When we think about victory over sin the first thing we need to settle is "whose the boss?" Romans 6:14 ESV For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Most of the time before we can receive a blessing from God we have to know the promise of the blessing in the Word. This is not always the way it works, but for the most part we need to know the promise of the Word before we can get the blessing of the Word. My people perish because of lack of knowledge. Remember that verse? Hosea 4:6 ESV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. We don't know what we don't know. Once we know God has given the promise we can choose to believe and pray until we receive. The same is true of victory over sin. Once we see such victory is scriptural we can choose to believe and pray until we receive. You may have heard this or even said or thought this yourself: “No one ever told me before that you could get victory over sin. I always thought that we just had to live with it. I thought we just had to grin and bear it when it comes to sin habits." After this teaching you will know that you can have faith for victory over any sin that has had a hold on you. It really is so simple and practical.” In my early Christian life I had been taught that all of us are sinners and Christ came to forgive us and bring us to Heaven. As Christians we cannot keep the commandments in the New Testament because of our sinful nature. The Commandments in the New Testament were written to show us our need of a Savior. As long as we are in this world we have to sin. After all no one is perfect. After hearing this hopeless message for years I began to dig into the Word of God for myself on this topic just to see what it actually says about my nature and inability to stop from sinning. To my amazement it was plain that the New Testament didn't teach what I had been taught. There was a great deal in the Word of God about having a righteous behavior. Then when I was in Florida teaching in the Holy of Holies ministry and on the 7 feasts I saw something very unique about the Day of Atonement. There were two goats used on the Day of Atonement. The one goat was slain and its blood sprinkled in the Holy of Holies, typifying the blood atonement made by the Lord Jesus on the cross, for the forgiveness of my sin. However, the second goat which was also a goat of atonement was left alive and led away into the wilderness. This was a picture or typified the removal of my sin. Now the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans makes sense. We are no longer under the law therefore we are no longer a master to sin or a lost sin nature. TO BE CONTINUED...
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God does not cause and is not responsible for all the acts and events of fallen mankind, but they are a part of His purpose in the sense that He works all things to His ultimate Glory.
Isaiah 14:26-27 ESV This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. (27) For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? GOD IS: God is Omniscient and knows all things from the beginning. Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' Therefore, He has a plan and purpose which in His power and wisdom He carries out for His glory and for the redemption of His people. It would be a confusing world if every act and happening surprised God and required Him to improvise to rescue His program from disaster. The three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, Daniel in the lion's den, and Joseph sold cruelly into Egypt, demonstrate the working of Divine purpose and grace: All of these events turned out to the blessing of His people and to His own glory. Genesis 50:20 ESV As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. I believe God led me to start RSIM (Raising the Standards International Ministries back in 1999. But it is more than just a man-made ministry and certain more than me or my opinions. RSIM has been and will always be about the believers raising up to the standard of God's Word and God's character and not trying to bring the standard down to the path of least resistance.
God's Word and character is absolute and complete lacking and needing nothing. It is the tendency of mankind who wants to do what is right in His own eyes to seek to justify his actions. The first attempt of doing this is to seek to discredit the messenger or the message that goes against our fleshly desires and lusts of the heart. If we cannot attack and discredit the messenger (God), then we try to attack and discredit the message (His Word). This is done in so many ways today. First by ignorance, because believers in general don't read and don't know God's Word. So they discredit it or shun it away out of ignorance. The second is false spiritual knowledge. These believers give the impression that they are smarter than God and try to explain away the Word by picking the isolated Scriptures of what they believe is for us today versus what Scriptures pertains only to the time it was written. It must be an awesome weight of responsibility to carry such knowledge. RSIM believes and mantains that all of God's Word is true and for us for our correction and Scriptural growth. We do not try to explain any of it away nor do we relegate any portion to "different" time periods. God said it and that settles it. Our job is to meet the Word by faith in the power and guidance of God's Holy Spirit and His grace. We will align our lives to God's Word because the Father refuses to align His Word our lives. Colossians 3:17 ESV And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV (31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Colossians 3:23-24 ESV Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 1. RAISING THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SHOULD AFFECT ALL AREAS OF OUR LIFE: **LIFE HABITS, **WORK HABITS, **PERSONAL HABITS, **CHURCH HABITS, 2. RAISING THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IS AN INTERNAL ATTITUDE WHICH IS MANIFESTED IN THE EXTERNAL Let others see Jesus in you. You are the only Jesus some will ever see and the only Bible they will read. What if you are the only chance some of your acquaintances will ever have to be saved? Are you the light that will guide them? You are saved, and that is great. But how saved are you? In other words by the grace of God you have a home with God in glory, but does your words, deeds, and thoughts look like you belong there? The challenge of a "first impression" for a believer should be a high standard of excellence: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 ESV (2) You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. (3) And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. In part 10 we discussed the THREE LEVELS OF WARFARE:
