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Word for Today:  November 11

Jesus started the Church.

It originated with Him and it was born by Him.  He is the Author and the Completer of the Church.   He said He would Build His Church and the gates of hell could not and would not prevail against it (Mat 16).

Jesus never told a lie and He never began anything that failed.  He began the Church, He builds the Church and it is His Church.   It is not my church.  It is not your church.  It is HIS CHURCH.    He is the Head.  He is the Foundation.  He is the Reason and Rationale behind the Church.

• The Church is as Powerful as Jesus is Powerful.
• The Church is as eternal as Jesus is eternal.
• The Church has the same Authority that Jesus has.
• The Church has the same Power that God has.
• The Church can do anything that Jesus can do. And even “greater.”
• The Church can bind and loose just like Jesus can bind and loose.
• The Church is Supernatural just like Jesus is Supernatural.
• The Church was birthed to Rule and Reign just like Jesus was manifested to Rule and Reign.

And you and I are the Church.

The Church is Now.  The Church is Today.  The Church is Here.

It is Alive, Well and Filled with Power

For with the heart man be­lieveth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation…  Romans 10:10

For verily I say unto you That whosoever shall SAY unto this moun­tain, Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he SAITH shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he SAITH…   Mark 11:23

Death and life are in the power of the tongue…   Prov 18:21

          It is vitally important to say the Word as well as pray the Word.  It is the Word that drives back the powers of darkness.  It is the Word that whips the devil and negates demon forces.  Speaking the Word is the way for your de­liverance.  However, the Word you speak must be the Word you believe.  If you do not believe the Word will actually work, guess what? It won’t. 

The Miracle-Working power of the Word is ener­gized and released by your believing and by your speaking.    

What Words Do 

              Words create, words destroy, words generate life, words kill and wound.  Words change things.  Words are carriers.  Words bring things in.  Words take things out. Words are vehicles.   Words heal.  Words can hurt.  Words are tools.     Words produce.  Words are seeds that will grow stuff.

              How you live today was determined by the words you spoke in the past. Words activate spiritual forces.  They move angels to minister to you or they move demons to torment you… to steal from you… to destroy you… to kill you.

              Words come out of your mouth.  The words that come out of your mouth are declarations of your faith. Words you speak with your mouth frame things. 

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God…   Heb 11: 1-3    “Framed” means to “com­plete thoroughly.”

              When you speak the Word of God in faith, you connect with the creative power of God and are enabled to release it.  You actually release the Faith of God.   The Word of God is the written expression of God’s faith.  The Word is a Divine record of words God has spoken that released His faith and His Creative Power. 

Words also release authority.  The centurion issued orders (words) and his men obeyed… they did something.

For I am a man under au­thority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.   Matt. 8:9  

          God spoke words and myriads of worlds were created.  All of Creation literally came out of God’s mouth.  

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Gen. 1:3  

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. 1:6  

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Gen. 1:9    

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit af­ter his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Gen. 1:11  

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: Gen. 1:14  

And God said, Let the wa­ters bring forth abundantly the mov­ing creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Gen. 1:20  

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. Gen. 1:24  

“With the mouth confession is made unto salvation…”   (Rom 10:10) Your tongue makes things.  Your tongue causes things to happen.  Your tongue moves spirit beings.  Your tongue produces life or generates death. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue…  Proverbs 18:21. 

          Words call things in.  Words drive things out.  Words bind and words loose.  Words attract and words repel.  Words are confessions of the mouth. 

Words Release God’s Power

          When you speak God’s Word, your mouth and your tongue ac­tually release the supernatural anointing that the Word carries.  The anointing or the miracle-working power in the Word of God is manifested when there is a demand placed upon it.  It is THERE, but it will not be HERE unless a de­mand is placed upon it. 

The anointing is always present, but it is not manifested until you make a demand on it.  Your demand is an expression of your faith.  Faith must be expressed.  (Remember, the Word is the written expression of God’s faith).  Making a demand on the anointing is the way to activate the Word of God.  

Here is how you make a demand on the Word:

          1.  Believe in your heart.  Know that you know that you know…down in your “knower”… this is revelation.

          2.  Say WORDS that will Confess exactly what you are believing for.

The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is the WORD OF FAITH which we preach (say)…Rom 10:8

          3.  ACT on your CONFESSION… what you SAY.  This is faith with works.  Faith with works is faith that works.  Faith that works will cause you to live and keep you from dying.

Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves…  James 1:22  

Even so faith, if it hath not woks, is dead being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works…  James 2:17-18 

          FAITH (pistis) connects with the anointing that is always present in the Word of God.  Faith, when it is mixed with the Word, always produces results. 

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.   Heb 4:2 

Words activate devils and demons

          Just as words you say release the power of God, words you say can also activate devils and demons.  Words you speak can literally give the devil and demons “permission” to torment you.  Words you say invite them in or drive them out.  Words you say bind them up or set them loose.  Jesus used words to drive out demon powers.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.  Matt. 17:18  

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.  Luke 4:35   

          Words are actually commands.  You are literally commanding spirit beings and spirit powers by the words you speak.      Words open things up and words shut things down.  Words bind and words loose.  Words are impor­tant.  This is why idle talk is extremely danger­ous.

But I say unto you, That every idle  (argos: inactive, unem­ployed, lazy, useless, barren) word that men shall speak, they shall give ac­count thereof in the day of judgment.    Matt. 12:36  

          This is because words are life-changing forces.   Words are eternal.  Words live forever.  Words you say with your mouth never die.  They are eternal.  They are forces that stay in motion forever.  This is why we will all give an account of every inactive, unemployed, lazy, useless, and barren  word that we speak on the Day of Judgment. 

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psa. 141:3 

              It is better to be silent than to speak words that assist Satan.  It is better to be quiet than to speak words that will forever give place to the devil.   Someone remarked:  “My most prized possessions are words I never spoke.”

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.  Psa. 39:10   

What a Word   Is

              The word “word” presup­poses that something is said.   A word becomes a word when it is spoken.  A word is a vehicle of communication.  Words convey information.  Words are commands and demands.  A word is  “sound” that is spoken out loud.  Words are sounds that are intelli­gently articulated. 

              Words begin somewhere.  They are conceived be­fore they are spoken.  The conception is not birth.  Words are conceived in the heart and birthed through the mouth.  Words come out of the mouth but they are born in the heart.

              According to the Bible, words frame things.   By Him (Jesus the Living Word) all things consist.  Without Him (the Living Word)  was not anything made that was made.  The Word creates.  Words that are confessed out of a heart of faith (belief) produce salvation (deliverance).  A word can become the Word.  A word becomes the Word when it agrees with God’s Word. 

Kinds of Words

          There are wimp words and there are warrior words.  There are weak words and there are strong words.  There are words that say things are that are not.  There are words that say things are not that are.  (You might want to read the preceding sentences over again). 

