nothing incomplete.
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
There were many people pressing into the presence of Jesus, but only one woman pressed in with faith. Jesus turned and looked at her. She pulled back and Jesus said, “Woman, your faith has made you well.” Then He made a statement often overlooked. He said, “Shalom.”
When Jesus said, “Shalom,” the lady was head physically and restored financially. That’s shalom! Shalom is completeness, wholeness, peace, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, perfectness, harmony, the absence of agitation and the absence of discord.
Shalom means completeness and wholeness in all areas. To prove it means all areas, the definition of shalom breaks down even further into peace and health. Some think shalom just means peace, but it means so much more. There is a certain kind of peace we can have by getting our 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.
What is the difference between health and healing? Healing requires a victory. Health is living in victory. There is no need in shalom. Shalom is walking in victory. “Beloved, I would that you would prosper and be in good health.” (3 John 1:2) God’s perfect will is for us to walk in health and to be free from the need of healing. He wants us to walk in shalom.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
In the Christian world today, Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as healing, miracles and glossolalia, and are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practiced today . However in “The Third Wave Movement” Power Evangelism differs from classic Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement, in their approach to speaking in tongues. Whereas the previous groups emphasize the gift of tongues as the only evidence for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Power Evangelism emphasize that it is just one of the many spiritual gifts taught in the Bible and is a move of God through a Christian to touch and change the life of a person to open a door in their heart to hear the Gospel.
In the Vineyard Churches and Third Wave movement there is also combining of psychological theory with charismatic practices. The emphasis was, and still is, on attaining spiritual power. But critics complain it just as carnal seeking of power for power sake devoid of love and compassion for others! 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. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4
What many Christians miss out in the current time of life is not only the gifts of the Spirit and especially speaking in tongues which causes the true gifts to operate but the person and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Yes the Holy Spirit, the Comforter is able to comfort us supernaturally. He can and shall fill us with His peace. He can and will restore all that we have lost in a double fold measure. When the peace of God fills us, He helps you forget all our defeats, struggles and problems and to rejoice in the Lord. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength and brings us into a position where we can be delivered from and healed of all things for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever and God’s word is true:
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 4:24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24
But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Matthew 12:15
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. Matthew 15:30
And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there. Matthew 19:2
Jesus is the Master of all our seas, and He is ready to do battle for us and bring peace to our troubled souls. Mark 4:39 says, "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." When the disciples called upon the Lord, He arose for them; and He will do the same for us. As we meditate on this scripture, there are so many lessons that we can learn. We learn that Jesus is truly our help in time of need. We learn to call upon His name. We learn that we are not to be fearful, but trusting. We learn that if Jesus says, "Let us go over unto the other side," then we will make it no matter what comes our way; and we learn that Jesus has all power.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever a mighty miracle working God, a Savior, a Healer, a Deliverer, a man of War, the Judge of all the earth and a God who loves justice. Whatever is causing troubled waters for us today, whether it be spiritual, physical or financial, we can trust Jesus to arise and calm our troubled seas. He is the Master of them all. All good and perfect gifts come from Him. Jesus came to destroy all the works of the devil, sin, sickness, confusion, depression, and oppression. John 10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." His word is true:
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. Isaiah 9:6-7
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
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. 18:19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:17-19
Jesus walked this earth with great love and compassion, speaking truth to people, healing the sick, casting out devils, and setting the captives free and bringing great faith and joy. Because of Jesus we can believe God to do for us what no other power can do. What Jesus did when He walked the earth, He is still doing today. We can pray and expect for God to work miracles for us and our loved ones daily. We really need the Master's help in this hour. His word is unchanging:
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 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 30:1-5
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? "And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 'If disaster comes upon us-sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine-we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' 2 Chronicles 20:5-9
"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 17:4
God’s word clearly tells us that God is heaven and He rules of all the kingdoms of the nation and in His hand there is power and might so that no one is able to withstand Him. And if disaster comes upon us-sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine- if His people who are called by His name will humble themselves, and pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. And the bible also tells us:
"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Samuel 2:6-10
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:15-16
So according to God’s word problems and trouble in life are not solved by perspiration but by prayer and faith? The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. And God 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. God is God and there is no God besides Him; He kills and He makes alive; He wounds and He heal; nor is there any who can deliver from His hand. His word is unchanging:
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, "As I live forever, If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the heads of the leaders of the enemy." ' "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people." Deuteronomy 32:39-43
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19
For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." Hebrews 10:30
It may surprise most people, but there is something God cannot do. The Bible tells us in Titus 1:2 and in Hebrews 6:18 that it is impossible for God to lie. God's Word is so pure and true that there is no reason for Him to make a promise. Every word that proceeds from His mouth is a promise as it is spoken. Every word that He has written in His Word is a promise as it is written. We do not need to ask Him to make a promise. He already has. We just need to believe what He has already said. Why? Because God doesn't lie and we can "stake our life" on His Word including:
Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10
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. Matthew 21:19
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelations 12:10-11
The devil, Satan, has already been defeated and has been cast down by Jesus Christ. We enforce his defeat and demise by our words, declaration or testimony. When Jesus cursed the fig tree with His words He only did what God had given the right for Him to do in Jeremiah 1:9-10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." And this right to root down and to pull down kingdoms and to destroy and to throw them down, including the kingdoms of men or demons, has every true child of God who is has been made by God to be a king and a priest to our God (Revelation 1:6,5:10). But just because most of God’s people have chosen not to use this right doesn’t make it illegal or invalid. 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
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-21
Yes demons can be cast out where ever they are found including the lives and kingdoms of men and the LORD works with His own confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Signs and wonders that bless some and destroy others!
Yes those who are blind and chose to remain blind and continue being demonized will find God’s word to be true that they will be uprooted, fall into a ditch, the sword will never depart from their house, and their judgment will be evident to all. God’s word is true:
But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 4 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Matthew 15:13-14
'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.' " 2 Samuel 12:8-12
So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:9
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:5-6
Jesus came to earth and died and lived again. He didn't do it for
Himself. He did it so He could bring us alongside. So we could wear His Name
and wield His authority on the earth. He did it so that we could stand before
God and be everything to Him that Jesus is.
Jesus put on a physical body so that He could come to earth as a man and
gain authority over sin and sickness, demons, fear, poverty and all the other
curses that came when the law of death moved into the earth--and He did it. He
succeeded. He mastered everything in the world of the intellect, everything in
the physical world. And now because of what Jesus did, through Christ by faith
we can be more than conquerors in all things! For those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham!
And Before He ascended,
Jesus said, "All authority is given unto Me both in heaven and in the
earth." Then He turned around and gave that authority to us by giving us
His Name. God’s word is true:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that
I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to
My Father. John 14:12
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 6:13-15
You are of God, little
children, and have overcome them (false prophets), because He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world.
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. 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. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He
has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:4
Unfortunately for them many people, even Christians, don’t have the spirit of truth but the spirit of error and that is why they are not blessed as believing Abraham was blessed! They don’t walk in love towards one another but rather in hatred, envy and strive. As a result they don’t know how to use the name of Jesus and don’t have the petitions that they have asked of God. They cannot testify to the reality of God’s word in their lives which states:
"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. "And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. Deuteronomy 28:1-13
We have been adopted as sons of God by Jesus Christ who has made us accepted in the Beloved 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. As a result we can have from the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 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 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. We can also draw courage from the Word of God and let it change us from a coward to an overcomer. Then we can march into battle and slay the giants in our land through the power of God and see the reality of God’s word about the wealth of the wicked:
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22
Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. Isaiah 60:5
Therefore your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And their kings in procession. Isaiah 60:11
God
has given us power to bind the wicked spirits in heavenly places and to loose
the angelic powers of God to work in our behalf. We have been given a Name
which is above every name, and at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!"
Where? In heaven, in earth and under the earth. That covers it all! We are the
ones who have the mighty Name of Jesus and the awesome strength of the gospel
to bring life and abundance to every creature. We are the ones whose prayers
can change every kingdom in this land. We can battle against them with the Word
and in prayer. Problems are temporary, or subject to change, but God and His
Word of victory are never subject to change!
According to the Word of God, there is no lack in the Body of Christ? Everything we could ever need, every problem we could ever face has been covered by the blood of Jesus. His exceeding great and precious promises have supplied it all. We need to realize that there are situations where we're going to have to take some time and pray in the Holy Ghost and stand on the word of God and all the promises of God about them. We need to reread through all the blessings of Abraham and see them become a reality in our lives in the current time of life.
Defeated ones sometimes say, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
That's nonsense. If you play the game right, you'll win! Any good coach will tell us that part of
playing the game right is having a winning attitude. That's what God wants us,
as believers, to have. He wants us to have so much faith in Him that we expect
to whip any obstacle the devil brings our way. He wants us to expect to win at
the game of life. His
word is true:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes
the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1
John 5:4
And 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. Hebrews 6:11-12
It’s not easy to live a life of faith or walk by faith believing God to meet our needs. And when the results seem slow in coming and many are tempted to give up. They forget to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises! When it comes to receiving from God, patience is just as important as faith. It makes the difference between success and failure for those who are trusting God for the impossible.
Patience undergirds and sustains faith until the result is manifested. After we have meditated on the promises of God and have them in our spirit, patience encourages us to hold steady. Patience is power. It has the courage to refuse the lie of Satan that says the Word is not working for us. But patience knows that God's Word has never failed. Patience will not draw back in fear but will press forward in faith until we have the answer. God’s word is true:
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: Hebrews 10:35-36
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him James 1:5
We need to decide to walk by the Word of God and in love because God by His word d created the heavens and the earth and "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6). And when we're facing a problem, the very first thing we should ask God for is wisdom. Not money. Not power. Not even healing. But wisdom! God gives wisdom to all liberally and without reproach. God's wisdom is the key that will unlock every door in our life. It will turn our every failure into success.
God has given you a Promised Land. It's a place flowing with milk and honey, where our every need can be met. A place where we can keep sin underfoot as we rule and reign with Christ. A place where no weapon formed against us will prosper. A place where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers--far from oppression. God has promised us victory in every negative situation that we are going through and we have to kick the devil out. God has given us the power to do it. His true:
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 'then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; 'you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. Numbers 33:51-53
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15
Yes in the cross God disarmed the principalities and powers ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in. We have absolutely no reason to cower before the devil. Jesus defeated and disarmed him through His death, burial and resurrection. The devil can't defeat unless we let him. All he can do is make empty threats and deceive us with empty words. But we don’t believe his lies but the Word of God instead. As a result we can use the Word and the Name of Jesus to drive the devil out of every last detail of our life. We don’t have to let him dwell in our territory but can force him to pack up and go home and start possessing our Promised Land!
The power of God is now residing in us since we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We actually have residing in us the same new life God gave Jesus when He raised Him from the dead. The old sinner we once were has died. We have become a new creation on the inside. We are full of the resurrection life of God! However sin, disobedience and living a selfish, carnal life will keep that resurrection life from flowing out. Sin will separate us from the power of God, even though you're born again. Resurrection life will lay dormant in us if we u walk in sin. But we can overcome sin y walking after the new life God has put within you; by spending time in the Word and in prayer. And Spirit of God will strengthen us and enable us to put that sin under our feet. But God will not subdue those old fleshly habits of ours on His own. He'll wait on us to take the initiative and learn from Him to walk in the new life that is in of us. God’s word is true:
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. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:5-14
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
No one can deliver like God! He proved in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were bound and thrown into a fiery furnace that was so hot that the men who threw them in were killed by the heat. You can't get in any more trouble than that? But God brought them through and when they came out, they didn't even smell like smoke. Hallelujah! So, no matter how terrifying things around us seem to get, we can trust God. He'll always be faithful. He'll never be out doing something else when we need help. He'll be right there to deliver us from any problem, any catastrophe, any kind of devastation. He wants to be God in our life. He wants to be our protection. He wants to be our security. He wants to be the One that we trust in and look to, to keep us safe. And if you'll do that, He'll never, never let us down. He can handle all the dangers that surround us. He wants to be the first Name we call when trouble comes our way. His word is true:
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
We don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and God is our source of our total supply, our provision, our exceeding great reward and all that we need. Through God's grace and Spirit we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and stand until the victory and our breakthrough is manifested proving the faithfulness of our God. In the midst of all our troubles Jesus is still a balm for every wound, a cordial for every care. He is still a friend who sticks closer than a brother!
Joseph M. Scriven,
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:29-34
Faith in God not only assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see but enables to see and do the impossible! The bible clearly tells us that those who have faith in God will get results that others will not. As a result the Children of Israel by passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith Joshua, Samson and David subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, became valiant in battle, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
The secret to Joshua and King David success and victories was not only their courage but they took their orders from their Commander in Chief - The Lord. Joshua as a brilliant general had his own ideas on how to take the mighty walled city of Jericho but the LORD Himself appeared to Him and told him what was to be done. The bible records:
Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. "You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. "And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. "It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." Joshua 1:1-5
Joshua obtained his victory over his enemies not only because he was a man of faith and bold and courageous but he listened to the LORD and the instructions that He gave and obeyed. The truth that obedience to the voice of the LORD is seen though out the bible; including in the life of David who faced one of the most devastating crisis in his life.
David his men came to Ziklag, to find that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. It was very distressing to find their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. So David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
David was also greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God and inquired of the LORD Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.
And because David heard from the LORD He pursued and recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.
Now the good news is the LORD has not changed one bit, He is with us to save us and to deliver us and to help us recover all that the enemy has stolen from us, be it money, health, or our good name. He is just as much for us as He was for David. His word is unchanging:
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. Psalm 145:18-20
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalms 130:5-8
Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. Proverbs 20:22
Now skeptics and scoffers don’t believe that faith in God will open up windows in heaven and as a result they don’t see the impossible. But the bible has many examples of what expectantly waiting on the Lord and hope in His word for His plenteous redemption and deliverance and what it shall accomplish. One of my favorite stories is about when Elisha and the children of Judah were besieged by the enemy and were starving. Ben-Hadad king of Syria had gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. As a result there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. However Elisha the prophet said:
"Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." 2 Kings 7:1-2
God does nothing on earth unless He reveals it to His prophets. But God has also stated that those who despise the word of His prophets, He will require of them. So the officer who was the right hand man of the king put his life in jeopardy when he despised Elisha’s prophetic words. (It’s true that some foolish men just do not learn and accept God’s word on some matters and they pay for their deeds even with their lives.) God’s word goes on to state:
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, "Why are we sitting here until we die? "If we say, 'We will enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die." And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.
For the LORD had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses-the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, "Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!" Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact-their tents, their horses, and their donkeys-and they fled for their lives.
And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. 2 Kings 7:3-8
The lepers had enough of their circumstance and situation and decided they were going to act and do something even if it would cost them their lives. (Yes, many times God’s bring His people to a place where they must walk on the water or sink. It is in such times that they find the miracle working power of God to be true and see that the Lord is the Lord and that He does what He has said He would do to bless, protect and preserve His own. For after all He is the Lord and He loves to bless and prosper His own even miraculously with the spoils of war from their enemies, just like He did for these lepers.) God’s word records:
Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household." So they went and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, saying, "We went to the Syrian camp, and surprisingly no one was there, not a human sound-only horses and donkeys tied, and the tents intact."
And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king's household inside. So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, "Let me now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.' "
And one of his servants answered and said, "Please, let several men take five of the remaining horses which are left in the city. Look, they may either become like all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed, I say, they may become like all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see." Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, "Go and see."
And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king. Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 2 Samuel 7:9-16
Men are not accustomed to believing God, walking by faith and not by sight and trusting His word and those of His true prophets, even though Elisha had said that God would provide a miraculous deliverance. So they would not believe the words of the Lepers until they could see things for themselves with their natural eyes instead of their spiritual eyes. But the fact of the matter remains that the officer who scorned Elisha’s words paid with his life for his foolish actions. It doesn’t pay to be arrogant and proud and a respecter of persons for God’s word records:
Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria."
Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, "Now look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And he had said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.
Men have a lot of foolish ideas which they make as doctrines but God’s word does not lie and God has not changed. We see from the Word of God that God weighed and judged the actions of the lepers and the arrogant officer. The lepers were blessed and the officer was cursed! So who is to say that God does not do such things today? For after all He is the Lord, the Judge of the whole earth and His eyes are on each and every one to render to each one according to his work. For God’s word is true:
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, And say, "As I live forever, If I whet My glittering sword, And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the heads of the leaders of the enemy." ' "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people." Deuteronomy 32:39-41
And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isaiah 25:9
For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Proverbs 28:4-6
He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase. Proverbs 28:25-28
The Word of God has answers to every problem that man faces including evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all. True wisdom, discernment and knowledge comes from God and the other comes from Satan who "does not stand in the truth" and that "there is no truth in him" (John 8:44). The Bible says:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:13-17
False prophecies, envy, self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing comes with the wisdom that is earthly, sensual, demonic. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Unfortunately for men, Satan is the master of deception. From the time of his fall from heaven until now, has deceived many. He convinced one third of the heavenly hosts that he could rise up and be like God. Like most liars, he began to believe his own lie. He told himself that he had the power to overthrow God and His Kingdom and make it his own. His lie was so convincing that one third of all the created heavenly beings united with him and attempted to overthrow God and his Kingdom. They attempted to place Satan on a throne in heaven. However, when the battle was over, Satan and one third of the angels were cast out of heaven. Even though they believed they could defeat God as Satan had told them, they still lost the battle. Just believing a lie is true and acting on the lie as if it were the truth, does not make it true. The angels acted on what they thought was truth, but they were still cast out of heaven. Yes, acting on a lie is deadly.
Those who act on lies from Satan disguised in beauty and the appearance of truth and believe that the lie is truth are destroyed by it. And many Christians have been destroyed by not knowing the word of God and letting it be an active part of them through daily study and mediation, and hearing God’s voice. As a result everything they did from the time they believed the lie until the time they discovered the truth was in vain. Yes, the only things that count are the things they do that are based on truth. God’s word is unchanging:
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:26-27
"Beware of
false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves. "You will know
them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from
thistles? "Even so, every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor
can a bad tree bear good fruit.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. "Therefore by their
fruits you will know them. "Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but
he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
Your name?' "And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Matthew 7:15-23
Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God
comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with
them. For you were once darkness, but
now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is
acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those
things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are
made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He
says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." Ephesians
5:6
If deception of Christians by empty words of deceivers were not possible then Apostle Paul would not warn Christians about it or that because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience and also tells us do not be partakers with them.
