Someone asked this question, "What is the best way to structure a church?"
I answered, "If you desire to preach and teach the unadulterated Word of God, then your church should also be structured or patterned according to the unadulterated Word of God!"
Note: The word 'adulterated' literally means 'a foreign substance added to the original, and causes the original to lose its quality'.
In other words, we are to pattern the church according to what the Word of God says a church should be, not what man says a church should be! Only then will the church be able to stand strong in the midst of the perilous times we are living in, and be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
In Matthew 24:35, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." So, people of God, let's go straight to the Word of God now, and see what the Word of God says about church.
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
The word 'house' here is 'oikia' in Greek, from the word 'oikos' meaning 'a dwelling place, a family, a home, a household, or a temple'. Evidently, this 'house' can also mean 'the house of God', i.e. the church! How about the word 'rock' here? It is 'petra' in Greek, literally meaning 'the mass of rock'.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture. In cross-reference, Matthew 16:13-19 says,
'When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi,
He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter ('petros'), and on this rock ('petra') I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."'
In Greek, the word 'petros' speaks of 'a piece of rock', whereas the word 'petra' speaks of 'the mass of rock' (like the one at the core of the earth). This 'mass of rock' is likened to the 'chief cornerstone' (i.e. the uttermost of all rocks), i.e. Jesus Christ Himself (see Ephesians 2:20).
So, when Jesus said "on this rock ('petra') I will build My church", He meant "on this confession and revelation that I am the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build My church"! And you know what? This is the first time the word 'church' is mentioned in the Bible!
A church founded and built on 'the mass of rock' ('petra') is a church that is patterned after the Word of God! Because He is the Rock, and He is the Word! John 1:14 says, 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth'.
You see? That explains what I have written earlier, that we are to structure the church according to what the Word of God says a church should be, not what man says a church should be! God's idea of a church, not man's idea of a church! God's blueprint for a church, not man's blueprint for a church!
Our confidence is not in ourselves, or our own intelligence and wisdom. Our confidence is in the Word of God! And whatever the Word of God says a church should be, let the church be!
For details on what a church is according to the Word of God, click: You and I are the 'church'!
The pattern of the church according to the Word of God
1 Corinthians 12:28 says, 'And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues'.
Apostles ('apostolos' in Greek) = 'he that is sent'.
Prophets ('prophetes' in Greek) = 'he that is inspired'.
Teachers ('didaskalos' in Greek) = 'he that instructs/teaches'. To correlate with the five-fold gifts in Ephesians 4:11-13, evangelists and pastors are included under this category, because they also communicate the Word of God.
Miracles ('dunamis' in Greek) = 'ability, power, strength, mighty, wonderful (work of God)'.
Healings ('iama' in Greek) = 'healing, wholeness, wellness (both physically and in the soul)'.
Helps ('antilepsis' in Greek) = 'support, relief, help, deacons'.
Administrations ('kubernesis' in Greek) = 'administrations, management'.
Varieties of tongues ('glossa' in Greek) = 'intercession, prayer'.
For example, in a local church:
The apostle receives a genuine vision from the Lord (with confirmations, not assumptions), and is therefore sent (commissioned) by the Lord to break new ground and start the new work.
The prophet seeks the will (and directions) of the Lord, being inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak to the church, like a compass, so that the church will not go off-track.
The teacher ensures the Word of God is being instructed and taught correctly, with sound doctrines, so that the church will not fall into heresy or error.
By the way, the whole of 1 Corinthians 12 begins with, 'Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant'. The apostle Paul was writing to the church not to be ignorant of the spiritual gifts, i.e. the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the church. Obviously, this whole chapter still applies for the end-time church today, because the chapter that follows, 1 Corinthians 13 speaks about 'love' and 'love in action' (for without love, all these spiritual gifts mentioned in the whole of 1 Corinthians 12 would be useless).
How about orderliness in the church?
The Holy Spirit keeps everything in order. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Comforter. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us (John 16:13) in all areas of our lives, and that includes the church. It is the Holy Spirit who fills us, empowers us, and blesses us with spiritual gifts. Our part is to yield to Him, not our own intelligence and wisdom. A Spirit-filled church should also be a Spirit-led church. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8:14).