          There are flippant words and there are faith words.  There are shallow words and there are profound words.  There are life words and there are death words. 

          All words come out of the mouth and they are confessions of what is really in one’s heart.  What you confess you will ultimately possess.  Words you speak are what will come to pass.  What you say is what you get.  What you say is what you order.  What you say is what is coming to you.   

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatso­ever he saith.   Mark 11:23  

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Prov. 6:2  

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. Prov. 12:13  

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him. Prov. 12:14 

 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. Prov. 13:2        

              You will ALWAYS live on the LEVEL of your MOUTH!

Say What You Believe

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession (Homologia:   confession; acknowl­edgment)is made unto salvation.  Rom 10:10 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where­unto thou art also called, and hast pro­fessed a good profession before many witnesses.  1Tim. 6:1  

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, con­sider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Heb. 3:1  

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Heb. 4:14  

Let us hold fast the profes­sion of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Heb. 10:23  

          Say with your mouth what you believe.  Say with your mouth what you are believing for.  This is confess­ing your faith.  You have the power and authority to call those things that be not as though they were (as though they already exist).  

 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Rom. 4:17   

Confessions that are connected with the Word of God are important.  Over the years I have developed some Word confessions that have proved effective in times when I really needed God to come through for me.  Here is one that I keep in the cover of my Bible.

Word Confession

          I believe with all my heart and I confess with my mouth that the WORD of GOD is TRUE.  The WORD of GOD is ETERNAL.  The WORD of GOD is ALIVE.  The WORD of GOD is CHANGELESS.  I choose this day to set my life in agreement with the Word of God.  I choose right now to set my life in opposition to the devil.  I choose to disagree with Satan, the world system and all the powers of dark­ness.  I say with my mouth and believe with my heart that I am a Child of GOD.  Because I am a Child of God I am a Child of the LIGHT and I hate darkness.  I COMMAND my PHYSICAL BODY to resist sickness, weakness, infirmity, disease, and stress.  I COMMAND my mind to think in line with the Word of God.  I COMMAND my tongue to speak the Word of God.  I CAST OUT every spirit of fear by RELEASING the PERFECT LOVE that is within me through the HOLY GHOST.  I refuse to worry, be anx­ious, get upset, be impatient, or to doubt.  I am at this very moment a POSSESSOR of DIVINE LIFE.  My MIND is SOUND and STABLE and my PHYSICAL STRENGTH is being RENEWED day by day.  I am not getting OLDER… I am getting BETTER.  I am not growing weaker, I am growing STRONGER.  All of my needs have already been met and I am lacking in absolutely nothing.  I am DWELLING in the SECRET PLACE of the MOST HIGH and I am ABIDING under the SHADOW of the ALMIGHTY.  The LORD is my strength.  The LORD is my refuge.  The LORD is my fortress.  The LORD is my GOD and in HIM ALONE will I trust.

Say What You Want to See

          In every conflict with the en­emy speak powerful words of faith and confidence.  Say what you want to see.  Say what you want the outcome to be.  Make your words agree with God’s Word and then continually say them. You need to hear them.  When you hear what you say, faith will rise up in you.  When you speak the Word, you hear the Word and “faith cometh”  because faith comes by hearing the Word.    

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:1

          David confessed that God would deliver him and he made this confes­sion before he confronted the giant.

He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…   1Sam 17:37

          He said the same God Who had delivered him out of the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear would deliver him out of the hand of the uncircumcised Philistine.  After David made this powerful con­fession of his faith, he based his ac­tions on what he had confessed.  He SAID and then he DID. 

          Make your confes­sion and base your actions on what you confess.  Say what you are going to do and then do what you say.

          How are you talking?  What are you saying?  Is your mouth speaking what is in your heart? Are you saying what you want to see?  If you will con­tinue saying what you want to see you will soon see what you are constantly saying.  The words of your mouth will determine the outcome of your battle.

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth..   Prov. 6:2  

          The size of your giant has noth­ing to do with it. Nothing is TOO HARD for GOD.  God and ONE are always a majority.  Stop complaining and feel­ing sorry for yourself. Make your most powerful confession in the face of your biggest enemy.

          Listen to what David said… this was his confession:

“The Lord will deliver thee into my hand…”

“I will smite thee and take thine head from thee…”

“I will feed you and the Philistines to the buzzards…”

“The battle is the Lord’s…”

“He will give you into our hands…”

           David got exactly what he said.   His mouth framed his victory.  His words spelled defeat for Goliath.  What he said, he got.  What he confessed, he possessed.  But remember… he was in the flow. He was in the will of God.  He had a heart toward God.  You can get what you say just like David did.  But you must have a heart like David had.

Word for Today:  November 10

Regeneration.

Regeneration is the God-ward side of Salvation.  In Regeneration, the dead human spirit is Quickened and brought to life by the Spirit of God and man is restored and made righteous.

The genetic signature of your spirit is “re-gened” with the identical genetic structure of God Himself.

Notice:

• The New Creation is redeemed from the curse and penalty of sin.
• The New Creation is made Righteous. The New Creation is restored to favor with God (Reconciled).
• The New Creation becomes an Heir of God and Joint Heir with Christ.
• The New Creation is provided Power to live in victory.
• The New Creation has access to all God’s Provisions:
• The New Creation Overcomes the World. I John 5:4

And as a result, the New Creation man will love:

• The Brethren: And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:21
• God: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1 John 5:2
• God’s Word: O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.119:97
• The Church: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  5:25
• His enemies: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;   5:44
• The Lost: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:   5:14

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2Co 5:17

Jesus also talked about laying up (storing up) treasures in heaven.  He said:

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

          There is only one place in the entire world into which Satan has no access.   There is only one place from which Satan cannot steal.  There is only one place demons and demonic spirits cannot enter.  That one place Satan cannot access is the interior of our Recreated Human Spirit.   This is precisely where the Kingdom is lo­cated and this is where we are to lay up our trea­sure. 

          Religion taught us that we send stuff up to heaven and it will be waiting for us when we get there.  (I never could understand how to get earthly “stuff” into heaven… could you?) This sounds good and reasonable, and very spiritual but it just is not true.   There is no way we can send earthly, natural stuff to heaven.  There are no instructions in the Bible that tell us how to do it because it cannot be done.   

          What is this “treasure” Jesus is talking about in this verse?  I believe Jesus is talking about Truth Treasure.  Treasure is Truth and Truth is Treasure.  Truth (treasure) is deposited in the re-created human Spirit through revelation;  not through the brain or the senses or the emotions, or natural knowledge or intellect,  but by revelation knowledge. 