1. GROUND LEVEL WARFARE: 2. OCCULT LEVEL WARFARE: 3. STRATEGIC LEVEL WARFARE: Now I want to talk about the different levels of power among the demonic. Our warfare comes in many levels. This is certainly not to induce fear, but awareness. Why? Typically, believers spend so much time thinking about the soulish natural realm and the temporal, that the spiritual realm and the eternal goes unnoticed. Ephesians 6:12 ESV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:21 ESV far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 3:10 ESV so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. In Ephesians 6:12 I will give the definitions for the different powers according to the Strong's Concordance. 1. PRINCIPALITIES: The Greek word for principalities is "archē" pronounced ar-khay. It is a chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank): A magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. 2. POWERS: The Greek word for powers is "exousia" pronounced ex-oo-see-ah. It means in the sense of ability; privilege, force, capacity, competency, mastery, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, delegated influence: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. 3. RULERS OF DARKNESS: The Greek word for rulers of darkness is "kosmokratōr" pronounced kos-mok-rat'-ore. It means a world ruler, an epithet of Satan: A ruler. 4. SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS: The Greek word for spiritual wickedness is "ponēria" pronounced pon-ay-ree'-ah. It means depravity, malice; plots, sins: iniquity, wickedness. As believers many of us see being Christian as something we do. We read our Bibles, pray, go to church, and give our offerings. These are all good disciplines of the faith and should be done. However being a Christian is more than something we do, it is someone we are. We are called Christian because we are like-Christ.
Our old Adamic nature is dead, we have been given a new nature, the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are developing a new set of actions, which leads to new habits, which leads to a new lifestyle, which leads to new strongholds, which leaders to a new character. My character is not what I do but who I am. Sow a thought and you reap a deed or an action. (What we think and then act out) Sow a deed and you reap a habit. (What we continue to do until it becomes a habit) Sow a habit and you reap a lifestyle. (That which we do daily) Sow a lifestyle and reap a stronghold. (What we do now drives us) Sow a stronghold and reap a character. (No longer what we do but who we are) Sow a character and you reap a destiny. (Who we are determines what we accomplish in our life) In the Old Testament, Joseph was called "a dreamer" by his brothers, but his expansive dreams came true. Why? Joseph decided who he was before he decided what he would do, and he lived out his vision in everything he did. Joseph was a man of excellent character. God is always more concerned with your character than your position in life. Proverbs 11:3 ESV The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Proverbs 4:23 ESV Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. BEING FAITHFUL:I remember going into specialty shops that sold very expensive fine China. There were signs everywhere asking people not to touch the merchandise. There were also signs everywhere that said, “You break it, you buy it”. It was a reminder to us by the store owner that the contents of the establishment were of great value and that for those who were just looking around, should be careful doing so. This is a great picture for me concerning the precious things of our Lord that He has entrusted to my care. Being faithful is “being dependable, trustworthy, true and believable”, but it also means to “handle with care”. I have moved many times across the USA and Germany. In fact I have lived in Korea, Virginia (twice), Texas, Colorado, North Carolina (twice), Nevada, Florida (five times), California, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Most of those times I packed my own belongings and moved myself. With each move I can hear my wife at some point saying, “Be careful, I am trusting that you packed those things correctly”. She was counting on my faithfulness to do the right thing. We are called to be stewards of the gifting, the talents, the possessions, and the callings which the Lord has entrusted to our oversight. I call hear His call, “Be careful, and be found faithful”. For all the Elders or Pastors in ministry I want to say that we are to be careful and be found faithful stewards with the precious lives that the Father has placed in our hands. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ESV (1) This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Luke 12:41-44 ESV Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" (42) And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? (43) Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (44) Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. The Lord is looking for the faithful man who will teach a faithful man who in turn will teach a faithful man. The Apostle Paul was a faithful man. He in turn taught Timothy who was a faithful man. Paul told Timothy to teach faithful men who will tech faithful men. 2 Timothy 2:1-7 ESV You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, (2) and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (3) Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (4) No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (5) An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (6) It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. (7) Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. It is obvious that being faithful is a major teaching priority with our Lord. It is sad that faithfulness is a trait that is so lacking within the body of Christ, which reveals the need for believers to become Disciples. I firmly believe the Scriptures teach if we are faithful in small things we will get larger things, and if we are faithful in another man’s field we will receive our own field. KNOWING YOUR ENEMY:
