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2 Cor 8:1-15 8 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this[b] service to the saints. [/b] 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8[b] I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.[/b] 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." NIV Obviously the early saints saw themselves as equals. The rich gave to the poor so there may be equality. In modern day terms, those with several houses, lands and cars shared with others that had none. Pastors, Ministers, Evangelists and Apostles were not left out: PHILEMON a minister who had a church in His house gave to the saints instead of demanding compulsorily from them Philem 1-7 1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. KJV Apostle PAUL wasn't left out: Acts 20:28-35 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35[b] I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak[/b], and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. KJV BARNABAS (special assistant and companion to Apostle Paul wasn't left out either: Acts 4:32-37 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34[b] Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,[/b] 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. KJV No wonder the early church walked in such great manifestation of The Spirit. for Truly, Faith works by love. . . Gal 5:6 |
One thing the Redeemed have received is FREEDOM Freedom from sin, sickness, the law, death, bondage, captivity, guilt, condemnation, fear, and isolation.
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Who can stand before the Most High (Omnipotent Omnipresent) and declare that tithes is compulsory for Sons of Yahweh Elohim? If Lord Jesus (Immutable Eternal) announces that He'd be coming in two days, will you still hold strong to your present beliefs? Or would you stand on the Truth of the New Covenant and show great compassion for the poor? Wouldn't the churches and the rich empty their accounts in order to do some last minute good? Obviously that would be hypocrisy, cos you'd known what is good and right before ELOHIM but have neglected to do so. Whatever you say about this may be used against you. . . Every man will be judged for every idle word that proceeds from his mouth. |
“ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. For over two thousand years the conflict continues between law and grace. Christians talk of God’s love and freedom that is produced by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet remain bound and frustrated. The question is asked by many well meaning Christians, “What am I doing wrong that I cannot get healed?” “What else do I have to do to get God to work in and through my life?” the fact that Christians ask questions like these indicate the root of the problem. Christians are still trying to work for, fix themselves, try harder, find or figure out the problem of why things are not working when that in essence is the problem. They are still under the Old Testament law. They are still trying to make it happen when Jesus has already made it happen. He’s already given Christians everything they will ever need for themselves and anyone they will come in contact with by His death, burial and resurrection. He said in John 19:30, “It is finished!” Hebrews 10:14. “For by one offering he has perfected forever (past tense) them that are sanctified.” According to Jesus, it (the fulfillment of the requirements of the law in order to be justified) is finished. They are complete. The law is no more! Christians, people, will never receive anything from God by the merits of their own works. Everything received from God is by faith in Jesus’ completed works. The devil is defeated forever. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1John 3:8. Sin has been defeated because Christians, people, are no longer under law but under grace. Romans 6:14. It is by grace we are saved. It is by grace we are healed, delivered, prospered and have power with God. It is by grace His glory is revealed in and through our lives. We receive everything based on Jesus’ finished work at Calvary. We lack nothing. In John 6:28, the people asked Jesus, “What shall we do that we might work the works of God?” In verse 29 of John chapter 6 Jesus answers: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” The old-time Pentecostals sang this song at their healing revivals: “Only believe, only believe, all things are possible only believe!” So what is so wrong with the works of the law? What is so right about grace? Simply put, works that try to move God or fix ourselves to receive from God, focus on us and what we do. Grace focuses on Jesus and what He has already done. It is of utmost importance to understand that in order to experience the true freedom promised by Jesus and experience His love and power, we must understand that it is all by His grace, His finished work, a gift from God, not of works lest any man should boast. So what are we lacking? What else must we do to be healed? What are we doing wrong? We may as well ask the same question about being saved. The answer is nothing! Only believe! Law and grace are two mutually exclusive dispensations. They are two different covenants. One (the law) brings death and condemnation. It kills. The other (Grace) brings life, no condemnation and God’s glory. We will examine the scriptures intently, in particular the New Testament, in order to know the truth that makes us free. I) The Purpose of the Law Galatians 3:19-26 V19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. V20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. V21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. V22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. V23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. V24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. V25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. V26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. God gave a promise to Abraham by faith. It was the promise of the Messiah that was to come through his seed. Four hundred and thirty years later, the Law of Moses was added because of transgressions or sin. If the law had power to make a way for man to obtain righteousness, then Jesus would not have had to come. It’s purpose was to reveal to man that because of his sinful, unregenerated nature and his inability to live righteous, that he was in need of a savior. That promise was to come by faith in Jesus Christ not by works of the law. The law served as a schoolmaster in order to bring people to Christ. Once brought to Christ, the believer is now justified by faith and no longer in need of a schoolmaster (the law). It is important to note that God gave the promise of Jesus Christ, salvation, to Abraham by promise. In the gospels, the scribes and Pharisees continually pointed to Moses and the law. In the New Testament, in particular the writings of the apostle Paul, the New Testament figure of Christ is related back to Abraham. Gal 3:7-9 V7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. V8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. V9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. The apostle Paul called New Testament believers to freedom from the bondage of the law. Galatians 5:1-6 V1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Notice Paul calls salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ “the liberty which made us free.” In contrast, he calls the law “the yoke of bondage.” V2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Circumcision was a necessary practice of Judaism. In this, Paul is making a point that if that particular issue is their means to justification, then they must keep all the law all the time and not fail in one instance. V3 for I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. V4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. When people try to get their justification by keeping the Law of Moses, they have fallen from grace. Paul is writing to born-again, spirit-filled Christians who were saved by grace through faith, operated in miracles, and yet went back under the law in order to be justified. V5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. V6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith that worketh by love. Paul is saying it is not what we do or don’t do to be right with God. It is by faith in Jesus Christ that works by the love of God. I Timothy 1:8-10 V8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; V9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless, and disobedient, for ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers. V10 for whoremongers, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine: The law is not for a righteous man. We have been made righteous by Jesus’ substitutional work at Calvary. The law is for sinners which believers can no longer be classified as. II) The Law brings a Curse It must be emphasized that the only thing that the Law of Moses could bring was a curse. There are no blessings under the Law of Moses. Deut. 28: 1,2,15 V1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: V2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. V15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: It has already been understood that according to Galatians 5:1-6, that in order to be justified or blessed by the law, a person must keep it all , all the time and not fail in one point at any time. Galatians 3:13-14 V13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written. Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: V14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The curse of the law is if we don’t do it all, all the time, if we fail in any one point, then we are cursed. But Christ Jesus became that curse for us when he hung on the tree. We are blessed by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary. However, the blessings we now receive are not the blessings of the Law of Moses which many Christians are trying to appropriate by obedience to the Law of Moses. The blessing we now receive is that of Abraham which came by promise through faith. III) The Law Produces Two Kinds of Works Galatians 3:1-3 V1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? V2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law. or by the hearing of faith? V3 Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? The Christians in Galatia had returned to the legalistic system of the Law of Moses. Paul condemned them for this, and told them that they were deceived, disobedient, and backslidden. Their reversion back to Judaism could produce but two kinds of works- “works of the flesh” and “dead works.” Galatians 5:16-21 V16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. V17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. When Paul says to walk in the Spirit, the context of chapter 5 of Galatians, he means to walk by faith in the grace provided by the Holy Spirit of God to the new creation. Most Christians try not to do or walk in the flesh. The more they try to not walk in the flesh, the more they try to keep the works of the Law of Moses, which are “dead works”, the more the flesh is activated. The remedy is to walk in the Spirit or grace or New Testament by faith. V18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. V19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, V20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, V21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The more people, Christians, try not to do the works of the flesh, the more they do them. Why? Because they have put themselves back under the legalistic system of the law. It is not, not doing the works of the flesh; It is – walk in the Spirit. I Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. To walk in the flesh is to try to keep the law which produces the “works of the flesh.” “Dead works” are those mentioned in Hebrews 6:1 which are works done to achieve righteousness. That was Paul’s dilemma in chapter 7 of Romans. Romans 7:4-5 V4 Wherefore brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. V5 for when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. V6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in the newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of letter. Paul later says in Romans chapter 7 that the things he knows he should do, that are right, he does not do. The things that he knows he should not do, the things that are wrong, those are the things that he does. This is not talking about a born-again man living by the Spirit of God by grace through faith. He is talking about a man either not born-again living under the law or a born-again man trying to keep the law. The only thing the law can do is resurrect the “old man” that has been crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6:6. By the law come “works of the flesh” and “dead works.” For the born-again person living under the law, the “old man” and the “flesh” are synonymous. The flesh is the way the “old man” used to think, that I must get my righteousness by keeping the law. The law kills, brings