When we really hear what the Spirit is speaking and we hear it with our heart, it becomes revelation.  When we receive such revelation we can store it in the Kingdom (which is in us) and it becomes accessi­ble and available when the need arises. 

This Truth is our Treasure.  Treasures are placed in the Kingdom (in us) through deposits just as money is deposited in our bank account.  What we deposit is ready for us to withdraw when we need it.  We will need truth to make us free.  We can withdraw truth if it has been deposited by revelation in our Treasure House.  

           Remember:  Jesus said we would know the Truth and the Truth would make us free. However, before He made this statement, he prefaced it with this: 

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;   John 8:31

Continuing in the Word (abiding in it, living in it, existing in it) will result in us becoming determined disciples (disciples indeed) and then we will be able to know the Truth.  And knowing the Truth (receiving revelation regarding the Truth) and applying that revealed Truth will result in our freedom; and that is total and complete freedom from anything and everything Satan designs and decrees to destroy us. 

This is the Treasure presently deposited in our Kingdom Storehouse.  And it is from this deposited Treasure we are capable of making Word withdrawals that will determine our victory over every adversary and adversity.

The Rationale behind Our Salvation

• What is the rationale behind our Salva­tion? 
• Why did God make the effort and pay the price for saving you and me?
• Why did Jesus leave heaven and come to earth?
• Why did He shed His Blood to pur­chase our redemption?
• Why does He declare that He is not willing for any man to perish? 

Here is the reason:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever be­lieveth on Him might be saved…  John 3:16 

          Is there more to the reason behind our salvation than we have been told and taught?  What God did through Christ and in Christ is much more than a free ticket to heaven.  If the only purpose of salvation was to get us to Heaven, God would have every reason to kill us the moment we get saved.  

God has a plan.  God has a plan for each individual in His Kingdom.  He has a Master Plan.  God has a sovereign purpose.  God has a divine purpose for man, for the Church and for the earth.

• God’s plan and purpose for man is that all men might be saved.

• God’s plan and purpose for the church is that it might preach the Gospel to all the na­tions of the earth.

• God’s plan and purpose for the earth is that His Kingdom might come and His will might be done on it and in it.  That means in us and through us. That means in the present and not in the past or in the future.

          Jesus announced the reason behind our Salvation at the very outset of His earthly min­istry.  He taught truth.  He spoke with great au­thority.  He declared the works of His Father.  He spoke and did only what His Father told Him to speak and do.  His preaching was radical and revolutionary… especially to organized religion. 

He came to seek and to save that  (not them) but THAT which was lost.   That which was lost was Man’s complete dominion, authority and control of all things on earth…. what was lost was the very Image of God in which man was originally created… what was lost was God’s Kingdom being permanently and eternally established on the earth. 

Jesus came to restore what Adam lost.  What God did in Christ undid what Satan did in Adam.  Jesus came to re-establish the Kingdom of God in the earth.   That Kingdom has been established in the heart of every believer.   And this is the Rationale behind our Salvation.

The channel through which God’s Power flows

          There is really only one way that Kingdom power can get out of us.  There is only one channel through which it can and will flow.  If this one requirement is not met, the power will remain inside the believer and it will be useless.  It will not change the world and it will not bring the will of God into the earth. 

          Where there is power there must be a channel through which it can flow.  The electri­cal energy is in the receptacle in the wall, but it cannot get to the appliance (where it is needed) unless there is a cord through which it can flow.  The gas is in the tank, but it must have a pipe to get to the engine.  The power is in us, but it must have a channel to flow out into the earth.  Here is what the Bible says: 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth (ischuo: to be strong; to have power, to “be serviceable”)  anything, nor uncircumcision: but faith which worketh by love…  Gal 5:6

 For (if we are) in Christ Jesus, neither circumci­sion nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and ex­pressed and working through love… Gal 5:6 AMP

          The Kingdom of God (the miracle-work­ing power in every believer) is a Kingdom of Love.  The Christian Life… the believer’s life is a life of love.  The Church (Body of Christ) is a many-membered organism with each member joined and knit together by agape (the God-kind) of love. 

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:   Eph. 4:15  

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Eph. 4:16  

          Each member (“joint”) supplies the cohe­siveness that joins one to another and that which joins one to another is agape (the God-kind of)  love.

           Agape is the primary force in Heaven and in earth.   Love is the motivation for all that God has ever done.  Love transcends time and space.  Love breaks into the realm of the supernatu­ral.  Love brings the very essence of Heaven and the presence of God into the earth.

          Success in the Christian Life is rooted and grounded in love.  When we feel love we feel God.  When we live to love we act like God.  God is Love.  When we love like God loves anything and everything we do will succeed. Love never fails. (1 Cor 13: 8)  When we live to love we live like Jesus.  Love working and love in operation brings Jesus to the scene.  Where and when our faith has failed…  our confessions failed…  our knowledge failed…  our praying failed… it is always be­cause our love failed… The Bible says love never fails.   

• When we walk in love we walk in divine health. Many people get sick and die because they live in hate, bitterness and strife.  It is not what you eat… it is what eats you. 

• When we walk in love we will be free from all fear.  The Word declares that per­fect love (agape) casteth out fear… (I Jn 4:18).  All fear is of the devil and will destroy and deprive and de­feat.  Fear taps into Satan’s resources just as Faith taps into Heaven’s resources.

• When we walk in love our faith will work.  If  our faith is not working it is because our love is not working.  The Bible says that faith worketh by Love… (Gal 5:6).  It is not more faith that we need it is more love that we need!  Love causes our faith to work.  If we are “do­ing all the right things” and still are lacking… we need to check out our love life.

• When we walk in love we walk in agreement with God. When two agree to­gether, the Word promises that they can have anything they ask for.  (Mat 18:19)  When we love we agree with God… when we hate or have bitter­ness in our heart, we agree with the devil.  When we agree with God our desires are met and our prayers are answered.

• When we walk in love our marriage will work.  All marriage failures are love failures.  When we love our mates (with the God-kind of Love) our marriage will work, when we don’t, it won’t!  Every home and marriage problem is caused by a love failure.  The opposite of love is not hate, but selfishness.  When we live by selfishness we drive out love.  When we love we drive out selfishness.

• When we walk in love our children will respect us and honor us.  Our problem is not our kids… it is our failure to love.  Do they know we love them?  In a recent survey, it was disclosed that the three most common replies children get from their dads are:  (1) “It costs too much”  (2) “Not now… later”  (3) “Shut up.” 

• When we walk in love our business will suc­ceed.  Healthy business relation­ships are built on love and mutual respect.  If you will love your customers for who they are and not what they can do for you, you will always have customers!