When going into battle it is important to know something about your enemy. In WWII the German Commanders and American Commanders read a lot of information about one another. They read about their families, their education, their personalities, and their leadership style. But one of the key elements they read about was their strategy in war and their history of previous battles. They tried to anticipate their opponents next move so that they could counter attack. So it is with the Christian and our spiritual enemies, the demons of darkness. We read about them in both the Old and New Testaments to determine what ways they attack and then we form a counter against them. Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 2 Corinthians 2:11 ESV so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 ESV (13) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Luke 22:31 ESV "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. THREE LEVELS OF WARFARE: 1. GROUND LEVEL WARFARE: Casting out demons, deliverance ministries. (See Mk.1:34, 39). 2. OCCULT LEVEL WARFARE: Witchcraft, sorcery, freemasonry, new age, astrology, Eastern religions. (See Acts 13:10-12). 3. STRATEGIC LEVEL WARFARE: Encounters with high-ranking principalities and powers which keep large numbers of people, regions, territories in spiritual bondage. (See Eph.6:12; Acts 19:21-41). Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said in earlier studies that
1. WE MUST BE THIRSTY, 2. WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD, 3. WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION. 4. We need to answer the question "WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED"? We need to remember that the Person of the Holy Spirit is not a toy that we can play with. He is God. We cannot play spiritual and emotional games with the Person of Holy Spirit so that we get liver-shivers and goose bumps lest we find ourselves falling away from the faith. A walk with God and a walk in the Spirit is a serious thing. You can't fall away from something you never had. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, I cover the five evidences or proofs of genuine salvation, which all true believers must manifest, in my book "THE FIVE WITNESSES OF SALVATION." This is a great read for those interested in witnessing to the lost properly and witnessing to suspected lost church members. It is a normal part of New Testament life for a believer to examine himself and test himself to ensure that he is still in the faith. I have shook all over under the power of the Spirit. I have fallen to the ground like a dead man under the power of the Holy Spirit because I was unable to stand. I have cried and laughed under the power of the Holy Spirit. However, a consistent daily walk in the Holy Spirit does not consist of these things alone. The reason I say this is because I have seen Christians run from one Holy Spirit service to another getting their emotional, mental, and physical "Holy Ghost" fix. We need to always remember that the number one work of the Person of the Holy Spirit is to lead us consistently to the Lord Jesus Christ and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. If we get any glory or seem to have a "more holy" attitude, then we need to examine ourselves and examine what spirit we are operating in. John 15:26 ESV "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 1 John 4:2 ESV By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! We need to be careful when we are around signs, wonders, miracles and healings that we remember it is not about us and it is not about the signs and wonders. We need to know and understand the work of God among us. We can be close to the things of God and the presence of God yet our heart can become hardened from God Himself. The object of our worship and praise is also the subject of who our god is. If we worship experiences then that becomes our god. To be a true Spirit-filled believer, we must at all times focus on our relationship and fellowship with the Father, made possible by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even those who walked with Jesus daily battled with having a hardened heart towards the things of God. Mark 6:51-52 ESV And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, (52) for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. WARFARE INTERCESSION:
I have been in many deliverance sessions with others and often noticed that some of the Christians involved in the deliverance session was confessing fear. We should never be walking in fear, but especially when we are about to pray over someone to be free from demonic oppression. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. There is a time for everything. Therefore we need to be prepared at all times for what the Father has for us, and for what the world and the enemy will throw at us. TIME: There are two words for time used in the Bible. We will be looking at Kairos time. Kairos time This is a measure of time, a portion of time. This is a fixed and definite time when things are brought to a crisis. This is a opportune or season of time. This is the right time. This is a limited period of time. This is the state or condition of the times, or the events of our times. Ephesians 6:17-18 ESV and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (18) praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, "praying at all times". This is looking for windows of opportunities for spiritual intercession. It is well-timed spiritual attack in spiritual warfare. It is realizing or sensing that there is a scheme or plan assigned against you by the enemy and that you are in danger of a sudden attack by the enemy and in intercession you take the offensive. 1. THERE ARE SPECIFIC TIMES OF TEMPTATIONS: It was the Holy Spirit that lead our Lord Jesus Christ into the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy. It was specifically timed. Notice in the Matthew 4 and Luke 4 temptation accounts that our Lord was armed with the Word of God and He used what He was armed with. Matthew 4:1 ESV Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2 ESV And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness (2) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. Once the enemy was beaten in the wilderness and tried to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ in every possible way for forty days he left for a season waiting for another specific time to tempt our Lord. Luke 4:13 ESV And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. Our Lord Jesus Christ already warded Peter that the enemy was coming to tempt him. However, with the promise of a serious attack from the enemy came the promise from our Lord that He had already prayed for Peter that he not fail in the faith. Luke 22:31-32 ESV "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." 