Tag Archives: Power

You Already GOT It.

I publicly proclaim bold promises.
I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me
if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.
Isaiah 45:19 (NLT)

We start this section with a presupposition that the Father and Jesus have when engaging men. The presupposition is if God talks about good things, no matter how awesome and wonderful, it is attainable by anyone who has faith. God is no respecter of persons. Small or great, it does not matter. If God promised to make Abraham’s name great, give him supernatural health, and excessive fruitfulness, then Abraham can get these by faith, and it is very doable. It is like God commanding a plant, “if you gather sunlight and water, you will have food.” In the context of a plant this is more than doable. God’s precious promises and definitions for man, is in context, that we more than able to walk in these excessive blessings.

When Jesus rebuked the disciples for not casting out a demon because of their lack of faith, the presupposition from Jesus is that the disciples are able to do this. When Jesus rebuked the disciple in multiple applications for their lack of faith, His presupposition is that they can have faith to do these things. When Jesus said, “if you seek, you will find, if you knock the door will be open,” and to pray and never give up because you will get what you pray for, the presupposition is that you are able to do this. Jesus would not said that if you bind something on earth it will be bound in heaven, if you could not do it. This is an encouragement. Jesus’ presupposition means casting out sickness or mountains, in His Name, is some as attainable as a plant getting food from soaking up water and sunlight. When you read the New Testament you realize doing miracles is an easy thing; it is only Satan and false tradition that teach the opposite. It is obvious why the devil is afraid of such a doctrine, but why do men conspire with him?

This presupposition might seem obvious, but some seem to miss this due to false teachings or the emotional hurt from being attacked by the devil. Be encouraged, God would not have promised these good things if you could not do them. He is cheering for you more than you are for yourself. He promised these good things because He likes you, because He loved you with and everlasting love.

The sword of the Spirit is already yours. You wield it, not God. You have been baptized in the Spirit with “power.” You wield this power, not God. It’s yours. You have authority in Jesus’ name to command demons and sickness to flee. You have the status of a child to ask for whatever you want and to get it. You do this, not God.

You already have these benefits, power, authority and blessings, you simply receive them freely by faith. God has already defined you with these things, and so you do not beg for them. I remember Andrew Wommack saying in a sermon “What if I gave you my bible, and then while holding my bible you look at me and say, “Andrew will you give me your bible?” I would think such a person is missing a few screws and wouldn’t know what to say to them. I would likely stay silent, which is exactly how God treats many of your prayers for the same reason.”[1] Andrew’s point is an important one. Many Christians do not know the fullness of their new definition in Christ; they do not understand they already possess God’s blessings, power and authority. And so, they end up begging God for things they think they do not have, but in fact already do. They walk in constant lack and defeat. This is why Christianity for many things is a Word of Faith Confession (“I am the father of many nation”), rather than asking God for things. This is why Christianity for many things is a command: “demon, sickness, mountain, trouble, Get out of my way.” You cannot confess something as true, when reality is a contradiction to it, if you do not have the power to make it happen. You cannot command something to leave if you do not already have the authority to do it. Jesus is an extreme faith teacher; He tells us to confess and command things because we already have His power and authority to do it.

Think about Christmas gifts, with your name on them, under the Christmas tree. They have already been given to you. Imagine picking up a present with your name on it and then begging your mom if you can have this on Christmas day. Your mom says “it is yours, your name is on it, open it!!” But then you continue to hold it and begin to beg even more if you can have it. Yet this is how many Christians treat God in prayer. This is why they do not see victory in their lives.

Faith is assenting to what God says is true. When you beg and hedge your prayers, it means you are not assenting to God’s definition of your new identity in Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2 that the Spirit of God, who alone knows God, has been given to us to help us know all things that God has “freely given” us. You do not beg for a Christmas gift with your name on it, you simply receive it. You do not beg God for gospel benefits that have been freely given to you; you simply receive them by faith. They are already yours. You do not beg the bank teller to give you your money when it is already in your account; and likewise you do not beg God to give you gospel blessings that have been deposited into your account by grace. They are already yours. Faith is your access or admission to retrieve them and use them.

Jesus did not say, “God will feed them” rather He said, “You feed them.” Jesus did not instruct us to tell God about our mountain in prayer; rather, the most God centered man told us to speak to the mountain and make it disappear. Jesus did to say God will cast out these demons and heal the sick; rather, He gave us the power and commanded us to do it (Acts 1:8).

The bibles tells us that it is not God who resists the devil and makes him flee, but that we resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7).

Again, many things that people leave for God to do, God has already given us the grace, supply and authority to do it ourselves. They beg God to give them things that God has already given them. This is why God is silent for much of their prayers. It is hard to respond to insane requests.

They come to God saying, “we are nothing, we have nothing, and so we ask you to help us.” They approach God like beggars and outsiders to His Contract. The relate to God like reprobates. A person who is part of God’s Contract has the contractual right to boldly approach God as a prince of heaven, and by this same contract they have the authority to command demons, sickness and mountains to flee.

Because they said “they are nothing and have nothing,” then like God said in Exodus 14 to the Israelites by giving them what they said, He will say “ok, you are nothing, and you have nothing.”

Their faith in God’s Contract, by the blood of His only Son, is no greater than a brick wall. It seems unrealistic they can command mountains and sickness to flee, because they view the Contract by the blood of Jesus as insufficient to produce such great results. They reject God’s power and His love.

He clothes them in the full amor of God. He gives them His shield and even His sword of the Spirit. But these same people will leave God’s armor hanging on the wall, the shied of faith in their closet and the sword under their beds. Then they cry out for God to be a mighty warrior and come down to save them. It is not funny. It was not a suggestion for Christians to adorn God’s armor, use His weapons and be empowered with His power; It was a command. “Be strong in the Lord and in His might power.” They cry out for God to be a mighty warrior but God has given them the authority, power and weapons to be a mighty warrior. God has given all Christians the power to be like David facing Goliath, no, He has given greater power. David said God made him strong enough to leap over a wall (Psalm 18), but by the power of God’s Spirit Phillip was transported to different cities.

Imagine having to be in God’s place. He gives us power and authority, and people ask God to use authority to make Satan flee. He not only has given us this authority but commands us to make Satan flee by resisting him. “Lord, please make the devil flee.” How would you answer such a contradictive request? Imagine they keep asking over and over? Yet many Christians pray to God like this. The keep asking for things God has already given them.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18: 18-19.

Christian: “how much authority do I have?”

God: “Whatever you bind, I will bind;
Whatever you lose, I will lose;
Whatever you allow, I will allow.”

