ENEMIES WILL BE DEFEATED

But God Raised Him From The Dead
“Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.  “And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

“Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. “But God raised Him from the dead. Acts 13:26-30

Apostle Paul was a chosen vessel of Jesus Christ  to bear His  name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. As a result he would suffer many things for Jesus sake. Paul had a genuine deep love of the brethren and it was the prayer and desire of his heart  that the God of peace, who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make His people complete in every good work to do His will, working in  them what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ.

Paul’s passions were to live and die for the Gospel, to serve the brethren and to have an abundant supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. For the bible records:

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;  and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;  but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.   For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Philippians 1:12-26

Paul seemed to be in a quandary between to live or to die. He had a desire to depart and be with Christ which was far better or to remain in the flesh and help the brethren. But Apostle Paul did not take the fact lightly  the fact of dying or that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, to be  the first man who would have eternal life.

The fact that we should not trust in ourselves in all circumstances and situations but in God who raises the dead was an integral part of Paul’s epistles. Primarily because Apostle Paul knew what it was like to die and be resurrected from the dead.  The bible records:

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

Three times Paul was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, and three times he was shipwrecked. Alexander the coppersmith did Paul much harm and he asked that  the Lord repay him according to his works.

So Paul was not talking about the saving and delivering power of God out of his head but out of his real experiences?  He personally knew the God of all comfort who comforted him in his real troubles and tribulations! The bible records:

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.  Corinthians 1:3-5

Paul knew what suffering, trouble and the spilling of blood were in personal terms. As he had experienced much of it. But also etched in Paul’s mind was his participation in the death of Stephen. The bible records:

“You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,  “who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:51-60

Stephen’s untimely death for the gospel in a way created a martyr syndrome for Apostle Paul who wanted to die also for the gospel. The bible records:

And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:10-14

Paul would not be persuaded from going to Jerusalem and even dying there for the name of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Himself appeared to Paul and told Him:

“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:12

Hence at the end of his life Apostle Paul made it to Rome and  he was able to say  that he was  “an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope”  and that he had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. The bible records:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Be diligent to come to me quickly;  for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica-Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:6-10

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BE GRACIOUS TO YOU

The Mind Of Christ

“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

The word of God tells us that we are called to have the mind of Christ daily and constantly. Hence we are to trust God’s spirit and no other and not other men! God’s word is unchanging:

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

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.  His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,  Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;  But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.  Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5

“The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary.   He awakens Me morning by morning,  He awakens My ear  To hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear;  And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. Isaiah 50:4-5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MY SALVATION

In That Hour Jesus Rejoiced In The Spirit

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luke 10:17-21

It takes the Spirit to see and know things of the Spirit and to rejoice in the Spirit. To rejoice when everything doesn’t make sense in the natural and things are going wrong. Just like Paul and Silas did when they were cast into prison for preaching the gospel. The bible records:

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;  “and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:16-24

Unlike the religionists of our day who call themselves Christians, Apostle was discerning and knew what to do with a demon possessed slave girl. He commanded the demon to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ and he came out of her that very hour.   Of course this did not make her masters very happy because their source of revenue was gone so they  seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities who beat them with stripes and threw them into prison.

But the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Joy was with Paul and Silas who at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. The bible records:

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”   Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:26-34

The God of all and unlimited power never leaves His true ones and He never will. If He has to He will send a great earthquake to set them free from their prisons as He did for Paul and Silas.  And God loves to do things suddenly so that He alone might get the glory and honor.

Well the Lord turned everything around for God has He has promised to do for those who are called according to His purposes, not their own.  The jailer saw the hand of God in this unusual circumstance and he asked what he must be do to be saved. Of course Paul and Silas told them and God have give them more miracles for the jailer and all his family were saved and baptized, having believed in God with all his household.

When it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, commanding that Paul and Silas were to be let go. The bible records:

So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”  But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.

So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Acts 16:36-40

The Lord caused Paul and Silas to be more than conquerors and new names were now written down in heaven.    For as Jesus told them “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

There is no greater miracle than when men are saved and their names are written in heaven.

For the life here on earth with it’s trials and tribulations  is very temporal, here today and gone tomorrow. But the life with Christ goes on forever in heaven. Yet God who feeds the birds of the air is concerned for both worlds temporal and eternal. His  word is unchanging:

Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”  So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,  “who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:28-30

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 4:16-18

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All THINGS

With God All Things Are Possible

When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:25-26

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

To God the creator of life and of heaven and earth, the things which are impossible with men are possible with Him. As a result the angel of the Lord told a virgin named Mary who didn’t have a husband:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:30-37

Even though in the natural it seems impossible to men, with God all things are possible especially when the Holy Spirit gets involved. It’s the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead after the world and the devil did their worst to Him and restored all things to Him including His glory and honor proving that “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” And the same wonderful Holy Spirit is alive and well today and He is able to do the impossible including making the lame to walk, the blind to see and the terminally ill to be healed just like He did through Jesus and his seventy disciples. God’s word is unchanging:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,  To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,  To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

The power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was on Jesus and the gifts of the Spirit. Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit came upon numerous followers of Jesus resulting in the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12, 14). The power and anointing of the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a reward. It is for the purpose of promoting Jesus and bringing salvation, healing and deliverance to God’s people. Through the Holy Spirit Jesus is in the now in the lives and hearts of His people moving and doing miracles on their behalf. The Holy Spirit is the Other Helper that Jesus promised to His sheep (John 14:23-26) He teaches, guides, instructs, helps, anoints, and heals them (Luke 5:17, John 16:7-15, 2 Corinthians 13:14)! Whatever Jesus Christ has done for others He can and will do again because He is the same yesterday, today and forever! God’s will is prosperity for all of His people. God invented and used the word ‘prosperity’ when dealing with His servants and ‘poverty’ when dealing with His enemies (Genesis 26:12-14, 30:40-43, Deuteronomy 28:29, 29:9, 30:5,Joshua 1:7-8, 1 Kings 2:1, 1 Chronicles 29:23,2 Chronicles 13:12, 14:7, 26:5, 2 Chronicles 31:21, Job 26:10-12, Psalm 25:12-14, 35:27, 68:6, Proverbs 28:25, Jeremiah 33:9, Malachi 4:2-3)