condemnation, puts people in bondage and fear, and if continued in will result in death. IV) The Law Cannot Produce the Glory of God 2Corinthians 3:6-9,11,17-18 V6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The letter is the law, works to attain righteousness, the Old Testament. The spirit is grace, faith, and the New Testament. V7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: V8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? The law is called the ministration of death, the glory which is done away. The ministration of the spirit, grace, the New Testament, is a glory, more glorious than the Old Testament that does not fade away. V9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. Again, the law is called the ministration of condemnation. The New Testament, grace, is called the ministration of righteousness. V11 For that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. V17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. V18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The content of 2 Corinthians chapter 3 is a contrast between law and grace. Law is said to kill. It is called condemnation and the ministration of death. It’s glory has faded away and is no more. It is non-existent. Grace produces righteousness and freedom. Law activates the flesh, the old man, the way the old man used to think. Grace activates the Spirit of God which produces freedom and glory. John 1:14-17 V14 And the Word was made 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. V15 John bare witness of him, and cried saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. V16 And of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace. V17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. V) Righteousness by Faith, Not by the Law Galatians 2:16-21 V16 Knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. V17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. V18 for if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor’ V19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God V20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. V21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Justification by faith is salvation. It is imputed to us, it cannot be earned. No flesh is justified by the works of the law. Many frustrate the grace of God by trying to be right with God based on what they do rather than what Jesus has already done. At this time clarification needs to be made to distinguish works of the law to obtain righteousness and works of faith because we are already righteous. Faith has works. Those works do not move God. God is already moved on our behalf because of Jesus’ finished at the cross, which is God’s grace. Many teach that faith puts a demand on God. It moves God to respond to our words and actions. We maintain that our faith does not move God. As previously stated, he’s already moved in our favor based on saving faith in Christ as Lord. Faith moves us to be where God already is which is the promise, the blessing, the healing, the provision, all that is inclusive in salvation. Galatians 3:10-12 V10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them V11 But that no man is justified by the the law in the sight of God is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. V12 And the law is not of faith; but the man that doeth them shall live in them. VI) Righteousness is Imputed by Grace Not Earned by Works of the Law Romans 4:1-8 V1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? V2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. V3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. V4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. V5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. V6 Even as David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, V7 Saying, Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, V8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. If a person works to get God’s favor and that is the intent of heart, then grace is not applied to them. It is a debt owed. That is law. But the one who doesn’t do works of the law to obtain righteousness, but believes only, to that person righteousness by grace is imputed. Romans 5:15-17 V15 But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. V16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. V17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by the one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Abundance of grace, the gift of righteousness, reign in life, this is all inclusive in salvation. It really is a definition of salvation and how it comes. It comes as a gift, in abundance through Jesus Christ. As stated previously, we are saved by grace through faith and we continue now in our reign of life by grace though faith. VII) The Dispensation of Grace = No More Law In order for the Law to still be in effect today for anyone, saint or sinner alike, the Old Testament which is the law must still be in force. We maintain, in accordance with the scripture that the law has been completely abolished in the body of Jesus Christ. It is vital to the New Testament, to the gospel of grace and the revelation given by the Holy Spirit to the apostle Paul, which is the entire message of the New Testament and that is law and grace cannot co-exist. It’s either all law or all grace. We maintain that it must be all grace for the law was abolished once and forever by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. What was Jesus referring to when He uttered his last words on the cross? We maintain that one implication of what He came to accomplish was to fulfill the Old Covenant and begin the New. Hence, it is referring to the law, the law is finished. Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. Romans 8:1-4 V1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. V2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. V3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh;, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: V4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The only thing that can bring condemnation is the law. The only thing that Satan, the god of this world, can blind the minds of people by is the law. Jesus blotted out that law of requirements against us by nailing it to the cross. So if there is no law, then what constitutes sin? Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 2Corinthjians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. God is not imputing or reckoning or even considering the sins of even the unsaved against them. Why? Because Jesus bore the sins of the whole world so that the righteous requirement of the law was paid for all men. Now the only thing that stands between the sinner and God is their unbelief. This is not universalism. This is not the doctrine of inclusion. We maintain that although God is not imputing the sins of the trespasser against Him, the sinner must still be born-again by committing his or her life to Jesus Christ. He must have his nature changed. He must become a new creature in Christ. Hebrews 8:6-13 V6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established upon better promises. V7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. V8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: V9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. V10 For this is the covenant that I will make with them in those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people: V11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. V12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. V13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. (Amplified – obsolete) Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Jesus came preaching, teaching, and demonstrating the gospel of the kingdom. No where in the gospels did he use the Law of Moses in order to win someone to Himself. In many incidents He superceded the law. When the woman caught in adultery was brought before Him, it was pointed out that the Law of Moses required that she be stoned. Jesus, who is grace personified, did not follow the law, but pardoned the woman. His instruction was to “go and sin no more.” If whatever is not of faith is sin, what Jesus was saying was “go and disbelieve in Me no more.” After Pentecost, in the book of Acts, there was no use of the law to win a person to Christ. What did they preach? Jesus Christ, crucified and raised from the dead. John 16:7-9 V7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. V8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: V9 Of sin, because they believe not on me The job of the Holy Spirit in dealing with sin is to convict or reprove them of the sin of unbelief. The sin of not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1: 16-17 V16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. V17 For therein is the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. It is the good news of the gospel, that Jesus died for your sins, sickness, poverty and death; that Jesus took your place of punishment so all of God’s goodness could come upon you. That is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. The law is not used to convert Jews or Gentiles. The gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of grace is what the disciples preached to the unsaved and it is the gospel of grace that must be enforced so Christians can live and walk in the power and liberty of the Holy Spirit. |
Money And Prosperity 01/11/11 It is important for Christians to receive the revelation of true biblical prosperity. Although we see in the scriptures more evidence in the Old Testament of God materially and financially blessing His people, the New Testament is also very clear in com- municating God’s will to abundantly supply all the needs of His sons and daughters. In truth, God has set laws in motion from the very begining of creation, that when obeyed, will bring prosperity into the lives of all those that adhere to those laws. To limit prosperity to money only is to limit God. It is essential at this time that we let God’s word define for us prosperity. I) Prosperity Defined Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. OT Hebrew: Strong’s 7965-shalom, shaw-lome; from 7999; safe. well. happy, friendly; also welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace: It carries the implication of total soundness and wholeness. The word shalom carries the equivalence of the New Testament word salvation, or in the Greek, “soteria”, which is all inclusive. Thus, when the bible, both Old and New Testaments use the word prosperity, it carries the implication of total prosperity. Spiritual – (John 3:3, 11; 2Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 10:9-10) -Mental - (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom.12:1-2; Isa. 26:3) – Physical (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24) – Financial 3Jn2; Mal. 3:10-11; Luke 6:38; 2Cor. 6-10; Deut.28:1-14) - Social (Prov. 3:4). Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. OT Hebrew: Strong’s 7919 – sakal, saw-lal. To have success by making wise decisions. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. OT Hebrew: Strong’s 6743 – tsaleach- tsaw-lakh- to push forward or break- through. Eccl. 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. OT Hebrew: Strong’s 3787 – kasher – kaw-share. To be straight or right, to succeed, to be acceptable. 3Jn.2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. NT Greek: Strong’s 2137 – euodoo – yoo-od-o-o. To help on the road, to succeed in reaching, to succeed in business affairs. II) Poverty Versus Abundance John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. It is clear, from an overall examination of the entire word of God that He is a God of abundance in every area of every aspect, spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial and social, in the lives of His people. If God delights in the prosperity of His servants (Ps. 35:27) and He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), then it is His will to abundantly supply in all areas of life for all people at all times. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want (be in lack). The Hebrew names of God, El Shaddai, (the busty one, the God that’s more than enough) and Jehovah Jireh, (the Lord that provides) tell of His nature as much as Jehovah Rapha (the Lord our healer). Examining the lives of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Jesus, to name a few, demonstrates God’s willingness to bless His people in all areas of their lives. From John 10:10 it is clear that anything short of abundance, in any area of our lives is not the will of God. So anything that is stealing from our lives or our loved one’s lives or anyone’s life spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially or socially is not God, but identified as the enemy, the devil. III) The New Testament Provision of Abundance 2Cor. 8:9 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. NT Greek: Strong’s 4145, 4147 – plousious, plouteo. Wealthy, abounding with, increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich. The provision for abundance in every area of our lives, in this case financially, was accomplished by Jesus at the cross. Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified. Jesus is the one perfect sacrifice for all time and eternity. The provision of the all-inclusive salvation is by God’s grace which we receive by faith in Jesus Christ. 1) Jesus was punished so we could be forgiven. 2) Jesus was wounded so we could be healed. 3) Jesus was mades sin with our sinfulness so we could be made righteous with His righteousness. 4) Jesus died our death so we could share His life. 5) Jesus was cursed so we could inherit the blessing. 6) Jesus was made poor with our poverty so we could share His riches or be in abundance. Galtians 3:13-14 v13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: v14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gen. 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. It is clear from 2Cor. 8:9 and Gal. 3:13-14 that poverty is a curse. The alternative provided by Jesus’ finished work on the cross is abundance. Let us define abundance: It is having enough for your own needs and more left over to bless someone else. True biblical prosperity has two main functions. The first is found in Deut. 8:18. Deut. 8:18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth the power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. God intends for us to use the wealth He gives us to establish His covenant on the earth or another way of saying that is to advance the kingdom of God on this earth. The second function of God’s intent to prosper is found in Eph. 4:5. Eph. 4:5 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may give to him that needeth. Giving to those in need is the second purpose for financial prosperity. So, according to Paul, Jesus on the cross took our poverty that we may have His abundance as stated in 2Cor.8:9. Deut 28:47-48 v47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things: v48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in unclothedness, and in want of all things: We can define poverty, the curse we have been redeemed from, from these verses of scripture as hunger, thirst, unclothedness, and in need of all things. That is poverty. However, this curse of poverty was perfectly removed in Jesus at the cross: 1) He was hungry – He hadn’t eaten for over 24 hours. 2) He was thirsty. John 19:28 – “I thirst.” 3) He hung naked on the cross. 4) He was in need of everything. He had absolutely nothing when He died. 5) He was buried in a borrowed tomb in a borrowed robe. At this point, we want to emphasize that according to 2Cor. 8:9, Jesus be- came poor with our poverty at the cross at Calvary. Jesus was not poor prior to the cross. To suggest that Jesus was poor prior to the cross is misleading. Jesus could go anywhere and demonstrate the provision of His Father in every aspect of need, and the Father honored His actions. An example was the feeding of the five thousand. (John 6: 1-6). So on the cross, Jesus became the poverty curse so we may have abundance. 2Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. The grace abounded toward us is on the basis of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. In 2Cor. 9:8, in the Greek language, the word all is used five times and the word abound is used twice. Any time you see grace in the bible, it cannot be merited. Grace is a gift based on Jesus’ finished work on the cross. It cannot be earned, only received by faith. People live at one of three levels in their lives. 1) Insufficiency – less than what one needs. 2) Sufficiency – just enough. 3) Abundance – more than enough. Why does God want all His children to have abundance? Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a greater blessing. God has provided abundance, not that we may only re- ceive, but give so that we may give and obtain the greater blessing. IV) Giving is Worshipping God Ex. 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem him not, then thou shalt break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. Ps. 96:8 Give unto the Lord the glory due his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. Prov. 3:9-10 v9 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine in- crease. v10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 2Cor. 9:10-12 v10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown,and increase the fruits of your righteousness; v11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. v12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; V) The Law Sowing and Reaping Gen. 1:11-12, 24-25 v11 And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. v12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. v24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. v25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. These scriptures refer to what is called the “law of seed time and harvest”, or the” law of increase.” It is important to note that every kind reproduces after it’s own kind. Apples produce apples not oranges. Dogs produce dogs not cats. Humans produce humans not anything else except after its own kind. When applying this to the law of sowing and reaping pertaining to finances, when you sow finances (money) you get finances (money). We are adamantly opposed to sowing finances for anything other than finances. In other words, one doesn’t sow finances in order to reap healing, or deliverance or any other blessings except for what they sowed, in this case finances. Luke 6:38 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 you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. This again is the principal of increase. The term “running over” refers to God’s abundance or increase. The term “same measure” refers not to quantity but the kind of seed sown. Again, every kind reproducing after its own kind. Gal. 6:7-8 v7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. v8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Again, flesh reproduces flesh and spirit reproduces spirit, every kind after its own kind. 2Cor. 9:6-10 v6 But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. We maintain that the terms sparingly and bountifully refer more to frequency rather than quantity. The following verses will show this to be true. v7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. v8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: Please note that chapters 8 and 9 of 2Corinthians is dealing exclusively with financial giving which Paul expresses as an act of grace. 2Cor. 8:7 v9 (As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. v10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. This provision of the spiritual law of seedtime and harvest or sowing and reaping or increase or action and reaction (these are all synonymous terms for the same spiritual law) was instituted by God Almighty Himself for all that will apply this principle to their life in whatever area it is applied. It is an added benefit apart from God’s provision by grace. Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Salvation is by grace. Inclusive of salvation is healing, protection, wholeness, soundness and yes prosperity. Romans 8:31-32 v31 What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? v32 He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Salvation is a free gift. Healing is a free gift. Prosperity is a free gift. We don’t pay for the gift of salvation, healing or prosperity. It’s all by God’s grace. To say that God will heal me by faith, save me by faith, but I have to give to get is inaccurate. This final scripture will clarify this point once and for all. Matt. 6:25-34 v25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? v26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? v27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? v28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: v29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. v30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? v31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? v32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Fatherknoweth that ye have need of all these things. v33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. v34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. What did the fowls of the air, the lilies of the field or the grass of the field do? What did they sow in order for God to so abundantly supply and cause increase? How much more will our heavenly Father so abundantly supply for His own by grace through faith? This is Divine Providence. This is God’s abundance. This is God’s prosperity. Even the law of sowing and reaping, which is an added benefit, a spiritual law set in motion by God for all people before God’s provision of grace through Jesus Christ is a provision of God’s grace. |
“And when His disciples were come together to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Mathew 16:5-6. After reasoning amongst themselves and a short discource between the disciples and the Master, Jesus finally gets through to them in verse 12. “Then understood they how he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” The Pharisees were sticklers for the Law in doctrine though they rarely practiced what they preached. They put strong burdens on people. The Law was meant to show people their inability to keep it, their sinful condition and point them to the Savior. The Sadducees were more political though they did believe that the books of Moses were the only true Scriptures and that there was no resurrection of the dead. The point is that Jesus warned His disciples about wrong doctrine, to beware of it. In John 8:31-32, 36, “Then Jesus said to the Jews which believed on Him, if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed: And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” If the truth makes us free, then how come Christians are not free today? Either we don’t have the truth or we have it and are not willing to act on it. I believe it is a combination of both. Let’s consider first the words of Jesus, “beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” There is no freedom in the Law of Moses. The majority of teaching in the world today is focused on three things: 1) The Law of Moses 2) The nation of Israel 3) Self. I want to say this: you can enforce every Old Testament feast in order to get God to bless you or wear your prayer shawl every day or abstain from certain foods forbidden under the Law of Moses and all that does is put you under a curse and take you out of grace if you are trying to move God or get blessed or please God or be righteous in any of that. Galatians 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law: you are fallen from grace.” Friends, it’s either all Law or all grace. There is no mixture. I an either blessed and made complete by the finished work of Jesus at Calvary or that work at Calvary was not enough. And Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit said it is enough! Jesus said “It is finished!” It is complete. He has made all things perfectly perfect. Any time we go searching for what I did wrong or what else we have to do or how come it’s not working, that is an inclination that we are still thinking under the law and not grace. Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew not Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. It’s not Christian, Jew or Gentile. It’s either saved or unsaved! There is no such thing as a Messianic Jew just like there is no such thing as a Messianic Italian or German or Chinese or African American. The church is Zion. Hebrews 12:22-23 says that. We are His body, the FULLNESS OF HIM that fills all in all. And that body is made up of whosoever will come and believe on Him. Finally, our focus needs to be on Christ and the Kingdom of God. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” Jesus never fails. His work is complete. We are complete in Him. And that is the truth that makes you free. |