Ephesians 2:19-22 says, 'Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit'.
Ephesians 4:11-13 says, 'And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping (i.e. training) of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying (i.e. strengthening) of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ'.
In conclusion, a church that is patterned after the Word of God operates around the spiritual gifts (i.e. the gifts of the Holy Spirit), and not according to the structures created by man. The Word of God says so.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
But the Word of God says!
Deuteronomy 7:1-2 (NKJV): "When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them."
The Hebrew title for the book of Deuteronomy is 'Haddebharim'; 'ha' meaning 'the', and 'dabar' meaning 'Word', taken from the opening phrase in Deuteronomy 1:1 that says, 'These are the words...', addressed to the new generation destined to possess the Promised Land (i.e. those who survived the forty years of wandering in the wilderness). This book is therefore God's words ('dabar') for the new generation of people, a 'picture' of you and I in the New Covenant today!
The 'land' (i.e. the Promised Land) mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 speaks of 'God's inheritance and promises for your life'. Notice it is the Lord your God who 'brings you into the land' and 'has cast out many nations before you'.
The 'seven nations' mentioned here are 'symbolic' of 'the enemies illegally occupying your 'land' (i.e. your life, family, ministry, or vocation)', just like sicknesses (and viruses) illegally occupying your body! You see, these 'nations' were not supposed to be there in the Promised Land! They are the 'illegal occupants', and they have not been given the permission from the Lord to occupy the land!
Genesis 15:18-21 says, '...the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates - the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."'
Notice the word 'covenant' here? It means an agreement or a promise that cannot be broken! Notice 'To your descendants' here? Abraham's descendants! Are you Abraham's descendants? Yes! Galatians 3:29 says, 'And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed (i.e. offspring, descendants), and heirs according to the promise'!
Let's study some Hebrew words now to find out the symbolic meanings of each of these 'seven nations', and how 'you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them' (see Deuteronomy 7:2 again) - by the Word of God!
Hittites
'Khittee' in Hebrew, from the word 'khayth', meaning 'fear, terror, dread'.
The first weapon the enemy usually comes against you is by causing fear, terror or dread.
But the Word of God says:
'You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked' (Psalm 91:5-8)
'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7)
Girgashites
'Girgashiy' in Hebrew, from the word 'garah', meaning 'strive, contention'.
The enemy likes it when you strive and struggle, instead of relying on God's grace (ability, supply) and being at rest in the Lord.
But the Word of God says:
'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you' (2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 20:17)
'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11)
The Hebrew title for the book of Deuteronomy is 'Haddebharim'; 'ha' meaning 'the', and 'dabar' meaning 'Word', taken from the opening phrase in Deuteronomy 1:1 that says, 'These are the words...', addressed to the new generation destined to possess the Promised Land (i.e. those who survived the forty years of wandering in the wilderness). This book is therefore God's words ('dabar') for the new generation of people, a 'picture' of you and I in the New Covenant today!
The 'land' (i.e. the Promised Land) mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 speaks of 'God's inheritance and promises for your life'. Notice it is the Lord your God who 'brings you into the land' and 'has cast out many nations before you'.
The 'seven nations' mentioned here are 'symbolic' of 'the enemies illegally occupying your 'land' (i.e. your life, family, ministry, or vocation)', just like sicknesses (and viruses) illegally occupying your body! You see, these 'nations' were not supposed to be there in the Promised Land! They are the 'illegal occupants', and they have not been given the permission from the Lord to occupy the land!
Genesis 15:18-21 says, '...the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates - the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."'
Notice the word 'covenant' here? It means an agreement or a promise that cannot be broken! Notice 'To your descendants' here? Abraham's descendants! Are you Abraham's descendants? Yes! Galatians 3:29 says, 'And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed (i.e. offspring, descendants), and heirs according to the promise'!
Let's study some Hebrew words now to find out the symbolic meanings of each of these 'seven nations', and how 'you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them' (see Deuteronomy 7:2 again) - by the Word of God!
Hittites
'Khittee' in Hebrew, from the word 'khayth', meaning 'fear, terror, dread'.