This is another example of what God has already given us. He has already given us the authority to gather, ask for anything and then God will do it. This is not something we do not have and then ask God to have the privilege to gather, agree and then receive whatever we ask for. It is already our identity and definition in Jesus. This is already our royal privilege and right. The ablity to lock and unlock something on earth and then have this to be the same in Heaven is something God has already given us. You do not need to be a Christian for 10 years, working to achieve 100 acts of charity and a 1000 years of soul cultivation to be able to do this. Because we already have this, we simple do it and walk in it. If things need to be locked and unlock on earth and in heaven, we do it in Jesus’ Name rather than begging God about it. If we want anything, then we come together, agree, and receive our miracles.

Take for example depression. If the reports are true, this is a rampant issue in the church. Yet, does not the scripture address this problem? Paul faced many hardships and overwhelming difficulties. How did he deal with this, so that he did not succumb to depression? He tells us how in 1 Corinthians 14. He says that praying in tongues “edifies” the person. This is referring to the inner man. The soul of a Christian is strengthened to edification and peace by praying in tongues. Why else do you suppose Paul brags about praying in tongues more than the Corinthians. He needed inner edification and so he used the power God has already given him. He suffered continually and so he prayed in tongues continually. It’s so simply a child can do it. When you read the book of Acts, praying it tongues is a gift for all. Not the gift of “tongues” spoken in a congregation to be interpreted, but the gift of tongues for personal edification appears to be given to all (or super vast majority) in the book of Acts for those baptized in the Spirit.

And so, God has given us the power to be strengthened in the inner man for peace and joy. Beyond this, those who are experienced in Spiritual operations know praying in tongues for personal edification is a gateway into other spiritual powers and operations to manifest. This is such a powerful tool and many under use and under value it. I can personally testify in my own struggle with depression that it was overcome by praying in tongues and power. More than once when praying in tongues in my fight over sadness, fear and depression it led to interpretation and powerful words from God. It led to God being my personal counselor.

I will give this quick testimony and example. The important point to remember is the you need the foundation of God’s word and to continually study God’s word. Sometimes you might need your pastor for advice and counsel, but the thing that will deliver you is POWER. God’s unadulterated power is what will deliver you. Praying in tongues is gateway to God’s power. It is like a game cheat that can bypass all sorts of things and suddenly load you with God-mod power.

The other day I awoke feeling off and with a headache. Halfway through the day I saw a reminder to seek God in devotion for spiritual strength, and I felt the Spirit prod me to do this. As the day went on the headache got worse and I felt an irrational oppressive pressure on my mind. I even had a difficult time remembering things. Finally it got to a point where it was irrational fears and accusative thoughts coming out of nowhere.

I have been seeking personal inner strength as a priority for a few years. God has been delivering me from many of my old fears and even sins and etc. I remember as a young man I experienced a direct demonic attack regarding temptation. It frightened me. I lacked the knowledge and power to know how to deal with such a thing. It caused me years of terrible fear in my heart. Vincent’s materials were helping me, and his essay on Demonic Attacks was a moment when I began to experience real breakthrough.

However, I suddenly felt all those old fears suddenly being pressed upon me, like they once did. So, I did the easy thing and just began to pray in tongues and declares God’s promises over me. When I began this, the oppressive mental attacks ratcheted up strength. After about 15 minutes I felt a sudden power in speaking in tongues. This happens sometimes. You will be praying in tongues and suddenly, the power will increase. The bible says both the woman and Jesus “felt” power regarding the healing. There is such as thing as spiritual force and you can feel it. The bible is always true and men are liars. The moment this happened I heard the Spirit say to me, “You are a child of God, these things are to be afraid of you, not the other way around!” At this exact moment, all the oppressive thoughts and pressure vanished. Wonderfully, even my headache was instantly healed.

In a perfect world of mature faith, a simple word would have stopped this attack earlier on the day. And we are all to seek this level of faith. So, while you work on a strong faith, have compassion on yourself and those around you needing help, by praying in tongues and bringing down the power of God to expand His kingdom.

Vincent Cheung in the essay, “Cure for Psychological Trauma,” says, “Power is what will finally deliver you.” The foundation is first correct theology and promises. But the thing that will deliver from all your troubles is power. Unadulterated power of God. Mature faith will always do this. However, praying in tongues is one of the easiest ways to move the power of God directly into your soul, body and life. You should eagerly seek this gift. We need less talk and more power! God’s power can deliver you, your family, your church and even entire nations.

The point is God has already given you the power to be edified. And yet people will be depressed and cry out to God, “oh lord please help me overcome this depression.” Yet God has already answered their prayer by given the baptism of the Spirit and gift to pray in tongues. They keep asking for something Jesus has already purchased by His blood and given them free access to use. Jesus said the Father has given Him the Spirt, just as the Father promised, to freely pour out on His chosen ones. All you need to have the Power and tongues is faith and you receive it, just like you receive forgiveness of sins.

This is not to say we do not cry out to God for help in our troubles and emotional upheavals. Elijah was deeply saddened, and so God came down. He rebuked him and encouraged him. God gave him food that supernaturally sustained him. Elijah’s sadness was replaced with purpose and joy. We see God’s willingness to help. Because we see God in scripture wanting to help us in our sadness, and commands us to keep praying, we gladly obey Him. We pray continually until we get what we ask for. We seek and find. We knock and the door opens. The promise is that the door will open. The promise is that we will find it. The promise is if we do not give up praying that we will be given what we ask for.

The point is simple. Why cry out for God to help with depression if you are not willing to obey Him and do the things you are able to do, which is to pray in tongues. Being edified by praying in tongues does not mean this is all there is to fighting depression, but it means we are delusional if we seek God for help and are too lazy to do the things that are in our means to use. We see God’s love in both aspects. We see power that God has already given us, and recognize when there are closed doors that they will open, if we only keep knocking. God has predestined us to win. We win in both aspects. In preinstalled power and in opening shut doors, we are made to only win.

Think about God’s generosity. He has given us divine power from heaven to beat back depression. He gave us supernatural power to fight. He gave us His personal lightning bolt. And yet, Christians will turn to human counselors and drugs and then act like beggars before God, hoping He might help them. Wait. What? This is not Christianity. It is literally a different worldview than the viewing the world through the Spirit and power. Christianity is about believing. It is believing your identity in Christ. They don’t see themselves as new creations in Christ. They have an anti-Christian view of the world.

Again, how would you respond to someone who keeps asking for something you already gave them?

“Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours, (Deuteronomy 11:24 NLT).

God delivered Israel from Egypt by Himself. They did not lift one sword to fight. God did all the fighting Himself. Yet, after they were baptized in the Jordon river (as we are baptized in the Spirit), God said He will empower them. He commanded them to use shields and swords. God will be the supernatural power in obvious miracles and in guiding their hands as they swing their weapons. It was not God’s footsteps that determined how much land they took, but their footsteps. They had to put their own feet on the ground and move forward.

Imagin Joshua sitting at the foot of Cannan crying and begging God to give them Cannan? “Lord, please give this land to us?” How would God answer that? What if Josh kept doing this over and over? At one point God had to tell Mose to stop monologuing, shut up and cross over the Red Sea. People pray to God as if they are still in Egypt. But Egypt is an illustration of Jesus’ atonement. If you see yourself still in Egypt you still view Jesus as if He did not die and resurrect. Likewise, after God saved the people from Egypt, He then baptized them in supernatural power and they, not God, marched into Cannan. This is how we advance His kingdom today. With every footstep of faith in God’s promises, we march into the devil’s territory and take ground for our inheritance and our Father’s value.

We do not “wait” for God to move, we do not beg God to give, we do not sit around for a revival, because we already have God’s mighty power, rich supply, armor, weapons and authority to march forward. If you are a Christian you already have these things. And if we find closed doors, we are persistent at knocking and our God opens.

An illustration that Andrew Wommack uses on this same topic is to equate God as the powerplant pushing the power to our house, but if we want a light turn on in our house, we must flip the light switch. It would be unreasonable to call the power company and ask if a utility worker can come over to the house and turn on the lights, the stove, the fan and computer, because that is our job. This is a good analogy. We are not saying the that we inherently have the power, but that God richly supplies the power to us. We do not force God, rather, we enforce the power, privileges, blessings and authority freely given to us in Christ.

We pay to have the electricity directed to our house; however, in the gospel Jesus pays the tab for all the power and blessings of Abrham, faith and the Spirit to be directed to us. Not even an insane person would call the utility company to send over a worker to their house every time a light or appliance needs to be turn on, and yet people treat God this way. God has already provided us with blessings and power to do so much, and God expect us to turn on the lights, heat the stove and power up the computer. He asks so little.

Unbelief is so disgusting that it makes people excessively lazy. Proverbs says a lazy man will not even lift his hand out of the bowl to feed himself. Many Christians are the same with faith and power. God has already supplied them with all the power and authority they could ever hope to use. And like the lazy man who will not even lift his hand out of the dish, the so-called Christian will not even lift bread from God’s table to their face. Jesus referred to healing as bread that belongs to Abraham’s children. But so-called Christians are so lazy they will not even lift it to their face? Jesus says if in faith you “say” to this mountain to move, then it will happen. Jesus showed us over and over to “tell” sickness to leave and it leaves. But Christians are too lazy to even open their mouth to “tell” sickness, demons, poverty and demons to leave. Do they expect God to come down from heaven a second time and spoon feed them and shove the bread down their throats? Do they expect God to force open their jaws and speak?

If there is sickness, the power is already yours to heal. Because of Jesus finished work and because you are already born-from-above, the power of God is already directed to you. It is already yours. It is your responsibility and accountability to turn on the lights. It is your responsibility to speak to sickness and command it to leave in Jesus’ name (John 14:13). Jesus went to heaven to sit on His throne and commanded us to be filled with faith and power, so that millions of His followers will turn on lights all over the world. The power is already yours. Oh, sleeper, when will you wake up. The bread is on the table. Eat.

This doctrine about “you already got it,” is simply the application of knowing your identity in Christ. Our identity in Christ is a foundational doctrine from metaphysis. The way you “apply” this doctrine shows if you have understood it correctly. When we know what we already have, through our identity Christ, we apply this by using it, rather than begging God for something we already have.

God has given you so much power, authority and supply in your new identity in Christ. You should be so filled power and faith that when you see sickness your first impulse is to say “get out,” and it leaves; that when you see a demon, you say “leave,” and it leaves; that when you see a physical lack of a material substance you command it to multiply, and after it finishes multiplying, there are 14 baskets left over; that when you feel stressed you pray in tongues and joy feels your heart and God gives you a tailored word to help you; that when you need to make a house payment you go to your backyard and grab a random toad and pull out a gold ounce; that when you see a mountain in your way, you speak to it and it vanishes in a black hole. If this is not your first impulse, but rather to “ask or beg God for help,” then you are immature in knowing and walking in your identity in Christ. You still do not know who you are. You still do not know God’s power and generosity. You still approach God as if you are an outsider to Him and His Contract.

This is not to say we never pray to God by saying, “I need help for this or that,” because we are commanded to pray all the time and to boldly approach God for help. What we are saying is that when you understand your position in Christ this maturity will lead to you correctly use what God as already given you. You will correctly use your authority and faith in speaking to sickness, troubles, and demons rather than giving long winded prayers hoping God might help you. If God’s sword is in your right hand, is it a correct application to beg God to give you heavenly power?

“It makes no sense to knock on an open door, or ask for something you already have, or to look for something that has never been lost. Prayer makes sense when doors close, when there is need and loss. Prayer reverses tragedy, meets necessity, removes hindrance. Prayer is God solution to man’s problems.”[3]

Gabriel is correct. The fact the Jesus commands us to knock and the door will open, to seek and find, and to always pray for what we want and never give up, presupposes there are closed doors and hindrance blocking our progress in life, our desires and godliness. The way we face closed doors is to keep praying (knocking) until it opens. When we are lost and can’t find our way, we seek (pray, pray in the Spirit, read more scripture etc.) until we find. We are to be like Daneil and pray to God 3 times a day, if not more. When Jesus said “will the son of man really find faith,”(Luke 18:1-8) it was in the context of commanding us to pray and never give up. When you are mature and you know your identity and power as a Christian, it is easy to see a sickness and just command it to leave and it leaves. But to face a closed door is more difficult because it takes patience, diligence and constantly applying faith at all the fiery arrows telling you to give up. It is when we face closed doors that even the faith of a mature Christian can be tested. Mature Christians do better with this knocking because they understand how much God has given them and how much God loves them, (Ephesians 3:14-21, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16) But God’s chosen ones do not shrink back. They keep knocking and the door opens.