John 6:63. John 19:30. It is finished and as a result it is forever gone. 1) The old man, the old nature is dead. The new man the new nature is made alive. Romans 6:6 w/ 2 Corinthians 5:17. 2) Satan is defeated, his works destroyed. 1 John 3:8. “He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” John 14:12-14. Our responsibility is to enforce Jesus’ victory. 3) End of the Law-New Dispensation-Grace. Romans 10:4; Galatians 2 :16-21; Ephesians 2:5-9, 14-15, 3:1-2. I) Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ has re-deemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through faith.” James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law yet stumble in one point is guilty of all.” Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” A) The curse, not curses is of the Law. We are redeemed from all curses because we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. So what is the curse of the Law? Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.) Sin-Greek-hamartia-missing the mark. Galations 5:1-4; Romans 7:7-11. Paul said that he would not have known sin except for the Law. He said he was alive once but when the Law was given sin revived and he died. Jesus came and He nailed the Law to the cross. He became the very essence of sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21;Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14. Job 9:2 “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with or before God.” Romans 4: 1-16. Abraham-an example of and forerunner of justification by faith. So how does God deal with this issue? First, He crucifies the old man. Secondly, he abolishes the Law of sin and death. II) Galatians 3:14 Not blessings of Abraham but blessing. What is the blessing of Abraham? Imputed- righteousness by faith! No imputation of sin! No condemnation-judgment! Romans 8:15-17 “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry out Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. And if sons of God then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Heirs of this world and joint heirs or possessors or inheritors of and with Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:29 “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Heirs of what promise? Galatians 3:14 “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (in Him). End: Romans 5: 17-21. What was the main thrust of the gospel that Paul preached? Acts 13:38-39 ” Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man(Jesus) is preached to you forgiveness of sins, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” |
True spiritual warfare is a lifestyle of readiness. Everything you do is spiritual warfare. You are either preparing to flight, training to fight, fighting or analyzing the last fight. Matthew 11:12 “The kingdom of heaven endures violent assault and violent men seize it by force(as a precious prize). A share in the heavenly kingdom is sought after with the most ardent zeal and intense exertion.” Amp. Bible. Every spiritual warrior is a Christian but not all Christians are spiritual Warriors, even though they should be. A spiritual warrior is a Christian that has decided to live up to the highest ideals of Jesus Christ in every situation every day. 1) A warrior is a person that continues against all obstacles. 2) A warrior continues to stand when all others have fled. 3) A warrior has made the decision to fight for others. 4) A soldier learns discipline because it is imposed upon him. A warrior learns discipline because he determines it’s necessary to accomplish his purpose. Hence all warriors are soldiers yet not all soldiers are warriors. 5) A spiritual warrior is one that has decided that the lives of others are worth their laying their lives down for them. 6) A spiritual warrior has set “no limits in Christ.” They do what is necessary not just what they can. Code: Isaiah 6:8 “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I-here am I send me.” Matthew 10:7-10; Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:18-20. Everything we do as Christians needs to have this as our objective. Most Christians don’t know what the objective is. A) The objective of the kingdom 1) Advance the Kingdom 2) Put down the rebellion 3) Redeem fallen man B) Once you know the overall objective you need to discipline yourself to that objective. 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. 1) We must periodically examine ourselves and our activities. 2 Corinthians 13:5-8;1 Timothy 4:16. a) Is what I’m doing in alignment with the objective? b) Is what I’m doing affecting the kingdom positively or negatively? c) Is what I’m doing advancing the kingdom or causing it to regress? In other words is our focus in life in line with the objective of the kingdom? Revelation 3:1, 14-22. How long are you going to put up with the status quo? No salvations, no one spirit filled, no one getting healed. Our job is to bear fruit. John 15:8 “herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.” What are you going to do different to see greater results? If what we are doing isn’t working what makes us think that by doing the same thing it’s going to change? Example: An Army. Not advancing. Not changing. No new tactics or strategies. What good would they be? Luke 16:16. How long are we going to pray for people and not get any results? How long are we going to say oh well I did my part and not press in to see the word of God come to pass not just for ourselves but in ministering to others. What are you prepared to do? Dr. Lake-son Otto-typhoid. One incidence with his son Otto Dr. Lake prayed and the typhoid was smote in five minutes. Another time the same son Otto contracted typhoid again. This time he stayed by his bedside for five days until he was completely well. Same attitude-same results. Stop! God did not say Mark 16 until you reach 60 then it doesn’t apply to you. Mark 9:23 “All things are possible with God.” Matthew 21:22 “And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing you shall receive.” Matthew 17:20 “nothing shall be impossible to you.” Anything that says God can’t or God won’t is wrong. Faith is seeing the end result and then determining to walk and work and fight it out to the end result. Romans 4:16-25. Faith is taking God at his word, no questions asked. A warrior’s mentality-make the devil believe you. Make him believe that you believe. How? By stirring up the fight in you. A problem in the church today? Passivity. Femininity. Too many wimps. There needs to be a return to apostolic teaching. Luke 10: 19.1 John 5:18. You get up every day to flight and you don’t back off. When you find truth you commit to it. John 8:31-32, 36. We are responsible to walk in the revelation we have. Don’t go back. Discipline and perseverance. Jesus-”He that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom.” Why do we keep running back to people that are stuck in dead religion and don’t want to change? The Bible says that through faith and patience or perseverance you inherit the promise. Paul said in Philippians chapter 3 “Forgetting those things that are behind I pressed forward for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” This is too hard-no you want religion, fluff and comfort not truth. 2 Corinthians 2:14. Defeat is not in God’s plan. Preachers tell us we learn by defeat. God never intended you to lose, but always the triumph. Let me illustrate using two football coaches as an example. There are two football coaches looking for a new player on their team. They are watching a game. The midfielder gives the attacker the ball. The attacker is tackled easily. One coach says to the other coach “is that the player we want?” The other coach replies “no.” Another player gets the ball and he runs harder and after breaking a tackle he is tackled. The coach asks the other coach “is that the player we want?” “No replies the other coach.” Finally a third striker gets the ball and he breaks several tackles and finally is tackled. The coach asks “is that the player we want?” “No replies the other coach. We want the guy that’s tackling all these running backs.” There are only two options-victory or excuses. Which category do you fit into? Which mindset do you have? |
What if there is no reward for giving, will you still give? |
John 6:63. John 19:30. It is finished and as a result it is forever gone. 1) The old man, the old nature is dead. The new man the new nature is made alive. Romans 6:6 w/ 2 Corinthians 5:17. 2) Satan is defeated, his works destroyed. 1 John 3:8. “He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” John 14:12-14. Our responsibility is to enforce Jesus’ victory. 3) End of the Law-New Dispensation-Grace. Romans 10:4; Galatians 2 :16-21; Ephesians 2:5-9, 14-15, 3:1-2. I) Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ has re-deemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through faith.” James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law yet stumble in one point is guilty of all.” Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” A) The curse, not curses is of the Law. We are redeemed from all curses because we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. So what is the curse of the Law? Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.) Sin-Greek-hamartia-missing the mark. Galations 5:1-4; Romans 7:7-11. Paul said that he would not have known sin except for the Law. He said he was alive once but when the Law was given sin revived and he died. Jesus came and He nailed the Law to the cross. He became the very essence of sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21;Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14. Job 9:2 “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with or before God.” Romans 4: 1-16. Abraham-an example of and forerunner of justification by faith. So how does God deal with this issue? First, He crucifies the old man. Secondly, he abolishes the Law of sin and death. II) Galatians 3:14 Not blessings of Abraham but blessing. What is the blessing of Abraham? Imputed- righteousness by faith! No imputation of sin! No condemnation-judgment! Romans 8:15-17 “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry out Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. And if sons of God then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Heirs of this world and joint heirs or possessors or inheritors of and with Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:29 “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Heirs of what promise? Galatians 3:14 “that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (in Him). End: Romans 5: 17-21. What was the main thrust of the gospel that Paul preached? Acts 13:38-39 ” Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man(Jesus) is preached to you forgiveness of sins, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” |
Joagbaje:A. B. Bruce said in his “Miraculous Elements of the Gospel”, “Cures should be as common as conversion, and Christ’s miracles are signs that disease does not belong to the true order of nature and are but a prophecy that the true order must be restored to us.” The Baptism in the Spirit of Jesus was Christ reproducing Himself in the believer. To that extent we are empowered by the Spirit to be Christ’s ambassadors on earth. That means the believer must perform Christ’s most holy ministries to the sinful and the sick just as Jesus Himself would do. The believer is a priest in every aspect. He must perform Christ’s priestly ministry. Believers are expected to heal the sick, lay hands on the sick and heal them; they are not to die, they are to recover. Believers should cast out devils. Lymon Abbot, American clergyman and author – “The authority to pronounce absolution and remission of sins that are past and fulfill the aspirations of the soul for the future belong to every believer.” John H. Graham in the “Faith of the Quaker”, “it is not that there is no clergy, but that there is no laity, for we are all priests unto the Highest.” Every believer is authorized by Christ to do as He has done. Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him.” Luke 13:16 Jesus demanded His right to heal the woman bound for 18 years with the spirit of infirmity. Dr. Frank N. Riale in his book “The Antidote for Sin, Sickness and Death”-”There is no reason why men should die.” Science declares men are so constructed as to be perpetually renewed. Many great scientists declare the elimination of sickness to be their final objective. Jesus anticipated the needs of the world. He commanded His power for the use of mankind and invites us to help ourselves to His eternal quality and become, thereby, sons of God. It is time to take the shackles off of God. Jesus did not heal in order to coax people to become Christians. He healed because it was His nature to heal. “Healing is by degree, based on two conditions: The degree of healing virtue administered (power). The degree of faith that gives action and power to the virtue administered.” John G. Lake “Healing is the renewal of the body from diseased conditions. A miracle is in the creative order. Jesus used science to heal the afflicted. He laid His hands upon the sick in obedience to the law of contact and transmission.” John G. Lake. It is not necessary, however, for the person desiring Christ’s blessing to understand this science of healing or how it is accomplished. God is not confined to methods. Heaven backs up the soul with faith anywhere under any conditions. The Truth About Divine Healing: 1. There are no hindrances to healing. The only hindrance is that you think there is a hindrance. 2. The Bible gives us only two reasons why the Word or power of God was not received. a. One reason is unbelief. Mark 6:1-6. In verse five it says Jesus could there do no mighty works because of their unbelief. For further understanding of this unbelief we must go to Luke chapter 4 beginning in 18. The Scriptures reveal to us that the unbelief of the people caused them to reject Christ in such a way that Jesus never got the opportunity to minister unto them. b. The other reason is in Matthew 15, the traditions of men. 3. Anything that stands between God’s command or God’s promise and you obeying that command or obtaining that promise is not God. In other words we are commanded to heal all who are sick. We don’t need a special leading or unction. 