• When we walk in love our neighbors will want what we’ve got.  Our society cannot compre­hend agape love.  When we love, we keep the enemy confused.  The devil knows all about hate and resentment and jealousy and envy and strife.  “Love your neighbor”  (Mat 19:19) is a di­rect com­mand from Jesus to you and me.   This love lived out will stop all wars, crime, injus­tice, prejudice, ha­tred, and poverty.  It would re­place all the government agencies that are re­sponsible for caring for the poor and needy.  It would cancel all federal entitlement programs.  It would make welfare and social security and Medicaid and Medicare unnecessary.  Love gives.  Love shares.  Love sacrifices.

• When we walk in love our loved ones will be reached. One reason our family has no re­spect for us is because we have acted out of bit­ter­ness, strife, jealousy, and selfishness instead of love.  We have been mean and ugly and hateful!  Some of them who are not Chris­tians are more loving that we are and we are supposed to be saved and full of the Holy Ghost.  Speaking in tongues (and all Spiritual Gifts) is no substitute for love.  Paul tells us:

 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love,  I am become as sounding brass or a tin­kling cymbal… I Cor 13:1

• LOVE will overcome temper.  
• LOVE  will overcome hate.  
• LOVE will conquer wrong attitudes.  
• LOVE reaches out and em­braces our en­emies. 
• LOVE forgives and forgets. 
• LOVE encourages and edi­fies. 
• LOVE covers a multitude of sins   (I Pet 4:8).
• LOVE overlooks faults and weaknesses.
• LOVE is patient and kind.
• LOVE sees the best and believes the best in every person.

• LOVE will never wound or hurt or hinder.
• LOVE will never gossip or speak evil of others.
• LOVE will never destroy or tear down.
• LOVE is never sarcastic.
• LOVE suffers and reacts in silence.
• LOVE gives expecting nothing in return.
• LOVE always speaks the truth.
• LOVE is God and God is Love.
• LOVE never fails… because God never fails.

Releasing the God-Kind of Love

          Follow after love…  (I Cor 14:1)   Determine in your heart to love… anyhow!  No matter what!   Make a deci­sion right now that all that you do will come out of love.  Your relationship in the home… on the job… in the classroom… among friends and rela­tives…. decide to live by love.  Speak love.  Be kind.  Determine to actively follow after love.

          Refuse to do anything in strife or bitterness.  Where envy and strife are you will find every evil work …  Jas 3:16.  Keep your heart pure and your attitudes right.  If you are going to live by love you will have to master your emotions and put them under the control of your re-created Spirit.

          Love yourself!  Thank God for You!  Value yourself.  Forgive yourself.  You cannot love others if you do not love yourself.  Quit getting down on yourself and making it hard on your­self… give yourself a break!  Stop beating yourself up!  Jesus told us to “Love our neighbors as ourselves…”  It is OK to love yourself!  See yourself as one created in the Image and Likeness of God your Father… Appre­ciate yourself and forgive yourself!

          Understand that your tongue is the faucet! You release love initially through your mouth by your tongue!  What you say is what is in your heart.  Out of the heart the mouth speaketh… Mt 12:34. Make your tongue a fountain of life that flows continu­ally with refreshing streams of love.

          Make love visible.  Do love.  Be love.  Don’t only talk love.  Be love.  Be doers of love.  Love is an intangible force… make it visible by actions that speak love.  Determine to do something today that will prove your love.

          Living by love is living like Jesus.  Living by love is living like God.  Love living is what the world is waiting to see and ex­perience.  Love living is what will hasten the return of Jesus.  Living by love is living in perfection.

Word for Today: November 9

The Church is important.

The Church is vital.

The Church is the world’s only hope.

God will use the Church to change the world.  I know this is possible because ONE CHURCH did change the world.  Forever and forever the course of human history was changed and impacted because of the influence and ministry of this One Church.

What God has done in the past He is certainly able and capable of doing today.

• God is the same.
• The Holy Ghost is the same.
• Jesus is the same.
• The Word is the same.

What the Church did in the past is proof that the church can do it today.  The Church of the Living God is the most POWERFUL FORCE on this planet.  Nothing and nobody can equal its power and its authority.

The Church is people.  It is not buildings of brick and mortar… it is not denominations and doctrines…. it is not man-made nor man-managed… It is not great architecture and beautiful services… It is more than structures on street corners.  It is People.  People are individuals… Individuals like you and like me.  Us.  We who have been Born Again and Birthed into the Kingdom of the Most High God.  We are the Church.  You are the Church.   The Church is present here today.   And anything that has ever happened “in the church” or “to the church” at any time in the past can and could happen today.   Why should we expect the Church to be anything less than what it is in Acts?

How can we be satisfied with what it is today if it is not what it was during its birth and early history?

It should do what it did.

It can do what it did.

It must do what it did.

It WILL do what it did

INTRODUCTION:

            There are three attitudes toward DIVINE HEALING and DIVINE HEALTH in the church today:

            (1) The Age of Miracles is over… Healing passed away with the Apostles… therefore there is no such thing a DIVINE HEALING  today… in this Age.  God works DISPENSATIONALLY and the Dispensation of Miracles is past.

            (2) God does heal today but He only heals those that are His Will to heal.  Divine Healing comes by Special Faith and at Special Times only as God chooses.

            (3) HEALING and DIVINE HEALTH for the Believer has been provided by God through the Redemptive, Atoning Work of Jesus Christ and it is for ALL WHO BELIEVE.  Healing is a PRESENT DAY PROVISION and it is received on the basis of our FAITH in the FINISHED WORK of JESUS CHRIST.

            “Divine healing and Divine Health is a definite act of God through faith in Jesus by the Power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the precious blood of Christ, whereby the human body is cured, healed, repaired, delivered from sickness and its power, and made as whole, sound, and healthy as it was before the attack.”    Finis Dake

            “Back of each disease there is a cause that no drug can reach…”  Dr. S. Weir Mitchell.

            Drugs may deaden pain, kill germs, and counteract certain poisons in the body, but THEY CANNOT HEAL.  All healing is done by nature and by God.  Jesus atoned on the Cross for sin and for sickness.  God is as willing to heal as He is to forgive of sins.  If Jesus came to take away sin, He certainly came to take away sickness which is the fruit of sin.  THE ONLY HINDERANCE IN GETTING THE FULL BENEFITS OF CALVARY IS UNBELIEF AND LACK OF APPROPRIATION OF THE BLESSING WHICH JESUS DIED TO GIVE ALL MEN.

God’s method is to get rid of the cause of sickness while man’s method is to cover it up and get relief from it.  If man would obey God and correct the source, there would be no outgrowth of sickness.