When the Jesus departed from his disciples he did not pour the Spirit out onto them the same day. They needed a period of special inner preparation before they were ready for this gift. If God’s people receive God’s blessing without expecting it and without being inwardly prepared for it, they will appreciate neither the gift nor will they hold onto it for long. So God’s people must desire and seek after the Baptism of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Because it’s a spiritual thing, there is only one way to make spiritual warfare and that is to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, receive the gifts of the Spirit, and use them including discernment, tongues and prophesy. Without the use of the gifts of the Spirit there cannot be any spiritual warfare, miracles, healing or deliverance because God’s word is unchanging:

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

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

However there is a spirit that is related to the spirit of fear that deceives and influences people to have doctrines of demons. Such proud and arrogant possessed ones think that carnal knowledge is the way to walk in the Spirit of the Lord.  Such people are devoid of miracles in their lives and the operation of the gifts of the Spirit including speaking in tongues.  They cannot hear or heed the voice of the Spirit except the voices of familiar spirits.  They are self righteous and full of themselves and other spirits and are very contentions, argumentative, unteachable and unyielding. They refuse to see that they need to be delivered from familiar spirits and their lies and influences.

Yes, some Christians refuse to accept that afflictions and sickness are oppressions of the devil and they can be healed off them. Yes, there are those Christians who say that only Jesus Christ is important and nothing else and they are suffering for Jesus sake, His suffering. Even though by Jesus stripes they were healed and He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.  They literally don’t fellowship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They don’t know and experience the love of the Father or the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Their faith is composed on solely knowledge of the written Word of God. They forgot that the new birth is not known solely by knowledge but solely by experience. Yes, through the avenue of faith, they believed on Jesus, called on His name and were saved and He gave them an experience call the new birth or being born again. They didn’t go on to being Baptized by Jesus Christ, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit with fire and tongues of fire, because it’s an emotional experience which doesn’t make sense to their carnal mind. But being born again is an emotional in body experience and so is the Baptism of the Spirit and operating in the gifts of the Spirit and is not based solely on intellect!

Then there are others who have experienced the Baptism of the Spirit and only relate to the Holy Spirit solely on the basis of power, gifts, shaking, electricity, someone falling down under the power. While others relate to the Holy Spirit in the context of the work He does for us, or the times He gives us a word of wisdom, knowledge or prophecy, we grieve Him. But the Holy Spirit is a person who wants to be loved, accepted and fellowship with us as a unique person just like each one of us wants to do as a unique person and not just some creature or entity.  Understanding the Person of the Holy Spirit, having an encounter with Him, worshipping, respecting, embracing the Holy Spirit and loving Him in His function are the keys that will bring His power and anointing on our lives. We need to have on going visitations and relationships with the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tell us is to worship “God”—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the Godhead. We must worship each of them and that means we should relax and enjoy worshipping the Holy Spirit. We must fellowship with the Holy Spirit and  not grieve Him. God’s word is unchanging:

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

Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 1 Corinthians 10:20

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32

Yes, when we are full of God, the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, it will come out of us including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control and not uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy. As God’s word is unchanging:

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  Luke 6:45

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.   And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:11-17

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

If we have an intimate bond and relationship with the Holy Spirit we will be able to know and do many things that are humanly impossible because it’s what God does through us that matters and not we do in the flesh. We will be surrounded by God’s presence and glory and people will know and experience not only that something is different about us but God Himself.  That is why the bible records about healing and Peter’s shadow:

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,  so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.  Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:14-16

Yes, we must honor and give proper place in our lives to our my Wonderful Counselor, the Spirit of Truth and be totally dependent upon Him for everything including guiding  us into all truth and delivering us from lies of men and demon!  We must consciously acknowledge His presence in everything that we would and ask Him to possess us and direct us so that we will walk Him in all things.  Then we will know the blessing of partnership with the Holy Spirit as we bring the saving, healing, delivering power of Jesus to the world. We need to present ourselves, all of us  to the Holy Spirit and line ourselves up with Him. We have to keep asking Him to help us; we can’t accomplish the purposes of God on our own, apart from His guidance.  God’s word is unchanging”

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-  “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:7-15

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A REWARDER

Whatever He Hears The Holy Spirit Will Speak

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. Genesis 24:35-36

Because Abraham listened to and obeyed the voice of God even when things seemed impossible or illogical the LORD has blessed Abraham greatly, and made him become great. He had given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys and the promised son, Isaac. As a result Isaac inherited all of his father’s  wealth and blessings.

Well because of Jesus Christ and the victories He had won, each of God’s children. who are born again and filled with the fullness of God’s spirit, can lay claim by  to everything which belongs to their heavenly father. For everything God gives to His children including the new birth, the Baptism of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the victories of the cross and His wealth and riches is asked for and received by faith. But it’s the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to reveal truths and all things to us. The bible records for our profit and instruction:

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-15

Now if we close our ears and harden our hearts we will not hear nor receive from the Holy Spirit all that our heavenly Father has for us. For God has provided His children not with a cheap and poor salvation but a Great and Rich Salvation. As God is not poor nor lacking in anything and neither should His children be.  For all things that belong to the Father belong to Jesus and hence they now belong to God’s true children including the wonderful Holy Spirit.

But God’s children are to beware that the devil,  who walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,  will try to steal the promises of God. Failing to do that he will bring in discouragement, depression, difficulties and his usual d’s.  But God’s true children are to heed God’s word that tells them:

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

Yes the will wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places and they need to  take up the whole armor of God, so that they  may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. For victory is assured to those who are enduring, patience and persistence and stand of the rock, that is Jesus Christ Himself. As Jesus told us:

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;1 “yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 14:18-23

One thing for sure is that those who walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit will not have victory. For they are not strong in the Lord and in the power of His might through the Holy Spirit. As a result they do not pray in the Spirit for they have rejected the gifts of the Spirit including wisdom, faith,  discernment and miracles that come from the Spirit.  For it takes the Spirit to deal with the realm of the spirit and the things of the flesh are to no avail.  But God’s word is unchanging:

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

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 8:13-14

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:24-27

It takes the Baptism of the Spirit to give men power to cast out demons by the Spirit of God and to pray in the Spirit so that the Holy Spirit can pray on their behalf and makes intercession for them. Since the Holy Spirit is God Himself praying in them and through them, He cannot deny Himself. Therefore their prayers will be answered and victory is assured. For God’s word is unchanging:

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 1 Corinthians 14:5

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.   What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Corinthians 4:14-15

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HE CRIED OUT

God Is A Miracle Working God

Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”  So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. Judges 15:18-19

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,  Now I will arise,” says the LORD;  “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” Psalm 12:5

After the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and give him supernatural strength to destroy his enemies, one thousand of them, he became very thirsty. So he cried to God that he was dying of thirst and would fall into the hand of the uncircumcised. So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. It simple laymen’s term this was a miracle. God supernaturally meet a physical need of Samson for He is a Miracle working God.