4. If Jesus did it we do it. If Jesus didn’t do it, we don’t do it. Jesus never went into a person’s past or tried to find the secret sin that prevented a person from being healed. Jesus never told anyone they were not going to receive their healing because they didn’t have enough faith. Jesus did not pray to the Father or beg Him to heal anyone. He commanded healing to come. He commanded the sickness or the evil spirit to go. 5. Jesus healed thousands at a time without requiring them to repent or believe first. Matthew 4:23-24; Luke 4:40-41; Matthew 14:36. 6. Great faith is not necessary to receive or minister healing. The Roman Centurion in Matthew chapter 8 and the woman of Cana in Mark chapter 7 were both outside of the Old Covenant, hence, Jesus described their faith as great. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 that with the faith as the size of a mustard seed we could speak to a mountain and command it to be removed and cast into the sea and it would obey us. 7. Unconfessed sin does not keep people from being healed. All the people that Jesus healed in the Gospels were sinners. For believers James 5:14-15. First they are healed then if they have committed any sins they are forgiven them. 8. Jesus never tried to find the root cause of the illness or sin that “opened the door”. 9. Jesus was never prevented from healing anyone due to the sin of a person’s ancestors.(Generational curses). John 9:1-7. 10. We are not to judge who is confessed up, in faith or ready to be healed. 11. The Spirit Baptism is given to minister in the power of God. (To act like sons of God). 12. The written commandment to heal the sick is sufficient without a “rhema” word for each person. 13. The only requirement for a person to receive healing is to come to be healed. 14. God is not the cause of a delay of healing. 15. We are to command the power of God without picking and choosing who is worthy. 16. We have the authority to cast out devils that people think they want to keep. Acts 16: 16-18. 17. New Testament believers initiated divine healing and delivered people at will. 18. Signs, wonders,and the Holy Spirit follow us as we obey the Word of God. Mark 16:20. 19. As believers we cannot increase our healing anointing except by using it. 20. God will heal through any believer, because it’s not about us, but about His goodness. 21. We as believers are God’s sons, the devil’s master, and servants of humanity. 22. We don’t beg God for healing. We proclaim freedom for the captives or prisoners. 23. God’s anointing abides within me, is always ready to heal, and is always on. 24. Christ in me is always available to destroy the works of the devil through me. |
The letter to the Galatians by the apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is one that strikes the core of the main problem in most churches today – a lack of understanding of the practical application of justification by faith. The letter gets to the heart of true spiritual warfare, which is Law vs. Grace. We know according to 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5, that the warfare, the only warfare, that Christians need to consider is in the mind. And when we renew our minds to the truth of God’s grace, Romans 12:1-2, then we realize that the war is over, and we stand, Ephesians 6:11, 13-14, and rest, Hebrews 4:1-3, in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. What did Jesus mean in John 19:30 when He said, “It is finished?” He meant that Satan is defeated. He can no longer accuse you before God any more. John 12:31. The law is fulfilled. It is done. It is over. Hebrews 8:6.As new creation people, we need a New Testament to live by. Sin no longer has power over us. Romans 6:14, “Sin shall no longer have dominion over you because you are no longer under the law but under grace.” I Corinthians 15:56, “The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.” So if there is no Old Covenant law anymore then sin has no more power over us. Besides, the old man, Romans 6:6, is now dead and doesn’t exist anymore. That person that now lives, the new creation, loves God. He loves God’s Word, the things of the Spirit, people, everything that pertains to the Kingdom of God! So now I say with Paul – “Who has bewitched you? This only I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:1-3,5. Do you see it? You can never experience the fullness of God, His love, His truth, His power, or His miracles by works of the law! Why are people condemned all the time? Because they are still under the law (actually they are not), they are trying to do works to obtain righteousness instead of living by faith in the grace, the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are living by faith in the grace, the finished work of Jesus, based on what He did for us at the cross, then sin, sickness, the law, and even death have no more power over us. We can work miracles, heal the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead, and operate in all the fullness as sons of God because, “God the Father, who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things Romans 8:32. Amen. |
“Submit your selves therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.Here is my interpretation of that scripture – Get serious – Let’s do our duty. “Christians” generally are the most gullible people in the world. They tend to live in their own little world, never talk to anyone but other Christians, and believe every wild doctrine that comes across their “Christian” TV programs. We are told that if we will just get in unity we will bring the anointing upon our lives. We are told that all our jumping, shouting, and shaking was doing great damage to the kingdom of darkness for so long, that we don’t even look for or expect results. Oh yeah, I forgot, if people don’t get healed it is their fault. In Jesus’ day if someone did not get healed it was the disciples fault, not the sick person’s fault. We have become so well versed in the “deeper spiritual meanings” of Scripture that we don’t even see the clear, simple meaning of the Scripture we are reading. We must get back to basics: 1) WIN THE LOST 2) MAKE DISCIPLES 3) DIE TO YOURSELF 4) LIVE UNTO GOD AND FOR OTHERS 5) DO WHAT JESUS DID 6) GET YOUR MIND OFF YOURSELF 7) STIR UP THE GIFTS IN YOU LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE, NOT YOUR LACK. Get away from the absurd antics promoted by TV preachers. They must always keep you convinced that you are not ready to step out. If they did tell you the truth you would grow up and not need them anymore. It’s amazing that ministers will tell you that you are not ready to help others with healing, yet you are ready to help yourself (and ministers) with finances. Your faith is getting well developed in prosperity, yet you have to spend your money for medicine because your faith has not been developed for healing. Rather, we are told all the reasons why God won’t heal you.Let’s quit the foolishness. Let’s get serious. Let’s get back to the basics. Live within your means. Simplify your life and get rid of some of the things that are costing you so much money. Instead of making “withdrawals from your heavenly bank account” as we are taught today, follow what Jesus said and make deposits INTO our heavenly bank account. Church doctrine has gone so far from the Bible that the glaring contradiction isn’t even noticed. |
The Bible tells us over and over again that this Christian life is a walk. It is a walk of faith, hope and love. Jesus told us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We can walk through the pressures of life with joy and come out on top every single time because we are hooked up or one with Jesus. Now the Scripture tells us that we are God’s anointed people and it’s by the anointing (which is the person and power of the Holy Spirit) that we can destroy the yokes of bondage in our life and in the lives of others. Now this is the point that I want you to understand – there is a character that needs to match the anointing. Peter told us in 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Lust is putting self first at the expense of others. The next portion of scripture in 2 Peter 1:5-11 really explains why anointed people don’t live anointed lives. We must add to our faith diligence, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. In other words we need to develop some character! “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble or fall: for so an entrance will be abundantly supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.” Don’t think God is talking about the sweet bye and bye. He is talking about right here and now, experiencing the kingdom in fullness. Do you see it? The entrance into all the fullness of the kingdom here and now is to make our calling and election sure. What hinders us? Our character. Lusting after other things. Not being about the King’s business. I only know of one way of accomplishing Christian character. It’s by looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus paid it all and he freely gave Himself and all that he accomplished for us as a free gift, which is what grace is. But Christians don’t walk in that because they have gotten their eyes off of Jesus and the prize of the high calling of God. They compromise the character that matches the anointing. Let the Holy Spirit develop your character and you will walk and live this life in the fullness of His anointing that He intended for your life. |
To give to the poor and needy is to give to GOD (LORD ELOHIM whose Name is praised forever). Emulate the lifestyle of the Good Samaritan and your joy will overflow throughout Eternity. |
Questions I have for everyone: How much did Eternal Immutable Lord Jesus leave on earth for his disciples, family and friends? Where did His heart rest upon? How conscious of money were the early Sons of God who pledged their lives to the cause of the Master (KING and LORD Forever)? |
Ignorance and unbelief makes men follow false teachings, practices, and wrong doctrines of men. Whatever is not of faith is sin. Faith works by love. If a man hates his fellow men, he hates God also, cos God is the life of men. |
“Now the next day, when they had come out of Bethany, He was hungry, And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response, Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.” Mark 11:12-14 NKJV. “Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you so ask (desire) when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:20-24 NKJV. This is the way Jesus said the kingdom works. This is the way He ministered. This is the way He instructed His disciples then, and His disciples today to operate and advance the kingdom. Someone with kingdom authority has to speak to circumstances, situations, to broken bodies, to tormented minds, to sickness and disease. Someone has to speak to mountains. What is the mountain in your life? What is the mountain in someone else’s life? Is it sickness, disease, depression or lack? What ever it is- Have Faith In God! Trust in Him, that what He has done in Jesus Christ has made the provision for your situation, your circumstance, your life to be perfected. Someone must speak (command) that mountain to be removed! Today, many are speaking to God about the mountain, but Jesus said for YOU to SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN! What do I speak? Well, what do you want it to do?” Cancer? Die! Be removed! Paralysis? Pain? Go! Body, be restored! Be made whole! Yeah, but I tried that and it didn’t work. Who said it didn’t work? The second part of Mark 11:23 says that we do not doubt in our heart, but believe that those things we say will come to pass and we will have whatever we say. How many times did Jesus curse the fig tree? Once! Why? Because when He spoke He believed that what He said would come to pass! When you command something to happen, when you speak to that mountain, you only have to speak once. If you believe it has to obey you. Mark 11:24, “And whatsoever you desire…” What do you desire? I desire healing. I desire this pain to be removed. I desire this debt to be cancelled. I desire the power and love of God to be manifested in and through my life. When? When you pray. When? When you pray. When? When you pray. Believe! Believe what? Believe that I receive them. Believe that God heard and answered yes! Believe He backs up my words! And YOU WILL HAVE THEM! First, my faith needs to be in God, not in my faith. Then I command, I speak to the mountain. I only have to do it once. It must obey me as I believe in my heart that when I do what God says it will happen. He will see to it. Whatever I desire, I pray, I ask, I only have to ask once because I believe I receive. When? When I pray! Now what? Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord that the mountain is removed, that it is cast into the sea, that I have what I desire! It’s done! Jesus you are so faithful. Your word is true. You cannot fail. You will not, you cannot be anything but true to Your word. With God, all things are possible. All things are possible to him that believes! I’m a believer and I believe! |