As a summary this is a worldview issue. Knowing, believing and walking in your identity in Christ makes you view the world in a completely different way. It can be a lack of knowledge, but it can also be that many so-called Christian are not born-again, and this is why their worldview is so limited, powerless, blessing-less. They see themselves as limited, because they only see themselves. Jesus is just a slogan, but their true view of the world is only though their human limitations. God’s elect see themselves in and through Christ. Because the see Christ as limitless they see themselves as limitless. Because they see Jesus as righteous without measure, they see themselves as righteous. Because the see how great God’s love is for Jesus, the see how great the Father loves them. They see themselves in the world filled with God’s power, blessings, privileges and authority. The difference couldn’t be more glaring.

If I were writing for the sake of importance, I would write pages and pages on this, because it is so important. However, I will only say that if you want to walk in the type of victory and power you read in the bible the above doctrine is foundational.

[1] This is paraphrases from memory.

[2] Ephesians 6:18 NIV. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

[3] Gabriel Arauto. Google translate from Portuguese to English.

From my forthcoming Systematic Theology book.

I Do Care, That Is Why I Gave You My Power.

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
(Mark 4:28-39 NIV)

Earlier Jesus gave them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons (ch.3). They have been seeing Jesus do miracles, and now they have been doing miracles. This is the context.

I wish to point Jesus’ evaluation of the disciples behavior. He revealed they had “no faith.” Not even a little, they had “no faith.”

Here is what I wish to focus on. The disciples accused Jesus of “not caring” about them. Today, people are sophisticated and so they avoid accusing God of this, and instead say their bad situation was “God’s will.” They use this to show-off and parade how they are “suffering for the glory of God.” They have their reward.

The disciples accused Jesus for “not caring” about them. The emotion that lead to this irreverent accusation was “fear.” The fear was coming from a natural situation. The disciples, many being fishermen, knew from human experience that they were in trouble.

Jesus said their fear and irreverent behavior came from having no faith at all. They did not trust God to help them. You cannot give the option that they should have trusted God and suffered, because Jesus made the storm go away. Thus, the “faith” Jesus was referring to, had to do with trusting God to make the bad situation disappear. Jesus thinks this is the type of faith we ought to have.

But there is one more element to this. It is not merely trusting God to keep them safe, in a general sense; no, there is more to it. Jesus had already anointed them with authority to do miracles. In the pervious chapter Jesus gave them power and His authority. They had already been doing things that would elevate them above some of the Old Testament prophets in raw power. They are doing it with success. They were not helpless. They wanted to blame Jesus for not caring to help them, when Jesus had already given them the faith and authority to command the trouble to go away. Jesus loved them so much and cared for them so much that He put heavenly swords in their hands to expand His kingdom. It is like Zeus freely giving someone his lightning bolt to use. Jesus loved them this much. Thus, when they accused Jesus for not caring, because Jesus did not use a miracle to save them, they were blind to the fact Jesus already gave them the power to do it themselves. They had no faith.

In addition to this is that fact Psalm 91 still stands. Ten thousand will fall at your side and no harm will touch you. Sickness and armies and natural troubles will not touch the one who dwells with the Almighty. Thus, the type of faith we are talking about is not fatalism or Buddhism that says “what will happen will happen by God’s will,” but the type of faith that assents to the promise of God. The promise is that no harm will touch you.

Many do this today. They have no faith, and so they have fear, and the fear leads them to accuse God of neglect or blame His sovereignty. If they are indeed Christians, they already have faith to move mountains, the power of the baptism of the Spirit and the right to wield Jesus’ name. They have the shield of faith in one hand the Spirit in the other. When troubles come they do not even raise their weapons, and when a trouble steamrolls over them, they become fearful and blame God.

No. Troubles of life are to be afraid of you, not the other way around. You wield God’s lightning bolt, and if you ever learned how to use it you will see the gates of hell explode.

We have the Dominion

Dominion: “right of possession and use without being accountable.” (1812 Webster)

This obviously belongs to God in the ultimate sense. God is not accountable because He is free from an authority being above Him. He is the only free being. This is why man is accountable to God; man is not free from God sovereignly controlling and holding him accountable. Thus man does not have free will.

However there is more. God has given His sons and daughters dominion over all created things. Paul says all things are ours; all creation belongs to us. Creation does not wait for the freedom of God, but our freedom. Jesus says all authority has been given to Him. Now think about this, He has given us the right to use His name. The same fullness of the Spirit that empowered Him is the same Spirit that has been poured on us to empower us! All things are under His feet and yet we are in Jesus. Thus all things are under our feet.

We are able to take possession of and use creation without being accountable. We are accountable to God, but we are not accountable to anything within creation. They are accountable to us. Demons are accountable to us. Angels will one day be accountable to us, for we will be their judges. Sickness is accountable to us. Even governments are accountable to us. Money and material substance is accountable to us.

We can do what we want with such things and we are not accountable for our actions to any. This is like eminent domain. The government can take my property and I have no legal right to hold them accountable by a lawsuit. As we advance the Kingdom we can take land by the name of Jesus and no one can hold us accountable. We can destroy the kingdom of darkness and none can hold us accountable. The gates of hell cannot stop us from tearing its gates down. We have the power and the rights to do so.

This glory belongs to the children of God. And their glory belongs to Christ and Christ’s to the Father.

Don’t You Dare Sit there and Only Sip on Some Water

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?,’ for the pagans seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6 31-33.

The Bible is always true. Jesus teaches that pagans want the good material things on earth. Pagans seek more than just getting by in terms of wealth. Thus it is true that pagan seek wealth, because Jesus presupposes that they do.

Wealth as a blessing, is lesser if compared to forgiveness and sonship, yet Jesus wants and promises to give them to His covenant insiders. Because He wants to give pagan-level-seeking wealth to us, then it is good by definition because He says it and does it. To resist this is evil, wicked and rebellious. We are not seek pagan-level-seeking wealth by our strength and time, and neglect our God and family. Rather we seek pagan-level-seeking wealth by seeking God’s kingdom first. Even though it is by this indirect way, yet, we understand God wants us to have it. Thus, we seek it in order to please God. We get this wealth by God’s command and ordained way.

I received a response to this saying that “because material wealth is a lesser blessing then we should not seek it, but seek a relationship with God instead.”

This passage in Matthew 6 is only level one regarding how to receive God’s blessings of wealth. There is more to it. Matthew 6 is only an indirect way to receive it, but there are direct ways to receive wealth by faith.

Galatians 3 tells us Jesus became our curse so that we have the blessing of Abraham. This blessing included financial increase. Jesus was nailed to our curses of financial lack (which was in the law as curses) and gave us the blessing of Abraham. Paul says in Corinthians 8-9 that Jesus was a substitute atonement for us in the aspect of our poverty, so that He gave us His wealth in exchange. In context of Paul’s dialog it was not about spiritual wealth but material wealth.