2. THERE ARE SPECIFIC TIMES OF PERSECUTION: There were times in the first century when persecution upon Christians was at its peak. We need to be aware of this. Christians in Europe and America typically think that persecution is someone on TV making fun of Christians. However, the death of Christians which we have witnessed from hostile Muslim countries is coming to European and American soils. There is a specific time to this and we need to be keenly aware least we place ourselves in harms way needlessly. Acts 12:1-2 ESV About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. (2) He killed James the brother of John with the sword, Acts 19:23 ESV About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. Warfare intercession: Pray without ceasing and be ready in season and out of season. Having done all else STAND! Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives? We said that...
WE MUST BE THIRSTY, WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD, WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION, and answer the question WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED. The Holy Spirit does not exalt Himeself. The number one ministry and work of the Holy Spirit is to take us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The number one ministry and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is to take us to the Father. The Person of the Holy Spirit always points us to our Lord Jesus Christ and to truth. The Holy Spirit's job is to bring glory to the Son. The Son's job is to bring glory to the Father. Yes, it is a joy experiencing the gifts, the power, the anointing, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but these things are not the main reason that He was sent to be with us. There are many who exalt the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit and miss His main ministry and work in pointing us to the Son. The motivation of the heart determines a lot when we are seeking after the Father. Are we thirsty for the Father or for what He can give or how He can make us feel? King David cried out after his sin because he knew that he had sinned against God and he also knew the joy of the Father's presence was now missing. First he cried out for God's mercy and love and that the Father would cleanse him of his sin. Psalms 51:1 (ESV) To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalms 51:2 (ESV) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! He did not try to blame others or his circumstances for his sins. He took personal responsibility for his sinful words, deed, and thoughts. Psalms 51:3 (ESV) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalms 51:4 (ESV) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Even though he was King and looked upon by others as beyond reproach, he acknowledged that he was born a sinner. In other words David acknowledged there was no good in him. And then proclaimed that the only thing in him that was good was God's wisdom and truth. Psalms 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:6 (ESV) Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. David did confessed by faith "under the Law," what many believers today fail to do under grace. He made a proclamation by faith that if God forgave him of his sin then he certainly would be forgiven and cleaned and that settled it. Psalms 51:7 (ESV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:8 (ESV) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Psalms 51:9 (ESV) Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. David new that we have a sin problem because we have a heart problem. He knew that he needed more than to be fixed or repaired, he needed to be replaced. He asked God for a new heart and a new spirit. Then he cried out for what we need more than anything in our church services and that was for the Father's presence. He knew that salvation belonged to God. David also asked that the Father's salvation be rekindled with the Father's joy. Psalms 51:10 (ESV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:11 (ESV) Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:12 (ESV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. The Father desires that we seek His presence over His power and His grace over His gifts. He will guide us to all truth. The only way to fill a glass with fresh, clean, cool water that is drinkable, is to ensure the glass desiring the water is first emptied and cleaned inside from anything else. John 16:8-11 ESV And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (9) concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; (10) concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; (11) concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:13-14 ESV When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. We love the Bible, God's Holy Word. The great miracle of Bible prophecy demonstrates two things:
FIRST: The prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that God is Omniscient meaning that He knows all things from the beginning to the end. SECOND: The prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that God has a plan and purpose which in His Power and Wisdom He carries out for His glory and for the redemption of His people. The prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that He always operated within His plan A and has never lost control. It certainly would be a confusing world if every act and happening surprised God and required Him to improvise with a "plan B" to rescue His people and plans from disaster. The prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that not even Man's original sin of rebellion in the Garden of Eden surprised God. He created Man with freedom of will to obey or disobey. Why God permitted man to sin and do evil we cannot perfectly explain, but we have assurance from the Word of God that a blood-washed redeemed people will ultimately contribute vastly to God's glory and praise. The prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that God is not the author of sin, but is righteous in all His dealings with mankind. He, in His Infinite Wisdom, which we cannot fully fathom, made man a free moral agent capable of obedience or disobedience. Depravity, pain, and crime resulted from Man's disobedience. But the prophetic revelation of God's Word demonstrates that it has always been God's purposed to overrule these and defeat sin, death and the grave. In the previous posts we said to...