Christianity is a miracle religion for its founder, unlike others, miraculously rose from the dead after He was murdered? Take miracles out of Christianity and you have a dead from of religion which has a form of godliness by denies its power.  But to the wise ones of this world God and his miracles do not make any sense. But miracles  are not supposed to make any sense and that is why they are called a sign and wonder. It’s a sign that makes you wonder.

Anyway the world by its wisdom knew not God and He loves to use the foolish things to confound the wise.  The bible records:

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  that no flesh should glory in His presence.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-  that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:21-31

The message of the cross is that Jesus Christ is no longer crucified at all but He was raised from the dead after the world including men and demons did their worse to him. Jesus died on the Cross on Calvary, but He didn’t stay there. He arose triumphant and victorious over everything, over the worst that the devil or others could throw at or do to Him and to us.

Because of the cross of Christ, God has reconciled all things to Himself whether things on earth or things in heaven. As a result, He, not the devil rules and reigns on planet earth. Then having wiped out all the enemies of His people and especially the requirements that were against them,  He has taken it out of the way having nailed to the cross.

As a result of what Jesus did on the Cross by faith everything is ours now.  For Jesus Christ has substituted all things on the cross for us and exchanged it there for us. Our death, defeat and poverty and curses have been nailed to the Christ. As a result in Christ Jesus we are rich, victorious and have a new life in Christ Jesus, as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

The empty Cross now also stands as a reminder and says to the world and to all the demons of Hell “You did your worst, but God gave His best.  Now things are no longer the same, because Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting for His enemies to be submitted to Him. He has also now given us the power to subdue all His and our enemies through the use of His name and Word and dependence of the Spirit.

The Cross is also a real testimony of what God’s power can do no matter what the Hell or injustice that the world or the devil will throw at us.  For Jesus’ resurrection after a cruel and awful death signifies the real possibility of total and complete victory in our lives, hearts and circumstances as well in the current time of life as we trust in God just like Jesus did.

We by faith can  tap into all the riches and resources of heaven which are now our by Christ Jesus because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross two thousand years ago and  become more than conquerors.

For the  King of Kings and Lord of Lords with His unlimited and unimaginable power and riches was never poor nor debased. But He chose because of us to became a man and identify and relate to humanity in all its sufferings and ways. God in Christ Jesus stripped Himself of His royalty and Kingship. He then became poor and walked with men doing the impossible, healing the sick, raising the dead and cast out demons. Then the innocent Son of man and Son of God went to a Cross on a hill called Calvary where He bled and died for all of humanity.

The Cross was not the end of Jesus Christ or life, it was the beginning of something new, a New Covenant or New Testament. It was the beginning of a new life and a new man and a new Spirit for those who would accept what Jesus had done for them. It was the beginning of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.

The empty Cross now says to you and I, that for every defeat there is victory in its place, for every failure there is success, for every weakness there is grace, for every sickness there is healing, for every hatred there is love, for every injustice there is justice and for every poverty there is riches. All of this and much, much more because of what Jesus did and won on the Cross.  Hence we can by the Holy Spirit understand what the Lord said to Apostle Paul:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Because of the cross now all flesh can be saved, healed and delivered and walk in the newness of life in the power of  the Holy Spirit. All men can prophesy, speak in tongues and be filled with the fullness of God.

Hence  the good news of the Cross is that the different victories that Jesus won there and the resulting New Covenant with all its rights and privileges is now ours by faith. If we will only believe, accept, confess and act on it and then allow the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead to change us.  For Jesus won for us, on the Cross, such a victory with such power and might that it made hell tremble and Heaven sing with joy as the Triumph of Victory resounded from one part of Heaven to another. Our ears will tingle and our hearts will sing, as this victory is revealed to us by the faithful and mighty Holy Spirit.

The fact remains that Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, ready to use His power on behalf of the good of His true children. To make them by the power of the Holy Spirit more than conquerors in all things that the world, the flesh and the devil would throw at them.

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DEMONIZED?

Do I have a demon? (Common Biblical symptoms)

This is a brief list of some of the common Biblical symptoms a person may manifest when they have a demon. This list is only a general guideline, and not every symptom is a guaranteed demonic bondage, nor is this a complete list of manifestations.

Compulsive sinning against your will: Satan caused Judas to dishonestly gain money at the cost of Jesus’ death. There were two men who were possessed with demons who were said to have uncontrollable anger problems (Matthew 8:28), so much that nobody could get near them they were so fierce. King Saul also became very angry after he picked up an unclean spirit, and even tried to murder David (1 Samuel 19:9-10)! Babylon was known as a habitation of devils (Revelations 18:2) and it was well known for sins of every kind, indicating that demons can and do promote sin in a person’s life. Canaan is also known to be a cursed nation, and was known for their problems with sin as well. Notice it was the curse that came, THEN the problem with sin and not the other way around.

Self-mutilation is a sin because it’s harming our bodies which are temples of the Holy Ghost, and we find the man with the legion roaming the tombs cutting himself uncontrollably. Compulsive behavior is known to be demonic.

Mark 5:2,5, “And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit… And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.”

In the ministry of deliverance, many people are set free from all kinds of compulsive sinning, even pornography addictions and compulsive masturbation. If it’s compulsive and you’ve tried everything to stop, but you can’t… there seems to be a compulsive force ‘driving’ you to sin, then there may very well be a demon that needs to be driven out. It is true that we have been set free from the bondage of sin, but there’s a big difference between the bondage of sin, and being in bondage to demons and their way of affecting you is driving you to sin.