The first weapon the enemy usually comes against you is by causing fear, terror or dread.
But the Word of God says:
'You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked' (Psalm 91:5-8)
'For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7)
Girgashites
'Girgashiy' in Hebrew, from the word 'garah', meaning 'strive, contention'.
The enemy likes it when you strive and struggle, instead of relying on God's grace (ability, supply) and being at rest in the Lord.
But the Word of God says:
'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you' (2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 20:17)
'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalm 46:10-11)
Amorites
'Emoriy' in Hebrew, from the word 'amar', meaning 'challenge, boasting'.
The enemy likes to boast against you, and taunt you into giving up, like what Goliath did to Israel.
But the Word of God says:
'You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied' (1 Samuel 17:45)
'Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands' (1 Samuel 17:47)
Canaanites
'Kenaaniy' in Hebrew, from the word 'kenaan', meaning 'humiliation, shame'.
The enemy likes to humiliate you and shame you, reminding you of those dark past, sins and mistakes of yours.
But the Word of God says:
'Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth' (Isaiah 54:4-5)
'There is therefore now no (never, not at all, not even one) condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit' (Romans 8:1)
Perrizites
'Perizziy' in Hebrew, from the word 'paraz', meaning 'separation, nakedness'.
The enemy wants to separate you from God, just as he did to Adam and Eve (they saw their own nakedness and began to hide from God).
But the Word of God says:
'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37)
'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Romans 8:38-39)
Hivites
'Khivvee' in Hebrew, from the word 'khavvaw', meaning 'smallness, self-pity'.
The enemy wants to make you feel 'small', miserable and discouraged, like a snake (a python that 'constricts the victim') squeezes life and energy out of you.
But the Word of God says:
'What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies' (Romans 8:31-33)
'You are of God, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)
Jebusites
'Yebuwciy' in Hebrew, from the word 'yebuwc', meaning 'trample, oppression'.
The enemy wants to trample you (put you down), making you oppressed and depressed, so you will not fulfill all that the Lord wants you to fulfill.
But the Word of God says:
'Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you' (Luke 10:19)
'All (any, every, the whole, whatsoever) authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen' (Matthew 28:18-20)
People of God, whatever the 'illegal occupants' may be in your life at the moment, speak and declare the Word of God aloud, so that your ears will hear! Romans 10:17 says, 'So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God'! You may even want to 'personalize' these words of the Lord for yourself! Go ahead! And this is how you overcome! By the Word of God that you speak and declare aloud! 1 John 5:4 says, 'For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith'!
Hallelujah! Amen!
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
No weapon formed against you shall prosper!
I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"This is a month I will teach you and lead you to triumph in your spiritual warfare! Whatever your spiritual warfare may be at the moment, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn! By the Blood and by the Word! So, fear not! Victory has already been won for you! Claim it! Receive it!"
Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV) says, 'And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him'.
Revelation 12:10-12 (NKJV) continues, 'Then I (John) heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation (Yeshuwah), and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the BLOOD of the Lamb and by the WORD of their testimony..."'
By the Blood (of Christ) and by the Word (of Christ)! That's exactly how John saw the people of the Lord overcome the devil! That's all they needed! And the same it is for you and I today!
Let's do a simple checklist.
Has the Blood (of Christ) been shed for you? Yes! Some 2,000 years ago! (see Ephesians 1:7)
Has the Word (of Christ) been given to you? Yes! When He came on earth! (see John 1:14)
And there you are! The truth is you ALREADY have everything you need to triumph in warfare today! Victory has already been won for you on the cross!
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ'.
See the words 'who has blessed us' here? Notice it is not written 'who will soon bless us', but written 'who has blessed us'! It means as a believer in Christ Jesus, you are not 'trying to get it' (trying to earn it or achieve it), but you ALREADY have it!
Now watch the word 'every' in this verse. It is translated in King James Version (KJV) as 'all'. In Greek, it is even better! It can mean 'all, any, every, the whole of, whatsoever'! Wow! In other words, our Abba Father in heaven has blessed us with 'all, any, every, the whole of, whatsoever' spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!