Also, since James and Paul moralizes Old Testament examples for us to use for ourselves, to use the prayer of Jabez is more than fair game to use for us. Because it was by faith, as an inheritor of Abraham’s blessing Jabez is for us, because we have the same blessing and faith.

Thus, God gave us His one and only Son, His only Son, to bleed and gasp to death on a cross, hour after hour, to take our property away and give us His material wealth. If you look, there are blood stains on that money, and it is belongs to God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.

Also, Jesus made material substance multiply that would equate to over a year’s wages in money. He made fish to come in an abundance for financial gain and picked money out of fish. Jesus said that “whosoever believes in Me, will do the same works, and even greater.”

Thus, even if material wealth is a lesser blessing as compared to being born-from-above and reconciled to God, it is still a blessing with Jesus’ blood stained on it. To receive wealth is thus part of the gospel, if we define the gospel as all the good things Jesus accomplished, at that time and place, by His substitutionary death and resurrection. To reject any command of God is to be rebellious and wicked. It does not matter the priority of the command. To be disobedient is to be disobedient.

God commands and promise over and over that the righteous will increase with wealth to be blessed and be a blessing, particularly to the ministry. It is not a suggestion to partake of Abraham’s blessing. It is a command to walk in your identity and live it. Thus, to reject seeking wealth to be blessed and to bless the ministry is to treat the blood of Jesus Christ as a common thing, to spit on the Christian identity in Christ, and to reject God’s command as a reprobate.

If you have so much god-centered humility, then the Bible promises to exalt you. Thus, if you are so godly, and you don’t need wealth, you should have some compassion and think about getting 1000 houses to give to those who need it? How awesome would it be to give a billion dollars to ministries and missionary groups? But you are so godly you cannot even strain out a gnat to give, because you are too busy seeking a relationship with God first. How spiritual of you. But this same God says if you do this, then He will give you the level of wealth the pagans seek after, and we know pagans seek a large amount of wealth. No, the fact that you do not have pagan-level-seeking wealth, is because the way you have defined a “relationship with Jesus” is anti-Christ and blaspheme. And thus, you do not seek God first. A correct relationship with Jesus would include gaining such wealth because God wants to give this to us “in our relationship with Him”; He has commanded; His Son bleed for it.

Who else other than Satan preaches and teaches and trolls all over the internet telling people to not accept the blood-stained blessings of God? Paul was right, Satan disguises himself as a messenger of light. Satan disguises himself as Christians who spend much time trying to convince Christian to reject the blessings of God. I am still amazed so-called Christians spend time convincing others to reject God’s goodness. Blessings that Jesus died for and blessings God has commanded that we receive in faith. Surely, no person in their right mind would do such a thing? Only someone possessed or influenced by demons could participate in such rebellious and stupidity. Such people are imprisoned in a demonic stronghold.

Jesus, in Mark 1:23 starting casting out demons with a demon who was comfortable attending church. It is our job to do the same. We need to start our judgment with the church and begin to cast out Satan and demons. Its time to set the prisoners free and expel the darkness.

The only way out is to obey God and receive all His gospel blessings in faith and without qualifications or excuses. This is the type of relationship God wants with His chosen ones. Those who reject this are in fact without a relationship with God. They are outsiders to Him and His covenant. They are reprobates, and this is why they reject God’s command and reject His relationship.

Let us who enjoy obeying God, or that is enjoy having a relationship with Him, enjoy all the benefits of this relationship. Our Father has invited us to His rich table. He has spared no expense and wants everyone to know how lavish it is. He wants all to know that He paid for all it. He wants you to thank Him by sitting down and enjoying all the good things He has prepared for you. Don’t you dare sit there and only sip on some water and think you are honoring your God. The more you partake, the more you honor Him.

Drive Out and Take Possession

When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan,
you must drive out all the people living there. …
Take possession of the land and settle in it,
because I have given it to you to occupy. Exodus 33:51-53 NLT

In Salvation Jesus saves us and we do nothing. This is typified with Israel crossing the Red Sea. God defeated their enemies, and they did nothing. All Moses did was wave his staff around a little. When they passed through the water, their baptism was one of freedom; they were no longer slaves. However, there was another baptism at the Jordon. (see Vincent Cheung, The Edge of Glory). God commanded two things after this second baptism into power. They were to “Drive Out” the inhabitants and then “Take Possession,” of the mike and honey, houses, gold and vineyards.

This archetype is realized in the baptism of the Spirit in Acts 1:4-8.
The decrees of God are logical (supralapsarian), and thus what we see in history is a reverse of the decrees. The book of Acts is the original, the promise land and Joshua was reversed engineered from the story of the church as described in Acts. They were the illustration, and Acts the original. Thus, the 2 baptisms in Exodus was the illustration for God’s original 2 baptisms of water and the Spirit.

Thus, we see Jesus and the disciple “Driving Out” demons and the religious leaders. Jesus and his disciples “took possession” of the good things, such as health, money, knowledge, spiritual powers, lands, leaderships and even kings.

This is where many Christians fail. They are like the people of Israel and are still stuck in the desert. They are there not because of persecution for the gospel sake, but because of their unbelief in God’s promises. God commanded Israel that the second baptism was one of power. Instead of God doing all the work Himself, He would empower them drive out and take possession. Because Israel had no faith they rebelled against God and refuse to be used by Him.

The issue is that good things like healing, prosperity, good relationships and so forth are in the promise land ready for God’s people to take procession of them. These are not like conversion and freedom, where you did nothing for it. The Spirit, like the wind blowing wherever it wants, gives new-birth and you were freed and started to believe. This is again like the Red Sea baptism. But after conversion God’s commands us to be baptized in the Spirit, which is seen in the Jordan. When Joshua and Israel come out of Jordan they had swords and shields. They were going to fight with God’s power, unlike with Pharaoh, when they did nothing. In order for Jacob to grab his inheritance he must take up a sword.

God as already given healing and blessings in the finished atonement of Jesus. But unlike conversion, you must drive out Satan and take possession of these blessings by the fight of faith. Some are still in the desert and claim it is the will of God they are not healed. Like Israel, they put all the blame on God and overlook their unbelief. It is the same story over and over again. Some step into the promise land for 17 steps and claim they cant get healed because of the will of God, yet they haven’t faced one city or driven out one demon to take possession. Jesus commands us to pray and never give up. We are to keep driving out and take procession.