 Fear and depression – irrational heaviness in the soul:

King Saul was tormented with fear and depression by an evil spirit. 1 Samuel 16:14, “Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.” (NLT) The Bible also speaks of a spirit of heaviness in Isaiah 61:1,3, where it’s speaking of how Jesus came to preach deliverance from such a spirit and give us a garment of praise in exchange. There are a lot of people today who suffer from irrational fears, depression, headaches, nightmares, etc. from demon spirits and after a successful deliverance they are set free.

 Unhealthy obsessions: Obsessions with things such as death like the man in Mark 5:3 had (“Who had his dwelling among the tombs”) clearly demonstrates a demonic bondage. Usually obsessions with items of darkness, death, occult, demons, etc. is a sign that something is wrong.

 Compulsive cutting or self-mutilation:

The man with the legion of demons was said to have been cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:5). Obviously, back then he didn’t have knives available to do the job with, so he was finding sharp stones and using them to cut himself.

 Constant calamities in one’s life:

Job is a good example of what the demonic kingdom can do in a person’s life. He had an almost endless list of calamities take place in his life due to an unclean spirit. Job greatly feared such calamities coming upon him (Job 3:25), and did not trust God to protect Him in those areas. This is why I believe God allowed Satan to enter into his life and play havoc on everything he owned, including his own body. Why would a loving God cause His servant to go through so much, just for the sake of ‘proving’ something to Satan? I don’t think it really lines up with God’s loving nature towards His people. In Deuteronomy 27, there’s a list of things that can cause a person to come under a curse, and in chapter 28, it tells us what kind of problems a curse can cause in a person’s life. Not every time a person is under a curse means they have to have demons driven out, but it’s certainly something to look into and get freed from.

 Physical health problems:

The woman with the spirit of infirmity, for example, was bound by a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11) and as a result, she couldn’t lift herself up, she was crippled over. Arthritis is found to be demonic by many ministers today. Job suffered physical affliction from evil spirits by means of boils all over his body (Job 2:7). Matthew 9:32-33 speaks of a man who was possessed with an unclean spirit that caused him to be unable to speak. Matthew 9:25 also speaks of a deaf spirit, “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.”

 Mental health problems and insanity:

In Matthew 17:15, a boy is said to be a lunatic as a result of indwelling demons. The NT Greek word for lunatic is sele.niazomai and means the person is moon struck (mentally not well) or crazy. Mental problems are clearly shown in other parts in the Bible as well, including the man with the legion in Matthew 5:2-5, “And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” Does that sound like somebody who’s in their right mind to you? What would somebody in their right mind be doing roaming the tombs? This tells me that there was a spirit of death involved, which gave him exceeding interest in the dead. Who in their right mind would be roaming the tombs day and night crying and cutting themselves with stones? When Jesus cast those demons out, the man was said to have been “in his right mind” once again (verse 15).

Luke 8:27, “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.” What kind of a person in their right mind would go running around in the tombs naked?

Matthew 9:17-18, “And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.”

 Supernatural strength or abilities:

The girl with the spirit of divination was able to foretell the future through an evil spirit in Acts 16:16. It is pretty solid proof a person has a demon if they have magical powers, such as the magicians who laid out their staffs and they turned into snakes before Moses in Exodus 7:12. The man with the legion of spirits was known to have superhuman strength in Matthew 5:2-4: “No man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.”

 Racing compulsive thoughts and mental torment:

As you can see from the list above, demons can affect a lot of areas in a person’s life. One of the ways it works is through our thought lives to cause fear, depression and torment is through our thoughts. The Bible also uses the term ‘vexed with a devil’, which means to be tormented, harassed or troubled by an evil spirit. It is not uncommon for a person with a demon to testify to racing thoughts that are completely against their will. When I was vexed with demons, I remember a distinct personality in my mind, it felt as if I was sharing my mind with another person or spiritual being. I would experience racing thoughts, irrational desires, compulsion to think and say things I would never normally even think about, etc. I was not alone either, there are a LOT of people who are being affected just like I was. It is not uncommon in this ministry to see people’s minds or thoughts being influenced or controlled by evil spirits.

Psalms 143 is a powerful passage speaking of Kind David when he was being tormented by evil spirits. In verses 3 and 4 we read, “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul (mind); he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.” In verses 11 and 12, we read, “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul (mind) out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul (obviously not physical enemies, but spiritual): for I am thy servant.”

http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/do_i_have_demon.php

Casting out demons

What is needed to cast out demons? One word… authority! Who has such authority? God’s children… the believers! How do we exercise our authority? Through a spoken command in faith directed at the unclean spirits. The more faith we have, the more authority we can exercise.

Spiritual authority

Jesus sent us fourth into the world as He was sent fourth (John 20:21), to do the works He did (John 14:12), and He gave us the authority to do the work at hand (Mark 13:34).

What does it take to drive out demons? Authority! As we can see in Mark 1:27, “And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.” As we can see in Luke 4:35, Jesus was not afraid to exercise His authority either, “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.”

Luke 10:17-19, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power (translates to AUTHORITY) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

 Does every believer have authority over demons?

Yes! We are all seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph 2:6), which means we are above the demons in rank of authority! Mark 13:34 also tells us how we are given authority to carry out the work that is laid before us. Mark 16:17 tells us that them who believe will be casting out demons.

There is a teaching specifically on Your Spiritual Authority that will deepen your understanding even more on this subject.

The importance of “In the name of Jesus”

How did Jesus’ disciples go about casting out demons? Through His name. Luke 10:17 tells us, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”

How did the early church go about casting out demons? Through His name. Acts 16:18 tells us a story where Paul, “turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

How are the believers today supposed to be casting out demons? Through His name. As we can see in Mark 16:17, “these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils.”

Authority is exercised through faith

Matthew 17:19-20, “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief…” Obviously they had the authority, but they weren’t able to use it because their level of faith wasn’t high enough to access the level of authority that needed to be exercised to drive out that particular kind of unclean spirit. Some evil spirits are stronger and harder to drive out, and sometimes prayer and fasting is necessary to build our faith up so we can drive them out, as we can see in the next verse (21), “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Conclusion

As believers, we have been given authority in Jesus’ name to drive out demons. We access our authority through faith and exercise our authority with a spoken command directed at the unclean spirit. As Paul clearly demonstrates in Acts 16:18, “Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

How does all this apply to us today? Mark 16:17 tells us, “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils.”