            There are basically four general causes of sickness and disease:

            1.  The Fall of Man

            2.  Sin

            3.  The work of satan and demons

            4.  The execution of the Law of Sowing and Reaping

            Perhaps the greatest hindrance to the faith of those seeking healing is the UNCERTAINTY IN THEIR MINDS as to it being the Will of God to HEAL ALL.  Most will admit that God heals some… but modern theology and prevailing skepticism has prevented the Church form KNOWING WHAT THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES and that is HEALING AND DIVINE HEALTH FOR THE BELIEVER IS THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND IT HAS AREADY BEEN PROVIDED BY AND THROUGH THE REDEMPTIVE ATONING WORK OF JESUS!

This study will teach you: 

            (1) What the Bible says about Healing. 

            (2) How you can get Healed if you are sick. 

            (3) How you can stay healed if you are well. 

            (4) Why some fail to receive healing.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HEALING:

LUKE 4:40:  “Now when the sun was setting, ALL they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid hands on EVERY ONE of them and HEALED THEM….”

MATTHEW 8:16:  “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits WITH HIS WORD, and HEALED ALL that were sick…” 

MATTHEW 4:24:  “And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him ALL SICK PEOPLE that were taken with divers diseases and torment, and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatick and those that had the palsy and He HEALED THEM (all)…”

MATTHEW 9:35:  “And Jesus went about ALL the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and HEALING EVERY sickness and EVERY disease among the people…”

MATTHEW 12:15:  “But when Jesus knew it He withdrew Himself from thence; and great multitudes followed Him, and He HEALED THEM ALL…”

MATTHEW 14:35-6:  “And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him they sent out into all that country round about and brought unto Him ALL THAT WERE DISEASED; and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made PERFECTLY WHOLE…”

LUKE 6:17-19:  “…and a great multitude of people…came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirit; and they were HEALED… and the whole multitude sought to touch Him; for there went virtue (power) out of Him and HEALED THEM ALL…”

ACTS 10:38:  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; Who went about doing good, and HEALING ALL that were oppressed of the devil;  for God was with Him…”

ACTS 5:15-16  “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about Jerusalem bringing sick folks and them which were vexed with unclean spirits and they were HEALED EVERY ONE…”

MARK 16:17-18  “And these signs shall follow them that believe; in My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover…”

JAMES 5:14-15  “Is there any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him…”

HOW TO GET HEALED

1.  Get Born Again

1Pet. 2:24   Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Matt. 8:16   When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matt. 8:17   That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Matt. 13:15   For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

2.  Have Faith for Healing

If you have repented of your sins and your unbelief, you have a right, a perfect right according to the Gospel, to get what the Gospel promises and what Jesus died to give you.

Matt. 21:21   Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Matt. 21:22   And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mark 9:23   Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 11:22   And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Mark 11:23   For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mark 11:24   Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Hebr. 11:6   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

James 1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:6   But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavered is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:7   For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:8   A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

3.  Trust God totally even when you are sick

Jer. 17:5   Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Jer. 17:7   Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jer. 17:8   For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters… and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; (shall have health) and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

4.  Obey God and His Word

Prov. 3:1   My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Prov. 3:2   For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Prov. 4:20   My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Prov. 4:21   Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Prov. 4:22   For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

5.  Make Peace with your fellow man

Mark 11:25   And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:26   But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

James 5:14   Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:15   And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:16   Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

6.  Call the Elders of the Church

James 5:14   Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James 5:15   And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

7.  Control your tongue

Prov. 13:3   He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Prov. 12:18   There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Prov. 16:24   Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Prov. 18:21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

8.  Live in God and Under His Protection

Ps. 91:1   He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Ps. 91:2   I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Ps. 91:3   Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Ps. 91:4   He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Ps. 91:5   Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Ps. 91:6   Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Ps. 91:7   A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Ps. 91:8   Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Ps. 91:9   Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Ps. 91:10   There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Ps. 91:11   For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Ps. 91:12   They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Ps. 91:13   Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Ps. 91:14   Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Ps. 91:15   He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Ps. 91:16   With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

9.  Praise God for your Healing before it comes

Ps. 103:1   Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Ps. 103:2   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Ps. 103:3   Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Rom. 4:20   He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

10.  Serve God in Holiness of life

 John 5:14   Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

11.  Appropriate the Benefits of Calvary

Mark 11:24   Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

12.  Resist the devil… Refuse to be denied what is legally yours

James 4:7   Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:8   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1Pet. 5:8   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pet. 5:9   Whom resist stedfast in the faith…

13.  Observe the laws of God and Nature

1Cor. 6:19   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Cor. 6:20   For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1Cor. 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Cor. 3:17   If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 I. REMOVE ALL UNCERTAINTY REGARDING GOD’S WILL ABOUT SICKNESS and DISEASE. 

            IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU TO BE WELL.  Most will have to adjust and correct their theology.  God has appointed you a number of days and He desires that you live all of them well and not sick. 

“And ye shall serve the Lord your God and He shall bless thy bread and thy water; and I WILL TAKE SICKNESS AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF THEE.   There shall nothing cast their young not be barren in thy land: the number of they days I will fulfil…”  EXODUS 23: 25-26

            It is GOD’S WILL to heal ALL WHO HAVE NEED OF HEALING.  There is not a doctrine or truth more clearly taught in the Word of God. 

If it were the will of God for people to be sick, then God never would have healed anyone because that would oppose His own will.  Notice that the Glory God got out of all the cases of healing in Scripture was not in the sickness, but in the healing. 

            1. If sickness is the will of God then it is a SIN for the sick to even desire to be well.

            2. If sickness is the will of God then every Physician is an enemy to God, every nurse is defying the Almighty and every hospital is a house of spiritual rebellion.

            3. If sickness glorifies God, then Jesus robbed God of all the glory He could by healing the sick.

            4. If sickness is an affliction sent by God to teach or correct those whom He loves, then why do the sick try to get rid of God’s love token?  Why do they not rather pray for a “second blessing” of sickness?  Why do they not ask   God to “bless” every member of their family with a “love token”?

            5. If Jesus came to “Destroy the Works of the devil” (I John 3:8) does He want the works that He came to destroy to remain in our bodies?

            6. Since the Human Body (Your Body, if you are Born Again) is the Temple of God, would He not rather have a Well Body to live in than one that is a physical wreck? ….that is weak? ….that is diseased? …that is infirm?….that is imperfect?

            Faith cannot go beyond one’s KNOWLEDGE of the REVEALED WORD and WILL OF GOD.  Until we KNOW that it is God’s Will for us to be well, we have nothing on which to base our faith.  IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU TO BE  HEALED OF  EVERY SICKNESS AND INFIRMITY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE DECLARES. 

II. PLANT THIS HEALING TRUTH AS SEED IN YOUR HEART

“Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free…” Freedom from sickness comes from knowing the TRUTH and ACTING on the TRUTH.

            1. TRUTH (what the Word says about healing) is the SEED that must be planted in your HEART and SOUL (Mind). 

            2. Tradition is not necessarily TRUTH.  Creed is not necessarily TRUTH.  Doctrine is not necessarily TRUTH.  Religion is not necessarily TRUTH. 