And scriptures doesn’t tell us that exposing the unfruitful works of darkness which are done by the sons of disobedience is wrong bur rather children of light are to become aware of them, expose them and to have no fellowship with the perpetrators of evil, lies, deception and wickedness many of whom are goats not sheep! And God’s word is true:
"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:41-46
Jesus taught that the goats who did not give him food when He was hungry, give him drink when He was thirsty, take Him in when He was a stranger, clothe Him when He was naked, visit Him when He was sick and in prison would go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Yes, all those who did not minister to the least of one of these are unrighteous. And since Jesus wrote the rules and enforces them, they are in deep trouble.
Yes, Jesus taught that all His words were not to be ignored or there would be serious consequences. He also told us to beware of men who would come as wolves in sheep’s clothing and would teach the doctrine of men as commandments of God (Matthew 16:9). He also taught:
· 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.' "
· 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
· 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
Yes, these are the keys to proper ministry and Christian living for God’s word is unchanging:
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.' "
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. "For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:6-12
The enemy and men are great liars and deceivers and love to appeal to the lusts of men including mouthing words that sound nice and appear to true but have no basis in fact. In order to ensnare those who are gullible, even the righteous, the eloquent words that men speak about something must appear to be true and must have an element of truth in them. It’s a well known fact that if something appears too good to be true, then it’s not true. Even though many pastors and preachers have promised a hundred fold returns for money sowed into their ministries, very few, if any, of the sheep can testify that they have had a consistent hundred return fold from their giving into a particular ministry. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
"I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' "How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, "who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal. "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
"Therefore behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor. "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.' "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD. "So when these people or the prophet or the priest ask you, saying, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' you shall then say to them, 'What oracle?' I will even forsake you," says the LORD. "And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' I will even punish that man and his house. Jeremiah 23:25-34
Even though quite a few pastors and preachers prophecy false dreams and vision and cause God’s people to err by their lies and by their recklessness, God did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit the people at all. And God will in due season punish those are false and those who listen to their lies.
We are to check everything that we hear about God and His word with His written word, the bible, and with the Holy Spirit. If it is really His word then there must be a confirmation with two witnesses and with miracles, signs and wonders - otherwise it not from God but from man or the devil.
It’s to be noted that Jesus never taught that worship:
· Enhances the sense of unity
· Ministers to one another
· Teaches and reinforces spiritual truth
It is a fact that many songs sung in the Christian church are doctrinally unsound such as “I am a poor wayfaring stranger.’ True Christians are anything but poor. By faith all the riches and resources of heaven are available to them here in the current time of life. And Jesus promised everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for His name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29).
Yes, some of the so called Christians songs are very depressing and have a form of godliness but deny its power. Just because you sing lustily in the flesh for an hour in the church doesn’t mean the power of God will come down, no more than masses of people singing in a local bar! For the anointing to come down in any place, someone must be in tune with God and open to the anointing. Then God can express Himself the manifestation of the gifts of the Sprit. I have personally seen the anointing of God come down in a church through an anointed singer and the senior pastor did not know what to do with it! When the anointing was manifested, Jesus healed the sick, cast out devils, gave liberty to the captives, delivered the prisoners, comforted the mourners, healed the brokenhearted, and gave justice to the oppressed. He didn’t use the time of collect the offering or talk about the churches building program but He ministered to the poor and needy? Of course when you measure yourself by yourself, you are doing things right? But when God and others measure you by His or their standard, you have probably missed the mark? God’s word is unchanging:
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 1 Corinthians 14:26-29
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3
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
Because our Jesus is bigger than any problem, foe, or mountain that we face in our life by faith we have the victory. The same Jesus who walked on the sea of Galilee and stilled the stormy sea when the terrified disciples of Jesus woke Him from His sleep is for us and with us and not against us. And He has promised us that He will in no wise leave, fail or forsake us. So we must walk by faith in the promises of God. No matter what comes our way, we must hold fast to the promises of God. Fear may try to set in, but perfect love casts out fear. We must not let fear detour us away from receiving God's promises.
And when it seems like we are at the end of our rope, we tie a knot and hold on to God's promises. As we hold fast to the promises of God for our needs, we can receive divine help for that which is needed for soul, mind and body. Just as Jesus heard Peter's cry, "Lord, save me," and lifted him out of the raging waters, He can lift us out of whatever we are going through. God's ears are open to the cry of the righteous, and He can bring divine help in time of need according to His divine riches in glory. We need divine help. It's not within man to do the impossible, but with God all things are possible.
God, who is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one, will do for His trusting ones even this day whatever is required to save, heal, deliver, bless and prosper them if they will use their faith, call upon the Lord and put no restrictions upon Him. He will do for them what He did for Peter who was thrown into prison by King Herod:
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." Acts 5:17-20
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 0 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." Acts 12:5-11
Twice Peter was put into prison by King Herod and twice the angel of the Lord delivered him miraculously out of prison. God who is the God of the supernatural has no problems using His angels to bring miracles and victories to His trusting ones. He will do whatever is required to help and heal them because they are His servants. It’s was ironic but God who used an angel to deliver Peter from Herod also used an angel to kill Herod. God’s word is unchanging:
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:23
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19:11-12
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 3:22
It’s to be noted that under an inferior old covenant or Old Testament Elisha had no problem using His anointing and faith in God to get miracles be it parting the river Jordan, healing the salted water or getting his adversaries destroyed. The bible records for our profit and instruction of the miracles Elijah and Elisha did:
Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."
So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. Then they said to him, "Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send anyone." But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send them!" Therefore they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren." And he said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' " So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. 2 Kings 2:8-25
Yes, Elijah and Elisha had no problems using their anointing and faith to have their needs met, including parting the river Jordan so that they can walk to the other side without getting wet? Elisha healed the water so shall be no more death or barrenness. Just like Jesus cursed a fig tree and commanded it to die, Elisha pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD on the forty two youths who mocked him for being bald. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled them. Yes the Word of God is full of examples of God’s people who used their faith to subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword, out of weakness be made strong, become valiant in battle, turn to flight the armies of the aliens. Jesus who used His faith to bring heaven on earth taught His disciples that "According to your faith let it be to you." (Mark 9:29). God’s word is unchanging:
"Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26:53
And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Mark 1:3
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
Jesus didn’t have a problem with angels ministering to Him in His hour of need. The only reason He didn’t pray to the Father to provide Him with more than twelve legions of angels was because the will of the Father was to be fulfilled in this particular circumstance. Otherwise He would have asked for the angels who are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. Many of God’s people are not blessed and are defeated in different situations is because they have not availed of the angels that are available to help them in their hour of need like Abraham did when he needed a wife for Isaac. The bible records:
So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. "The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. "And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. "Now my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 'but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.' "And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' "But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house. Genesis 24:34-40
Yes, God send His angel with Abraham’s servant to prosper his ways to find a wife for Isaac and angels are available today to help each child of God including defeating their enemies. The bible records of what angels can do:
And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. 2 Kings 19:35
An angel of the Lord saved King Hezekiah who had cried to the Lord about his enemies and said:
… "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. "Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, "and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands-wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. "Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone." 2 Chronicles 19:15-19
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
"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. Matthew 6:31-33
Although mass prayer meetings seem to be wonderful, Jesus told His disciples to “pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly?” What did Jesus know that others do not know? Is it possible that in mass prayer meetings God’s people don’t seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness but their own? Is it possible they don’t want God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven but their own? One thing for sure very few of God’s people can testify to many answered prayers in their lives or even special miracles. Yet God’s word is true:
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, 19:12 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
In theory Barnabas was not an apostle but just a layman who took Saul and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. For when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. So if Barnabas could declare how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles, why not others, even in the current time of life? Yet God’s word is unchanging:
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8
It’s a fact that you cannot give to others what you have not received yourself including miracles and wonders! Presumption is no guarantee of anything including salvation. For miracles to be a reality, your prayer life and faith must be such that you can bring God into any situation or need that you are facing. You cannot heal others if you yourself are not healed or don’t believe that God heals today.
Now the fellowship between God and man was broken when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Their sins separated them from God, and they were put out of the Garden to reap what they had sown. Thank God for sending Jesus to bring man back to God, to have fellowship with the Father once again. But Jesus brought divine peace between God and man. Ephesians 2:14 says, "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." As a result we can go boldly to the throne of God and find grace to help in time of need. Without Him we would be nothing. And Heaven's storehouse is open to those who trust and obey the Lord. In that storehouse there is health for the whole person as well as everything else we need. We can ask for it, seek for it, knock and the door will be opened to us. God’s word is true:
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. The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6
It has been pointed out by others that in Psalm 103, we have a privileged glimpse into the private worship of King David – a rare and precious portrait of a righteous man communing with his God. From him, we too, can learn how to strengthen our hearts through magnificent praise and thanksgiving. Also contained in this psalm are 44 promises. David’s heart was so keyed into God’s hand working in his life, that he was inspired to sing out 44 reasons to praise the Lord!
In this entire psalm, David did not make one petition. While he praised God, he didn’t ask for one thing. As he reflected on the good God who was active daily in his life, he had one summary expression – “I GET ALL THE BENEFITS!” David understood an important truth – if God’s people would reflect on the full bounty of His person and worship Him more often, we might find ourselves asking for less and less!
When we make daily discovery of the powerful and loving God we serve, we may just come to realize better – THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD – HE’S ALL I WANT. I will not want or be in lack because of the magnificence of the God I serve!
The Bible is filled with names of God that describe His character and nature. Meditating on the names of God can bring a heart into a state of reverent awe and thankfulness. Reflecting on the full measure of God’s nature can build our faith and trust, which are also expressions of worship. “For without faith it is impossible to please [God].” (Hebrews 11:6a)
The names of God are the sum total of all His is:
EL ELYON – THE MOST HIGH GOD
EL OLAM – THE EVERLASTING GOD
EL OHIM – THE GOD OF CREATION
YAHWEH – THE GOD WHO REVEALS HIMSELF
EL SHADDAI – THE ALL-SUFFICIENT ONE
As great as these names are, the fullness of their meaning would be lost to every believer, unless God had also chosen to reveal Himself as JEHOVAH, THE GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT. When we reflect on the name JEHOVAH, we are reminded of God’s great love and care for His people. He is everything we need Him to be, at any time of the day or night:
JEHOVAH RAPHA – THE LORD OUR HEALER
JEHOVAH SHALOM – THE LORD OUR PEACE
JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
JEHOVAH SHAMMAH – THE LORD WHO IS THERE
JEHOVAH RA-AH – THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!
The Lord Jesus Christ is a God of miracles. The Bible speaks of how men and women received miracles from God when they called upon Him in their distress. The Lord Jesus Christ is alive and works miracles to those who call upon Him. In the Bible we see that multitudes of people surrounded Him for a miracle in their life. The Lord was moved with compassion when they sought Him and did a miracle for them.
Once when Lord Jesus Christ was teaching in a synagogue, He saw a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years and was bent over. The Lord called her to Him and laying His hands on her said, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity" (Luke 13:11-13). Instantly she was made straight, and glorified God. The Lord could understand well the agony and pain she went through and having compassion on her did a miracle to her.
The Lord will do miracles for us too in our life because He loves us. Whatever may be the problems we face in life, we can call upon the Lord in the days of our trouble. The Bible says, “You are the God who does wonders” (Psalm 77:14). Yes we can call upon Lord Jesus Christ and He shall do a miracle for us and make us happy and then we can ask for miracles for others.
‘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 1:19-23)
Because of what God had done for us in Christ Jesus on Calvary, we can legally request in Jesus name what belongs to us. When we call upon the Name of Jesus we can invoke and put in operation by faith, the power and authority that is in that Name--healing, deliverance, miracles, and change.
Just like Jesus faced Satan with all of heaven backing him, we can go to battle in His Name against injustice, unrighteousness and lies, for behind that Name is the mighty God, the Man of War, who cast the horse and rider into the sea, who is with us, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, who will fight for us against all our enemies, to give us victory.
We don’t need to beg or plead, all we have to use is that Name, and fight and resist all the works of the enemy in our lives, in our homes and in our churches, until God Himself comes and gives victory and we overcome and become more than conquerors in Him.
For Jesus manifested God and His Name when He walked the earth. Jesus was and is Jehovah “The Lord, the eternal God” who was, is, and is to come, the eternally existent God. Jesus is Jehovah Elohim, the Lord is God...the self-existent creator.
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.“ (Colossians 1:16)
The Word of God states:
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3)
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” (John 13:3)
Jesus was and is El Shaddai “The Almighty God” for the Prophet Isaiah wrote:
“And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them,
But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. (Isaiah 10:20-21)
He is the one that Mary the mother of Jesus said:
“For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
“He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.“(Luke 1:49-52)
He is the one Zacharias was filled with, the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have existed 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)
Jesus was and is Jehovah-Nissi “The Lord is conqueror.” He is the one of whom barren and afflicted Hannah 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.” (I Samuel 2:1-4)
Apostle John wrote about him:
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2)
For Jesus literally is the mighty conqueror who faced Satan, defeated him and stripped him of his power over the Lord’s people, the power of sin, sickness, poverty and death.
As we trust Him in this Name He will be the Conqueror over all the attacks of the enemy, sickness, financial, spiritual, problems at home, at work, at church or in government. Because Jesus the mighty Conqueror has defeated Satan and has overcome the world and He will give us the victory!
Jesus was and is Jehovah-Jireh “The Lord will provide.” He is the faithful and true one who has provided for His people down through the centuries. Paul wrote about Him:
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
He is the miracle worker who said to Peter:
"Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you." (Matthew 17:27)
Jesus was and is Jehovah-Repheka “The Lord is Healer,” for the Word of God states:
"If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalms 107:20)
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Jesus was and is the I Am. He is:
"I am the God of your father-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (Exodus 3:6)
"I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' (Exodus 3:14)
"He is 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments 'I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 'And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.' " (Exodus 6:6-8)
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Jesus was and is Judgment. 'He is the one about whom it is written:
For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. (Exodus 12:12)
"It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64)
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Revelation 19:11)
Jesus is and was Justice. For it is written:
“For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.” (Isaiah 5:7)
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)
In mercy the throne will be established; and One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5)
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 28:6)
"Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles. (Matthew 12:18)
A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory. (Matthew 12:20)
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. 1 John 4:7-11
God doesn’t demand that the pagans love one another but He commands that His people love one another. He, who has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins because He loved us, expects that we love one another. His word is unchanging:
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3
God who is love expresses Himself in many ways. There are twelve Hebrew names of God found in the Old Covenant.
Elohim –"God our Creator." Elohim is the name that introduces God in Genesis 1:1. The word can be divided into two parts. The first part, El, means God and is connected to His might, power, majesty, glory, and authority. Ohim speaks of plurality, so we can clearly see in this first scripture God is introduced as the mighty Trinity. The name Elohim is always connected to God’s acts. The angels know Him by this name .
Jehovah -"Our Eternal God." Jehovah is the name of relationship and covenant. God introduced Himself to Adam as "Lord God" in Genesis 2. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." (Genesis 2:7) Jehovah is connected to the creation of man, to the making of a covenant, and to the atonement. It is Jehovah who reveals Elohim. God is always worshipped as Jehovah – and one cannot worship Him without a relationship through the covenant.
Jehovah El Shaddai – "God our Supplier." The name El Shaddai means the God of might, nourishment, bounty, and blessings. God revealed Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai when He promised him a son. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when El Shaddai "The Almighty God" made a covenant with him to "multiply you exceedingly." (Genesis 17:1-2)
Adonai – "Master, Lord." Adonai was spoken by Abraham in Genesis 18:3 when God came and told Abraham what He was about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham became the great intercessor. This shows us that the name Adonai is connected to God’s ownership and Lordship over our lives, and to revelation of the future and intercession.
Jehovah-Jireh – "God my Provider." This name was revealed in Genesis 22:14 when Abraham was about to offer up Isaac and the Lord stopped him and provided a lamb...the substitute for Isaac. This powerful story reveals Jesus and the work of the cross. The name Jehovah-Jireh speaks of the Lord God providing His Son for our redemption and being our provider for all that we need.
Jehovah-Rapha – "God my Healer." Exodus 15:22-26, when the children of Israel came to Marah in the wilderness and could not drink the water because it was bitter, discloses the name Jehovah-Rapha. The Lord made a covenant of healing with His people and said that if they would keep all His commandments, He would be their health and healer continually. "... for I am the Lord that heals you." (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah-Nissi – "God my Banner." This name was made known when Moses lifted up the rod of victory, in prayer, for an entire day as a battle with the Amalekites was fought (Exodus 17:15). The Hebrew word "Nissi" means my banner, or my covering, my protection and, also, my victory.
Jehovah-M’kadesh – "God my Sanctifier." The Lord declared He would be the sanctifier of Israel, if they would obey Him (Exodus 31:13). The word M’kadesh, our sanctifier, was also connected to being set apart for service and belonging wholly to the Lord.
Jehovah-Shalom – "God my Peace." This name was revealed to Gideon, in Judges 6:23-24, when the Lord made him into a great warrior by showing him that only through dependence upon the Lord and reliance upon His name can we know His peace which will bring about triumph over all our enemies.
Jehovah-Tsidkenu – "God my Righteousness." God told the prophet Jeremiah to declare that a "righteous Branch" of David would come, and "Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:6) In this revelation we are told that Jesus is our righteousness and that only through Him can we live righteously before the Lord.
Jehovah-Rohi – "God my Shepherd." In Psalms 23, God is revealed as our Rohi – our Shepherd. This was spoken as David declared, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1) The name Rohi speaks of both leadership and close intimacy. Once we know the Lord as our Shepherd, our Jehovah-Rohi, all the promises of Psalms 23 will become reality in our daily walk.
Jehovah-Shammah – "The Abiding Presence." The book of Ezekiel concludes with these words: "... and the name of the city for that day shall be, The Lord is there." (Ezekiel 48:35) The Hebrew translation is Jehovah-Shammah – speaking of God’s abiding presence. The Lord desires that we walk with Him daily. The word abide means to stay, not to visit. What a wonderful Lord we serve.