Some may ask, "But why are there so many Christians not living in victory?" Because they do not know! They do not know they have ALREADY been given everything they need in order to live in victory! The Bible says, 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...' (Hosea 4:6) And this knowledge is not just head knowledge, but revelation knowledge!
"Now that I know, what should I do now?"
Ephesians 6:10-11 says, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil'. Ephesians 6:13 then says, 'Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand'.
And finally, Ephesians 6:14 says, 'Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness...'
See the word 'stand' mentioned three times here? The number 'three' in Hebrew numeric can mean 'perfect testimony, invincibility'. Let Scripture interpret Scripture, and we shall go all the way to 2 Chronicles 20 now. Here, it happened that a great multitude (the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir) came to battle against Judah, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah began to seek the Lord for help (2 Chronicles 20:1-4). The Spirit of the Lord then came upon Jahaziel, and he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's... You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation (Yeshuwah) of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.'" (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
Notice the word 'stand' here? In Hebrew, this word is 'aw-mad', and it can mean 'to present self'. See? Your part is to present yourself (and not absent yourself!) and watch the Salvation (Yeshuwah) of the Lord, who is with you! As for Jehoshaphat, he appointed those who should sing praises to the Lord, and when they began singing praises to the Lord, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir were so confused that they began to destroy one another! (see 2 Chronicles 20:19-30)
People of God, just as for Jehoshaphat, the Lord your God will also give you the strategies for victory, when you seek Him and ask of Him!
What is the 'warfare' you are facing now?
Against: Spirit of death? Spirit of infirmities? Spirit of lack? Spirit of fear? Spirit of discouragement? The list goes on.
Symptoms: You have tried everything you know how in the natural, but it still comes attacking you!
Then you know this 'war' is invisible, and it is spiritual.
The fact is the devil hates you, and will throw 'darts' at you whenever there's an opportunity! But fear not! Because He (the Lord) who is in you is greater than he (the devil) who is in the world! (1 John 4:4)
Not convinced? Here's the difference between the Lord your God and the devil:
1. The Lord your God is omniscient (all-knowing). But the devil does not know everything.
Otherwise he wouldn't have put Jesus on the cross, and got himself 'checkmated'! (see Hebrews 10:12-14)
2. The Lord your God is omnipotent (all-powerful). But the devil is not all-powerful. Otherwise he wouldn't have begged Jesus to leave him alone and not to torment him! (see Luke 8:28)
3. The Lord your God is omnipresent (all-present). But the devil is not everywhere all the time. Otherwise the Bible wouldn't have mentioned that he was cast out! (see Revelation 12:7-9)
And because the devil knows he isn't as great as what he wants men (and women) make him out to be, his one tactic is to make you think you don't have what you ALREADY have! That's why he is called a liar! (John 8:44)
People of God, the truth is you ALREADY have everything when you have Jesus!
He is in you the YHWH Shalom. He is not just giving you shalom peace, but HE IS your shalom peace!
He is in you the YHWH Rapha. He is not just giving you healing, but HE IS your healing!
He is in you the YHWH Yireh. He is not just giving you providence, but HE IS your providence!
He is in you the YHWH Tsidkenu. He is not just giving you righteousness, but HE IS your righteousness!
He is in you the YHWH Nissi. He is not just giving you the banner and the victory, but HE IS your banner and your victory!
Therefore, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). Amen and Amen!
"This is a month I will teach you and lead you to triumph in your spiritual warfare! Whatever your spiritual warfare may be at the moment, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn! By the Blood and by the Word! So, fear not! Victory has already been won for you! Claim it! Receive it!"
Revelation 12:7-9 (NKJV) says, 'And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him'.
Revelation 12:10-12 (NKJV) continues, 'Then I (John) heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation (Yeshuwah), and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the BLOOD of the Lamb and by the WORD of their testimony..."'
By the Blood (of Christ) and by the Word (of Christ)! That's exactly how John saw the people of the Lord overcome the devil! That's all they needed! And the same it is for you and I today!
Let's do a simple checklist.