DELIVERANCE PRAYER http://goo.gl/laZxzs
They Shall Expel Demons (Derek Prince)
https://nuggets4u.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/they-shall-expel-demons-derek-prince.pdf
The Believer’s Authority (Kenneth E. Hagin)
http://www.ekklesia.lt/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Kenneth-E-Hagin-The-Believers-Authority.pdf

http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx

Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
https://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts

COMPLETE DELIVERANCE http://goo.gl/EYySIi
ALL IS YOURS http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Az
GOD’S WILL IS PROSPERITY http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Av
PROSPERITY 1,2 http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2FI
PROSPERITY 3,4 http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2FN

 

PROSPERITY III IV

The silver and gold here on earth

Some religious folks think that God doesn’t have anything good for us here on earth, but that’s not what the Bible tells us. God wants to bless us right here on earth, and then in heaven too!

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed [rewarded] in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. Proverbs 11:31

Then Jesus pointed out that we shall can be blessed or rewarded for our deeds right here on earth!

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold [abundantly] more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Luke 18:29-30

Who do we think that God deposited all the gold, silver, and wealth of this earth for? Who do you think God wanted to enjoy the riches that He’s blessed America with? Was it for sinners and the heathen? Or was it for His children, who seek first His kingdom, and are obedient to His Word?

God’s Word even talks about His people taking over and enjoying the WEALTH of the gentiles!

But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. Isaiah 61:6

What kind of wealth is being spoken of here? Folks, money is the only kind of “riches” they have, since they don’t have Jesus!

Here again in Proverbs, we find the same thing – the wealth is laid up, or just waiting for the righteous to inherit it!

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Proverbs 13:22

The idea that God wants His children poor, unhealthy, and miserable, while the wicked are free to enjoy the good things that God has put here on earth, paints a terrible religious picture of our Heavenly Father that I am here to tell you, is 100% demonic! Of course Satan wants us to think that the sinners are going to have all the good things, and those who follow God are going to live just above the starvation level! God’s Word tells us differently though.

Jesus’ poverty to our benefit!

We all know that the forgiveness of our sins is included in the work that Christ has done for us, and you probably already know that healing and deliverance are also benefits that God has purchased for us. But did you know that Jesus also redeemed us from the financial curse that Adam brought upon himself? The Bible tells us that Christ redeemed us from the CURSE of the law.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Galatians 3:13

In Deuteronomy 28, we find that financial abundance is considered a blessing, and financial lack is considered a CURSE!

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store…. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:3-5,12

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep…. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. Deuteronomy 28:16-18,43-44

I don’t know about you, but those list of blessings sound a LOT better than those list of curses!

Now let’s get to the point: as Jesus redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, He also redeemed us from financial LACK. Does the Bible stop there? No, it actually comes right out and tells us that Jesus was made poor and lived a life of poverty, so that we could be RICH!

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Let me ask you this: was this poorness a mental poorness? As in, He was humble so that we could be prideful? Was this a spiritual poorness? Not when we see Him raising the dead, casting out demons, and healing the sick! So what kind of poorness is this speaking of? Material poverty is the only thing left. Now if we look up that word ‘rich’ in the NT Greek, we find the Greek word plouteo, which LITERALLY means:

“To be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively): – be increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich.”

To further prove my point, if you look up the word “poor” in the above verse, it refers to a BEGGER! Jesus became a poor begger, so that we could become wealthy and increase in goods. We can reason that away all we want, but if you want a literal interpretation of God’s Word, that’s what it tells us!

I think it’s also interesting that over half the chapter of 2 Corinthians 8 speaks of financial giving, and verse 9 is right in context with finances.

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE the prosperity gospel (when it is Biblically based), just like I LOVE health and healing, and I LOVE deliverance and freedom. I LOVE to receive the good things that my Savoir has so lovingly purchased for me!

How to be blessed

Now your question is, how do I enter into these blessings? While I won’t go into all the details, I do want to leave you with a basic education on some Biblical principals that lead to financial blessing. The first key is to realize that it is the blessing of the Lord, not money, that makes us rich.

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

How do we receive this blessing that makes us rich? We start by fearing the Lord, and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.  Proverbs 3:13-16

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Psalms 112:1-3

Another key to financial blessing is hidden in the concept of sowing and reaping. When we fail to give unto the Lord, it proves that we don’t trust Him when His Word tells us that it will be given unto us running over. Jesus taught that when you give, it will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto you. Giving to the Lord through tithes and offerings is a foundation to financial blessing.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Yes, RUNNING OVER financial measure shall be given unto us when we apply Biblical principals and give unto the work of the kingdom! Giving is a way of acting out our faith and trust in God as our provider. Paul tells us that sowing and reaping are keys to supernatural blessing and financial gain (the below verse was in context of financial giving).

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Why did God tell His children to tithe? Because He wanted to bless them abundantly! Does God want His children OVERFLOWING with SO much wealth that they cannot contain it? According to this Bible passage, that’s exactly what is being said!

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:10-11

Some use a verse in 2 Corinthians to say that we are no longer obligated to tithe, but if you look at the context, it isn’t referring to tithing, but rather an offering that Paul was taking up outside their local church. Proverbs also tells us to give unto the Lord from the firstfruits of our increase:

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

God’s Word also tells us that those who give to the poor shall not lack. God cares very much about those who are poor financially, and He’s made it a key to prosperity when we give to those in need.

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Proverbs 28:25-27

Yes, there are people who are poor due to laziness (some don’t want to find a job, because they would lose their government support checks!), but there are also very legitimate cases where they are poor due to circumstances outside their control. God cares very much about these people, and wanted to make it clear that those who bless them will be blessed.