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that because of what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit each child of God can know in a real way God as his or her Provider, Healer, Banner, Sanctifier, Peace, Righteousness, Shepherd and God and enjoy God’s abiding presence by walking and talking with Him daily and heeding His voice and obeying His commands. God’s word is unchanging:
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
Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Isaiah 11:1-4
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD-how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake! Psalm 6:1-64
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 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 9:9-12
The LORD loves the righteous, the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. And He remains unchanging a Saving, Healing, Miracle Working, and Delivering God. And yes there is nothing too hard to Him to do as He is the God of all flesh including blessing His trusting ones. As a result in the holy, all-powerful name of Jesus, in the blood name of Jesus, His trusting ones can have a miracle today; they can have a healing today; they can have their deliverance today. God’s word is unchanging:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:15
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27
Yes, we are to love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that we were called to this, that we may inherit a blessing. Yes, we are to refrain our tongues from evil, and our lips from speaking deceit. We are to turn away from evil and do good to others for the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.
Yes God is love and love is the greatest power in the universe. Love will never do harm to a neighbor but rather love seeks the best for or the good of a neighbor and love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). Love is the law of liberty and perfect love casts out fear. A person is not righteous if he or she is not walking in life and disobedience to God’s word hinders the answering of any prayer for God’s word is unchanging:
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Romans 12:9-17
There is no hypocrisy in love. And those who love bless those who persecute them. They bless and do not curse. They rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with who weep. They repay no one evil for evil but rather seek the good of other. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, and descended to earth showed God’s love to the lost world by and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick (Matthew 8:16). Healing and delivering people are a demonstration of God’s love.
But then Jesus ascended and took His place as the Head of the church, and He now works through His body to show His love on this earth. God’s true people are the body of Christ and now God loves the world through them as they live and show the true nature of God by obeying His word including:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:15-20
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. "These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:12-17
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
God desires a people who will not be afraid of the circumstances they face but who will stand strong on the foundation of God’s Word, in full confidence and assurance that God is faithful! All that He has promised, He will do. It takes our faith to be able to please God by receiving every good and precious gift He has already planned for us and provided to us, for our benefit. He wants us to get this ingrained so deeply into our hearts that we are not moved by circumstances or conditions.
We don't need to fear and tremble when the storm rages, and the boat rocks because of the waves. Jesus is with us! We are blessed by God. And we are not to accept anything less than God's best for our lives! The enemy is mad, and he's throwing a tantrum, but he is a LIAR! Our LORD and Father God IS true, and Jesus Christ is the Truth! He is blessing His children TREMENDOUSLY, and He will not stop doing so! So we must focus on Christ Jesus! His word is unchanging:
They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:5-10
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32
"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
Yes, blessed, not cursed, is the man who trusts in the Lord and fears Him. There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. The Lord Himself is our shield and exceeding great reward and He wants to build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. And we are not to be fearful of or dismayed by anything. Jesus gave us authority over our enemy (Luke 10:19). God gave us dominion over everything that we would ever face in this earth. Sin, sickness, poverty, the devil and everything that he ever tries to throw at us is under our feet! We just have to RISE UP, and STOMP all over him!!! AMEN Hallelujah!!! God SAID, the victory is ALREADY ours! It's not "going to be" ours. It IS ours ALREADY! AMEN. His word is unchanging:
Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."
…."Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. "And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, "since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. 2 Samuel 7:1-11
Yes, the LORD is with us because we are with us. He is making us head, not tail, above not beneath. He is with us where ever we go and is cutting off all our enemies from before us. And He is make our name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. He is giving us rest from all our enemies. He is establishing a house for us and is showing Himself strong on our behalf. His word is true:
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
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
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
'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
"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Surely I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong one and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of his hand. Ezekiel 30:22
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:10
And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 Amplified Bible
Grace is defined as God’s riches at Christ’s expense. God is making all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to us in abundance, so that we 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. He is showing us everything, and anything, that the enemy may be trying to use against us. He is revealing every secret, hidden trick, and device, every plot, plan, scheme, trap and ploy! He is give us His divine spiritual vision, wisdom, and discernment so we can cancel every plan and assignment of the devil against our health, families, finances, home, jobs, relationships, over EVERY area and facet of our lives, in Jesus Name! We can say with joy “The LORD rebuke you Satan! We are blessed of the LORD God, Almighty and Most High!”
Because of God’s grace and favor in which we live and stand we can call His blessing, favor, peace, health, and joy into our lives permanently! We are the head and not the tail, above only, and not beneath! We are blessed in the city, and blessed in the field. Blessed coming in, and blessed going out! Blessed when we rise up, and blessed when we lie down! Everything that we put our hands to is blessed, and prospers exceedingly, abundantly above, and far beyond anything we could ever ask, think, or imagine! We belong to our Father God! Nothing and no one can pluck us out of His loving and protective hands! Glory to His Name! Hallelujah! As a result we can pray and say:
Father, by Your Holy Spirit and power, remove everything
that is NOT part of your plan for us, and bless and fill our lives, minds,
hearts, bodies, families, and homes with ALL that You have for us. Surround us
with the right people, set us in the right place, and reveal Your perfect holy
plan, and will for us Father, in Jesus' precious and Holy Name! I pray John 15,
and Psalm 91 over all of Your children, dear Father. Your love, and Your Word
breaks every yoke! Your Holy Spirit fills us continually. And where the Spirit
of the LORD is, He gives freedom! No weapon formed against us will prosper!
Every word that has ever been spoken against us will fail, and fall to the
ground in utter defeat! I decree a crop failure over every curse and hindrance,
every negative thing ever brought to bear against us, in the Name of Jesus
Christ, the Messiah! He is our banner, our peace, our provider, our
righteousness, our LORD, our EVERYTHING! Jehovah Nissi! Jehovah Shalom! Jehovah
Jireh! Jehovah Tsidkenu! El Shaddai! Adonai! El Elyon! Elohim! Hallelujah!
Thank You Jesus!
Father, sometimes we have people and things in our lives
that are NOT bad or evil, but they are not Your will for us, for our inner
circle. Father, move them out, and replace them with the people that You have
anointed for our lives!
There are times when we are not in the RIGHT place of
Your divine will for us, Father. It may not be a BAD place, but it's not Your
best for us. Father, move us from that place, and take us into the place that
You have especially prepared for us, so that we can operate in the fullness of
Your power, favor, and anointing. When we dwell in Your place, the secret place
of the Most High, we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. There, we can be
used by You to be a blessing to others!
Father, we may have plans and ideas that
"appear" to be good. But, these plans may just be something that our
limited minds conceived in an attempt to prosper our lives. Maybe they are
plots of our enemy to distract us and get us off course. Either way, even if
they aren't BAD plans, they are NOT Your BEST for us! They are not Your good,
and perfect, and acceptable will. Remove these plans from our hearts and minds,
and remove us from these man-made plans, and bring us to the acceptance of Your
will! Not our will, but "Your will be done, in earth, as it is in
Heaven."
Father please, increase our divine wisdom, godly
knowledge, spiritual discernment, and good understanding! Increase our hope and
faith in Your will, way, and timing! Help us, and encourage our hearts. Hold us
up during the times when what You really want us to do is WAIT on You! Father,
You know that sometimes waiting is harder than moving! But LORD, whether You
tell us to stand still and KNOW that You are God, and You are working ALL
things together for our good, or, if You tell us to step out of the boat and
walk on the water, You work in and through us to HEAR and OBEY Your voice,
immediately, without delay! We want to be good, and fertile ground in which
Your good seeds are planted so that they will grow and flourish, bringing forth
abundant good, healthy fruit! Hallelujah!!! AMEN
LORD, You said, "My sheep know My voice, and a
stranger they will not follow." We know that we are Your children, Your
people, and the sheep of Your pasture. When the enemy tries to come to us, and
against us with his lies and tricks, Your Holy Spirit gives us a check in our
spirits. You said that when the enemy comes in like a flood, Your Spirit would
lift up a standard against him. He MUST flee from us 7 different ways. He will
have to give back EVERYTHING he EVER stole from us 7 times over! Thank You
Father! Glory to Your precious Name Jesus!
Help us to surrender to Your will LORD, so that we
immediately recognize Your direction, and heed the warnings of Your Holy
Spirit! Do not let us have peace about the things that the enemy of our souls
wants us to do, and say. Father, please keep giving us a shock to our spirits
when we are in trouble or danger. Do whatever You need to do to get our
attention, loving Daddy! We would rather endure Your chastening, than suffer
the consequences of moving out of Your will. AMEN
Father we thank You for Your love! We thank You for
making us Your children! We bless You for Who You are! Our souls boast in You,
and magnify You, dear LORD! Glory to Your Holy Name! Be glorified in our lives
everyday! In Jesus' Name, we give You ALL of the praise, and glory, and honor, both NOW and FOREVERMORE!
AMEN and AMEN!
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace, the peace of His Kingdom, at all times and in all ways, under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Let the redeemed of the LORD SAY SO, whom He HAS redeemed from the hand of the adversary" Psalm 107:2 (NASB)
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17
People don’t have freedom and liberty today! They are in all types of bondage; be it sickness, poverty, defeat, failure or fear. But God sent Jesus to set us free from all these demonic things and attacks. However the true Gospel and Word of God is not being preached and many of those who preach it are doing it for the wrong reasons or are off on some tangents and are failing to see the body of Christ healed as God’s has intended them to be. God’s word is unchanging:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5
God has created His people to be winner not losers, victors not victims and He has the power to make it so especially through His word and prayer. So if there is financial bondage? Prosperity is in the Word of God. So if there is sickness and disease in our life? Healing is in the Word of God. So if there is a need every solution to every need is in the Word of God.
Jesus said “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Free from the things that bind us. It doesn’t matter if we are like Paul and Silas and we are bound up in prison because of preaching the gospel. It doesn’t matter if we have the IRS on our trail and we’re going to have to pay a million dollars or go to jail. It doesn’t matter if we have cancer and we’re flat on your back in a hospital. It doesn’t matter if we’ve got the worst case of whatever ever seen. It doesn’t matter what the world says. We go by what the Word of God says and we must present it with confidence to God and to others. God’s word is true:
I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:14
Yes Man was created to be a winner. We read in Genesis, for example, that man was originally put on this earth as a dominating lord. God gave him dominion over the earth and everything that crept, flew, crawled, and breathed there. After losing the Garden of Eden man ran headlong into defeat. He was forced to accept failure as his lot in life, lowering himself to a subordinate position--a position he was never meant to occupy. But for those who have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, we've been made a winner once again!
We are overcomes through the blood of Jesus and the word of God which abides in us. As a result in Christ we can overcome any problem the world throws your way (1 John 5:1-5). And we can always go to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace in time of need:
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18
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
Dr. Larry Ollison in his article “Do You Place Limits on God's Power? “ suggest that we don’t limited God’s power in any situation concerning our deliverance because hasn’t and doesn’t change:
Do you place limits on God’s power? Is there a point in going through a trial where you feel that it’s beyond God’s will and power to deliver you? How far will you go before you draw the line?
In the year 605 BC Daniel and his friends were deported to Babylon. Daniel had three close friends. Their names were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, renamed them. He renamed Hananiah, Shadrach. He renamed Mishael, Meshach. And he renamed Azariah, Abed-Nego. He must have done it to keep things simple.
Daniel and his three friends were placed in the king’s court to be trained. The Bible says in Daniel 1:17 that God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. When the king himself examined them, he found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his kingdom.
As time passed, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego became rulers over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But some ruthless men, who hated the Jews and wanted them destroyed, talked the king into making a law. And the law was this. They would make a large gold image, and when the music played, anyone who was within the sound of this music would have to bow down and worship the image. To put teeth in this new law, it was decided that anyone who did not fall down and worship the false image would be thrown into the center of a burning fiery furnace.
Of course, the three Hebrew men would not bow down and worship the image. God had forbidden it and they knew God was more powerful than any man. They knew God had said He would be their deliverer and they believed Him. They knew God did not lie.
When it was reported to the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would not worship the gold image, the king became furious and he demanded the three be brought to him. He gave them one more chance, but they refused. They said, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But, if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The king was full of rage and commanded his best soldiers to bind them and throw them into the furnace. Because of the urgency of the king’s command, the furnace was made extra hot. As they approached the furnace opening, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego fell down, bound, into the middle of the furnace. The soldiers who took the three men to the furnace were burned to death.
Then it happened. King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up and called for his counselors. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He said, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego walked out of the furnace.
Daniel 3:27 says, “And the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.”
These men did not limit God’s delivering power. Neither should we.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. Psalm 18:37
For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. Psalm 54:7
In the life of King David we see that he had many enemies who were constantly after his life. But the Lord gave him victory over his enemies because he followed the Lord and sought His counsel when in trouble. As a result King David said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water” (2 Samuel 5:20). David was steadfast in his trust in the Lord. So he was bold and courageous like a lion (Proverbs 28:1). And when we trust in the Lord, God will grant us victory in our lives. And when we trust in others or allow Satan to fill our heart with his words of fear or greed we will be defeated, if not destroyed. God’s word is true:
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. Acts 5:1-5
"But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. "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 16:6-7
Words and observations enter through the realm of the soul. When they enter, we have a choice. We either accept them or cast them down. The words we receive and accept eventually enter the heart and either strengthen fear or strengthen faith. What they strengthen is determined by the source of the words.
Words of doubt and unbelief, if accepted, will eventually develop or strengthen fear. Words of truth, if accepted, will strengthen or develop faith. Every thought you have either complements or contends with faith.
When Jesus was talking to His disciples, in Mark 16:6, He said, "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart." Your heart can be sad, or your heart can be happy. The decision is yours. Hear and accept words of sadness and sadness will grow. Sadness is a type of fear.
The Word of God is God's faith. When we are open to receiving God's Word, and we hear God's Word, then faith goes into our heart like a seed. It will grow into a full manifestation. In the same way, Satan’s words are like seed. When we are open to his words, even without realizing we are, his lies and deceptions are planted into our heart and will grow into full manifestation. Understanding is not necessary to receive. Hence we must allow our heart to be filled with God's Word so that faith will abound. We must reject and cast down the fear-filled words of the enemy. But only we can make this choice, God will not do it for us. So we must choose wisely.
Speaking of destruction it’s to be noted that excessive pride can also destroy us. The bible tells us:
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. Proverbs 8:13
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; Isaiah 2:17
We have heard of the pride of Moab-He is very proud- Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. Isaiah 16:6-7
Yes God hates pride and His prophets often warned of its consequences. This message was stressed throughout the ministry of Isaiah. He explained clearly that God is compelled to take action against pride in the lives of individuals and nations.
Isaiah prophesied that " The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; " He warned that Israel and Judah would be humbled because of their "arrogance of heart" (Isaiah 9:8-11). He said Babylon would be humbled, and its "pride will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah" (Isaiah 13:19). And God said Moab had to be humbled because of their "excessive pride" and arrogance.
The Bible teaches that " Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride is like poison, contaminating every part of our lives. When our hearts are proud, we become blind to our sins and weaknesses. Overconfident and arrogant, we lose perspective and stop trusting in God. The Bible tells us there are limits to how long God will tolerate pride. Eventually, if we do not humble ourselves, we will need to be humbled. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD! Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity. 31:3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. Isaiah 31:1-3
The proud, arrogant and self sufficient who trust in others except God will only find woe in life and not the blessings of God. The path to God's blessing is through humility. Jesus said, "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). Only when we're humble can we be free of pride's poisoning influence, so we receive all of God's blessings and rewards. We need to ask God to reveal any sin in our life including pride. We need to humble ourselves before Him and even others if we have sinned against them, and seek to be clean in His sight. We need to worship Him and seek first His Kingdom and walk in faith, no doubt, believing and knowing that:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:17
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6
Sin is anything that is opposed to the will or the Word of God. So, anything that is not of faith is sin. And God’s word tells us the just shall live by faith. Faith is the simple belief that God has done, is doing and will do what He said He would do, and everything we say and do is based on that belief. That’s faith including knowing that the thief wants to steal, kill, and destroy. And he does that is by getting us to sin. When we sin, we’re turning our back on God and His protective power. Sin opens the door for the devil to come in and wreak havoc upon us and our family. So we need to repent of sin and choose to believe the Word of God. If God’s Word says He will heal us, but we don’t believe it, that’s sin. If God’s Word says He will deliver us, but we don’t believe it, that’s sin. If God’s Word says He will prosper us, but we don’t believe it, that’s sin. In fact, when we don’t believe what God says, we are calling Him a liar. That is never faith. That is always sin. But God’s word is unchanging:
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour. Matthew 8:5-13
" The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.." No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. - Isaiah 35:1-12
A prominent American ministry in its daily devotional give us the key for true success by walking on that highway of holiness:
Much of the world lies spiritually barren. People feel unfulfilled, oppressed, and overwhelmed with problems. But the Bible speaks of a day when everything will change. Every wilderness and wasteland will be glad, and "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice". The prophecy God gave to Isaiah is filled with pictures of abundance and overwhelming blessing, safety, peace, and joy.
How do we get these blessings? The Bible describes a path: "the Highway of Holiness." This path can be taken only by people whose lives have been purified, who are clean before God, and who seek to please and serve Him. When we take this highway, we can be certain He will guide us and bring us safely to our destination.
As we walk on that pathway, we can look back at the things we've suffered in our lives - the disappointments, pain, and losses. But through God, His people will "come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads." We "shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away"
While the Bible may be speaking prophetically of a future day, God also is laying out principles that apply to you right now. He provides the specific path for you to take to experience His blessings. How? By walking in holiness, humbling yourself before Him, seeking forgiveness for your sins, accepting His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, being clean in His sight, putting His Word into practice, and surrendering your life to Him!
Remember: The Highway of Holiness is the path you need for overwhelming blessing, joy and peace, protection and fulfillment
Father, I humble myself before You. Cleanse me of sin. Help me to be holy in Your sight. I entrust my life to You. Help me to serve You and please You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The bible also clearly tells us about holiness:
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
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
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 4:31-32
For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:14-15
The importance of pursuing peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord, is under estimated by most of God’s people today in their immoral and greedy pursuit of wealth and happiness.