            Are YOU convinced that the BLOOD OF JESUS SAVED YOU FROM SIN? Are you ASSURED that HIS WORK of REDEMPTION was and is SUFFICIENT TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN?  DO you believe that EV_ERYONE who PRAYS the sinner’s  PRAYER of FAITH GETS SAVED?  IS SALVATION A “HIT OR MISS” SITUATION?  Are only “some” saved when they pray the sinner’s prayer?  Now, when were your sins forgiven?  Not when you confessed them, but when Jesus paid the price for them on the Cross.  You RECEIVED that forgiveness when you  APPROPRIATED what happen on the Cross by confessing your sins and trusting  in Jesus as Lord. 

The same is true regarding your healing.  When were you healed?  Not when you prayed for it but rather when Jesus paid the price for your healing on the Cross.  You RECEIVE that healing as you appropriate what Jesus did for you on the Cross by confessing and believing.

            Your attitude toward HEALING FOR YOUR BODY SHOULD BE JUST A CONFIDENT and your ATTITUDE TOWARD YOUR SALVATION.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED…”  ISAIAH  53:5

III.  PRAY THE PRAYER OF FAITH… NOT UNBELIEF

            Praying with faith-destroying words such as “If it be Thy will…” is not planting the Seed of Truth.  It is destroying the seed…. aborting the Seed of God by and through unbelief.

            The Gospel is the “Power of God unto Salvation (Soteria)…” It is God’s Power for all facets and phases of life… Social… Physical… Financial… Mental… Spiritual.  Being HEALED is BEING SAVED in the PHYSICAL DEMINSION!!

It is IMPORTANT that you believe that God is not only ABLE to heal you but that HE is WILLING to heal you and He is WILLING to do it RIGHT NOW!!  The PRAYER of FAITH believes that it is HEARD before the answer is PHYSICALLY MANIFESTED.  “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire (do you desire health?), when ye pray believe that ye receive(ed) them, and ye shall have them…”  Mark 11:24

IV.  LET YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SICKNESS BE THE SAME AS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN

            You should be just as determined to be healed as you are to be saved.   You should be just as determined to be WELL as you are to be FOR_GIVEN!!  You will not tolerate UNFORGIVEN SIN to remain in your heart… you should not tolerate UNHEALED SICKNESS to remain in your body.  Be just a CONCERNED about you healing as you  are your forgiveness!!

V.  DECIDE TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED RIGHT NOW

            Just because you do not SEE IMMEDIATE RESULTS does not mean that NOTHING HAPPENED.  IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.  It happened nearly 2000 years ago!!  It is DONE and it is FINISHED.  It is COMPLETE and it HAS BEEN PROVIDED.  The works of the devil have been destroyed because the Son of God has been manifested!!  Believe you have received regardless of what appears to your senses…

            Basically, three things are happening as you wait for the manifestation:

            (1) Your PATIENCE is being developed…

            (2) GOD is WORKING in every area to bring your healing to completion…

            (3) satan is FIGHTING tempting you to give up and quit in discouragement…

‘MY SON, ATTEND TO MY WORDSLL; INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY SAYINGS.  LET THEM NOT DEPART FROM THINE EYES; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF THINE HEART.  FOR THEY ARE LLIFE UNTO THOSE THAT FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH…”  PROVERBS 4:20-22

SUGGESTIONS FOR STAYING SICK:

            (1) Take TIME to TALK about your sickness and your weakness and your infirmities

            (2) Look up some expert to tell you and convince you that God does not always heal unless it is His Will

            (3) DISCUSS in detail all your operations and see if you can find someone to top your gruesome experiencesl

            (4) Check up on your FAMILY HISTORY and find out what your relatives died from

            (5) Eat anything you want and as much of it as you want anytime you want it.  Settle in front of the TV and watch others get sick and die and go through horrible experiences.

            (6) Never exercise.  Lay down.  Sit down.  Nap as often as you can.  Never do any hard physical work

            (7) Do not watch TBN, the 700 Club or any Full-Gospel Telecasts.  Do not listen to Christian Music or Tapes or Teachings.

            (8) Be sure and read all the footnotes in Some Bibles… especially those that explain away miracles

            (9) Get mad.  Be critical.  Stay in strife.  Live in unforgiveness

Word for Today:  November 8

Jesus came to reveal the Nature of God.

He came from Heaven to show us what God is like.  He came to earth to answer the question:  “What is God like?”  And He is the Perfect Revelation of God.  Jesus “condescended” and “made Himself of no reputation…” to reveal to you and me and all creation Who God is and What God is like.

The Incarnation of Christ is the greatest miracle of all time.

All the world can now know God and God’s Person, Nature and Character.

Jesus perfectly and completely reveals the Nature of our Father God.  He said:

 “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father…”

Jesus condescended to this earth and “made Himself of no reputation”   He “laid down” and literally “left in heaven”:

• His equality with God
• The Glory He shared with the Father in Heaven
• His Authority in Heaven
• His Divine attributes and outward powers

He “Emptied Himself” order to reveal the Nature and Character of God.  Jesus is the Perfect Revelation of God.

Philippians 2

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery  (something to be grasped at)  to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, (emptied Himself) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus came to earth and put a Face on God

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33  

          Jesus said some remarkable things about the Kingdom of God.  In Matthew 6, He tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righ­teousness.  I believe He means for us to put a priority on looking for and finding where the Kingdom of God is located.  He said seek it.  He said seek it first.  He said before you do anything else, look for the Kingdom.  Look for it.  Find it.  Discover it.  Learn about it.  He wants us to discover  the Kingdom of God.  He wants us to find out what it is, where it is and how it works.  To discover something is to explore, seek, look for and search for it until you find what you are looking for.   

          Then, after we find what the Kingdom is and where it is located, He is telling us to learn how it functions.  He wants us to find out how it works.  When we find out what it is and where it is and how it works He is telling us to func­tion the same way here on earth and when we do, all things will be added unto us.  (Those things  which have been taken away or stolen by the devil).

Where the Power is

          If  we are going to discover how to release faith’s power, we should first find out where the Power is. We will not be able to let the power out or get the power out if we do not know where it is.  Notice these verses: 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceed­ingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us…  Eph 3:20. 

According to this verse, the power we want to release into the earth is actually in us.

 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us…   2 Cor 4:7.

          According to this verse, this treasure (the power of God) is in “earthen vessels…”  This means that it is in us… we are the “earthen ves­sels.”

 Neither shall they say, Lo here!  or Lo there!  for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you…  Luke 17:21.

          According to this verse, the Kingdom of God (which is a Kingdom of  Power) is “within you…”  This means that it (God’s Kingdom of power) is in us.  What an astounding revelation! All of heaven’s power resides inside every believer. 