Another key is through honoring God’s ministers through our tithes. When we honor God’s messengers, we honor God, and He will in turn honor us. In one teaching I remember telling how God takes it personally how His children are treated and His ministers are no exception. We are told to give double honor unto those who labor well, especially in Word and doctrine, and not to muzzle the ox that is laboring because they are worthy of their reward.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:17-18

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Galatians 6:6

How do we eat of the good of the land? For one thing, we must be willing (our heart attitude) and obedient (our actions). This is key to eating the good of the land. Not only is obedience to what God’s commands is vital to your prosperity, but also your heart attitude while you’re walking in His ways.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19

God’s Word tells us that those who delight in the law of the Lord (His commands, and His ways) shall prosper in whatever he does. Now that is a blessing if I’ve ever heard one of!

But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shalbe like a tree planted by the riuers of water, that bringeth foorth his fruit in his season, his leafe also shall not wither, and whatsoeuer he doeth, shall prosper. Psalms 1:2-3

Another key, I believe, is doing all we can to get out of debt and live within our means. God’s Word tells us to owe no man anything, but love.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:7-8

I believe that God gives revelation knowledge and wisdom to His children, which helps them in their businesses and careers. If God starts giving you wisdom on how to better run your business, then don’t be afraid to follow His leading. This is one of the ways that I believe He increases us.

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:4

I have heard some very powerful testimonies from those who have done this. One man was about to close a loan for $100,000 to purchase dirt to fill a large hole in his property, then before signing the loan he was given that verse in the Bible and felt convicted. He didn’t go through with the loan, and within a short period of time, out of nowhere some contractors across town knew about his desolate property and called him because they had to move a mountain of dirt, and were willing to give him $50,000 just to dump their mountain of dirt (which filled his hole!) on the property. This man saved $150,000 just by standing on this one verse alone!

The Duggar family is another amazing testimony of God’s provision with this concept. I know that both Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, who are very much Bible believing ministers have applied this principal in their own lives and have seen some amazing supernatural provisions from God’s hand in their lives. So with those few stories, I tend to believe that there’s something very special in store for those who purpose to get out of debt and do their best to stay out of debt!

One day I felt like the Holy Spirit spoke to me about the “owe no man anything” concept, and as I thought about all these Christians being in debt, I felt this bubble up in my spirit, “What do you think that does for my reputation?” You know, it just makes sense, God Almighty, being our provider, carries a terrible reputation when His people are always in debt to others.

God’s Word tells us that those who borrow are a servant to their lender, and those who lend are ruler over those who are borrowers:

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. Isaiah 24:2

God’s Word also speaks of making His people the head and not to tail, and that if we walk in His ways, we will be the ones to lend, and we will have no need to borrow!

For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. Deuteronomy 15:6

I do believe that God wants us to rely on Him for our provision and not the world’s system of credit cards. I know that some people can’t help it, but our motive should be to purpose ourselves to get out of debt and stay out the best we can. I’ve heard that when people begin to do that, that’s when God begins to step in and begin to provide the means for them to become debt free and live according to God’s provision.

Righteousness or prosperity?

I have read this passage in Psalms many times, and always associated righteousness with holiness:

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalms 23:3

But the other day I was thinking about how holiness is something you would expect God to cause us to walk in for His sake. However, that verse just doesn’t sound right. The other time that stands out to me where God does something for His sake, is when He chose to forget our sins for His name sake. It was telling us that it was for His sake, because otherwise we would naturally think it was for our own sake. You wouldn’t think that His forgetting our sins would be for HIS sake… but that’s what it says!

But I felt the Lord leading me to do a little bit of research on the Hebrew root word behind ‘righteousness’ in this passage. What did I find?

“From H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: – X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).”

Apparently, that word can mean more than holiness, but also prosperity. Now that makes more sense the way that the passage was worded. He forgives our sins for His sake, and He also causes us to walk in paths of prosperity for His sake as well. God’s Word tells us that He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant (see Psalms 35:27), so this should come to no surprise to us. This is just the nature of our God!

Now let’s look at the context of this passage in Psalms 23. In verse 1 we read “I shall not want”, while verse 2 speaks of green or lush pastures, then in verse 5 we read about how “out cup runneth over.” Is this speaking of holiness, or prosperity? I think it’s talking about prosperity!

To help add weight to this interpretation, the Lord also turned my attention to Psalms 112, where it speaks of financial prosperity that He desires that we walk in:

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness [or prosperity?] endureth for ever. Psalms 112:1-3

There’s that same word righteousness, which I believe is clearly surrounded in a financial context. We’re talking about wealth and riches here in the same sentence!

The love of money is evil!

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

Now that we’ve broken down so many religious strongholds, I think it’s important to keep a balanced perspective on Biblical prosperity. God’s Word tells us that coveting is considered a sin right along side fornication, blasphemy, idolatry and so forth. God’s Word warns us that such people have no inheritance in the kingdom of God:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:5

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:2-4

God’s Word even goes on to tell us not to keep company with those who claim to be Christian, yet go around coveting the things of this world.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.1 Corinthians 5:11

Then we’re given a warning that those who seek after riches will fall into temptation and a snare:

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich [meaning, those who desire to be rich] fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.1 Timothy 6:7-9

Pursuing the things of this world will choke out the Word of God in a person’s life.

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:19

We also need to remember to store up our treasures in heaven, and not live greedily here on earth. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy financial abundance here on earth, but rather not to let it be the treasure of our heart.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Matthew 6:19-21

A treasure is something that is very important to us. I like how Kenneth Hagin said that we ought to take the things of the world lightheartedly. When they become treasures in our heart, that is where sin enters the picture, for the love of money is the root of all evil (see 1 Timothy 6:10).

In 1 Timothy, we are given the secret to keep ourselves from falling into these terrible snares; be thankful for what you have!

But godliness with contentment is great gain.1 Timothy 6:6

I’d like to wrap up these warnings with a solution on how God wants us to go about things:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:31-33

When we put God first, and make the fear of the Lord our priority, then we are positioning ourselves for His blessing, and God’s Word tells us that it is His blessing that makes us rich (not the money). Not only does the Blessing make us rich, but there is no sorrow with it!

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.Proverbs 10:22

So what does this blessing look like when it manifests in somebody’s life?

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.Psalms 112:1-3

Satan seeks to hinder the church!