They easily forget God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness. They forget that the promises of God belong to those who cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. They belong to those who out off the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, are renewed in the spirit of their mind, and they put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
It is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption by not putting away from ourselves all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. We are commanded to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave us. And we are instructed to look “carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. All of these things are something that God will not do for us but we must choose and do for ourselves if we are to inherit the promises of God.
God in Christ Jesus has given to us His P’s. The P’s of His presence, promises, person, power, protection, provision, prosperity, providence and promotion:
His Presence - God is always with His own. He has commanded them to be strong and of good courage and not to be afraid, nor be dismayed. For the LORD their God is with them wherever they go and His presence goes with them to give them rest and victory.
His Promises – Every promise and every line in the bible is theirs including that no weapon which is formed against them shall prosper and those who rise against them shall become a nonexistent thing.
His Person - God is a Good God who is for them, with them and not against them. He is on their side no matter what they are facing. There is no searching of His understanding. His ears are open to their prayers and His eyes are upon the righteous to bless them.
His Power – When God’s true ones have His presence, promises and power they can trust Him to use His power for their good in all kinds of circumstances and situations. Just like God did for Jesus on Calvary when He raised Him from the dead, gave Him victory over all His enemies and seated Him at His right hand.
His Protection - God is the shield and exceeding great reward of His true ones, as well as He is their rock, refuge, strength, tower security and inheritance. He will bless and promote His own and He will deliver and honor them.
His Provision - God has promised to meet and supply all their need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and He unlike others is able to keep His word.
His Prosperity – God is not poor or stupid and neither should His children be. He is their security and inheritance and provision in the deserts of life. He is their hiding place! He will move out every mountain and deal with every enemy and dispel every lack in their life. Their prosperity will come upon them as the dawning of a bright and new day. They will not be able to contain their joy and ecstasy at the provision and security He is providing. He will multiply back to them a hundred fold all they have done for Him.
His Providence - The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and though he fall God will not allow him to stay down but will lift him up.
His Promotion – God has promised that for those who set their love upon Him He will deliver them and set them on high because they have known His name. He has promised to make them head and not tail and above and not beneath. They shall call upon Him and He will answer them. He will be with them in trouble and deliver and honor them. With long life He will satisfy His true ones and show them His salvation.
As a result, the psalmist stated it very well about those who put their trust in God alone and not others for their deliverance:
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The LORD shall reign forever- Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! Psalm 146:5-10
For after all is said and done God has not changed. He still is a miracle working God who gives the best to those who ask Him for the best. He gives His all to those who give Him their all and believe Him for His all. His word does not change to His true ones:
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:2-9
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. "These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:12-17
God, the creator of heaven and earth, came down to earth to be born as a man and to walk amongst men to show them how He really was. He did this by preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. He made the blind to see, the lame to walk, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf were made to hear, the dead were raised up and the poor had the gospel preached to them. As a result Jesus Christ worked miracles and spoke and taught like no other man before Him or after Him. The Word of God tell us:
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. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:11-18
His own people did not receive Jesus Christ but as many as received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave them the right to become children of God; and they were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus Christ who was extremely rich became poor so that we through Him might become rich in every sense of the word. Of His fullness men have all received, and grace for grace. Unto us a Child was born, unto us a Son was given and His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, King of Kings and LORD of LORDS. As God’s word is unchanging;
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelations 19:11-16
To His friends Jesus Christ is Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and all that they need. But to His enemies He is the Lion of Judah who Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. For God’s word is unchanging:
"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. "Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him.
"But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.
"You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
"I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. "And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. Exodus 23:20-28
For those who obey His voice then God is an enemy to their
enemies and an adversary to their adversaries. He blesses their coming in and
their going out and takes sickness away from them: for He is their healer,
deliverer, stronghold, provider and everything that they need. He takes away
from them all sickness, and afflicts them with none of the terrible diseases of
"Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. "And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. "
And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and
will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of
"If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. "Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. "Also the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. "And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and do all His commandments which I command you today.
The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, "if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 30:4-10
So men by their own choices in life of accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ determine whether He is their friend or their enemy. But the fact remains the friends of God are blessed by Him and the enemies of God are cursed by Him. Yet some would protest that this couldn’t be? But God’s word is true and unchanging:
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. "Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.
"The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. Deuteronomy 28:15-20
Yes! Even God’s people can be the enemies of God, especially if they are proud, arrogant and unrepentant. For 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
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?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 4:1-10
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Romans 12:9-17
In the natural or in the flesh there is nothing wonderful about suffering and tribulation. But in the supernatural or the Spirit we 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. Yes we live in hope and rejoice in our victory in the midst of tribulation that Jesus Christ has overcome the world and in all things were are more than conquerors!
So, when Satan comes to steal our victory and tell us that God is not going to help us this time, we just mediate on the Word of God and start rejoicing of who were are in Christ. We can rejoice that heaven is our home. Rejoice that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. We can rejoice that God is a very present help in time of trouble. As a result we can be patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, because we know that our God hears and answers prayer. When pressure comes, we don't cave in. We don't faint. Instead, we go to the throne of grace. We go boldly in the Name of Jesus and get the help we need. We don’t let go of God’s word or His promises but stand on them knowing Abraham after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise (Hebrews 6:15). God’s word is unchanging:
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
"O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your
gates of crystal, And all your walls of
precious stones. All your children shall
be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. 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
"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 54:11-17
For those who put their trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob He has promised them many things including that in righteousness they shall be established; They shall be far from oppression, for they shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near them. God has also promised that indeed enemies shall surely assemble against them, but not because of Him. Whoever assembles against them shall fall for their sake and no weapon formed against them shall prosper because God is still and God and this is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.
Yet in spite of what God’s word promises most people live defeated lives full of poverty, losses and disappointments. Is it because they are not the servants of the LORD and are just doing their own thing as many before them have done? They must be doing something wrong because God doesn’t lie and His promises are true and they do come to pass for others. What He has done for others He will also do for them because He is no respecter of persons and shows partiality to no one! That is if they will change their ways and become His friend and stay in His word! For God’s word is true:
"Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:1-3
"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 sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20
The bible teaches that Jesus is the Word and the Word is God and our faith must be in God and His word and in the power of God. The word of God and the power of God are not to be separated and together they bring great changes into our lives and circumstances as they should. Those who stay on the word or only on the power of God go astray because it’s not one or the other but it’s both that important to our lives! Mind standing and believing on the Word releases the power of God to act on our behalf
Many of God’s people walk by their physical senses of sight, hearing smell, touch and smell and don’t appreciate or understand the importance of the Word of God that is given to God’s people by the Holy Spirit. They forget 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. And the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. God’s word is forever true:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Yes it the word of God that we say and believe that determines our destiny and prosperity. It’s not the temporary things which are also subject to change by the Word of God. And human wisdom, understanding and words are a very poor substitute for God’s wisdom, understand and words. And our faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God for God’s word is unchanging:
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. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 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 2:1-6
In my experience most Evangelical preachers use their experience, theology and opinions as an example of what others should be doing! But God loves liberty and He has created the notion of liberty and individual freedom. Jesus Christ never made any of the disciples to be an exact mold of Himself? No God wants each person to follow God’s will for the Lives and find out what He has for them:
"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
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:5-10
Jesus Christ and no other is the author and finisher of the Christian faith and He has clearly stated those who are “blessed.” This includes the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: those who mourn, for they shall be comforted; the meek, for they shall inherit the earth; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled; the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy; the pure in heart, for they shall see God; the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God; those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
As for the others they are not blessed and are probably cursed and going to hell on a roller coaster for being blind. As 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." ' " Revelations 3:14-22
It is a fact that before you vomit something out you must digest it first? In others words God had accepted the Christians at the church of the Laodiceans to be His people. Because they thought themselves to be a rich, had become wealthy, and had need of nothing' but in reality did do not know that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, He counseled them to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, so that they might be rich; and white garments, so that they might be clothed, that the shame of their nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint their eyes with eye salve, so that might may their true condition. Otherwise He would vomit them out of His mouth if they were not zealous and did not repent.
But if they would hear God’s voice and open the door He would not come in to dine with them and they with Him. For to him who overcomes will Jesus grant to sit with Him on His throne, as He had also overcome and sat down with His Father on His throne. Therefore He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches including:
"And to the angel of the church in
"Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
"You have a few names even in
Yes there are many churches and even denominations that have a name that they are alive but they are dead. Their works are not perfect before God. They must remember their first love and hold fast to it and to repent. Otherwise if they do not overcome they shall not be clothed in white garments and Jesus Christ will blot their name from the Book of Life and He will not confess their name before His Father and His angels.
So much for the doctrine of demons of “Once Saved, Always Saved!.” Nevertheless the word of Jesus are unchanging and are to be heeded and obeyed:
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."
So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Now when Jesus saw
that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the
It’s possible to know and believe everything about the bible including all its doctrines and not obey the first and second commandment of God and to go to hell. Fools do it all the time including the devil.
You can believe that God is the Eternal, infinite, unchangeable, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love and still not obey Him? You can believe that from all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory and still murder, lie and steal? Why there are even pastors and preachers who do these kinds of things and yet they believe and say the different Christian creeds.
You can believe that God's kingdom is everlasting and that from His throne, through His Son, His eternal Word, God created, upholds and governs all that exists including the heavenly places, the angelic hosts, the universe, the earth, every living thing and mankind and that He created all things very good and still not trust Him to get your needed miracle?
You can believe that Satan, originally a great, good angel, rebelled against God, taking a host of angels with him and He was cast out of God's presence and, as a usurper of God's rule, established a counter-kingdom of darkness and evil on the earth and still be deceived by Him and accept unknowingly doctrine of demons, such as “Once saved, always saved!”
You can believe that God created mankind in His own image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth and that under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth and through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation and live in defeat and failure and not manifest the victories of the cross in your life?
You can believe that Jesus came into the world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin as fully God and fully man in one person, was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to resist temptation, preach the good news of salvation, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead and not do the works that Jesus did?
You can believe what ever you want to believe about the bible, the Old and New Testament and not love your neighbor as yourself? You can graduate from Seminary, call yourself a Christian and reject the “Baptism of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit” and be a blind one leading the blind?
You can be very sincere and religious and still go to hell for not obeying the teachings of Jesus on certain matters as being reconciled to an offended brother or not being a respecter of persons?
The things that people believe are one thing and the things that they say and do, as Christians, is another thing. This dichotomy or contradiction is very common in the lives of many people who call themselves Christians and yet they think that somehow God will make all things right for them because after all they are sincere and presumptive on His grace and they are His children? But God’s word is unchanging:
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:1-14
God, who knows the hearts of all men, gives His grace to those who really need it, but no one fools Him. Those who continue to lie and deceive themselves and others that they are Christians, even though their actual behavior is against the word of God, will find themselves in places they never expected to be. Neither Peter nor Judas asked the LORD for forgiveness of their sin of betraying Jesus. But the LORD forgave Peter for betraying Him before men but He never forgave Judas for the same sin. For God’s word is unchanging:
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." John 21:15-22
Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. "Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. "And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
"Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. "And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.
"Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' "But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' "So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
"Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?" Mark 12:1-11
What God has done once before He can and will do it again!
He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Not
all of God’s miracles, signs and wonders are constructive ones? There are many destructive ones! Where is
"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ' These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' Revelations 2:1-7
It is possible to say, and do the right things and have the right doctrines and still get in trouble with God for leaving your first love? For it’s not men who right the rules or their judgments that counts but rather what He says on any matter is important! God sees and knows things that men do not know and see, even about themselves. Hidden sins, lusts and agendas are known to God! And when He judges and brings judgment upon people, He is not fooled and knows what He is doing. His word is unchanging:
For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
It would be better and wiser for men to repent of their secret sins and evil and wicked ways while they still have a chance! For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
You would think that those who talk and preach the most about Christ would examine their ways to see if they were reprobate in the faith. But it doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s not unusual for the media to report truthfully about a pastor or evangelist who committed adultery, steal money or even murdered a person. Yet God’s word is unchanging:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:1-8
Yes, not many should be teachers or preachers because they shall receive a stricter judgment in not controlling their boastful tongue that is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. It’s also sin to be a respecter of persons and to show partiality to others. It’s also a sin to have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, to lie against the truth and to have wisdom that does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For God’s word is unchanging:
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:11-18
Then the high priest said, "Are these things
so?" And he said, "Brethren
and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he
was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
"and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives,
and come to a land that I will show you.'
"Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in
"But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'
"Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and
so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot
Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs. "And the patriarchs,
becoming envious, sold Joseph into
One of the great and nice characteristics of God besides the fact that He is the Greatest Miracle Worker is that He is a God who keeps His promises – all of them. Mind God does things in His own time and way very rarely the way men expect Him to do things. He has a wisdom and understanding that is far superior then those of men and He knows what He is doing! He also uses the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; that no flesh should glory in His presence.
He name is also Jealous, for He is a jealous God who visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Him and keep His commandments. His word is true:
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
'You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Deuteronomy 5:8-11
Now only fools will presume to speak in God’s name and to think that they know how He thinks. God uses only His friends to speak in His name and He needs no man to think for Him as He does all things well.
Even though He is slow to anger and full of compassion God also knows to be become furious and angry and to deal with and annihilate His enemies. His word is true:
God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. Isaiah 1:2-3
Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD'S wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land. Zephaniah 1:18
"Therefore wait for Me," says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. Zephaniah 3:8
Just like men, God has a good side to Him and a bad side also. It doesn’t pay to get on God’s bad side and to make Him angry and jealous: for then men will find themselves in place they never expected to be experiencing things they never expected to experience, even in the current time of life when God moves in His judgment. But for those who are on the good side of God His promises are true to them:
Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!" Genesis 27:28-29
The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful
tongue be found in their mouth; For they
shall feed their flocks and lie down,
And no one shall make them afraid." Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O
God’s true ones are not to be shy. They are to ask God what they will and He will do it because He loves them so much. He has promised to do whatsoever they ask in Jesus name. They can come to His throne boldly and He will hear their prayers and He will deal with their concerns. For they have His promises, His person and Him.
Hence they can now walk in the assurance of God’s Presence in their life. For as God walked with Noah, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Elijah, and Jesus so now He walks with them. And there is nothing impossible for the Lord Jesus Christ to do and He is greater than the greatest problem in our lives (Luke 1:37). HE will certainly honor the confidence that we have reposed in Him (James 5:11).
It's God's desire that each one of us, as believers, live an abundant life. We need to be sure that we stand on God's promises, keep ourselves built up spiritually, and keep our faith activated on God's Word. One way to do this is by speaking God's Word, holding fast to our confession of faith, and saying what the Word of God says about us. Notice in Matthew chapter 4, when Satan came to Jesus, Jesus said, It is written ... He spoke what was written in the Word. He used three verses from two chapters of Deuteronomy to resist the devil.
We have a battle. We have to fight the good fight of faith and cast down imaginations. We have to resist the devil. We don't see Satan physically, but he comes to our minds, emotions and intellect, just like he did to Jesus. Attacks, tests, trials, and problems come to all of us. But God intends for us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, as James 1:22 says: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. And His word is unchanging:
"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: 7 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus is the God that is too much, and God wants us to have more than enough in every area of our lives. He wants us to have more than enough health and strength, more than enough prosperity, and more than enough victory in every area of our lives. But for this to happen, we have to get into the Word and become fully persuaded. God is not cheap, and He doesn't want us to live in poverty or lack. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Jesus, Himself, took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses, and by His stripes we were healed. He redeemed us from the curse of law, He delivered us, He wishes above all things that we prosper, and be in health, even as our soul prospers.
And we have to keep confessing what the Word says over and over again. Say things like, He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, I will say He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him will I trust. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Jesus went to His Father and He's at the right hand of God the Father. As a result we we've have authority in this world in the Name of Jesus. Unfortunately Adam and Eve sinned and didn't use their dominion, they didn't use their authority, and they died over it. And every born again child of God that doesn't learn to resist the devil, and doesn't stand against Satan, and doesn't take authority over him, ends up forfeiting their blessings.
As we grow and develop spiritually and renew our minds to God's Word, and act on God's Word, we'll get results. The Bible said Joshua and Caleb had a different spirit - the spirit of faith. And we, having the same Spirit of faith, call those things that be not as though they were, walking in the God kind of love, being led by the Holy Spirit, and walking by faith, we are going to walk in divine health and victory no matter what. And yes we must use our spiritual authority, and counter Satan's attacks and tell him were to go and what to do because God’s word is true:
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." Luke 10:17
God doesn't miss it. He's never failed one time. There's not one promise in the Word of God that God's ever failed to come through on but we must do spiritual work ourselves. Each one of us as believers, has got to take authority over the devil. When sickness, pain, fever, or anything else comes to you, or your family or loved ones, immediately say, "Oh no, Satan, you can't put that on us. We're redeemed from the curse of law, and no plague will come nigh our dwelling, for it is written..." Then we must just quote what is written. Follow the example of Jesus. Just do the Word of God. Jesus talked to the devil. He told us to resist the devil. He said in Ephesians 4:27, Neither give place to the devil.
It is important that we always we walk in the God-kind of love and make sure we don't hold anything against anyone. We will not walk in divine health if we have aught, bitterness, or resentment against any one, or if we sow discord among the body of Christ. We cannot do these things, and at the same time, enjoy the benefits of being a child of God. If we sow discord or get out of love we will lose our divine protection and we will not see some of the good promises of God’s fulfilled. God’s word is true:
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 1Peter 3:7
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
I was raised in a Fundamentalist Church which didn’t preach that Jesus healed or God did miracles today but rather just the salvation of souls, souls and souls. The day of miracles had passed and God doesn’t heal any more except in special situations is what they taught. Suffering and sickness were God’s will but they never prayed for more suffering or sickness so that they could enjoy God’s will. However the truth is that Jesus Christ didn’t just come to save a soul but He came to make them whole body, soul and spirit. His word is true:
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? "For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus clearly demonstrated how easy He could heal a paralytic lying on a bed as well as forgive sins! Yes the truth of the Word of God is that God not only wants to heal physical bodies and cripples through faith but He wants that people prosper in all things and be in health, just as their soul prospers. Salvation, healing, deliverance are part of the gospel and Apostle Paul told us “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). So healing and miracles should be the norm rather than the exception because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)? And God’s word is unchanging:
Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 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 8:14-17
God came to freely bless, save heal and deliver people and He doesn’t require sacrifices from them because Jesus paid it all on Calvary! He came to heal the sick and deliver the demonized ones! He came to bless men even according to their faith! As a result Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people (Matthew 9:35). And Jesus also 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. And He told them to preach 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” And He also told them:
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrow. Matthew 10:24-31
If we fear God then we are to fear no man or anything because if God be for us who can be against us!