Healing the sick was a commission given to the twelve disciples before the cross, after the cross and taught by those same twelve and later seventy others so that every believer that names Jesus Christ as Lord would know that they were commissioned likewise. Mathew 10:7-8. ”And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.” Luke 10:1,9. “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” So every believer is to heal the sick without reservation, without being told when or how or being led by the Spirit, we are to heal the sick at all costs. If this order of commission by the Lord Jesus Christ is truly carried out without excuse by every believer then Jesus Christ would be seen throughout this earth through His body. People would not only hear about Jesus but they would come face to face with the living Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit resident in each and every believer. So why doesn’t every believer move out in this great commission? The simple answer is unbelief. Now there are two forms of unbelief, neither of which can there be an excuse made for. The first form of unbelief is ignorance. The born-again believer just doesn’t know or have a revelation of the truth about divine healing. This can easily be remedied by reading the Bible, in particular the words of Jesus. Mark 16:15,17,18. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world , and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” John 14:12. “ Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall; because I go unto my Father.” So now if you are a believer ignorance is not a problem for you anymore. The second form of unbelief is rebellion or disobedience. Believers know the truth yet they choose not to do it. Usually some excuse is given about being led by the Spirit or not having enough faith, but Jesus did not put any of those stipulations on the great commission. If you are a believer you have Jesus’ faith. That faith is enough to overcome the world. Galatians 2:20; 1John 5:1,4-5. The Holy Spirit inspired the Word of God. When you do it, you are being led by the Spirit. We are living in the greatest time in the history of the church, in the history of humanity. Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, has entrusted us with Himself and His power and love to change the world with His healing, delivering power. Let us once and forever put the devil of unbelief under our feet so that people will not only have heard about Jesus Christ but will come in contact with Him and His fullness. |
The standard for success in life as measured by God is substantially different than the success measured by the world. The world’s measure of success is the amount of wealth and possessions we have stored up here. I am saddened by the quest of present day Christianity’s identification with the world’s standard of success. Now I believe God has provided for us to prosper in every area of our lives – spirit, soul, and body, financially, in everything we do we will prosper. However, when that becomes our focus at the expense of winning souls and advancing the kingdom through aggressive discipleship then we are out of balance with the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God’s standard of success is – are you doing, are you accomplishing what I have called you to do and accomplish? Success as far as provision is easy. It comes with the package of salvation. As I “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”, then all these “things”, health, wealth, power, etc. will be added unto me. Matthew 6:33. Now that was a promise before the cross. Those things are all added as part of our salvation. So why are so many still trying to “achieve” all these things at the expense of soul winning and discipleship? Real simple, it doesn’t appeal to the mindset or desired lifestyle that most Christians are seeking. Jesus said in Mark 8:34-38 that if we are to follow Him or be His disciple we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. To save one’s life is to lose it. To lose it is to save it. What profit is it if we gain the whole world and lose our soul? I believe the church of Jesus Christ needs to take a long hard look at where we’ve been, where we are at, and where are we going. We need an understanding of eternity. We are only passing through this life – the things we possess and gain are only temporary. They need to be used for the furtherance of the kingdom. There will be no rewards on judgment day for Christians for having their needs met and being “nice” people. Our rewards will be measured by what we did with and for Jesus, the message and power He gave us to advance His kingdom and win souls. Let’s concentrate and refocus our lives to line up with God’s measure of success. Share |
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ.”Galatians 3:16. Jesus Christ is the ultimate Seed that was sown by God Almighty in order that all of the blessings of the New Testament come. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith.”Galatians 3:9-11. My friends it’s either all of law or all of grace. Salvation, which is the Greek word “soteria”, means wholeness, soundness, safety, welfare, healing, deliverance, prosperity, protection – everything we are, everything we have, and everything we will ever be is by God’s grace, His unmerited favor, His might, His power, His strength, His ability. So what is the believer’s part? Our part is to believe. Believe is the verb form of the word for faith. “The just shall live by faith.” By believing faith. Everything today in the church has had a price tag put on it. If you want healing, sow a financial seed. If you want provision, sow a financial seed. If you want protection or for your family or business to be successful, sow a financial seed. So now, according to present day theology, if I want the blessings to come, or whatever it is that I have need of, I need to pay for it financially, even though it is promised to me by faith. Did Jesus ever require money in order to heal or deliver or provide for someone? Did Peter, or Paul or John or anyone in the Bible do so? According to today’s preachers and teachers, I can not inherit what God freely gave me by grace unless I first give a first fruit offering or an atonement offering or whatever latest revelation God supposedly gave to some prophet. Romans 8:31-32, “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS.” What else do I need to do to get healed, blessed, prospered, to see God’s power, might and glory revealed? NOTHING! ONLY BVELIEVE! So where does that put us in relation to the giving of God’s money? Notice I said God’s money. All you are is a steward of what you have. God gave it to you by grace to glorify Him. Christians would love to be given an excuse to not give money to their local churches. I mean, if the curse is removed, and the windows of heaven are open and the devourer is defeated then why give? If it’s all freely given and comes by way of the finished work of Christ then why not just take my financial blessings and go my merry way and forget about the church or the work of the kingdom? I’ll tell you why – because you are saved and the love of God is shed abroad in your heart. Because you care about propagating the gospel and seeing souls saved and people set free. Because GOD HAS GRACED YOU TO GIVE. HE HAS BLESSED YOU TO BE A BLESSING! “And God is able to make all grace ABOUND TOWARD YOU, THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS MAY ABOUND UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK.” 2Corinthians 9:8. Verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 9, “Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and MULTIPLY YOUR SEED SOWN AND INCREASE THE FRUITS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God.” It’s all by God’s grace for more grace for more grace upon more grace upon more grace.! |
God-filled words, faith-filled words, spoken by human lips, will produce miracles! I would like to bring you a brief teaching about what is necessary for us to enjoy the abilities of the supernatural life of God through Jesus Christ. We must be free from Satan’s dominion. There is no ground for faith as long as one is conscious of being in bondage. Faith can only be developed in the realm of freedom. If Jesus conquered the devil, then it was our victory, not His. Jesus had no reason to fight the battle. The moment you take Jesus as Lord and Savior, everything Jesus accomplished in those days and nights of suffering, and of triumph and victory belongs to you. We must be able to stand in God’s presence free from condemnation, without fear, without a sense of guilt or inferiority. This comes from being born-again. The New Creation is a son of God. You are interwoven with the ability of God the Father. You are intertwined with omnipotence. Everything that Jesus did and all that Jesus is today belongs to the New Creation, because the New Creation is a part of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, “If any man is in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things have become new. And all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation.” I John 4:17, “…Because as He is so are we in this world.” As born-again sons of God, we must know our rights and privileges in Christ Jesus. We have a legal right to use the name of Jesus into the indwelling person and presence of the Holy Spirit. We have a legal right to His place in the family of God to share His inheritance of the saints in light. Ephesians 1:18-21, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come.” Finally, we must love all men. We no longer seek our own. We live and work as Jesus did. There is no place for selfishness. Too many people are living this life like it is some self-help program. Our Father God is a God of love; He is a God of faith and both faith and love need to be extended to other people. Whatever we tolerate will dominate us. We must determine on purpose, that we are going to live a supernatural life regardless if nobody else will, we determine to do so. |
Every believer is expected to walk in the power of Almighty God. Most Christians cannot see themselves doing signs, wonders, and miracles. Never measure your spirituality by the amount of miracles that happen through your life. A miracle is designed to change the life of the person that needs a miracle. It is the same with healing. It is not to prove that we are men and women of God. We are men and women of God because God says that we are. Don’t think miracles are going to get people saved. It’s the message of the Gospel of Grace that saves a soul. We minister to the sick because God wants those people well and he commanded us to do it. We do not do it to prove who we are or to elevate our ministry. A miracle proves who Jesus is not who we are. Neither does it prove our doctrine. It only proves the doctrine of healing. “By His stripes we were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24. God confirms His word of grace by signs, wonders and miracles. So why do believers struggle with the power of God? The reason is because of trying to operate under law instead of grace. Matthew 10:8, “ …Freely you have received, freely give.” If you have received the power of God you can distribute it whenever and wherever to whosoever you want. The key on how to get the sick healed is Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Philippians 3:7-9, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Never think you are going to walk in the true power of God with a law mentality. Verse 9 of Philippians 3 says, “Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law.” I want to know the righteousness which is by faith not by works. Why? That I may know him and the power of his resurrection! Verse 10, “That I may know Him, ” You cannot know God except by righteousness (His righteousness), grace, and faith. I count all things but loss. What things? All the things of the law. Tithes, prayers, fasting, they are good, but I do them because I love God not to get power with Him. What is the power of his resurrection? Romans 6:4. Jesus was raised up by the glory of the Father. What is the power? It is the glory of God! I want to study His righteousness and his obedience not my own. I want to know the glory of God by the message of grace. T to know who I am by God’s grace. The power to heal; is a gift from God. The power of Christ’s resurrection is the glory of God the Father. Healing the sick is walking in the reality of the New Creation – Grace – not Law. |