Toiling the earth for a living was a result of the CURSE of sin. It was not a blessing or something God intended Adam and Eve to experience. God’s heart was that Adam would not even have to work, but live a life of fellowship with Him, having his every need provided for.

Poor people are unable to financially support ministries and missions, where lives are impacted and changed for the sake of the kingdom. Poor ministers cannot afford expensive tickets to go on mission trips and preach the gospel to those in other countries. Poor churches cannot do much in terms of outreach ministries, because everything in this world costs money. Poor church members make for poor churches. Do you see why it is important for God’s people to have an abundance? So that they can be a blessing to the world around them, and sow into the kingdom to further the message of Christ and impact the lives of people around the world! We are told to go into all the world and share the gospel, but how is that going to happen if we’re slaving just to put food on our own tables, say nothing about buying a $2,000 plane ticket to visit Africa and share the good news with precious souls over there? And $2,000 is just the plane ticket, say nothing about all the other expenses involved. I’m telling you, God’s people are hindered for lack of money! If Satan can keep the church poor, then the church won’t be able to do all that God has called them to do. Poor people are unable to help others who are in financial need, they are unable to afford the travel costs and such of delivering the gospel to other countries, and the list goes on. The Bible speaks of God’s people giving generously, but that is just not possible when they don’t have enough themselves.

My partner Jay Bartlett has ministered not too long ago to somebody in a poor area, and the demon in that person came right out and boasted about how it’s intention was to keep the people in poverty in that city or area. This ought to come as no surprise to us because Jesus had made it clear that it is the enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy. Might I add that Satan came to render the church ineffective and unable to reach and impact lives for the kingdom?

Some closing thoughts

It’s a false humility that stands behind this whole idea of God calling His church to be poor. False humility, not faith in God’s Word, is nothing more than dead religion and spiritual pride. You can drive a rust bucket and be proud of it (“hey folks, look at me, I’m giving up everything to serve Jesus!”) or you can drive a spanking new Cadillac and be humble and thankful in your heart for what God has blessed you with.

I make such a strong point of how God wants to prosper us, but I also want to clearly define true prosperity gospel before I close. Yes, God does want to prosper us, but He also doesn’t want us to covet (longing to have the things of this world) or seeking God so that we can be rich.

True prosperity gospel is not about being rich, but seeking first the kingdom of God, and then experiencing the favor and blessings of the Lord. God’s Word tells us that the blessing of the Lord makes us rich, and adds no sorrow to it (see Proverbs 10:22). The whole idea is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then receive the blessings of God that He wants to bestow upon us.

http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/prosperity_gospel_biblical3.php

http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx

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COMPLETE DELIVERANCE http://goo.gl/EYySIi
ALL IS YOURS http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Az
GOD’S WILL IS PROSPERITY http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Av
PROSPERITY 1,2 http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2FI
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THE LAWS

7 POWER LAWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Now that you are born again, it’s important to learn how to live out of the laws of the kingdom of God. Perhaps you have never heard that terminology before but it’s important to consider. Every kingdom has its way of doing things, so is the kingdom of God. Because we were born into the Babylonian way of doing things we are not aware of the principles of Christ’s kingdom. This is where we have to get schooled. It’s not good enough to only focus on getting saved because we have so much to accomplish with our lives after we get saved with the remaining years He has given us.

I know you want to make a difference with your life. You’re not like everybody else that’s just droning around in some reality television haze. No, you are part of God’s remnant. The remnant is hungry, thirsty, and press into the Word and ways of God. Everything in you wants more of the Holy Spirit. You feel like Micah with power shut up in your bones.

To understand how the kingdom of God operates, it’s helpful to look at how Christ taught his disciples. Most of what he did was to teach them about the Dominion power of the anointed Word of God in this earth realm. You can study all the individual lessons like healing the sick, casting out demons, cursing the fig tree, rebuking storms, or multiplying fishes and loaves, but the big picture was the dominion power and authority of the Word of God in this earthly realm. That’s apostolic lesson one.

So starting from that big picture of the Word’s authority we can add seven vital principles to help us understand how we function within the kingdom of God. I call these “Seven Power Laws of the Kingdom of God”. Here we will simply introduce them and later we will explain them more.

1. THE LAW OF BEGINNINGS

The first power law is the Law of Beginnings. The Law of Beginnings states that everything new in your life starts with a Word from God. I know you are trying to do everything possible to get your life moving in the right direction. That’s good, but it’s vital you understand how the sons of God get things going within the kingdom. They start by waiting for the Word of God. By that I mean they are listening carefully for the Holy Spirit to release a rhema word into their spirits. That rhema word is the unlocking of a new season. Within that revelation is the entrance to another level, another thing you need to do, clarity of purpose, or what decisions to make with your life. Notice that this prophetic announcement in Isaiah opens a new thing. Scripture says,

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spri­­ng forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

2. THE LAW OF THE SEED

The second power law is the Law of the Seed. The Law of the Seed is this; the seed knows what to do. As Christians, we associate seed in this context to the revealed Word of Christ in our spirits. I get excited about this power law because the revealed word is like a seed released into our lives. Jesus taught his disciples that the kingdom of God is like a man that cast seed into the ground and that seed knows what to do. Awesome! That means that once you receive a revelation the seed of His Word is fast at work and cannot fail. This means you don’t have to figure everything out. All you have to do is go about your business in faith, and the seed will do what’s it’s designed to do, produce a harvest. Not any harvest, but your harvest.

“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle because the harvest is come.” (Mark 4:26-29)

3. THE LAW OF THE SOWER

The third power law is the Law of the Sower. The Sower is a spiritual warrior. He understands the five demonic assignments Satan uses to steal, kill, and destroy the rhema out of the heart of the sons of God. Understanding the Law of the Sower will move you beyond the powers of darkness that steal through pressure, ill-treatment, debt, wealth answers all, and things forbidden and launches you mightily into your harvest.

“And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they, by the way side, where the word is sown, but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:13-20)

 

4. THE LAW OF DOMINION

 

The fourth law is the Law of Dominion. The Law of Dominion states that the anointed Word of Christ has dominion in this realm. The Centurion understood this law. He told Jesus his servant was home sick. Jesus said he would come and heal the man. The Centurion amazed Christ when he declared, “Speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.” This is one of the greatest lessons you can learn, the power of the anointed word to take dominion in this earthly realm.