To be a good soldier one must develop internal power of faith, and be clothed with the power of the baptism of the Spirit. When these are developed properly, there is no giant that can stop you from driving out and taking hold of any promise of healing, prosperity, relationships and moving mountains that Jesus said, no matter how big and glorious the promise.

The Hittites were the first Israel faced. Their name symbolizes fear. This is how demons, the old man and the 2 million Israelite unbelievers will try to pressure you to not go and take possession. But faith is stronger than fear, because faith has absolute confidence in God’s Word and not man’s sight or feelings.

One on One Ministry with Jesus

I have been sick the last week. When I had the mental strength, I would ask for healing and praise God for helping me. However, I did not receive the instant healing I was asking for and didn’t know what was hindering it. Then today I felt well enough to walk and pray in tongues. I was doing so along with praising God and making faith declarations of God’s promises. “God you forgive me all my sins. You heal me all my sickness. You cause my cup to overflow. You are my salvation. You are my righteousness.” However, I did notice a slight hindrance when saying, “You are my righteousness.” I mentally noted to work on this, and then moved on continuing to pray in tongues. I was also asking for an interpretation. At one point the praying in tongues intensified, and then the power of God came upon me. It was a continued pouring of power, wave after wave. Then the Spirit of God said,

“I will make you truly understand how righteous you are. You will become strong and powerful from knowing how righteous I have made you. You will know the powerful effects that come from knowing how righteous you are(James 5:16). The years of the Evil one hindering you from realizing how righteous you are, are over. I have removed them. Rejoice!”

Two important takeaways from this.

One. I need more faith in general, and more faith in the doctrine concerning how righteous I am and the powerful implication of this. Second, is how important it is to have God give you one-on-one personal ministry through the Spirit. If you recall how Acts described Phillip and Steven, it says they were filled with “faith and the Holy Spirit.” There is no greater powerful combination on earth than being filled with both the Spirit and faith.

This is an aspect that faith cannot fulfill. Faith is truly the master key. The charismatics are wrong in overemphasizing the spiritual “gifts” over faith, because faith is both more foundational in making the inner man strong and in how it can constantly (morning, daytime and night) bring in miracle after miracle after miracle. The gifts are God’s sovereign choice and they flow when He chooses. This does not mean we cannot do things to encourage a more constant flow of the gifts and the anointing presence of God. However, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 these are the sovereign work of God. It is not something we do on instant demand, with a possible exception of tongues. This is where faith is different and has an advantage. Faith is on demand of your believing. You need no feeling or situation. You only need to believe. On the demand of faith, God will always work, heal and supply by giving you a fish for a fish, each and every single time. Moring and midmorning, afternoon, evening and midnight, over and over and over again in the same day. If you have faith, you will have whatever you ask, everything you ask and as much as you ask. The only exception is that God will likely give you more.

This is why when spiritual strength is measured for a person, faith has the largest part to play. It is something we need to think about everyday and consider how to increase it by hearing of the world of Christ. Particularly the Christ found the gospels and Acts.

With that being said, one way the Holy Spirit endows us the power, comes from an aspect some overlook or place too small a value on. It is something faith cannot do. (I say this in context of our weakness and imperfect faith. With mature faith there is nothing you cannot do.). Jesus is your personal minister. Because our faith is not perfect, we can benefit from tailored advice for our specific problem or question.

Imagine if you can go back in time and sit with Jesus for an hour and ask Him to bless and give you personalized instruction? How wonderful would that be, right? It would be amazing, which is why Jesus said it is good that He go away and send the Spirit. It is good because then we all will have direct access to God the way the apostles did with Jesus, but for all believers. Do not be tempted to think this is less powerful than going back in time and having one-on-one ministry from Jesus. The Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ in Romans. When we are baptized in the Spirit for power, we have the power that allows Jesus to minister to us as if we were with Him in person. This is amazing power! This is the greatest Master to student training that ever existed, and all Christian have this available to them if they seek it.

I needed to know I had deficiency in not believing how righteous I truly am. I did recognize this in-part, from reading the word and analyzing my own thoughts. But how good is my analyses of myself? Who am I to ask? Who will give me advice? And how do I remedy this? If it takes real power to solve a problem, then will the person giving advice give me the power to solve it? And in age where it is hard to find a church that is expansionist and believes in God’s sovereignty, who can I ask for personal help?

Yet, all this is swept away by the fact God is my personal Minister. He knows His own word, and He knows me perfectly. He knows the problem and cause. God had the power to remove the problem and the knowledge I needed to hear the most. Who cares if it was Satan himself personally hindering me all these years. God just kicked it to the curb and removed the obstacle, so of course I don’t care. I get a tailored-made encouragement and power, that both fixes the mind and fixes the problem. Who can counsel like this, but God? Who can look at a hiding Gideon and say just what was needed and provide the power at the same time? Who can minister like God? Yet, the Spirit gives us the power to have God to be our minister. He can say the perfect word, at the perfect time. He can give the power to remove any hindrance and solve any problem. If God is your minister, then rejoice because the Greatest Master is your personal instructor and helper.

Power is what will Finally Deliver You

I awoke today feeling off and with a headache. Halfway through the day I saw a reminder to seek God in devotion for spiritual strength, and I felt the Spirit prod me to do this. As the day went on the headache got worse and I felt an irrational oppressive pressure on my mind. I even had a difficult time remembering things. Finally it got to a point where it was irrational fears and accusative thoughts coming out of nowhere.

I have been seeking personal inner strength as a priority for about 2 or 3 years now. God has been delivering me from many of my old fears and even sins and etc. I will one day write about this, but even as a young man I experienced a direct demonic attack regarding temptation. It frightened me. I lacked the knowledge and power to know how to deal with such a thing. It caused me years of terrible fear in my heart. Vincent’s materials were helping me, and his essay on Demonic Attacks was a moment of where I began to experience real breakthrough.

Today, I suddenly felt all those old fears suddenly being pressed upon me, like they once did. So, again I did the easy thing and just began to pray in tongues and declares God’s promises over me. When I began this, the oppressive mental attacks ratcheted in up strength. However, after about 15 minutes I felt a sudden power in speaking in tongues. This happens often to me. You will be praying in tongues and suddenly, the power will increase, and you feel power and urgency. The moment this happened I heard the Spirit say to me, “You are a child of God, these things are to be afraid of you, not the other way around!” At this exact moment, all the oppressive thoughts and pressure vanished and even my headache was instantly healed.