How to receive healing for yourself. 1) Understand that healing was paid for you by Jesus at the cross. Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 2) if you are not a Christian you can still receive healing for yourself. You can believe that the stripes of Jesus at the cross of Calvary paid for your healing. You can ask God and believe that you receive and you can receive your healing. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that you receive them, and he shall have them.” Praying is asking and receiving. Matthew 7:7-8 “Asked, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” 3) If you are a Christian healing belongs to you. You not only have healing but you have the healer living inside of you. Command that pain or that sickness to leave your body. “Thank God that by his stripes, by the stripes of Jesus you were therefore you are healed. By the power of the Holy Spirit resident inside of you, the life of God now flows from your spirit into your body and makes you well. 1Peter 2:24 Mark 11:23 “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” How to minister healing to the sick. 1) Lay your hands on the sick person’s body. Command the pain or sickness to leave in Jesus name. Tell them to do something they couldn’t do before. Continue to lay on of hands and command until there is some noticeable change if not a complete change. Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 11:23 |
Genesis 1:26-28 reveals Almighty God’s original intention for mankind. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. V 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. V28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Psalm 8:4-6 V 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? V 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim), and hast crowned him with glory and honor. V 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet. Through disobedience Adam relinquished the dominion of this earth that was given him by Almighty God. As a result Satan usurped authority and became the god of this age. God restored dominion back into the hands of man through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man. Matthew 28-18-20 V 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. V 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: V 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen The dominion that redeemed man now operates in is the dominion of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. Jesus paid it all with His death, burial and resurrection. Romans 5:17 For, if by one man’s offense death reigned by one: much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. |
If you must give, give only to those in need. There is no commandment for Sons of God to become subject to the laws of men according to the laws of Moses. In Matthew 25, Lord Jesus describes the rewards for those who give to Him by giving to the poor, and the judgement on those who reject Him by neglecting the poor in their needs. A true Son of God doesn't seek riches by any means, He knows that he has all things at his disposal, and seeks to use them to guide men into all Truth. Sons of God have the responsibility to care for the sick, poor, afflicted, oppressed and broken hearted. We are called to save not to be saved, to enrich, not to be enriched, to heal not to be healed. If Christ truly dwells in you, the dead will be quickened at the sound of your voice, the sick will be healed at your touch, and the naked, homeless and hungry will be blessed with their needs at contact with you. If truly we are sent as Lord Jesus (who lives forever) also was sent (John 17:18, John 20:21), then our mission cannot be different from His, nor the power to carry out such Divine mission lesser than what He had. If He gave not according to to the law but by love to those in need, we also should do the same and not seek to restore again that which has been abolished. The law is past, the Spirit is come. We are Sons of God, servants of men, and masters of the devil. |
No man can take new wine and put into old wine skin, cos the wine skin will burst and the wine will spill and be lost. No one can put the new creature into an old covenant law/practice. The old belong to the old, and the new belongs to the new. |
So there are only two things that will ever nullify the Word of God. One is traditions of man and the other is unbelief. Now unbelief nullifies the Word of God in your life for you, or in your life for someone else that you are ministering to. But their unbelief won’t nullify the power of God working through your life even on their behalf. We’ve proven it. You say, “I don’t believe that.” Well what about the man with the demoniac son. The disciples tried to cast it out and said, “Lord, we couldn’t do it.” The man came to Jesus and said, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Obviously there was a mixture. Well you know if there is a mixture of belief and unbelief, unbelief over rules. Generally speaking. Jesus said, “All things are possible to him that believes.” And the boy got delivered. So the man’s unbelief, whatever amount there was, didn’t stop the boy from getting delivered. See this is the tradition we have. Well they’ve got to be in perfect belief. They have to be right on. They have to everything just right. We have this long chart we go through and it’s a checklist. I always joke like when you set up a computer you know it has this trouble-shooting thing. You know you’ve plugged it in. Now it doesn’t work. OK, check your plug. Make sure it’s really plugged into the socket. Now, check your power switch. Make sure it’s turned on. And you go down this list. Yes, done that. Still doesn’t work. OK, now go to this. That’s what we do with healing. We tell a person, “Oh come serve the most magnificent awesome God. He is it. He is the creator of the universe but if you got mad and kicked the cat this morning, forget it. He can’t over rule that. He can create the world in six days but He can’t over rule you getting mad at the cat or somebody that you cut off on the highway. That’s ridiculous. The power of God will flow through anybody that will let it. And the power of God is available just like electricity. James 1:17- “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” First off we want to find out why God heals. The answer is basically that God heals because it is His nature to save and heal. It is His nature. He can’t help it. God can’t help himself. He heals because it’s His nature. That’s what’s in Him. You say, “Well I’m not too sure about that.” We’ve been taught that we have to coerce God, beg God, twist His arm, and prove how some people deserve it. You can’t do that. The very thing that we tell people about healing, if they tried to do it with salvation, we’d run from them. Oh, salvation by works. No way. But we turn right around and do that with healing. People are taught that they can get healed by works but that they can’t get saved by works. Healing is salvation of the body. Salvation of the spirit is what we call salvation. But salvation of the body is healing. The Bible says very clearly that God, “who forgives all your sins, all your iniquities, and heals all your diseases.” Isn’t that what it says? Now, if you can’t get your body healed, how do you know that you got your spirit saved? That’s in the same verse. If you ask me for a dollar and I say I don’t have a dollar but here’s a ten. If I will give you the ten dollars of course I would give you the dollar. Everybody says, “Well, healing, that’s nothing. Salvation of the spirit, that’s what counts.” Well if healing is “Nothing”, (even though since Jesus died for it, I don’t think I’d call it nothing. Because he did take a beating for it.) But let’s say it is the lesser of the two. Well, if I can get the greater, of course I can get the lesser. Right? You don’t go buy a car and then say, “Oh yes I need some tires to go with that too. Can I get the tires too?” “That’ll be extra.” “No the tires come with the car.” Why because they are part of the car. That’s what makes it work. The Bible says, “He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all of your diseases.” So if you can’t get your body healed how do you know that your spirit is saved? I have people say to me, “I just don’t believe that God heals today at all.” I’ll say, “Really? What’s going to happen? What’s the next thing that’s going to happen in the church? “ They’ll answer, “Oh it’s the rapture. The rapture’s going to happen next. I’m sure of it.” I then ask them, “Are you going in the rapture?” They’ll say, “You bet.” Then I’ll say to them: “So you’re telling me that you can believe that in the twinkling of an eye God is going to change your physical, mortal body from corruptible to incorruptible. He’s going to change you that quick. You’re going to dematerialize, like on Star Trek, and get beamed out. God can do that. But He can’t fix something that’s wrong with your body now?” “Well, that’s not what I’m saying.” “That’s exactly what you’re saying. If you’re not saying that, you’re not saying anything. Because that is exactly what you are saying. So you can believe in a rapture but you can’t believe in a healing?” (Please do not misconstrue this to mean that I don’t believe in the rapture, I’m am just making a point. The reason we believe in one and not the other is because one we’ve heard taught a lot and the other we haven’t.) But yet we say we believe that “I’m saved” but can’t get your body healed. Now you can see why I’m careful about where I say that. Because you get a weak new Christian, baby Christian, and they can get scared and start thinking they are not saved. So I have to be real careful how I say that. Now the reason I’m saying this is that we are finding out some things. I’m taking all of the doctrines, all the traditions, all the things, every reason why I’ve heard that God won’t heal and we are putting them to the test of the Word. And so far I haven’t found one that holds up. Not one. There is not one that holds up. Even sin. Sin doesn’t stop the power of God. You can be in sin and still get healed. Now woe be to you if you remain in sin after you are healed. That’s why Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” Obviously you should give up the sin. But you know most people won’t give up sin until they see the power of God manifested in their body. They won’t do it because God’s not real even though they see it. Yes, you have to experience it. My job is to get people to experience the power of God. See I’m not here to really get you healed. I mean if you need to be healed then yes. We want to get you healed. Because, as a representative of Christ, you should have a healthy body. But my job is to get you out ministering healing to others. That’s my job. You don’t turn it on, turn it off. People talk about turning on the anointing. Turning off the anointing. The anointing coming and going? The anointing doesn’t come and go. You come and go. The Holy Spirit is the anointing and He’s always on. He always wants people well. He’s ready. Most of the time it’s from your own physical or your own mind won’t stand up to the strain of continuous activity of the Holy Spirit. All that revival is is whenever Christians start to obey the scriptures again and the Spirit is able to move freely through them. The Holy Spirit only acts on the Word of God. And if you’re not doing the Word of God He can’t work through you. So a revival is nothing more than when Christians begin to obey the scriptures. Now that’s not me saying that. Charles Finney said that back in the 1800’s. He also said that man was not made to operate under that continuous, he called it a, strain of the Holy Spirit operating through them. Now I personally believe we could and believe we will. I believe that’s called the corruptible taking on incorruptibility. Every time I lay my hands on somebody, God heals them. And every time I do it’s a testimony to them of God’s power. But it is also on the Day of Judgment, it’s going to be a testimony. These people that I lay my hands on, that I’m getting healed by putting my hands on because of the power of God and there’s sin in my life and I know it. I know God is healing them. These same people I’m going to see again on the Day of Judgment because God’s going to bring them forward as a witness against me. “You knew. You saw this one healed and you still didn’t get out of sin.” So if there is sin in your life get it out. God will still heal people under you. He’ll heal people with sin in your life. Why? Because He loves them. He wants to help the people. But get it out because those same people will become witnesses against you some day. Because God is going to say, “You’ve got no excuse. You knew I was real. You knew it was true.” I had to get the sin out of my life. It totally changed me. Believe me. God will use you. Don’t think that He will just use you to heal head aches. He will use you to do anything that needs to be done. OK? |