We need to stay built up in the Word of God, so when attacks like the curse of sickness, disease, tests, trials, or temptations come, our spiritual resistance will be strong. That's why God said in Ephesians 6:10-17, ...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Then He went on to say, ...Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: The sword of the Spirit is God's Word. What we've got to do is take the Bible, the Word of God, and speak it out of our mouth. It's a spiritual sword. In the natural, the military uses physical weapons in a battle. Spiritually speaking, God has given us His Word, and we need to use it as the sword of the spirit, by saying, ‘It is written...’ When sickness tries to attack our body, we are to resist it, saying, "Satan, I refuse this, for is written, by His stripes I was healed."
Or, we can quote Matthew 8:17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Quoting a verse of scripture is how we combat those thoughts and alarming symptoms that come to you. If it is poverty, lack, fear, or worry, say what the Word says. We say, "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Using the Word, and using the Name of Jesus is how we resist the enemy.
God gets blamed for every person that dies sick. He gets blamed for every hurricane, every tornado, and it was not God that did it. It wasn't God that caused it! It is man's failure for not doing the Word of God. We have authority over the devil. Jesus took authority over these things. Why shouldn't we? We were given His Name. Jesus said, right before he left in John 14:12,Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. If Jesus went to His Father as He said He would, He's at the right hand of God the Father. If He's at the right hand of the Father, we've got authority in this world in the Name of Jesus. Adam and Eve didn't use their dominion, they didn't use their authority, and they died over it. And every born again child of God that doesn't learn to resist the devil, and doesn't stand against Satan, and doesn't take authority over him, ends up forfeiting their blessings.
Many Christian don’t realize that they have the same authority
that Jesus did to deal with negative things. As a matter of fact Jesus
used His authority and showed us how also to use it. The bible records for our
profit:
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them,
"Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they
took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with
Him. And a great windstorm arose, and
the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?" Then He arose and
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the
wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you
so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one
another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!" Mark 4:35-41
Because Jesus used His authority and arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Not only did Jesus survive, all the people on the boat did. That’s the great blessing that comes to us as a believer. When we rise to the occasion and use the Name of Jesus, it will not only benefit us but those around us!
Jonas Clark in his article Steps to Overcoming Adversity brings out some important points that many of God's people fail to realize when dealing with adversity:
Since I don’t know exactly what your adversity is or what you might face in the future, let me offer some practical steps for victory in every circumstance: run to Jesus, cast all your cares on Him, encourage yourself, submit and resist, let faith fight for you, and pray in tongues.
1. Run to Jesus
When adversity attacks, the first thing you should do is run to Jesus. Don’t flake out, shut down, break rank or isolate yourself from those who can help you. Run to Jesus. Remember that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus will not let you down. You can trust Him to get you through this turbulence. After you run to Jesus, check your heart. Go down your personal checklist and examine yourself. If you have sinned, repent. If you violated the Word in any way, repent. Running to Jesus coupled with repentance should always be our first reaction to adversity.
2. Cast All Your Cares
The next weapon in our arsenal against adversity is casting all our cares on Jesus. This is not an escapist’s act. Casing all our cares on Jesus is a spiritual step toward freedom. Scripture says, “Cast all your care on Him for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Casting our cares on Jesus requires us to give our adversity to Him. There are some things that you just have to put in Jesus’ capable hands.
Sometimes, however, one prayer session isn’t enough. Some adversity has several dates booked on your calendar. In my case one prayer didn’t take all the problems away. There was a time when I was really hurting and constant flashbacks came to remind me of my calamity. Some of it was real and some was just fearful imaginations. The only thing that helped was continuing to cast my situation on the Lord.
Every time fear tried to grip me I prayed, “I cast all my cares on you Lord because I know you care for me.” I said it in my heart over and over again until the burden lifted. Sure, fear and the temptation to run from my problems returned several times, but I would cast the cares back on the Lord again and again until finally my adversity hoisted up the white flag of surrender and withdrew from the battle field.
3. Encourage Yourself
Encouragement is another powerful antidote against adversity. Have you ever heard a car engine knock because it was low on oil? Then after oil was added the engine hummed along smoothly? Our lives are the same. Many times we get so busy with the cares of this world and just getting by that we run low on oil. We stop putting the Word in our hearts and that only puts our lives in jeopardy.
With the Word of God written solidly on the tablets of your heart you can encourage yourself. The Bible tells us that David encouraged himself in the Lord. The Psalms are full of David’s prayers for deliverance from oppressors. Weaved throughout all these prayers you can feel David’s plea for God’s help. The Lord helped him every time. David was called to be a king, yet adversity and opposition to his divine calling often surrounded him.
One of David’s greatest characteristics was that he never gave up. He refused to quit and run. In spite of adversity David pressed into God. David did his part and let God do His part. You, too, can be like David. Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t disconnect from God and check out of the battle. Press into Jesus. God is on your side and He knows all the answers. Jesus does not fear what you fear.
While overcoming adversity, avoid isolation. In times of difficulty we can’t afford to isolate ourselves. We can’t afford to run from the battle. When adversity strikes we need to run to the battle. Scripture declares, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind” (1 Timothy 1:7). David saw God as a Man of War. He saw God as his Great Deliverer. Many times David asked the Lord during prayer, “Shall I go up to battle?” And God responded, “Go up!”
Tribulation may pay us a visit, but the Word assures “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
4. Submit and Resist
Scripture also admonishes, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he shall flee” (James 4:7). Notice this twin advice for freedom from adversity, “Submit to God.” That means that He becomes your Commander. You release your will to Him and let His Word govern you, your actions, your situation and your entire life. You also release the outcome of the adversity to Him.
The second half of that Scripture assures, “Resist the devil and he will flee.” He didn’t say ignore the devil, hide from the devil, deny the devil’s existence, or compromise with the devil. God said to resist him. You resist the devil just like Jesus did. When the devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness He said repeatedly, “Devil. It is written.” You can do the same.
5. Speak to Your Situation
Speak to your situation like this, “Adversity, it is written, no weapon formed against me can prosper. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Thank you, Jesus, that you renew my strength. I shall not grow weary. I shall not faint. I will overcome in Jesus’ name.” Find a Scripture that deals with your situation, hold fast to it, and speak it over your life. This works. Go for it.
6. Let Faith Fight For You
Did you know that faith is one of the most powerful weapons against adversity you possess? Faith is the clothing of every warrior. Paul told his spiritual son Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3). He wasn’t teaching him how to cope with adversity. He was teaching him to fight on through until he saw the victory. Let hope arise in you right now. Jesus won’t let you down. Submit yourself to Him and use your faith in Him to battle against your adversity. Scripture promises, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even your faith” (1 John 5:4). The word “overcome” in this Verse means “to carry off the victory.” When you use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, that is exactly what will happen. Faith in God will bring you through adversity every time.
7. Pray in Tongues
Praying in tongues is vital. That’s right. Let your spirit talk with God. The Apostle Paul said, “If I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth” (1 Corinthians 14:14). He also said, “Forbid not to speak in other tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39). The Word declares that we can strengthen ourselves by praying in the Spirit and that the Holy Spirit helps us pray the way we should. He literally helps us get freedom. If you want a fast track way to strengthening yourself, start by reading and meditating on the Word of God, and praying in tongues. Praying in tongues is not a “Pentecostal thing,” it is a Spirit-life key to victorious Christian living.
Adversity attacks everybody, but with your love for Jesus and these simple truths you can overcome it every time. Remember this, God causes all things to work together for good to those that love him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). That’s you! With Christ in your life you can make it through every sorrow, oppression, trouble and adversity.
The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore. Psalm 18:46-50
Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. 'Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; Those who plunder you shall become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will make a prey. For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, Jeremiah 30:15-17
The words “salvation”, “healing” and “deliverance” are great and wonderful words that encompass anything that we might be going through in life. When Jesus walked on this earth, as the Son of God and the Son of man, He loved healing the sick, delivering the demon possessed and doing many miracles. And God’s saving, healing, delivering and miracle working power has not diminished one bit because God does not and has not changed. His word is unchanging:
But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. Psalm 102:27
And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." Hebrews 1:10-12
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrew 13:8
God is in love with us--so in love, He's given us everything He has! He's given us all the healing, all the wisdom, all the wealth, all the strength we could ever need. No matter what we might be going through Jesus Christ is our Jubilee. He has restored us to all the benefits God originally planned for mankind. Because of Jesus, we can walk in divine health, divine wisdom, divine prosperity and divine blessing and see all our needs met-spirit, soul and body! Yes because of what Jesus did on Calvary we can declare and decree that there is nothing missing, lacking or broken in our finances and every other area of our life!
Because Jesus Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). We can go to Him and get what we need as He has been there. We can come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Bible victory is ours, and we can believe for God to give us victory in all ways needed spiritually, physically and financially. God’s word is unchanging:
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9:35
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. Luke 15:31
All that God has and is is ours. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. There is nothing that God will not do for the righteous as He bound to them by a blood covenant! Our faith can stand in God’s s power alone, and the fact that God answers prayer. Prayer can do all things – for God can do all things. Nothing is impossible for Him! Where the need is greatest, His power will be greater. He can perform all things for us as well. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways and lean not to our own understanding, He will direct our steps. God will save, heal, deliver and guide as we look to Him in faith and obedience.
Yes, God is so rich and powerful that He is rich enough to supply our needs and deal with all our enemies, no matter who or what they are, just as He had done for Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel and others. 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
"Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. "But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. "You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. "No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. Exodus 23:20-26
His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon Himself His crown shall flourish." Psalm 132:18
Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 Samuel 7:1
My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:5-8
"The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together, That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41:17-20
"Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 'I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 'And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.' " Exodus 6:6-8
God’s people have wandered in a spiritual wilderness devoid of the power and gifts of the Spirit and in different forms of bondage for quite a while. But God is moving by His Spirit to rescue them from their bondage and to redeem them even with an outstretched arm and even great judgments to bring them into the promised land of the Spirit. To bring them into a land full of miracles, healing, deliverance, joy, wisdom, and abundance. For there is nothing that God will not do for His people. His words states it:
"Then I commanded you at that time, saying: 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All you men of valor shall cross over armed before your brethren, the children of Israel. 'But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall stay in your cities which I have given you, 'until the LORD has given rest to your brethren as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given 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 3:18-22
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
Jesus told a story of
the a prodigal son to whom once all that
belonged to his father was his. But the younger son foolishly left his father’s
house took his wealth and traveled to a far country where he wasted his
possessions with high living.
However, after the
prodigal son spent all his wealth, a
famine on that land and he literally began to starve. As a result, he took a
job as a pig keeper and desired to eat what the pigs ate but couldn’t. So the
Word of God states that he wisely came to himself and said:
'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. (Luke 15:17-19)
Well many of God’s
people are like the prodigal son, their Heavenly Father has more than enough to
feed and clothe trillions or zillions of people many times over while they are
living in want in a famine type situation devoid of God’s best blessings.
So what is the solution for those who have gone out into the world
and found there was nothing there and have become hungry for the reality and power of our God
and all that He offers? It is to do what the prodigal son did! The bible
records:
"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:20-24)
No matter where we are
in life we don’t need to perish. Our Heavenly Father’s arms are wide open to us
and heaven is full of riches and resources to meet all our needs and to give us
victory over everything. As a result we can boldly approach His throne to find
mercy and grace to help us in time of need. He has promised that He would never
leave, fail, or forsake us. His word is unchanging:
"If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. (Deuteronomy 30:4)
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
If we call upon Him and
put our trust in Him and His Name He will save us from all our enemies whatever
they might be. Enemies such as poverty, lack, defeat, despair, sin, or
self. He can and will turn our greatest
failure into our greatest success just like He did for Jesus Christ on Calvary.
Where God took the very worst that the world threw at Jesus and made it the
best thing that ever happened in this universe.
For He is the Great I Am, the One who has Created and made the whole
universe.
Our Father-God has
already given us His only begotten Son Jesus Christ so that we shouldn’t perish
but have eternal life with Him and He is our eternal and everlasting life. He
has given to us His own wonderful counselor the Holy Spirit and is will to be
do and give all things more for us that we need.
God desires and will promote, establish and bless His true ones beyond their wildest dreams. He is capable of handling everything that is committed unto Him. For His word is true:
Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalms 37:5)
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
God is a good God who serves His Children in Spirit and truth. As they surrender and commit everything to Him, He is more than able to deal with and work it all out. He is able to move on their behalf and bring healing to their body and their circumstances! For His true ones have a great advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ who is always for them, with them and not against them.
Hence God’s true children are not to be afraid or dismayed but are to be strong and of good courage no matter what circumstance or situation they might face! For their God is miracle working God, a good, powerful and mighty God! There is no other like Him! He is God alone! He will do in due season what His word says He will do! His Spirit is not limited but powerful, mighty! He, who is their shield and exceeding great reward, will do great and marvelous thing for them! His word is unchanging to them:
Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:14-15
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Jesus Christ who has
overcome the world is more than able to deliver them and meet and supply all
their needs and make them more than conquerors.
Now it is true that many times when we act
upon the Word of God and put our trust in Him the storms of life come against
us. The storm waves sometimes are so big and terrible it seems that we are
going to drown and God somehow isn’t going to come through for us as He is
asleep and doesn’t care about our concerns.
But nothing is further
from the truth for God does care and is concerned about all that touches and
concerns us. He is more than able to deal with any storm, demons or circumstance
for He is God and there is none like Him.
The disciples of Jesus
learned experientially that Jesus cared when they obeyed His Word as He told
them, "Let us cross over to the other side." They launched out. They took a step of faith.
But as they were sailing along, Jesus had fallen asleep. Suddenly a strong
storm came down on the lake and filled their boat with water. They were in
physical jeopardy and in tremendous fear,
but It is interesting to see
Jesus’ response to their fear:
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 8:24-25)
Jesus did not talk about
the storm He talked about their faith and asked them where it was. He expected His disciples to walk in faith,
but somehow they hadn’t learned to lesson and remained in their fear and walked
by sight.
Nevertheless the Lord
brought them through safely to the other side. For the winds and waves and all
things must obey the commands of the One who has created and sustains all
things. His word is unchanging:
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.
For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.
Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:21-30
Similarly, if we hold
onto to our faith in God and commit everything into His hands, He will bring us
through all the storms of life to the other side. To the other side of
walking with and in God and of being healed, delivered and set free,
spiritually, emotionally and even financially. His word is unchanging:
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19
God is God and He is
able to do everything because nothing is impossible to Him. He is able to deliver from unclean spirits
causing them to come out of people and heal them. He is able to heal those who
have spent all their livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any
one of them. He still says to us and
others today:
"Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."..."Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." (Luke 8:49-50)
Jesus, the King and Ruler of this universe and who
raised the dead and stilled the storms, can save His people from all the things
that are causing them to perish if they only put their trust and faith in Him. For God gives grace to the humble and resists
the proud and arrogant. He loves to come
to the meek and lowly and give them miracles that others only dream about. He
has promised it to all who have faith and has stated:
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)
His word also states:
"Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.' " (Acts 13:41)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
God, who knows no
boundaries or limits except those we put on Him, is able to do exceedingly
abundant above all that we ask or think. That is if we use a childlike faith,
ask Him, co-operate with Him, and in patience and persistence wait until He who
does it. For He keeps His Word and brings the things that He promised to pass:
So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.
The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. Joshua 21:43-45
God has not and doesn’t
change! He has given to many ordinary
seemingly insignificant people like barren Hannah, victory. For Hannah not only
had a great son and prophet called Samuel in response to her many cries and
prayers, but she bore three sons and two daughters. Hannah in her victory and joy prayed and said
one of the greatest prayers in the Bible:
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 1:1-10)
Well God, who is the
same yesterday and forever, says to you and I:
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7)
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16)
"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.... In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:23-26)
Victory over everything
is basically simple and is available to all of God’s children for the asking
and believing in His Name. We needn’t perish but can live and walk in total
victory, trusting the One who has created and sustains all things.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. Isaiah 30:18
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
There is no one in the universe who loves justice and hates injustice more than God. And His word, the bible has much to say about justice and injustice including the LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed (Psalm 103:6) just like He delivered His people from their Egyptian oppressors, brought severe Judgment upon Egypt, destroyed all the firstborn in the land, brought His people out with silver and gold, there was none feeble among His tribes, gave them the lands of the Gentiles, and they inherited the labor of the nations. God’s word is true:
He gave them hail for rain, And flaming fire in their land. He struck their vines also, and their fig trees, And splintered the trees of their territory. He spoke, and locusts came, Young locusts without number, And ate up all the vegetation in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground. He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land, The first of all their strength. He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed, For the fear of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river. For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant. He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, And they inherited the labor of the nations, That they might observe His statutes And keep His laws. Praise the LORD! Psalm 105:32-45
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8
Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Luke 18:35-43
Jesus told us “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,: and He told a certain blind man sat by the road begging after hearing his cry for mercy "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man knew exactly what to ask for and he got it. He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."
Now Jesus is just as available to us today as He was to Bartimaeus. He's just as willing to meet our need. But do we really know what to ask for or are we wasting our energy praying for things we don't really need and asking for things we don't really want? Then we wind up going nowhere fast. If this is the case we need to let the Lord Jesus open our eyes and show us what we really need. As a result instead of hitting around at the edges of our problems, we'll go straight to the heart--and solve them. And we won't have to waste our life running in circles anymore. And we will learn the truth of Jesus’ words:
"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
Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that
are in the heavens and in the earth? He
raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That
He may seat him with princes- With the princes of His people. He grants the
barren woman a home, Like a joyful
mother of children. Praise the LORD! Psalm 113:5-9
To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion (Proverbs 1:2-4)
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 2:9-15)
Wise Solomon, in his God given wisdom, wrote that proverbs which is defined as a basic truth or practical precept and was to give us instruction, wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. Well, all of these fine qualities are words that are missing from the lives of many of the Lord’s people, especially prominent Evangelical Pastors and Evangelists in America.