Vincent Cheung in the essay, “Cure for Psychological Trauma,” says, “Power is what will finally deliver you.” The foundation is first correct theology and promises. But the thing that will deliver from all your troubles is power. Unadulterated power of God. Mature faith will always do this. However, praying in tongues is one of the easiest, (it is so easy it is like having game cheat), ways to move the power of God directly into your soul, body and life. You should eagerly seek this gift. We need less talk and more power! God’s power is able to deliver you, your family, your church and even entire nations.

He Will Do It/We Will Do It

Salvation’s broad foundation, is “God.” God is the foundation of theology and thus salvation. Without Him, there is no point in doing theology. God’s foundation as taught in Scripture, is that of absolute and directly sovereign over all reality. This foundation takes away all the problems for salvation and man’s ablity to obey God.

We will not rehash the absolute reliability of the Contract we have God. God will do what He says, no matter how great and wonderful the promise. That is the summary of the doctrine.

Many look at their sanctification and thus proof that they will be glorified, from a man-centered focus. Doing so will bring heartache, stress, depression, blasphemy, and if not rectified damnation.

When Isaiah 55 says that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts, it is not referring God’s knowledge versus human knowledge in general. If that was the case, then the knowledge that God’s knowledge is not our knowledge is not our knowledge. It would end up in self-contradictory nonsense. But since Jesus appeals to the law of contradiction, we know anything that leads to skepticism is false. Thus apart from the obvious nonsense we know such an interpretation is unbiblical.

Rather, in this passage God refers to knowledge about His future revelation of unmerited favor that will be given through Jesus Christ. The verse that follows says, come buy milk and honey without price. That is, things like forgiveness and healing (etc), because of Jesus’ finished work, we can buy them without cost. For the audience at that time, such a revelation of grace was beyond their understanding and faith. However, since we live after the finished work of Jesus, then God’s ways of grace are our ways, and His throughs of grace are our thoughts. Paul even says in 1 Corinthians 2 that “we have the Mind of Christ.”

I say this to remind the reader, that the gospel radically changes the believer into a super species. They have a new created reality, fundamentally different from their old reality. The Christian renews their mind to think in line with the new definition given to them in Christ.

In laymen’s terms, what King David says is 100 more true today, when he says, “In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall,” Psalm 18:29

Man’s ablity is God’s ablity. Or stated negatively, man’s limitation is God’s limitation. We are not talking about being deified with attributes that by definition can only belong to God like being infinite, or immutable. What we are referring to is God’s promises to strengthen us, bless us and empower us.

Our ablity to be sanctified is not measured by man’s limitation but by God’s infinite ablity to work in man. Our ablity to know God, is not measured by our finiteness, but by the limitless ablity of the Spirit of God to make us to have the mind of Christ, and to cause us to know all the things freely given to us. Or is the finiteness of man greater than God’s ablity of infinite power? Some perverts not satisfied to limit man, but they are not quenched until they limit God. We are not talking about something irrational like God creating a rock to heavy for Him to lift, when God does not have body. We are talking about the sheer power of God to create and cause. How many propositions can you think of at the same time? Or how high can you jump? Or how long does it take to go 500 miles? Howe well can you cure an incurable disease? How well can you sanctify your actions? The issue is how much ablity does God have to enable me to think of many propositions at the same time. How much power does God have to enable me to jump or go a distance of 500 miles? How much power does God have to renew and heal the body? How much ablity does God have to sanctify my actions? This is the new measure the Christian is to measure their own ablity.

Jesus says, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:26. Jesus is making a distinction with God’s power and human power. Jesus points out that human power it limited, but God’s is not.

Paul in Ephesians 6:10 says, “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Also, in Acts 1:1-8, Jesus commands the apostles and believers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Lastly, Jesus says about those who believe in Him, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these,” John 14:12.

The conclusion is simple. Jesus says in Mark 9:23

“Everything is possible for one who believes.”

We are not pantheists. God is not what He creates. God is separated from creation. When God empowers “you,” then it is “you” not God that is empowered.

It will obey “you.” Jesus says you can command a mountain to be thrown into the sea and it will obey who? God? No. It will obey “you.” In Ephesian 6, it is a command, not a mere suggestion, to be empowered with human limitations? No. To be empowered with God’s own power and strength. Let the sink in. Imagine Zeus freely giving power and his lightning bolt to “you” to empower “you.” But this is what God does for us, and commands that we do. Boldly walk into the throne of grace and grab Yahweh’s lightning bolt and use it. God like this. He wants you empowered with His power.

The limitations of the old man are gone, whether if it is about spiritual things such as sanctification or something like being teleported 500 miles to another city.

We are children of God. His ways are now our ways, and His thoughts are now our thoughts. So much so that “all things are possible to the one who believes.” This is the glory and splendor and privilege that belongs to the sons of God. The corrupted world will be liberated into the “liberty of” the “children” of God.

A Superior Species

We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden
and that God destined for our glory.
1 Corinthians 2:7

Its all fun, joy and praises when I mention we need to glorify God, praise Him, give Him all the credit, and extol His Name above all others, and this is as it ought to be. However, once I mention how highly God has exalted man as a superior species in Christ, then I am attacked. The reason for this is the church being under the oppression of tradition and false humility. People are stuck at the doorway of forgiveness, being centered on their sin; they are centered on themselves. This doorway into the next life, is so precious and magnificent that they remine there. They never truly inter in the glory and privilege of being children of God. They never experienced what it means to be child and sit at the table of their beloved Father.

The Logic of Denying the Consequent is used throughout the Scripture. If there is a logical necessary connection from the antecedent to the consequent, then if you deny the consequent, you deny the antecedent. The part that makes this work is if the connection is necessary and not merely sufficient. Ultimately, this means it must be a truth, but only God is able to reveal truths. However, since the scripture gives us truth and uses this logic, then so will we.

For example,

Galatians 3:18, “For if the inheritance is of the law, [then] it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

M.1. (P) If inheritance if of the law, (~Q) then inheritance is not by promise.
M.2. ~(~Q) It is by promise.
M.3. ~(P) Thus, inheritance is not by the law.

This example is given to lead to our present subject. If you deny the consequences of man’s highly exalted position produced by Jesus’ atonement, then you deny the atonement. There is no way around this.

Does Jesus sit in the heavenly places?
So does man (Ep. 2:6, Col. 3:1-3).

Is Jesus blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places?
So is man (1:3).

Does Jesus have the Mind of Jesus?
So does man (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Was the gospel predestined for the glory of God?
Yet, it was also predestined for the glory of man (1 Corinthians 2:7)

Does Jesus have direct access to the Father?
So does man (Hebrews 4:16, 10:19)

Is Jesus heir of the world?
So is man (Romans 4:13).