Has the Blood (of Christ) been shed for you? Yes! Some 2,000 years ago! (see Ephesians 1:7)
Has the Word (of Christ) been given to you? Yes! When He came on earth! (see John 1:14)
And there you are! The truth is you ALREADY have everything you need to triumph in warfare today! Victory has already been won for you on the cross!
Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) says, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ'.
See the words 'who has blessed us' here? Notice it is not written 'who will soon bless us', but written 'who has blessed us'! It means as a believer in Christ Jesus, you are not 'trying to get it' (trying to earn it or achieve it), but you ALREADY have it!
Now watch the word 'every' in this verse. It is translated in King James Version (KJV) as 'all'. In Greek, it is even better! It can mean 'all, any, every, the whole of, whatsoever'! Wow! In other words, our Abba Father in heaven has blessed us with 'all, any, every, the whole of, whatsoever' spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!
Some may ask, "But why are there so many Christians not living in victory?" Because they do not know! They do not know they have ALREADY been given everything they need in order to live in victory! The Bible says, 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...' (Hosea 4:6) And this knowledge is not just head knowledge, but revelation knowledge!
"Now that I know, what should I do now?"
Ephesians 6:10-11 says, 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemings) of the devil'. Ephesians 6:13 then says, 'Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand'.
And finally, Ephesians 6:14 says, 'Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness...'
See the word 'stand' mentioned three times here? The number 'three' in Hebrew numeric can mean 'perfect testimony, invincibility'. Let Scripture interpret Scripture, and we shall go all the way to 2 Chronicles 20 now. Here, it happened that a great multitude (the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir) came to battle against Judah, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah began to seek the Lord for help (2 Chronicles 20:1-4). The Spirit of the Lord then came upon Jahaziel, and he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's... You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation (Yeshuwah) of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.'" (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
Notice the word 'stand' here? In Hebrew, this word is 'aw-mad', and it can mean 'to present self'. See? Your part is to present yourself (and not absent yourself!) and watch the Salvation (Yeshuwah) of the Lord, who is with you! As for Jehoshaphat, he appointed those who should sing praises to the Lord, and when they began singing praises to the Lord, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir were so confused that they began to destroy one another! (see 2 Chronicles 20:19-30)
People of God, just as for Jehoshaphat, the Lord your God will also give you the strategies for victory, when you seek Him and ask of Him!
What is the 'warfare' you are facing now?
Against: Spirit of death? Spirit of infirmities? Spirit of lack? Spirit of fear? Spirit of discouragement? The list goes on.
Symptoms: You have tried everything you know how in the natural, but it still comes attacking you!
Then you know this 'war' is invisible, and it is spiritual.
The fact is the devil hates you, and will throw 'darts' at you whenever there's an opportunity! But fear not! Because He (the Lord) who is in you is greater than he (the devil) who is in the world! (1 John 4:4)
Not convinced? Here's the difference between the Lord your God and the devil:
1. The Lord your God is omniscient (all-knowing). But the devil does not know everything.
Otherwise he wouldn't have put Jesus on the cross, and got himself 'checkmated'! (see Hebrews 10:12-14)
2. The Lord your God is omnipotent (all-powerful). But the devil is not all-powerful. Otherwise he wouldn't have begged Jesus to leave him alone and not to torment him! (see Luke 8:28)
3. The Lord your God is omnipresent (all-present). But the devil is not everywhere all the time. Otherwise the Bible wouldn't have mentioned that he was cast out! (see Revelation 12:7-9)
And because the devil knows he isn't as great as what he wants men (and women) make him out to be, his one tactic is to make you think you don't have what you ALREADY have! That's why he is called a liar! (John 8:44)
People of God, the truth is you ALREADY have everything when you have Jesus!
He is in you the YHWH Shalom. He is not just giving you shalom peace, but HE IS your shalom peace!
He is in you the YHWH Rapha. He is not just giving you healing, but HE IS your healing!
He is in you the YHWH Yireh. He is not just giving you providence, but HE IS your providence!
He is in you the YHWH Tsidkenu. He is not just giving you righteousness, but HE IS your righteousness!
He is in you the YHWH Nissi. He is not just giving you the banner and the victory, but HE IS your banner and your victory!
Therefore, no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). Amen and Amen!
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