“So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11 AMP)

5. THE LAW OF FUTURE HARVEST

The fifth law is the Law of Future Harvest. The Law of Future Harvest understands that the seed of revelation enters the future and waits for your arrival. One day Christ demonstrated this law when he cursed a fig tree. Speaking to the fig tree, he said, “No man eat the fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it” (Mark 11:14). Can you imagine this? Surely the disciples were amazed. Here is Christ talking to a tree. They said nothing and saw nothing, but the next day they did. They saw the fig tree withered up from the roots. Christ was not teaching how to curse fig trees. The lesson was the Word of God released did what it was sent to do. Notice the results, however, of that seed were waiting in the future for the disciples to pass by.

“And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursed is withered away.” (Mark 11:20-21)

6. THE LAW OF THE BUILDER

The Law of the Builder states that you can frame your world with the Word of God. In Genesis Chapter One, God reveals himself as the Voice that Speaks to create. In John Chapter One, God reveals himself as the Word that Speaks to create. Christ said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples” (John 15:7-8). Just as God framed the world with words you can frame your world with His words.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things that are seen were not made of things that do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3)

7. THE LAW OF THE RUDDER

The Law of the Rudder teaches that you steer your life with words. Life is a journey. Some walk through life without direction, focus, or purpose and are blown here and there and everywhere by all kinds of circumstances. These never seem to find their lane. That’s not you. You understand the powerful principle of the Law of the Rudder. Apostle James taught that you are the captain, your heart is the boat, and your tongue is the rudder.

“Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. So the tongue also is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!” (James 3:4-5, ASV)

These profound truths belong to you. Because you were created in the image of God, it’s okay to act like your heavenly Father. In the Old Testament, He was the Voice that created. In the New Testament, He was the Word that created. In closing remember, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith which we preach”(Romans 10:8).

God bless you.

Apostle Jonas Clark

http://www.jonasclark.com/7-power-laws-of-the-kingdom-of-god/

SPIRITS

TRYING THE SPIRITS

Identifying sin and scriptural error are not judging or being judgmental. Sometimes when Christians address sin such as non-scriptural divorce and homosexuality they are accused of being non-loving and judgmental. Such statements are only used by those that are unstable, scripturally ignorant, rebellious, deceived, or those living in sin.

To judge means to render a decision, form an opinion, and make a determination based on knowledge. People make decisions and determinations every day. They judge what they will wear, say, and do, for example. They are cautious when first meeting strangers and know from experience not everyone is trustworthy. To throw caution to the wind is not wise. Let’s review a few scriptures regarding judgment.

TRY THE SPIRITS

The Apostle John taught to try the spirits. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

There is the Holy Spirit, human spirits, and demonic spirits. Spirits are judged according to what they say and how they act. Our measurement for the truth is the written Word of God, the Bible. According to the Thayer Greek Lexicon, “try” is the Greek word dokimazō meaning:

1.) To test, examine, prove, and scrutinize.
2.) To see whether a thing is genuine or not.
3.) To recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.

To ignore, condone, and justify sin and sinful behavior is not biblical. To expect a Christian to overlook sin because “God will judge” is wrong. Your leader has the responsibility to feed the sheep and protect the flock from wolves, dogs, goats, foxes, false prophets, evil workers, and the deceived. (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29; Philippians 3:2; Matthew 25:32; 2 Timothy 4:14)

KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS

Jesus taught us to know people by their fruits.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits, ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:15-23).

According to Jesus, the only way to know what’s inside a person is to know them by their fruits. In other words, to know a person requires looking at the fruit of their actions and life. Some trees bear fruit quickly others take more time. The only way to know a person is through fruit inspection. Again, this requires sound scriptural judgment and examination. Jesus used the word “beware” meaning to use extreme caution because some are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Wolves devour sheep. To protect you Christ taught to look for righteous fruit because “a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” For someone, anyone, to tell you not to judge protects wolves and puts you in extreme danger.

COMMON SAYINGS

Here are some common sayings used to stop Christians from addressing sin and sinful behavior:

“God is the judge.”
“Christians are the only ones that kill their wounded.”
“The spiritual are called to restore.”
Let’s examine these sayings.

“God is the judge.”

Yes, God is the judge and only He can make the final decision of one’s’ salvation. As already said however you are called to “try the spirits” and “know them by their fruits.” There are many scriptures requiring you to discern between good and evil, and truth and deception. Scripture says, for example, “Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). To deflect life-giving correction by saying God is the judge does a disservice to the very ones that need to hear the scriptural truth. God said, “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1). When someone tells you that God is the judge, they are guarding sinners.

“Christians are the only ones that kill their wounded.”

This is a religious, humanistic, and unbiblical saying that is found nowhere in Scripture. The assumption is the “wounded” has the right to continue in sin without correction. It also tries to bind the person that wants to share scriptural truth necessary to set a person free. Speaking the truth in love to one that is living in sin, deception, and error is not killing the wounded. It is an expression of love.

“The spiritual are called to restore.”

Scripture says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:10). When a Brother or Sister falls through sin, there is a pattern for scriptural restoration. That pattern, however, requires repentance. To restore the unrepentant is not biblical. Without repentance of sin, there is no foundation for reconciliation and restoration. It is godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Scripture says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Again, to judge means to render a decision, form an opinion, and make a determination based on knowledge. Identifying sin and scriptural error are not judging or being judgmental. To “try the spirits” and “to known them by their fruits” is the biblical approach for determining those that are truly “in the faith.” Next time someone tells you not to judge when addressing sin or sinful behavior remember this scripture, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” 1 Corinthians 2:15).

Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com

DELIVERANCE http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2Ft
SOAKING IS NEW AGE AND DEMONIC http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2a4
GRAVE SUCKING BILL JOHNSON http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-1mT
http://www.spiritlifemag.com/warning-2-bill-johnson-and-bethel-church/
THE LAUGHTER MOVEMENT http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2nJ
BETHEL TEMPLE   http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-29r
THE FALSE BROWNSVILLE REVIVAL http://www.scribd.com/doc/211818062/
Sanctify You Completely   http://wp.me/p2M7AJ-2hP