However, don’t take my word on it ask the Lord and see what He tells you about. Man is only dust and will fade but God and His Word on the matter will remain forever. The Lord loves to speak to His people, especially Pastors and Evangelists.
Evangelical Christians including Pentecostals and Charismatics in America today have particularly missed the boat, in not seeing that as Christians, we are not only to seek the redemption of others, but we are to seek justice for them. God will judge people for the wrong that is being done.
God is and always has been a God of Justice and Judgment and He never has never changed. Due to the Victories of the Cross we now have the privilege of becoming sons and daughters of the King of Kings and participating in the unsearchable and un-measurable inheritance which is now ours as well as having His character put in us.
However, the Word of God teaches that although all start the race, not all finish the race, and very possibly, to some servants the Lord will say depart I never knew you wicked, unfaithful and lazy servant. In that day, there will be many surprises about those who end up with the King of Kings and those who don’t.
The sad part of the latter group, is there will be pastors and evangelists among them who once performed might deeds in God’s name. There is a parable that illustrates this, when Jesus was a stranger, hungry, thirst, sick, naked and in prison and we did nothing about it:
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. (Matthew 25:41)
God measures success of a Christian not by his witnessing, his religious works and worship but by how he has treated the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the sick and the nobodies. God puts a great premium of how we treated Strangers and Widows. Again, the Word of God states:
“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22:21-24)
Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians, was talking about the Victories of the Cross, how Jesus has been made alive together with Him and not only has forgiven all our trespasses, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross. After He disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)
He went on to tell us that we are to let no one judge us concerning food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Also, that no one cheat us of our reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he hasn’t seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
In other words, Paul was saying that the Victories of the Cross weren’t given to us to make us religious but to grow and increase in the knowledge of God, to help and love one another and seek righteousness, justice and truth.
As a result, while redemption is an important fact and act to Christians, so should be justice, righteousness and truth. You can’t have just one part of God’s truth and be whole as a Christian. We need to believe and have the whole of God’s truth and what God intends for us in order to be fully rounded and balanced Christians and that includes seeking justice, helping strangers, the poor, lonely and afflicted which is something many of us don’t do. However, God’s Word states:
For I, the LORD, love justice! (lsaiah 61:8)
Seek good and not evil, that you may live so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good, establish justice in the gate. (Amos 5:14-15)
The Word of God says about you and I, who because of what Jesus did on the Cross are now kings and priests:
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:1-2)
In other words, we will reign in righteousness and rule with justice and a man will be a man. Some say that this will happen tomorrow in heaven and not on earth today. However, this is not true because the Holy Spirit will not be poured out in heaven as He has already been poured out on us today. This truth is seen in Isaiah:
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. (Isaiah 32:15-18)
So something is wrong with these Laughter or Holy Ghost Revivals that are supposed to be moving across our land in America today; because there is no justice and righteousness and the resulting quietness and assurance is not visible.
God’s Word is true though every man is a liar. Somehow, we have missed the boat in these so-called revivals because we aren’t seeking or having in them justice, righteousness and truth neither from God or in our lives. We have among us even Evangelists and Pastors doing and saying evil and wicked things and coveting after riches and not righteousness, truth and justice. The Word of God is plain on the matter:
Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; and you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, you will be plundered; when you make an end of dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you. (Isaiah 33:1)
The Word of God teaches in the same chapter that when the Lord is really exalted, things will be different in our lives and community. As it states:
The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure. (Isaiah 33:5-6)
There is no real justice and righteousness among God’s people in America, but a lot of lying, coveting and stealing which is common even in the very house of God. So what is wrong? We are? We are not seeking holiness, justice, righteousness and truth, but are only playing games of our own making and rules. Then we wonder why we aren’t blessed and our nation is not bless and there is trouble and evil everywhere.
We haven’t truly sought God, turned and repented from our evil ways, and put Him first in our lives. Yes, we have paid lip service about it but true repentance and change is not there. If it was then the way we treat the stranger, and poor among us would be so different compared to the way things are today.
We had better repent and take another look at ourselves as God won’t put up with this kind of behavior. He can’t, even though He is patient, kind and slow to anger, He is still a God of Justice and Judgment today among us and He hasn’t changed one bit. He actually gets angry with His people and shepherds and sends real judgment. Although the Cross of Calvary took away our sins, it didn’t take away our responsibilities and accountability to God and to others.
However, contrary to the belief of some religionists, not all people are changed. Some Christians actually end up being judged and destroyed. Good examples of this are King Saul; Judas; and Ananias and Sapphira. They were people close to God and in His service and yet they ended in disaster and destruction. The Lord Himself said of Judas it would have been better if he had not been born.
For the record, over the last two thousand years, there were very few people like Apostle Paul who were changed from being a persecutor of the Lord‘s people to being their greatest defender. It has nothing to do with God, it is simply a reality of life that not everyone has a true change of heart, no matter how hard we pray for them.
The Word of God plainly says:
“For I, the LORD, love justice. (lsaiah 61:8) Seek good and not evil, that you may live so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good, establish justice in the gate. (Amos 5:14-15)
The word justice in my Bible is found 135 times and it comes with some serious commands from God Himself:
‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. (Levticus 19:15)
The word “justice” and even “social justice” is rarely used or mentioned in our evangelical and charismatic churches today. Yet, this is one of the cornerstones of God’s character and it should also be one of the main cornerstones in our lives.
We live in a Christian era where it seems that many Evangelical and Charismatic churches talk about and emphasize only Salvation or Redemption with all their benefits and our responsibilities about it to others.
Well, a car basically has four tires and if one tire has a flat, the car doesn’t go very far. Justice is one of those important tires in my car, it sets me free to be a successful and prosperous Christian. I now see that the tire of Salvation was and is not the only tire on our road trip with God, but there are other tires such as justice, righteousness and truth that need equal care and attention.
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. Deuteronomy 32:39
and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 1 Kings 8:23
"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
God is known not only by His words but by His power and might which He has demonstrated not only in the creation of heaven and earth, in the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the enemies of His people, Pharaoh and his mighty army, and in making a person whole body, soul and spirit like He has done many times before! He is a God of miracles and there is none like Him! His word is true:
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is 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. And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.' You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?15:12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. Exodus 15:3-12
"O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. "And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people-to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt? "For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God. 1Chronicles 17:20-22
Moses, from experience in fighting with Pharaoh, had an appreciation of God’s greatness and His mighty hand and stated:
"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.' "Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying: 'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? 'I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.' "But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: 'Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. 'Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. '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.' "So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor. Deuteronomy 3:31-29
Even Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel, died in the land of Moab and didn’t lead the people into the Promised Land but Joshua and Caleb did because they had a different spirit and followed the LORD fully! God’s word is true:
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." And Moses said to the LORD: "Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, "and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, LORD, are among these people; that You, LORD, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. "Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 'Because the LORD was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.' 7 "And now, I pray, let the power of my LORD be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.' "Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." Then the LORD said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; "but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD- "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, "they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. Numbers 14:11-24
Yes it doesn’t pay to disobey the LORD even in small things because there could be and there are serious consequences down the road for those who do. As a result Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses led the people into the Promised Land, after the cowards and liars and those who believed and followed them died in the wilderness of their own choosing just like God promised:
"Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea." And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. "Say to them, 'As I live,' says the LORD, 'just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: 'The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. 'Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. 'But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 'But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. 'And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 'According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 'I the LORD have spoken this; I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.' "
Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.
Then Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned!" And Moses said, "Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed. "Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. "For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you." But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop; nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah. Numbers 14:25-45
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. Psalm 145:18-20
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
For those who are righteous and walk in truth and love they will know and see salvation from the God of their salvation. Yes there are great dividends from God for being righteous and there are great losses from God for being unrighteous! 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
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
Salvation is defined as the saving of somebody or something from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure. With God salvation is not restricted to just the “saving of a soul” as some believe but includes healing, deliverance, prosperity, strength. Since both riches and honor come from God who reigns over all and in His hand is power and might to make great and to give strength to all, and 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, why should God be limited in what He can or cannot do for the righteous? We cannot! His word is unchanging:
"You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the LORD swore to your fathers, "to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken. "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?' "then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; 'and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. 'Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. Deuteronomy 6:17-23
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 40:27-31
God doesn’t have a problem doing what He has done before delivering His people and bringing them out of their troubles or problems with a mighty hand and doing signs and wonders before their eyes, great and severe against their enemies! God doesn’t have a problem giving His trusting ones victories over all their enemies whoever or whatever they might be! He has already defeated and disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. He has wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against them, which was contrary to them. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). He always leads His trusting ones in triumph in Christ, and through them diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. His word is unchanging:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
"So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, "houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant-when you have eaten and are full- "then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. "You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you '(for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 6:10-15
The word of God promises victory, blessings, deliverance, healing, victory, release, vindication, provision, success, promotion, rewards and good things for those who diligently seek after God and don’t go after other gods! And God keeps His promises regardless of how difficult the circumstances may seem. God keeps His promise - regardless of the impossibility at hand. And no one can stop God! God’s word is unchanging:
Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. Job 42:1-2
"For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37
"...With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26
"...With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
"...The things which are impossible with men are possible with God" Luke 18:27
Yes, no plan or purpose of His can be thwarted, hindered, cut off, or restrained. God can do everything! He can change any and all circumstances and people. He can - provide all that His people need - and then some...make them whole again...restore all that the devil stole...make friends out of enemies...change the vilest heart...and shift the majority's outlook in their favor! Whatever God has done before He can and will do again. His word is unchanging:
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." John 11:32-44
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men. Proverbs 15:3-11
Nothing that happens on earth misses the eyes of the LORD. He sees and knows everything about the wicked, the fool, the righteous and the wise man! And the LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous that is based on the word of God that sets people free. Yes for financial bondage, prosperity is in the Word of God. For sickness and disease healing is in the Word of God. Strength, power and confidence is in the Word of God. Every solution to every need is in the Word of God. It doesn’t matter if we are like Paul and Silas and we are bound up in prison because of preaching the gospel. It doesn’t matter if we have the IRS on our trail and we’re going to have to pay a million dollars or go to jail. It doesn’t matter if you have cancer and we’re flat on your back in a hospital. It doesn’t matter if we’ve got the worst case of whatever ever seen. It doesn’t matter what the world says. We go by what the Word of God says and we must present it with confidence. God’s word is true:
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18
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. 4:16 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 4:15-16
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18
The only things
that count are the things we do that are based on truth. And God’s word is
truth and we can believe it, stand on it, and use it. God's Word is so pure and true that there is
no reason for Him to make a promise. Every word that proceeds from His mouth is
a promise as it is spoken. Every word that He has written in His Word is a
promise as it is written. We do not need
to ask Him to make a promise. He already has. We just need to believe what He
has already said. Why? Because God doesn't lie and we can "stake our
life" on His Word and fear nothing. It
is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18).
God has made promises to us in His Word, the Holy Bible. If we are Christians, then these promises apply to us.. If we actually believe that God is telling the truth, and if we actually believe that He is capable of doing what He said He would do, then we will have no fear of anything. Yes, faith is believing God and acting on what we believe including:
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but He delivers him out of them all” Psalm 34:19
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." Matthew 8:7
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; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:8-12
Jesus demonstrated God’s willing to help and heal people who come to Him for help. And because He is the same yesterday, today and forever His miracle working power has not ceased. Because Christ, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him to the unsearchable riches of Christ to meet and supply our every need and to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 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 ! God’s word is true:
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
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16
Yes we are no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ. And we are to be strong in the be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and are to put on n the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil . Wiles being defined as “ 1. A stratagem or trick intended to deceive or ensnare. 2. A disarming or seductive manner, device, or procedure.” Yes the devil is a deceiver and seducer 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
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3
The word of God is quite clear that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and we are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. And in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and we can be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. And God has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. And since we were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. And 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. And we now obey God’s word which is unchanging:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Colossians 3:12-21
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. Colossians 1:5
The true gospel of Jesus Christ is comes in world only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit!. God has all power in heaven and in earth, and as God's children, we can have full assurance from on High that all will be well with us. Tribulations on this earth may be many, but God will deliver us out of them all as we lean and depend upon Him. Down through the years, God has been faithful to His obedient Children, and He is the same today. Whatever our need is, whether it be physical, spiritual or financial, we can cast it upon the Lord and let Him perform miracles for us. God’s word is true:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know- Acts 2:22
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8
Miracles exist because God exists, but God's marvelous, miracle-working times have been preceded by times of marvelous, miracle-working praying. Jesus constantly prayed during the ministries. And the disciples prayed after Jesus left for the Holy Spirit and His power and they received it to do miracles. Prayer is simply asking God to do for us what He has promised us He will do if we ask him. The answer is a part of prayer, and is God's part of it. God's doing the thing asked for is as much a part of the prayer as the asking of the thing is prayer. Asking is man's part. Giving is God's part. The praying belongs to us. The answer belongs to God.[ii]
Man makes the plea and God makes the answer. The plea and the answer compose the prayer. God is more ready, more willing and more anxious to give the answer than man is to give the asking. The possibilities of prayer lie in the ability of man to ask large things and in the ability of God to give large things. God's only condition and limitation of prayer is found in the character of the one who prays. The measure of our faith and praying is the measure of his giving. As our Lord said to the blind man, "according to your faith be it unto you," so it is the same in praying, "According to the measure of your asking, be it unto you." God measures the answer according to the prayer. He is limited by the law of prayer in the measure of the answers he gives to prayer. As is the measure of prayer, so will be the answer.
If the person praying has the characteristics which warrant praying, then the possibilities are unlimited. They are declared to be "all things whatsoever." Here is no limitation in character or kind, in circumference or condition. The man who prays can pray for anything and for everything, and God will give everything and anything. If we limit God in the asking, he will be limited in the giving.
Praying men and God's providence go together! This was thoroughly understood by the praying ones of the Scripture. They prayed over everything because God had to do with everything. They took all things to God in prayer because they believed in a divine providence which had to do with all things. They believed in an ever-present God, who had not retired into the secret recesses of space, leaving his saints and his creatures to the mercy of a tyrant, called nature, and its laws, blind, unyielding, with no regard for anyone who stood in its way. If that be the correct conception of God, why pray to him? He is too far away to hear them when they pray, and too unconcerned to trouble himself about those on earth.
These men of prayer had an implicit faith in a God of special providence, who would gladly, promptly, and readily respond to their cries for help in times of need and in seasons of distress.
The so-called "laws of nature" did not trouble them in the least. God was above nature, in control of nature' while nature was but the servant of Almighty God. Nature's laws were but his own laws, since nature was but the offspring of the divine hand. Laws of nature might be suspended and no evil would result. Every intelligent person is conversant every day when he sees man overruling and overcoming the law of gravitation, and no one is surprised or raises his hand or voice in horror at the thought of nature's laws being violated. God is a God of law and order, and all his laws in nature, in providence and in grace work together in perfect accord, with no clash or disharmony.
God suspends or overcomes the laws of disease and rain often without or independent of prayer. But quite often he does this in answer to prayer. Prayer for rain or for dry weather is not outside the moral government of God, nor is it asking God to violate any law which he has made, but only asking him to give rain in his own way, according to his own laws. So also the prayer for the rebuking of disease is not a request at war with law either natural or otherwise, but is a prayer in accordance with law, even the law of prayer, a law set in operation by Almighty God as the so-called natural law which governs rain or which controls disease.
The believer in the law of prayer has strong ground on which to base his plea. And the believer in a divine providence, the companion of prayer, stands equally on strong granite foundations, from which he need not be shaken. These twin doctrines stand fast and will abide forever.
In every condition, in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth; At home or abroad, on the land or the sea, As thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.
God is not now so evident in the world, so almighty in manifestation as of old, not because miracles have passed away, nor because God has ceased to work, but because prayer has been shorn of its simplicity, its majesty, and its power. God still lives and miracles still live while God lives and acts, for miracles are God's ways of acting. Prayer is dwarfed, withered, and petrified when faith in God is staggered by doubts of lies ability, or through the shrinking caused by fear. When faith has a telescopic far-off vision of God, prayer works no miracles, and brings no marvels of deliverance. But when God is seen by faith's closest, fullest eye, prayer makes a history of wonders.
Think about God. Make much of him, till he broadens and fills the horizon d faith. Then prayer will come into its marvelous inheritance of wonders. The marvels of prayer are seen when we remember that God's purposes are changed by prayer, God's vengeance is stayed by prayer, and God's penalty is remitted by prayer. The whole range of God's dealing with man is affected by prayer. Here is a force which must be increasingly used, that of prayer, a force which all the events of life ought to be subjected. Many miracles ought to be worked by our praying. Why not? Is the arm of the Lord shortened that he cannot save? Is his ear heavy that he cannot hear? Has prayer lost its power because iniquity abounds and the love of many has grown cold? Has God changed from what he once was? To all these queries we enter an emphatic negative. God can as easily today work miracles by praying as he did in the days of old. "I am the Lord; I change not." "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
He who works miracles by praying will first of all work the chief miracle on himself. Oh, that we might fully understand well the Christian's trade of praying, and follow the trade day by day and thus make for ourselves great spiritual wealth!
All natural forces are under God's control. He did not create the world and put it under law, and then retire from it, to work out its own destiny, irrespective of the welfare of his intelligent creatures. Natural laws are simply God's laws, by which He governs and regulates all things in nature. Nature is nothing but God's servant. God is above nature, God is not the slave of nature. This being true, God can and will suspend the working of nature's laws, can hold them in abeyance by His almighty hand, can for the time being set them aside, to fulfill his higher purposes in redemption. It is no violation of nature's laws when, in answer to prayer, he who is above nature makes nature his servant, and causes nature to carry out his plans and purposes.