          I believe we have yet to realize the signifi­cance of what Jesus really taught concerning the Kingdom.  He preached that “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand…” and we have not fully un­derstood what this means.  In order to release faith’s power, (the Kingdom Power that is in every Believer) here are some things we need to remember:

The Kingdom that Jesus taught about:

• The Kingdom Jesus taught about was not some future happening.

• The Kingdom Jesus taught about was not Heaven.

• The Kingdom Jesus taught about was not some future eschatological event. 

• The Kingdom Jesus taught about is in the now… it is a present day reality.  

• Not only is the Kingdom in the now, it is purposed to op­erate in the earth just as it is presently operating in heaven.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Mt 6:10 

The Kingdom is Eternal

The Kingdom begins on earth and continues into and throughout eternity.

          One is born into the Kingdom when he receives Jesus Christ as Lord.  Jesus told Nicodemus “except a man be born again he can­not SEE (be aware of) the Kingdom….”  (John 3:3).  The Kingdom one is born into begins on earth and continues throughout eternity.  Eternal life does not start when we get to heaven.  Eternal life begins at the time of our Conversion here on earth.  At that time, we are delivered from the power of darkness and are translated into the Kingdom of God’s Dear Son.   (Col 1:13)

Much of Jesus’ preaching was about the Kingdom.

          He knew how extremely important it was for us to understand the principles of the Kingdom.  He taught about it through parables  (eleven of them deal specifically with the Kingdom)  and compared the Kingdom with simple things of life so that the hearers would not miss the truth it.

          If we are to bring the Will of God to Earth (as it is in heaven), we must function and operate in the principles of the Kingdom.

          Jesus prayed:

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven.  Mat 6:10 

The Body of Christ will be unable to release the Power of God into the earth if it does not under­stand Kingdom Principles.  The Eter­nal Purpose God has for you and for me is that we might re­lease His Power into the earth.   When this is done, the Kingdom of God comes and the will of God is done as Jesus prayed in Matthew chap­ter 6.

The Kingdom is in the Believer.

          In the Old Testament, Adam had the Kingdom around him.  All the Old Testa­ment saints and prophets and teachers and kings had the Kingdom around them.  It was external and it was physi­cal.  It was a nation called Israel.

According to the New Tes­tament (the New Covenant), we who believe have the Kingdom inside us.   It is internal. The Kingdom has obviously got to be where the King is.  Jesus lives and reigns in the heart of the Believer.  Therefore, we have the awesome opportunity to make the “Kingdom come” and God’s “will be done” where ever we might be on earth.    The Kingdom is in the believer’s heart and that is where the treasures of the Kingdom are.  Luke tells us the Kingdom of Heaven is within you…    Luke 17:21

Jesus has already given us the Keys of the Kingdom (Mat 16:19). 

At the time of our conversion we are given the keys of the Kingdom.   Keys represent authority, right, privilege and ability.  We can take the keys and bind (stop, prohibit) things on earth that are not al­lowed in heaven.  We can take the keys and loose, re­lease, and initiate on earth things that are in heaven.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.    Matt. 16:19  

          Jesus has made it possible for us to function on earth as He functions is heaven.        

The Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and it operates by faith.

          The Kingdom is not based on facts.  It is based on truth.  Jesus prayed in John 17 that those who believe would be sanctified (set apart) by the truth of God.

 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.   John 17:16-17.

Truth is more powerful and has more au­thority than facts.  We (believers) are “marked off” and “set apart” by truth.  That is what “sanctified” means.  The truth (when we believe it and act on it) sets a boundary around us that Satan and demons cannot pene­trate.  This truth concern­ing the Kingdom will set us aside from others. It is radical and it is revolutionary.  

When our lives are governed by the God-kind of faith, we please and gratify God.  We bring Him pleasure. 

But without faith it is impossible to please (euaresteo:  to gratify en­tirely… this is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament) Him [God])…  Heb 11:6

The Kingdom is purposed and de­signed to operate on earth.

          It is not reserved for us to be enjoyed when we get heaven.  The Kingdom is on earth and it is on earth and in this life that we need the things of God.  It is now that we need heaven’s resources to overcome the World System.   It is not “in the sweet by and by” that we need the treasures of the Kingdom… it is in the NOW. 

Here on earth is where we need the power of God, the ability of God, the authority of God, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost.  It is here that we need healing, deliverance and power over the devil.  We are Kingdom people, called and sanctified to live Heaven’s life on earth in the “midst of a crooked and perverse generation…”  (Phil 2:5)

We are in a dress rehearsal for our future life in heaven. 

The Kingdom is not only our power supply it is also our Storehouse.

          We can actually add to our storehouse.  We can lay up treasures in our storehouse (Mt 6:20). Whatever we need can be found in the Kingdom and the Kingdom is in us.  We are not to wait for blessings to fall out of heaven like rain.  We need not “tarry” and “wait” and “beg” for what we need to somehow drop into our lives.  

Jesus said:  The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth vio­lence and the violent take it by FORCE (harpazo:  pluck, pull, take by force)… when you do vio­lence to something, you actually pervert the truth of it.  Man-made religion and the man-managed church has done vi­olence to the King­dom for years and it is time for us to violently and forcefully take it out of error and put it back into truth.  

Jesus said:  Ye shall know the truth  and the truth shall make you free.   John 8:32

Word for Today:  November 7

Jesus breaks the shackles of dead religion.

In spite of the horror of a world without God, Religion flourished.  Religion does not need God to flourish.  Most religion is without God anyway.  It is true today and it was true 2000 years ago.

In the Inter-biblical Period, (the time between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament) the Judiastic system continued on its path of rule and regulation and legalism.

Jesus makes us free.

• Free from dead religion and man’s traditions and denominational customs.
• Free from laws and rules and regulations.
• Free from bondage to carnal deacons, elders, ungodly church leaders and unscriptural church government.

Jesus said that we would and could know the Truth (the Gospel) and the Truth would make us free.   John 8:32

The Jews in Jesus’ day lived in total subjection to:

• The Law of Moses
• The sayings of the Prophets and
• The Writings that had been handed down from generation to generation.

There were 613 separate laws, commandments, rules and regulations that every Jew was required to obey and keep.   Every day.   That is why Jesus said of the Scribes and Pharisees:

“They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men’s shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers…”  Matt. 23:4

Jesus came from heaven to earth to break the shackles of dead religion.

• Religion builds walls. Jesus builds bridges.
• Religion separates. Jesus joins together.
• Religion kills.

Jesus gives Life

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.  Lu 17:5 

          In the reply Jesus gave following the apostle’s request for their faith to be increased, He told them:

If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.   Luke 17:6

It is interesting to see that Jesus was not talking about the “size” or the “amount” of their faith.  Instead, He was talking about the “quality” of their faith.  According to the language Jesus used in this reply, the word “as” in the phrase: “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed…” can be translated “like” instead of “as.” 