Part 1: BE STRONG in the Lord Part 2: BE CLOTHED with the armor of God. Part 3: BE CLOTHED with the armor of God. Part 4: BE AGGRESSIVE in prayer. Part 5: BE FIRM against the enemy. Part 6: BE INTENTIONAL about praying down strongholds. Part 7: We are to... PULL DOWN ===> STRONG HOLDS CAST DOWN ===> IMAGINATIONS CAST DOWN ===> EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST GOD. CAPTURE =====> EVERY THOUGHT TO CHRIST Praying With Authority: When we refer to authority in prayer we do not mean authority to command God! God is sovereign and we are his servants. We can however command things, and the enemy! COMMANDING THINGS: Mark 11:23-25 ESV Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (25) And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Matthew 8:26-27 ESV And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (27) And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" COMMANDING DISEASE: Luke 4:38-39 ESV And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. (39) And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. COMMANDING THE ENEMY: James 4:7 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Mark 8:32-33 ESV And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (33) But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Matthew 17:16-18 ESV And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." (17) And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." (18) And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Mark 9:23-25 ESV And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." (24) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (25) And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." The word REBUKE is often used of Jesus relation to the oppositions of Satan whether through people, nature, disease, or evil spirits. The word REBUKE (epitimao) means to "put a weight upon", to "contradict." So then Jesus was putting pressure on the enemy with His authority. Jesus also made it clear that his disciples were given authority in His name over all the power of the enemy! The stopping of Satan's pillage of the earth is the task and privilege of believers. In fact Jesus said that we cannot make headway into territory of the enemy until we first "BIND THE STRONG MAN." Matthew 12:29 ESV Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. TO BE FILLED...
1. WE MUST BE THIRSTY, 2. WE MUST BELIEVE THE PROMISES OF GOD, 3. WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR SALVATION, 4. DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO BE EXALTED. I want to say something else about being thirsty for the things of God and having our thirst quenched. If I thirst for the filling of the Holy Spirit I will be filled. Once I first drink of the Holy Spirit, (having the Holy Spirit dwelling in me as a result of the NEW BIRTH), nothing will ever quench my thirst outside of His presence. I have meet people who claim to have known the Lord and now claim to be atheists or part of a cultic religion. They claimed that Jesus was not enough truth and that now they have real truth. I either have to believe them or believe God's Word that once we are truly saved we will never thirst again. I choose God's Word. Once we are saved there is a spiritual well deep within us that will spring forth, gush out, when we learn to walk in a Spirit-filled life style. Now, this is true or False. If God's Word is not correct here then can I believe it anywhere? We have a well of life, a well of thirst quenching life, a God-filled deep within us, waiting to come forth to bless the nations. We talk about getting out of the way so that can come forth, but what does that mean? My new book titled "EXPERIENCING THE BEAUTY OF BROKENNESS" takes about the broken and poured out life, which is a life in the Spirit. It is a 7-day a week for 10 weeks intensive on the life of being broken and humbled before the Lord. It is long enough to get us in the habit of getting our thirst quenched by the daily Spirit-filled life and not attempting to satisfy the flesh through worldly endeavors. John 4:13-14 ESV Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, (14) but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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