This is the explanation of that wonderful prayer miracle of Old Testament times, when Joshua, in the strength and power of the Lord God, commanded the sun and moon to stand still to give time to complete the victory over the enemies of Israel. Why should it be thought a thing incredible that the God of nature and of grace should interfere with his own natural laws for a short season in answer to prayer, and for the good of his cause? Is God tied hand and foot? Has he so circumscribed himself that he cannot operate the law of prayer? Is the law of nature superior to the law of prayer? Not by any means. He is the God of prayer as well as the God of nature. Both prayer and nature have God as their maker, their ruler and their executor. And prayer is God's servant, just as nature is his servant.
The prayer force in God's government is as strong as any other force, and all natural and other forces must give way before the force of prayer. Sun, moon and stars are under God's control in answer to prayer. Rain, sunshine and drought obey his will. "Fire and hail, snow and vapor, stormy wind fulfilling his word." Disease and health are governed by him. All, all things in heaven and earth are absolutely under the control of him who made heaven and earth, and who governs all things according to his own will.
Prayer still works miracles among men and brings to pass great things. It is as true now as when James wrote his epistle, "The effectual fervent, prayer of a righteous man availed much." And when the records of eternity are read out to an assembled world, then will it appear how much prayer has wrought in this world. Little is now seen of the fruits of prayer compared to all that it has accomplished and is accomplishing. At the judgment day, then will God disclose the things which were brought to pass in this world through the prayers of the saints? Many occurrences which are now taken as a matter of course will then be seen to have happened because of the Lord's praying ones.
The work of George Muller in Bristol, England, was a miracle of the nineteenth century. It will take the opening of the books at the great judgment day to disclose all he wrought through prayer. This godly man never asked anyone for money for running expenses at his orphanage where hundreds of fatherless and motherless children were cared for. His practice was always to ask God for just what was needed, and the answers which came to him read like a record of apostolic times. He prayed for everything and trusted implicitly to God to supply all his needs. And it is a matter of record that never did he and the orphans ever lack for any good thing.
Of a holy man who has done so much for Christ and suffering humanity, it was said at the grave about him:
He prayed up the walls of a hospital, and the hearts of the nurses. He prayed mission stations into being, and missionaries into faith. He prayed open the hearts of the rich, and gold from the most distant lands.
Our prayers are too little and feeble to execute the purposes or to claim the promises of God with appropriating power. Marvelous purposes need marvelous praying to execute them. Miracle-making promises need miracle making praying to realize them. Only divine praying can operate divine promises or carry out divine purposes. How great, how sublime, and how exalted are the promises God makes to his people! How eternal are the purposes of God! Why are we so impoverished in experience and so low in life when God's promises are so "exceeding great and precious"? Why do the eternal purposes of God move so tardily? Why they are so poorly executed? Our failure to appropriate the divine promises and rest our faith on them and to pray believingly is the solution. "We have not because we ask not." We ask and receive not because we ask amiss.
God's promises are dependent and conditioned upon prayer to appropriate them and make them a conscious realization. The promises are inwrought in us, appropriated by us, and held in the arms of faith by prayer. Let it be noted that prayer gives the promises their efficiency, localizes and appropriates them, and utilizes them. Prayer puts the promises to practical and present uses. Prayer puts the promises as the seed in the fructifying soil. Promises, like the rain are general. Prayer embodies, precipitates, and locates them for personal use. Prayer goes by faith into the great fruit orchard of God's exceeding great and precious promises, and with hand and heart picks the ripest and richest fruit. The promises, like electricity, may sparkle and dazzle and yet be impotent for good till these dynamic, life-giving currents are chained by prayer, and are made the mighty forces which move and bless. 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. John 14:12
"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 15:7-8
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Mark 4:35-40
It’s a fact of marine navigation that it’s the sail not the gale that determines the direction of a ship. In other words it’s our faith in God that determines things in life and not the storms of life, be they spiritual, physical, financial or other! Jesus Christ has conquered all and has overcome the world including sickness, diseases, and problems! Nothing is too hard for God to do as He is the God of all flesh (Jeremiah 32:27). God has never run into a problem that He cannot solve or an enemy He cannot defeat for His trusting ones who believe. God’s word is unchanging:
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:38
"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
The human body which was miraculously created by God is a very complicated one and it requires the help of its Creator to properly sustain it. Those who try to live in their body with the help of God sooner or later face a problem in their body that destroys them or allows them to live life on a diminished scale! Similar “‘Faith” which is a gift of the Spirit and a fruit of the Spirit is miraculously created by God and is very complicated one and it requires the help of its Creator to properly sustain it. And we also require from time to time the gifts of the Spirit to heal even miraculously the body and to bring about real change in it and different circumstances that affect the body like when Apostle Paul was stoned by evil and wicked men. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19-20
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 Corinthians 12:7-10
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 2 Corinthians 11:25
Yes, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. Yes there times in our lives when God has to do the impossible be it bringing us back from the dead, healing our bodies from an incurable disease, or solving a huge problem, so that we can go on living and accomplish His purposes for our lives. Those who believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased put themselves at great disadvantage to benefit from God’s miracle working power available to each child of God!
Trenton and Nichole Adams in their article The Deception of Cessationism[iii] wrote:
I understand that the “Charismatic” church today is totally corrupted, and is extremely abusive. I understand that there are word of faith preachers out there that put all of the onus on the sick person, or the parents of a sick child, to be healed. They are willing to accuse, but they are unwilling to press in with those people to receive healing from on high. But, that does not give those who have been abused, or had children die, or gotten really ill themselves, to throw out the sign gifts. If we would quit following men, we would not be disappointed when men fail us. Yes, the pain from the death of a child may remain, but the sting and sourness of men lying to us, or failing us in some other way, would not be.
Another thing that is commonly done in the name of the Lord, is to state that a person who has not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not have the Spirit of God. But, the bible says that if we do not have the Spirit of God, we are not saved. There are yet others who say outright that you are not saved if you do not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Again, that must mean that the leaders of the Asusa street revival were not saved either. They had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the gift of tongues, until quite some time after others had. This also leaves everyone from the Apostle’s time until now unsaved.
I hope to show anyone reading this, that does not believe in the power of God, that the sign gifts are still for today, by refuting the common scriptures used to attempt to show that they are not for today.
Jesus Behaviour
First off, are these the things we see Jesus doing? When people were sick, did Jesus tell them that they lacked faith? Or, was it the disciples whom He told, lacked faith? No, rest assured, God rarely said that the common people did, it was those who were supposed to have faith to heal that were rebuked for having a lack of faith. It was those who had already witnessed, and experienced the power of God through faith. The only instance I can recall, that the Word shows that people were not healed due to their own lack of faith, is when Jesus went to His own home town. And they were obstinately refusing to believe that He could heal. But when people are wanting healing, and trying to have faith, who are we to judge them and say that it’s because of their lack of faith (unless God specifically tells us to).
Did Jesus accuse those with sin, of being sick because of their sin? Or did Jesus instead heal them first, and then tell them to “go and sin no more“? And other times, did Jesus, or did He not, FIRST tell people that their sins were forgiven, and then heal them? Was Jesus EVER accusatory towards them, or judgmental towards them, for their sin? Or was He always quick to forgive the common folk, and to heal all of their diseases?
It is extremely difficult, to go through a time of great sickness, and to still have faith. It is up to those who have faith, to put their money where their mouths are, and press in for the sick, to receive healing. I believe that is why Jesus outright rebuked His disciples for lack of faith. It was not those who they were praying for that were rebuked, but the disciples themselves.
Many Christians want to live a live without dying to self and embracing the cross of Christ! But the good news is that there is power and miracles as a result of the cross available to us! Keith Miller in his article Stand Firm Do not Waver[iv] writes:
Recently the Holy
Spirit whispered a thought to me. He put it upon my heart to encourage His people
to:
”Stand firm
without wavering, knowing that our work in the Lord is not in vain.”
This is key
today! At the cross, we, as believers, received wonderful promises because of
the victory Jesus accomplished, and set in for us, and yet many are living as
those overcome.
In the meetings
we’re doing now, we’re seeing a powerful flow of the presence and power of our
Lord, in tangible ways. His glory and power is present in our midst and as a
result, seeing major impact in hundreds of lives. He is bearing witness to
the message of grace, granting signs, wonders, and miracles.
”Therefore they
stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness
to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their
hands.”
According to His
own will, (Hebrew 2:4), He is “also bearing witness both with signs and
wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Because of
this awesome witness, we’re seeing people come to the knowledge of the saving
power of our Lord Jesus Christ in every meeting. The harvest net is cast for
this NOW time. This is that harvest casting time! I’ll be writing more about
this in coming weeks.
As we minister
the Word that establishes and engages people into the ever-sustaining and
increasing breakthrough that He so wonderfully brings, He sweeps us into the
flow of this powerful atmosphere of the river of His presence and power! This
is happening in our evening open meetings, with the manifestation of fruit for
the King and His Kingdom!
In the meetings
we are asking the Lord to confirm the message of Grace with signs, wonders, and
miracles but we are also asking for a great establishing and activation through
deep anchoring in our hearts of the depth and width of Him through the
preaching of the word with power. An anchoring faith that sees those who come
to the evening sessions fully awaken to the glory, (refer Luke 9:32), and walk
in the fullness of their redemption, like purified silver.
One of silver’s
significances in the Bible is as a symbol of atonement and redemption. (See
Exodus 30:15, 16, Titus 2:14, Matthew 26:15). I believe with all of my heart,
as I put my trust in the capable doings of the Lord that what He has said He
will do, He will do.
The precious
Messenger of the covenant is coming into the temple with the launderer’s soap
and refiner’s fire and He’s refining, purifying, and purging the silver that we
might offer to the Lord an offering in righteous (See Malachi 3:1-3). As a
result, we’re seeing Him fill the temple with His glory. We’re seeing the
saints awaken and coming into a greater measure of the fullness of the stature
of Christ in them. The time is NOW to establish a company of believers
worldwide, one body, who will walk in the fullness of their redemption.
Hundreds of thousands of believers all over the world are being strengthened
and quickened in the inner man of the knowledge of Him by the Spirit of wisdom
and revelation—the Holy Spirit etching victory upon our hearts.
How awesome it
will be to witness a people called “His People” who know and live in the
fullness of the victory of the cross!
"For the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18
The message of
the cross to us is the power of God! The power is in the message of the cross!
It is in the message of victory! Wow! When we walk in His redemptive
power, in His victorious power, we have the greatest power in the universe for
breakthrough.
Thanks Be To GOD!
Here’s the word
you need to lay hold of. Grab hold of the strength of the Word of victory that
is power to us. Anchor it in your mind, in your heart, and in your thoughts!
“But thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!” (1 Cor. 15:57,
58).
Nothing’s in Vain
We can abound in
the work of the Lord knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. Thanks
be to God, because He gives us the victory through Jesus! As you read this, I’m
praying an anointing of the Holy Spirit upon you, and a moving of the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation that would so establish you in the reality of this
powerful Scripture truth, that you know that whatever you do for the Lord, all
that you do, all that you will do, for Him, is not in vain! Never in vain!
I pray that this
season will be a great time of enlargement for all of us, a great time in the
realm of His vastness and fullness. Wow…and I pray this new to you, to all of
us, every morning! That you will stand steadfast, stand firm! Do you know what
the Greek translation for the word “steadfast” is in the context of 1 Cor. 15:
58? One would think it means to keep our feet firmly planted, staying in
position. But it means, being fixed in purpose.
Be Fixed in
Purpose
May we be fixed
on the victory wrought at the cross. May we live in the fullness of our
redemption, in the redemptive power of the Cross. Praise the Lord! Don’t lose
heart, beloved. Don’t grow weary. Don’t lose focus. Don’t lose vision. Don’t
take your eyes off of the command victory of the cross. You thought you were
fixed on the purpose, but you need even more focus. No wavering. Don’t be
moved. Abound more in the work of the Lord. “Abound” means to have abundance,
to super abound, to have IN excess, greatly surpassing in excess, the work of
the Lord!
Don’t be
distracted. Put your trust in the Lord, not in the confidence of men.
The Spirit Filled
Bible brings out these further thoughts:
·
Faith enables us to believe and receive all God has for us as His People.
·
By faith, walk in the fullness of the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.
·
By faith, proclaim God Words without reservation.
·
By faith dedicate yourself to the work of the Lord without wavering, being
unmovable but well established in the depths of your heart to Lord.
Right now as I
close, I ask that the mighty and powerful Holy Spirit releases to all who read
this a great strengthening in the inner man; that you would be even more set in
to the fullness of your redemption in Christ. That the command victories of the
Lord would be released and established in your life. That you would be
immovable, steadfast, and unwavering in the Lord because Father God has given
you the victory at the cross through the Lord Jesus Christ.
In due time you
will reap a harvest as the unseen becomes seen and the impossible become
possible. Please know that your obedience to the Lord is not in vain!
Thank you Jesus
for right now releasing a fresh oil-fresh anointing for all who read this. Let
our strength come from You and may we know even a greater release of the riches
of Your Glory, that we would be strengthened with might through the working of
the Holy Spirit in our inner man!
However Hughie Seaborn in his article By Their Fruit You Shall Know Them[v] writes about the problems that are encountered today with many of those who say they are “Apostles” and “Prophets” and push faith, miracles, signs and wonders and don’t seem to uplift Jesus:
1. The Scriptures, "By their fruit you shall know them" have been wrongly accepted to mean that if a ministry is gaining converts, or if the converts are displaying favourable changes in their lives then that ministry is under the anointing and favour of God.
2. While those who call themselves Christians should be growing in sanctification and displaying some degree of the fruit of the Spirit, not all who display the character traits of the fruit of the Spirit are Christians. The Catholic, Jehovah's Witness and Mormon religions, to name a few, have a vast number of members who display a counterfeit of the fruit of the Spirit.
3. We who live in the New Testament era, and particularly we who live in the closing of that era, have been warned repeatedly that false prophets, false apostles and false teachers will come in vast numbers with the express purpose to deceive the elect and trick them into shipwrecking their salvation. Non-discerning Christians will end up going to Hell instead of Heaven.
4. The Bible is the final criteria by which we judge something to be of God or the Devil. God's Word is clear that we are to look to no other standard for our discernment. To look to any other authority, whether it be to some extra-Biblical writing, some prophecy, or some sign or wonder for validation or proof that the Holy Spirit is at work is gross disobedience to God and will cause God to give you over to deception. Look only to the Word of God to differentiate between the holy and the profane.
5. The rain, the flood of water and the howling winds that will destroy the building of a multitude of Christians in the last days are symbols of wrong teaching - false doctrine coming from a multitude of false prophets and teachers who, according to God's Word, will arise among His people in the closing of the Church Age.
6. A bad tree can not bring forth good fruit. Wrong teaching will produce a convert who will in turn bring forth a wrong understanding of his Salvation and his perception of God. What are the implications of this? The blind lead the blind and they both fall into the ditch!
7. Spots, wrinkles and blemishes in the Church are symbolic of false teachers and prophets.
8. God says in His Word that He has magnified His Word even above His own name.
9. Many ministries will come in the name of Jesus but not with His Word, wherefore we shall know them
One of the great problems today we have with Christians and Christian leaders is not only the lack of the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit but a crucified life as stated by Apostle Paul:
"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
Dan Goldfinch in his article The Crucifixion Driven Life[vi]
writes that that the Crucifixion Driven Life consists of four major elements
which are missing in the lives of many of God’s people:
The first of these is that of Faith living. The Apostle Paul, another whose life was defined by the Crucifixion of Jesus wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) The point is that it is quite impossible to live the crucified life in the flesh. You will fail if your step is not in time with the Spirit. You must live by faith.
The second of these qualities is that of Holy Living. Peter, who was according to tradition hung upside down on a cross, wrote these words, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5) We are to be distinctive by our behavior.
The third of these most important qualities is Sacrificial living. I return to the Apostle Paul who wrote in Romans: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) The sacrificial life is not just about what we give up, but it is, perhaps significantly, a life of worship. Thus is not’s just what we give up, it’s what we offer up. It is our lives, the core of our being. Our very existence.
The fourth of these qualities is Self-Less living. Jesus thought this particular side of Crucifixion Living so important that he spoke of it not once, but twice. In Matthew 10 we read the first time, “Anyone who loves his father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lost it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Then he said again in chapter sixteen, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” But the truth is, Jesus had been saying this since his ministry began. Blessed are the poor, the mourning, the meek and so on. These are not qualities that we moderns exude. Self-denial in America is an oxymoron. We live in an ‘it’s all about me’ kind of world. Jesus said at the outset, “Seek first the Kingdom of God…”
Thomas Merton wrote,
If, then, we want to seek some way of being holy, we must first of all renounce our own way and our own wisdom. We must ‘empty ourselves’ as He did. We must ‘deny ourselves’ and in some sense make ourselves ‘nothing’ in order that we may live no so much in ourselves as in Him. We must live by a power and a light that seem not to be there. We must live by the strength of an apparent emptiness that is always truly empty and yet never fails to support us at every moment...I who am without love cannot become love unless love identifies me with Himself. But if He sends His own Love, Himself, to act and love in me and in all that I do, then I shall be transformed, I shall discover who I am and shall possess my true identity by losing myself in Him. (62-63)
The cross is dirty. It is prickly and splinter driven. It is covered with dried blood from the others who have carried it before—the devil is not going to waste good wood that can be recycled for the same purpose. It is covered with muck and mud. And there in the midst of its silohuette, hanging between heaven and earth, against the painted sky, hangs the Messiah, bearing our load.
The cross is pock-marked with holes from the spikes that bear its load. We must topple the self from its pedestal. The cross is unfinished wood. The cross-beam, the patibulum, has not been rounded off, or finished with a find grained sandpaper. It’s mere presence rips and shreds the back. It is cover with flecks of flesh it ripped or caught from its victims. It is no shiny gold or silver, it is no jewelry—it is a symbol of death, desecration. Those who hung on a pole were considered cursed by God. It is abominable. It was not a deterrent. It was punishment—pure and simple, the most cruel device ever invented by the cunning and craft of man. It is suffering. It is the epitome of death and humiliation. It is foolishness to those who perish. It is mockery. But to those who are being saved it is the power of God.