This noted, the response Jesus gave would read like this:  “If you had faith LIKE a mustard seed…” or, in other words, “If you had the same kind (quality) of faith a mustard seed has, you could say to this tree, be plucked up by the root and be planted in the sea and it would obey you.” 

What kind of faith does a mustard seed have?  In the Gospel of  Mark Jesus said that the mustard seed is “less than all the seeds that are in the earth” but when it is grown it has huge branches.  In Luke chapter 13,  He declares that this mustard seed becomes a “great tree” in which birds find refuge. 

Mustard seed faith is a faith that believes and sees.   The mustard seed believes and sees that it will actually become what God created it to become…. no matter what.    Therefore, in spite of its small size it believes and sees that will actually become a great tree, because that is exactly what God created it to become and said it would become.  

So, if it is planted in a difficult place under less than ideal conditions, it will become a great tree.  When it is challenged, the mustard seed will confess:  “I don’t care what is around me or over me or under me, I am a great tree.”  “If there are rocks that block my progress, I am a great tree and I can and will overcome that impossible obstacle.”  “I may be small but there is a great tree in me and that great tree will be stronger than any circumstance or situation that may stand in my way.”  That is mustard seed faith and it is that quality or kind of faith that will call things that be not as though they are and will never be stopped.  Any time and every time. No matter what.   This is the God-kind of faith.

God tells us in the Word how we can in­crease our level of faith. 

Our faith level can be increasedby hearing(Akoe:  understanding) the Word.

 Faith cometh (eltho: to grow) by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…   Rom 10:17. 

There is a difference between listening to the Word and hearing the Word.  Literally thousands listen to the Word but only those who hear the Word are in store for Revelation Knowledge.  It is not coincidental that God tells us at least seven times in the Book of Revelation “he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth…”

            Akouo means hearing the Word with comprehension and  understand­ing.  It also means to hear the Word with the inten­tion of obey­ing it.  It is more than head knowledge.  It is more than sense knowledge.  It is more than intellectual knowledge.  It is hearing the Word with understanding and with the intention of acting on it.  It is doing the Word.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:   Jas 1:23 

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.   Jas 1:24

Being a hearer of the Word and not a doer will result in us “forgetting the manner of man” we are.  In other words, we will be forgetful of who the Bible says we are, what the Bible says we can do, and what the Bible says we have.   We will forget who we are in Christ.  We will forget the power that resides in us.  We will forget the benefits and possibilities of the Treasure that God has endowed us with. 

          Hearing the Word, understanding the Word and acting on the Word will in­crease our faith level.  We can actually “feel” our faith level rising when we hear the Word with the understand­ing and when we purpose in our heart to do it.  This often happens as we hear the Word preached and taught by an anointed minister.   I have experienced this many times and perhaps you have as well.  I was preaching along this line one Sunday many years ago.  The anointing was powerful.  Suddenly, one dear lady way back in the middle of the church auditorium shouted out, “I got it!  I got it!  I got it!”  She “felt” the revelation come into her spirit and could not contain her joy. 

There is an anointing that comes when we move in faith to do what the Word tells us to do.  It is an empowering that comes from the Holy Spirit that will enable us to achieve what we set out to accomplish.  It is like an “adrenalin rush” in the natural… but in the spiritual it is an awareness of the Holy Spirit moving in us.  It permeates our very being.  It encourages us and builds our determination and confidence.  It lessens our awareness of weakness, inability and impossibility.  It feeds our spirit man and motivates us into action.  This is exactly what happened to that sweet lady who hungered for the truth and heard the Word under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

          However, our faith level will never exceed our Word level.  Our faith cannot grow any greater than our knowledge of the Word.  Igno­rance of the Word will limit our faith.  What we know about  we can believe for.  If we don’t know what the Word says, we can’t be­lieve to receive what it promises.  When we submerge ourselves in the Word and drink of its promises and power, when we come into a revelation of the goodness and grace of God and the miracle of the finished redemptive work of Jesus, we experience an exponential surge of our faith.  It increases our faith level. 

Our faith level can be increasedby praying in the Holy Ghost.

Building up your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…   Jude 20.

Praying in tongues (in the Spirit) will build up our level of Faith.  V

            Praying in tongues is one of the most advantageous aspects of being baptized in the Holy Ghost.  When we pray in the Spirit, we pray in agreement with the Word and we pray correctly.  It allows us to pray “without ceasing” since we do not have to “think” about what we are praying.   Praying in tongues bypasses the natural thinking mechanism and comes directly out of our recreated human spirit. 

            Praying in the Holy Ghost means pray­ing in the will of God.  This is praying the Word and praying the answer to  the problem instead of praying about  the prob­lem.  Praying in the Spirit is praying with an attitude of praise and praying with the full expectation of  God to answer.  It is praying with the picture (image) of the answer in our mind and believing in our heart that we have already received the manifestation.

Our Faith Level can be increased by speaking the Word only.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only,and my servant shall be healed.   Matt. 8:8 

          The tongue is a powerful member of the body.  (Probably the most powerful).  With it we can build faith or limit faith.   With the mouth, confession is made unto sal­vation (deliverance)… Rom 10:10.  How we talk will have a powerful effect on the devel­opment or lack of development of our faith.  We will also be held accountable to God for every useless word we speak. 

But I say unto you, That every idle (inactive, useless, barren) word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Mt 12:36 

Our “born again” mouth coupled with a renewed mind will practice speaking the Word only.  It will  call things that be not as though they were… Rom 4:17.  It will be positive.  It will be encouraging.  It will be faith-building.  It will see the good and speak the good.  It will be never give place to doubt, to unbelief, to defeat, to criticism, gos­sip or slander. 

The words we speak set things in motion.  Words will create and words will initiate.   We will taste the good or experience the bad according to what we say with our tongue.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth…  Proverbs12:14

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life…   Proverbs 13:3

A wholesome tongue is a tree of Life…  Proverbs 15:4

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.    Pr 18:21   

 Our faith level can be increased byLove.

..but Faith which worketh (energeo:  to be active, operative, effectual, pow­erful) by Love…  Gal 5:6.

          How much workable faith we have is determined by how much we love with the God-kind of love.

Our faith level will never be higher than our love for those whom we love the least.   The more we love, the higher the level of our faith.  Faith works by love. Every action of every believer should have its motivation grounded in agape love.  This kind (quality) of love will identify us to the world as sons and daughters of the Most High God.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Joh 13:35 

          As a matter of fact, the God-Kind of love is more important and more essential to the believer than any other spiritual weapon.  Paul declares that love is greater than faith or hope and is greater than any of the gifts of the Spirit.  (1 Cor 13).