Jesus said, “You do err, not knowing the scriptures and the power of God.” Now that’s important. You need to make a note of that. “You do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” If you don’t know the scriptures and the power of God you will err. Just a matter of time. Every minister should be able to manifest the power of God when needed. If they can’t, they should not be ministering. Look at every cult. Every cult is in error for both reasons. They err because they don’t know the power of God. Every one of them. You look at the Jehovah Witnesses. They err because they don’t know the scriptures. You say, “Now wait. Jehovah Witnesses know scriptures.” No, they know the New World Translation. That’s what they know. They don’t know the scriptures and they don’t know the power of God because they will tell you that the power of God is passed away basically. Which is funny because then they say that the Holy Spirit is the power of God. So I guess the Holy Spirit died somewhere. Any time that you don’t know the scriptures, or you don’t know power of God, then you are going to err. It’s just that simple. Jesus made a statement. “…you make the Word of God of none effect by your traditions.” So anytime you are seeing results that differ from the Bible results - which is: Jesus healed them all, that’s Bible results – any time you see something different it is always your traditions that make the Word of God of none effect. Always, every time. What you have to do is start analyzing your doctrine. Paul told Timothy, “Take heed at what you’re teaching in your doctrine.” He said it’s because by your doctrine that you are going to save others and yourself. Doctrine is extremely important. Now it shouldn’t be dead and dry. I have one minister back where I came from that told a friend of ours, (this friend was quoting some Word of Faith teaching), and this other man was a local Pastor and he said, “That’s good theology but in real life it doesn’t work that way.” Well first off, if it’s good theology it will work that way. Secondly, if it doesn’t work that way in real life, it’s not good theology. Real good theology is practical. It doesn’t have to be dead and dried and drawn out. It’s practical. |
You need people that encourage you. You know iron sharpens iron. You need to be around people like that. Don’t be around people that dull you. Life’s too short. Be around people that sharpen you. See if you can sharpen them. If they don’t want to be sharpened, get away from them. It’s just that simple. There are people that Satan will send to sap you of your energy. You need to able to find out who those people are and get away from them. Any minister knows exactly what I’m talking about. Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whosoever heareth these saying of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him as unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rains descended, and floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be liken unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” I have people come to me and say, “I’m called. God’s called me to the ministry. He’s called me to go preach. He’s called me to do this or that.” The very first thing out of my mouth is, “What is your message?” If they can’t give it to me in a sentence. They’re not ready. It’s just that simple. Now I don’t mean that they are not called to preach at all. I’m just saying at that point they are not ready to launch out into ministry. Because every minister has a message. To be sent of God you have to have a message. He’s going to tell you to go. But before He tells you to go, He’s going to give you a message for the people you are going to. My mandate from God is very clear. My Mandate from God, is to restore Biblical New Testament Christianity. Now that’s not just revival, that’s revolution. It’s not just a healing ministry. Do you realize, that no person really has just a healing ministry? And if you do you’re lopsided. Jesus did not have a healing ministry. The Apostle Paul said that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. And then he said that Christ had given the ministry of reconciliation to Paul and to all of us. Jesus did not have a healing ministry per se. He had a ministry of reconciliation. And that is the same ministry any minister has. You are not called to do one thing. Now there may be one thing that stands out, but you are not called to do one thing. You are called primarily to reconcile the world unto God by way of Jesus Christ. So whenever you are ministering to a person you are going to be reconciling people. Now if you are going to reconcile people you are doing one of three things. You are reconciling their spirit to God. You are reconciling their soul to God. Or you are reconciling their body to God. When you reconcile someone’s body to God that’s healing. When you reconcile someone’s soul to God that is healing but it's emotional healing, it is soulish healing. It is a method of healing. It is renewing of the mind basically. That is the best way to say it. But whenever you renew, or reconcile, a person’s spirit to God we call that salvation. But it is all the same thing. It’s all just the life of Christ being ministered to a person. One of those points is that whatever you tolerate will dominate you. That’s a fact. Whatever you tolerate. Sin dominated you as long as you tolerated it. When you got fed up with it, you got out of it. And if you didn’t get fed up with it you’re still in it. The best way to find out what sin a person is in, is to talk about a whole bunch of different sins and whichever one they defend that’s usually the sin they are in. Usually that is the best way to tell it. And you say, “Well, I’m not doing that.” If you are defending it you’re doing it in spirit. You are doing it in heart whether you work it out or not. So Jesus said, “If you’re not gathering with Me you are scattering.” So there has to be a unity of the Spirit, which is what Ephesians tells us. We have to have unity with the Spirit of God. Which means we are going the direction God is going. You just heard what Jesus was teaching. Actually, He had taught Matthew 5 thru 7 and at the end He said, “Now you have heard my words. If you act on them you are smart. And no matter what happens you’ll stand. If you don’t act on them, you’re foolish and your house will fall.” Not, it can fall. It will fall. And it says that, “Great will be the fall of it.” So that means not only will it fall but when it falls it’s going to do some damage. When He got finished saying that, it says, “And when it came to past when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at His doctrine.” And then it tells us why. “For He taught them as one having authority not as the Scribes.” The Scribes were basically the ones that the people really dealt with. The Scribes would all gather and say, “Well, Rabbi So and So said this. You know that could be true but this other Rabbi says this.” They would never come to a conclusion. They were the quintessential politicians. You could never pin them down on anything and they would always change from one thing to another. It wasn’t that they were trying to do that, they just didn’t know. But Jesus comes along and says, “Look, it’s real simple. You do my words, you’re smart. You’ll stand. You don’t do my words, you’re foolish. You’ll fall.” All of a sudden the people are saying “wow” and they were astonished at His doctrine because He taught as one who had authority. You notice that one thing about Jesus, He never went and said, “Now wait a minute. Let me go check withJerusalem. Let me run down to the council there at Tulsarusalem and let’s see what they have to say.” Now there is wise counsel and you should have counsel around you. People that you trust, that you know where they are going. You know that they love you and that they care for you. But also that they care for God and the ministry and they know what it is going. Once you get hold of something from God and you know it’s from God and you have proven it out in the Word of God go ahead and do it. I like what Davy Crockett said. “Make sure you’re right. Then go ahead.” Hey, I’m from Texas. What can I say? There comes a time when you have to say, “You know what? I’ve heard from God.” When you do that, if you’ll make a stand God will back you up. As long as you’ve heard from God and it’s in His Word. One of the things now that we see is that once again, for the most part, there is no Word being taught with authority. Ministers today speak with a total lack of authority. Because they don’t know. They are just preaching what they have heard someone else preach. You listen to a minister three times and you’ll hear four different opinions. From the same minister! Because of some new book he’s read. “This new book came out. Oh, everything is different now.” No, it’s the same book. It’s the Bible. One thing that I can say about Dr. Lake is that he caused me to read the Bible without a preconceived idea. He caused me, by his writings, to challenge what I had been taught. And I had been taught by world-renowned teachers. I believed everything they said because I figured, “Well these guys are my spiritual leaders. They ought to know what they are talking about. I ought to listen to them.” And then I kept looking at things and saying, “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. If this is true, and I can see this, and I’m right, then surely these guys that are light years ahead of me see it. If they see it and are not talking about it then they are dishonest. So that would disqualify them from being my spiritual leaders. If they don’t see it then they are not real smart. And that would disqualify them from being my spiritual leaders.” So I had to decide whether I was going to listen to them or read the Bible and find out what the Bible said. Well, I stuck with the Bible. It has caused a lot of flack because we don’t toe a party line for the most part. To be honest I don’t care about a party line. I want to see people get healed. I want to see people get free. I want to see the Glory of God manifested in His church. That’s what I want to see. Now the people “They were astonished at His doctrine because He taught as one that had authority.” He didn’t hem-haw around. He didn’t say, “Let me go and check with somebody else.” He said several times, “You’ve heard it said. But I say unto you.” Every time He fought the devil, He said, “It is written.” He always stuck with the Word. Our problem is we think we are sticking with the Word. What we’re really doing is, we’re reading the Word, but we’re reading it through either our denomination, or our group or movement or whatever it is. We’re reading it through their eyes. I have taken scriptures and said, “Now this is what it says. Now what does that mean to you?” And some one will say, “Oh, that says this.” I’ll wonder, “How did you get that out of this when it is so simple? We’re reading the same thing. One verse. I’m not talking about having to interpret. I’m talking about one verse. I would even get to the point where I would take a newspaper and say, “OK. Read this sentence to me.” And they would read it and I would read it. Now we both agree it says the same thing. How is it you can go to the Bible and all of sudden it means something totally different than what is written? I mean one sentence can be taken to mean something totally different. And when you get down to it it’s because of their traditions. Usually it is because people try to spiritualize what is written. They try to find the “hidden” meaning and they ignore the plain meaning. When that happens, usually the plain meaning would require them to do something. But instead of wanting to do something, they just want to come up with some special revelation. Something that will show people how “deep” they are, how “spiritual”. How foolish , to be continued, |
HOW TO MINISTER HEALING 1 Determine problem a Get name or b symptoms c find out what the person cannot do 2 If no name (can't be diagnosed) a Attack (cast out, evict) the spirit of infirmity 3 Declare the problem has no right to remain 4 Declare the person free in the Name of Jesus 5 Deliver life (power, virtue) by the method you choose: - laying on of hands - Words - Prayer cloth - Action to be obeyed 6 Tell the body what you want it to do: - "Be healed" - "System function" etc. 7 Tell the person to do what they couldn't do before a Keep working with them until they can do what they couldn't do before 8 Have them testify of any change |
John G. Lake’s Secrets of Divine Healing 1. Destroy sacred cows concerning sickness and power 2. Recognize sickness and disease as an enemy 3. Get Fed Up 4. Treat all sickness the same 5. Treat all sickness like a person 6. Command not beg 7. Speak to the problem – not to others about the problem 8. See people as oppressed prisoners of war 9. Get clean – stay clean 10. Stay out of pride – anyone could do what you are doing 11. Be aggressive – develop your aggressiveness 12. Be led by God’s character and nature 13. Accept responsibility for your fellow man. 14. Decide to obey the Bible, not some arbitrary feeling 15. Know that God is with you, in you, and for you |
for your heavenly Father
LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE, NOT YOUR LACK. Get away from the absurd antics promoted by TV preachers. They must always keep you convinced that you are not ready to step out. If they did tell you the truth you would grow up and not need them anymore. It’s amazing that ministers will tell you that you are not ready to help others with healing, yet you are ready to help yourself (and ministers) with finances. Your faith is getting well developed in prosperity, yet you have to spend your money for medicine because your faith has not been developed for healing. Rather, we are told all the reasons why God won’t heal you.