What does the cross mean to us? What does it mean to those Christians in the Scripture, that cloud of witnesses like David, Abraham, Isaiah, Peter and Paul who were so willing to take up their cross and be crucified with Christ when we run from it, leave it behind or never take it up to begin with? What does it mean when we drape it around our neck to adorn ourselves and never lay it across our back and share in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings? What if we never died with Him? What if we went into the baptistery a dry, unsaved sinner, and came out a wet, unsaved sinner? What if He death never became a part of our life? What if in our aspiration to gain something more, something better we failed to stop and partake of all that is perfect, righteous and good?
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:23-26
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
There is no one in heaven or earth who is as understanding or can help like Jesus can. All men are here today and gone tomorrow and their abilities, wisdom, strength, power and understanding are limited but God’s power, wisdom, abilities are unlimited. And as Job said to the Lord "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. Job 42:1-2.
God has set for each man a race before him to run. And each man or woman must look unto Jesus the accomplish what needs to be accomplished. So that each one at the end of his race can say what Jesus said, "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4). And in order to accomplish the task before them men must not only know the word of God, their God and the power of prayer, but they must know the voice of God and to distinguish it from others for Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me ( John 10:27).
And negative circumstances, problems or mountains that they will encounter along the way do no matter because their God is bigger and greater than all things and He has promised to make them triumphant in everything in life when they follow Him. His word is true:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:35-37
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 2:14
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
Yes God can do anything but fail His trusting ones. He can save, heal, deliver, bless, prosper and comfort no matter what they negative circumstances might be. He is after all the God of the impossible and a miracle working God! And we need to trust and follow only Him and no one else. God’s word is unchanging:
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9
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. Matthew 21:19-21
And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. Mark 11:13-14
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 11:20-24
Jesus Christ didn’t limit in His teaching and examples including cursing the fig tree what “Faith in God” could do! Rather He gave us the power to do all kinds of things including cursing fig trees by His words "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Yes, we can curse anything that is evil and wicked and command it to die just like Jesus cursed the fig tree. Sickness, disease and other negatives things can be cursed and commanded to die! God’s word is true:
Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."Jeremiah 1:9-12
Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. Therefore the Lord says, The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your dross, And take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with righteousness.1:28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. Isaiah 1:23-29
God is a God of restoration but He is also a God of Judgment. The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. People do make their choices in life just king David did when he committed adultery with another man’s wife and had her husband killed. Although David was a man after God’s own heart who loved justice and truth and pronounced judgment on the man who stole one sheep, not knowing he was the man. God’s word tells us:
Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 'I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 'Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 'For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.' " 2 Samuel 12:7-12
While some foolish ones talk only about God’s forgiveness of David they don't talk about real judgment and consequences for his sins. The sword never departed from David's house and God did things in the open and had David's wives raped openly. Men do reap a whirl wind of judgment for sinning after they have received the knowledge of truth even in the current time of life! God’s word is true:
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31
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
You cannot have a better refuge than God. There is no one greater or mightier than He is. No one can stand before His great and mighty power, not even the devil or all the armies of the world. And through the blood name of Jesus we have the availability to us of all the riches and resources of heaven. The blood of Jesus opens the door to the supernatural and miraculous power of God. The blood of Jesus heals, restores, prospers, delivers, it gives us safety and liberty. Whatever need we have the blood of Jesus and is more than enough to meet it, change it and forgive it.
Galatians 3:29 tells us if we belong to Christ then we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the (covenant) promise. We are powerless in our own strength but the Blood of Jesus is all powerful. It is not within man to direct his own steps, to heal himself, or to save himself. Man is weak, but thank God, He is strong. He is more than enough to meet and supply each and every need that we will have. We can rest in God’s faithfulness. His word is unchanging:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
The living God is the Savior for all those who believe and trust in Him no matter what their negative circumstances might be. He is the God of restoration who has promised to restore all that the different kinds locusts have eaten. His 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
Even though we are sincere, have good intentions, have made Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the head of our life, have completely yielded ourselves to Him, and have accepted the gift of righteousness and all that gift including health, prosperity, peace, joy and life abundant, there are some situations and circumstances that do not change. And we are not just talking about putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. While it’s true that according to God’s Word, we can now reign in this life as a king and the power of sin and death in our life has been overcome, we must still exercise the power and authority that God has given us over forces of evil, demons, principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). God’s word is unchanging:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, Matthew 8:16
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
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:18
Most people are blind to the supernatural realm including demons or the fact that when we go to certain places we have demons to follow us or are transferred to us. And yes the media including television, movies and their internet are good places for the transfer of demons to us just like flies stick on a cow. When we sleep we have demons of the night, bad dreams, nightmares, and sex dreams trying to get into our dreams, and sometimes through the day. We have evil spirits of infirmity that will give us whatever we accept. Any sharp pain that comes on us suddenly is almost always witchcraft. We must reject it and send it back to the sender one hundred fold.
Daily we must cover ourselves in the blood of JESUS, cover all our family members in the blood of JESUS and loose giant warring angels to surround us, protect us from all harm of the enemy. We must take our authority and attack from the third Heaven, over all the power of the enemy. We must the strongman over our minds, will, emotions, and over our home, in JESUS' name. We must command them to leave this area in JESUS' name. We must bind up every demon(s) that was sent to us, transferred to us, or followed us, and command them to come out of our conscious, subconscious, unconscious mind, all parts of our body, will, emotions, and personality, in JESUS' name.
As our war club and weapons of war, we must break down, undam, and blow up all walls of protection around all witches, warlocks, wizards, Satanists, sorcerers, and the like, and break the power of all curses, hexes, vexes, spells, charms, fetishes, psychic prayers, psychic thoughts, all witchcraft, sorcery, magic, voodoo, all mind control, jinxes, potions, bewitchments, death, destruction, sickness, pain, torment, psychic power, psychic warfare, prayer chains, incense and candle burning, incantations, chanting, ungodly blessings, hoodoo, crystals, rootworks, and everything else being sent our way, or our family member's way. We must return it, and the demons to the sender, one hundredfold, and we bind it to them by the blood of Jesus.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we must come against the prince-ruling spirit and all spirit guides. We must come through the blood of the lord Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus paralyze them and silence them, forbidding them from influencing or strengthening them (the witch or witches) in the name of Jesus! We destroy their very works: the spirits of hate, bitterness and murder, spirits of envy and jealousy, spirits of wizardry, sorcery and all their co-spirits, their works, their powers, their influences are also destroyed in the name of Jesus!
We must ask God in the name of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness by Jesus Blood (1 John 1:7). We must confess and repent of occult practices such as (witchcraft, fortune telling, horoscopes, astrology, water witching, etc.) We must renounce all occult practices and Satan and break all curses associated with those occult practices. According to Galatians 3:13 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse [doom] of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); Deut. 21:23. We must confess and repent of all sins listed in Deuteronomy 27 and 28 and break the curses associated with these sins. We must confess and repent of our iniquities and our father's iniquities according to Leviticus 26:40 and break the curses associated with these iniquities. We must break and loose ourselves from all evil soul ties with my mother, father, brother, sisters, spouses, former spouses, former sex partners, pastors, churches, friends, etc. We must forgive our mother, father, brothers, sisters and anyone else who has ever hurt us including all whites, blacks, Indians, etc. Matthew 6:15, 18:21, 22, 35; Luke 11:4 (Lord's Prayer).
We must also break and loose ourselves and our family from all curses that have been and are being placed upon us and our family, including any demons being sent to us: curses of witchcraft, physic thoughts or prayers, ungodly intercessory prayers; all words spoken in anger, hurt, sorrow, or bitterness; all incense being burned for or against us, in JESUS' name. We must in the Name of JESUS bind all demons that cause hail, excess heat and cold, lingering domes, fire, earthquakes, tornados, lightning, damaging winds, floods, hurricanes, and bad weather of all kinds. We must bind CHANGO, OXUN, EUROCLYDON, BAAL, SEIR, LEVIATHAN, HADADRIMMON, AMURR, BASILISK, and all others demons. We must ask the Father to send His warring angels (Matthew 26:53) into the heavenlies to do battle with these demons, to knock them off their thrones, take their crowns from their heads, and to write on their foreheads that they have been defeated by the Lord JESUS Christ. We must ask the Father to send the warring angels to block these demons from coming into our city, state, or county. We must ask for warring angels to be placed around our property and home for protection from these demons. And we must cover our property, home, possessions and family in the Blood of JESUS.
The nine fruits of the spirit of Christ, who is in us Christ being the Vine and we a branch, bearing the fruit, we now have in the Name of Jesus Christ, power over the bearing fruit of the antichrist spirit. We know that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world, yes, Christ in us is greater than Satan or the Antichrist spirits. That is Christ in us the hope of glory. Hence we can just simply stand and rebuke every spiritual entity of the antichrist and cast them out of ourselves and our family and our entire area of habitation (where we live). We are trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.
We are also kings and priests unto God our Father, made so by the Lord Jesus Christ, (Rev. 1:5,6). Authority controls power, power is only activated by a higher authority. Our authority is over all the power of the enemy. Every unrighteous thing in our area of habitation is under our authority to let it be, or to command it to cease, and be cast out of our domain. The Kingdom of God is now the soviergn ruling authority in our life and where we live. It just happens to be righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost. Simply, every unrighteous, peace disturbing thing, comes against the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. And in His presence and authority, we can take authority and cast the evil spirits out. Just as Jesus and His disciples did. God’s word is unchanging:
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:24
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:13
"Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers. "And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. "And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. Deuteronomy 7:12-15
"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
Compared to Jesus Christ and the early New Testament church Christianity has become a religion of words devoid of the miracle working power of God. It’s a religion of people who have a form of godliness and deny the power there of. It’s a religion of false prophets and teachers who say and teach things that are not confirmed by miracles signs and wonders. It’s a religion of deceivers who covet the silver or gold or blessings of others. God’s word is true:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:1-3
But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 2 Peter 2:12-17
Yes, there are many religious leaders who have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. They ignore the words of God that tells them:
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 17:3
"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:23
God's love and sense of justice permeates the bible and history from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to Calvary to the end time judgment in the book of Revelation. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great." Revelations 19:11-18
But there are evangelicals who believe in unconditional forgiveness for anything a person does even if the person hasn’t repented. So if your father hated you, beat you up, didn’t feed you or disowned, tried to kill you and did a whole bunch of mean things to you, just forgive him and pray for His salvation. For this is what Jesus would have done? Wrong! Did Jesus really forgive His unrepented enemies and pray for their salvation. What did Jesus mean when He told us about evil and wicked person like this unrepented father? He told us to forgive him, move on and leave him to his own selfish and mean life by His words:
"And when you go into a household, greet it. "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. " Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:12-22
Jesus said for those who are not worthy we are to take our peace back and it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city, person or persons? DID JESUS REAL MEAN WHAT HE SAID? YES! So we can stop thinking about the past and evil and wicked ones and move on and leave it all to God and He will handle it all according to Exodus 23:12 Deuteronomy 30:7, Psalm 59, 109 140 and, Isaiah 41:12 , 54:17, Luke 17:1-3, 18:1-8 and any like Scriptures on them and make sure justice is meted out. For God loves justice and He is the Judge of all the earth who metes out fair and just justice to everybody.
“But I thought that God was primarily in the forgiveness business?” Well He isn’t! If that was the case He would not have demanded Jesus death and suffering on Calvary but would have just forgiven Jesus and all of humanity and everybody would be saved, healed and delivered forever. But that isn’t the case at all? Things just don’t work out that way in real life. There is a thing called “Justice” and people do reap what they have sown even if they don’t wish they did. And yes God or man has the right to forgive or retain sins of others. That is why the bible states:
As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Romans 9:13-16
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5
"I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Revelations 2:23
How come most evangelicals don’t talk about Father God being a killer and demoter of people like bitter barren Hannah did by the Spirit of the Lord did when God gave her a needed miracle?
"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed." 1 Samuel 2:6-10
And why did God tell all men
“Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm." 1 Chronicles 16:22
And why did Peter say
"Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.' " Acts 13:41
And how did the Peter’s despisers perish? Jesus Christ warned His enemies not to touch Him for He was a prophet and son of God and they would pay for their foolishness. He told them:
"For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." Luke 19:43-44
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:20-24
The despisers of Jesus and Peter did believe that the days of vengeance would come? But they did! Jospehus wrote about what God did to those who murdered Jesus using His other ministers (Romans 13:1-4). In 70 AD Titus marched against the city with four legions of the Roman army. They laid siege to Jerusalem and using their battering rams they breached the walls of the city. Fleeing citizens of Jerusalem were caught by the Romans and were tortured and crucified. Later the whole city was destroyed and the people of Jerusalem paid the price for ignoring Jesus warning about what would happen to them. These kinds of things do happen even in the current time of life!
TITUS now promised that the Temple should be spared if the defenders would come forth and fight in any other place, but John and the Zealots refused to surrender it. For several days the outer cloisters and outer court were attacked with rams, but the immense and compact stones resisted the blows. As many soldiers were slain in seeking to storm the cloisters, Titus ordered the gates to be set on fire. Through that night and the next day the flames raged through the cloisters. Then, in order to save the Temple itself, he ordered the fire to be quenched. On the tenth of August, the same day of the year on which Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple built by Solomon, the cry was heard that the Temple was on fire. The Jews, with cries of grief and rage, grasped their swords and rushed to take revenge on their enemies or perish in the ruins.
The slaughter was continued while the fire raged. Soon no part was left but a small portion of the outer cloisters, where 6,000 people had taken refuge, led by a false prophet who had there promised that God would deliver His people in His Temple. The soldiers set the building on fire and all perished. Titus next spent eighteen days in preparations for the attack on the upper city, which was then speedily captured. And now the Romans were not disposed to display any mercy, night alone putting an end to the carnage. During the whole of this siege of Jerusalem, 1,100,000 were slain, and the prisoners numbered 97,000.[vii]
Most evangelicals don’t have a clue about how God forgives and His love for justice and what He does to this enemies especially those who disregard his words and touch His anointed and harm his prophets. But God’s word is unchanging:
'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.' "Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." Then the LORD said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; "but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD- "because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, "they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. "But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. "Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea." Numbers 14:18-25
God forgave and pardoned the children of Israel for wanting to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones. He gave them their hearts desire to die in the wilderness of their own choosing and never go into the Promised Land. He meted out fair and true justice and forgiveness!
And how about Korah and his friends with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" The bible records:
Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them." Numbers 16:15
Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also!" And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense. Numbers 16:15-35
So in spite of who you are or who you think you are if you say the wrong words about somebody and that somebody retains that sin you will be in deep deep trouble with God. You can die prematurely with God who loves justice just like the murderers of Jesus did and the antagonistis of Moses, Joshua and Caleb did. And aren’t we all anointed ones and didn't God say:
"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 41:11-13
So how come people always talk about God's love and not His justice? Because they they don't to face His justice. But they will! Jesus also said that a man's enemies will be those of his own household. And some people chose never to repent of being evil and wicked. And the fact of life is that Jesus said:
"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. Matthew 7:13-14
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' Matthew 10:34-36
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5
For those who trust in the LORD He is the all sufficient One, including their provider and healer. In Psalm 23 we find the seven names of God:
1.JEHOVAH-RA
2.JEHOVAH-JIREH
3.JEHOVAH-SHALOM
4.JEHOVAH- TSIDKNELL
5.JEHOVAH-NISSI
6.JEHOVAH-RAPHEGA
7.JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
In verse we have The Lord is My Shepherd- "SHEPHERD"-JEHOVAH-RA (Jehovah the Shepherd). If the Lord is our shepherd, then we own this Psalm 23 as ours. And as our LORD He forgives all our iniquities, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, and satisfies our mouth with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we don't lack in anything. HE is our Provider - JEHOVAH-JIREH. God’s word is true:
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided." Genesis 22:9-14
Whatever we need God will provide. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? We shall not want… JEHOVAH-JIREH (JEHOVAH is our Provider). When we know the Lord as our 'Shepherd' He will be our provider, all sufficient-one. Therefore, we shall not lack or want anything because nothing is impossible with God
And because JEHOVAH- SHALOM, The-LORD-Is-Peace, He makes us to lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside the still waters. The sheep are very happy. Lying down in Green pastures and still waters (not turbulent waters) all speak of peaceful conditions. God’s word tells us that Isreal was in turbulent condition. The Midianites surrounded them. At that time, they cried. God gave a deliverer called 'GIDEON'. The Word of God records:
Then the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die." So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Judges 6:23-24
'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: 'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Jeremiah 33:14-16
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word “saved” as:
Save v. saved, sav·ing, saves. --tr. 1.a. To rescue from harm, danger, or loss. b. To set free from the consequences of sin; redeem. 2. To keep in a safe condition; safeguard. 3. To prevent the waste or loss of; conserve.
Yes, Jesus Christ is our Salvation and He rescues us from harm, danger or loss, He keeps us in a safte condition and prevents the waste or loss of things for us as we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. God’s word is true:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:1-4
No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." Psalm 91:10-16
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…JEHOVAH-TSIDKENILL. Hence He restores my soul; He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. He delivers us and honor us and satisfies us with long life and shows us His salvation.
And then we have JEHOVAH- NISSI – The-LORD-Is-My-Banner or God My Standard of Victory.
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; Exodus 17:8-15
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
The Amalekites came against the Israelites after they crossed the Red sea. But when Moses went up the Mountain Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands Joshua defeated the Amalekite with the edge of the sword. As we pray in the Spirit and stand on the word of God, Our Lord who suffered on the cross and His hands were lifted up with two nails, we will defeat Satan through our Heavenly Joshua, even through our Lord the HOLY SPIRIT for the LORD Is Our Banner our Victory. His word is unchanging:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. 1 John 5:4
And because of His anointing we shall know JEHOVAH- RAPHEGA - The Lord the healer. He turns the bitterness of life into sweetness. God’s word is true:
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:26
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5
Yes the Lord is our healer of all things that the enemies of life bring upon us be it physical sickness, broken hearts, inner hurts or disappointments. God’s word is true:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:16-17
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23: 5
"All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD Is THERE." Ezekiel 48:35
The Lord will be with us forever. He is a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. For there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn (Psalm 46:1-5). His word is unchanging:
"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Number 6:24-26
"And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. "You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. "And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you. Deuteronomy 7:13-15