Does everything belong to Jesus, including time?
It also belongs to man ( 1 Corin. 3:23).

Does Jesus have the intellectual and ethical power to judge all things?
So does man ( 1 Corin. 2:15)

Jesus is the only begotten son of God, but in this context, I ask, is Jesus a child of God?
Yet, so is man (1 John 3:1,9, 4:13)

Is creation liberated into the liberty of God?
Yet, it is also liberated into the glorious liberty of man (Romans 8:21).

How glorious and valuable is the resurrected Jesus Christ?
Man also has this glory and image (Romans 8:30)

Did Jesus have the fullness of the Spirit of God on earth? (Acts 10:38)
So does man (Acts 1:1-8)

Does Jesus dwell in the house of God?
So does man (John 14:1-3)

Does God judge Angels?
So does man (1 Corinth. 6:3)

The same love the Father has loved Jesus, Jesus loves man. (John 15:9)

The same love the Father loves Jesus, the Father loves man. (John 17:23

The same glory the Father gave Jesus, Jesus gives this glory to man. (John 17:22)

The same Spirit of God, who knows God exactly (because it is God’s Spirit), God has given to us, so that we have the Mind of Christ.

If we deny pantheism (as the bible does), then we must affirm, as the Scripture does that God does these glorious thing to man, not Himself. When Peter says to humble yourself under God’s hand, he says God will exalt “you” and not Himself. It was Jesus, who created all things and sustains all things by His power, who said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.” If this is so for a pagan, how much more is this true for all thing magnificent things God as given His children.

God promised to make Abraham’s name great and famous. Abraham became excessively rich and defeated a combination of many armies. Even to this very day Abraham is sung in the songs of millions and millions of Christians. Even in Heaven Abraham is famous (Matthew 8:11). The promise was to make His friend’s name great, not His, and it happened just as God said. God made Moses like a God to Israel and Pharaoh. God promised to do the same for Joshua, by making him great in the eyes of Israel. It was never recorded that Jesus was teleported by the Spirit, but this glory was given to a man, a table bearer named Philip.

To diminish the glory of man, particularly the born-from-above man, is to diminish the glory of God, because God said He has greatly exalted and glorified man through Jesus Christ. It would be to say God is defective and stupid at accomplishing His desires. To trample on the glory, fame and exaltation God has given His chosen ones is to trample on the blood of Jesus Christ as a common and ineffectual thing.

We are part of Abraham’s blessing, fame and glory (Gal. 3-4).

God does not mind sharing His glory, authority and power, for example, with His friend Abraham or giving the disciples 12 thrones, and all saints the inheritance of being His children; however, what God will not share is the credit and praise that belongs only to Him for all the good things He predestined for our value. Praise and credit is one type of glory (there are many types of glory), however, this type of glory, God will not share. Herod learned this the difficult way. Fame, power, favor, thrones, an eternal name, riches God has no issue lavishing these glories on His friends and children.

God has made us a superior species in Jesus Christ. Any denial of the unmeasurable magnitude of this reality is a denial of the gospel and blood of Jesus. There is no risk of pride, for we know God has give all these things to us by unmerited favor and mercy. Jesus loved us to the point of the cross. To accomplish these great things for us He was nailed to our curses. However, by the magnificent promises of God we partake of the divine nature itself. It is our new identity. We are glad to recognize this and praise God for eternity. We are filled with inexpressible joy for all the good things God as lavished so freely upon us. Oh, what great love this is, that God calls us His highly beloved children.

Empowered by the Spirit to Shine God’s Salvation to THE END OF THE EARTH

“And he says,
“It is trivial for you to be a servant for me,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel.
I will give you as a light to the nations,
to be my salvation to the end of the earth.””
(Isaiah 49:6 LEB)

Notice the last phrase, “THE END OF THE EARTH.”

This passage is directly about Jesus, God’s servant who would redeem and save His people. However, take special notice how both the apostle Paul and Jesus Christ use this passage of Scripture. They both quote it in the book of Acts, and both use it to refer to the church and not merely about Jesus. That is, Jesus through His redeemed church, will shine the Father’s salvation to the end of the earth.

First Paul.

“For so the Lord has commanded us,

‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,
That You may bring salvation to THE END OF THE EARTH.’”
(Acts 13: 47 LSB)

Paul says that God commanded him and his ministry team, on the basis of Isaiah 49:6 to preach the gospel to all who will listen. How can this be, if the passage was about Jesus. The church is one body with Jesus. Jesus prays in John 17, in more than one way, that as the Father and Jesus is one, that the church be made one in Jesus. Jesus working through the Church, is Jesus working.

Next, we will see how Jesus command this passage for all disciples, and then ‘how’ this will happen.

“But [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority;
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to THE END OF THE EARTH.”
(Acts 1:7-8 LSB)

Jesus say it is by the baptism of the Holy Spirit that his followers will fulfill His command to expand His light to the end of the earth. In the next chapter, when the Baptism of the Spirit arrived, the Apostles only made up a small percentage. Thus, we are shown His baptism and command extends to all Jesus followers.

Three things. One, this gives proof that baptism of the Spirit is for all, for Jesus connects TO THE END OF THE EARTH kingdom expansion to the baptism of the Spirit.

Second, as long as this command stands, to obey God by expanding His salvation to the ends of the earth, the baptism of the Spirit still stands.

Third, without the baptism of the Spirit, one cannot obey this command to shine God’s salvation to THE END OF THE EARTH.

Matthew 4 shows something similar. Isaiah 9 is quoted about a light shining in Capernaum. Well, what happened in Matthew 4 and in Capernaum? Jesus is led by the Spirit to be tempted and filled by the Spirit for ministry. Jesus started His ministry only after He was empowered by the Spirit. Jesus said that He cast out demons by the “power of the Spirit” and not merely by His Son of God authority. After this anointing of the Spirit for ministry, Jesus goes to Capernaum to (1) preach repentance and to (2) heal the sick. It is in this context that Isaiah is quoted by saying a “Great Light has Dawned.”

Thus, Jesus Christ “great light shining” is summed up with being empowered by the Spirit, preaching and healing the sick. Jesus’ command for His redeemed followers is the exact same thing. They are commanded to be baptized in the power of the Spirit, to preach and heal the sick.

The same thing He did, and the same way He did it.

Oshea Davis

Systematic Theology. Logic. Faith. Healing. Power.