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Gal3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Now in that same chapter we read in verse 29…

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Saints, if we are born into God’s Kingdom, according to these verses, we are the seed of Abraham.  And if we are the seed of Abraham, we are the recipients of all the promises God gave to this Old Testament patriarch.  We have received all of the blessings that God promised Abraham. 

God gave the Law through Moses and because that Law was broken a curse came on mankind.  That curse came upon you and it came upon me.  But the Bible tells us in Galatians that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the broken law.  This means that Christ has literally bought us back (that is what “redeemed” means) and has given back to us the blessings that were lost as a result of the broken law.  The blessings of Abraham were lost to us as a result of sin… because the Law was broken.  Mankind fell short of God’s expectations and God’s glory.  But Christ has redeemed us, bought us back and reinstated the blessings of Abraham for every believer.  That’s really awesome!

If Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, (and He certainly has) you might ask then, “What is the curse of the Law?”  Let’s look at.  The major portion of Deuteronomy Chapter 28 deals with and describes what the curse of the broken law is and what it does.  I want us to look over some of these verses and just see what Jesus has redeemed us from.  The following verses tell us about the results of the broken law…

15 ¶  But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

20  The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

21 The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.

22  The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

23  And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

When the scriptures declare that the Lord does these horrible things, it says in the original language that the Lord “allows” them.  We know that the Word tells us that God can do no evil,   He is not the author of sickness and disease and calamity and death… He is not the author of poverty and distress… He is not the author or the cause of these things, but He allows them as a means of manifesting the results of the broken law… God does not cause these calamities, He allows them. 

24  The LORD shall make (allow) the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

25  The LORD shall cause (allow) thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 

And on down through the end of this chapter, the Bible is very explicit regarding the results of the broken law and the terrible things that God will allow to happen to those who break the Law of Moses.  He doesn’t cause them… He allows them.  

The good news I bring to you is that Jesus has redeemed us from all of these curses.  He literally became The Curse in order that we might be delivered from the curse.  Jesus has redeemed us … bought us back… from the curse having been made a curse for us and He did it by and through His Redemptive Work on the Cross. 

Ga 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Jesus literally invaded satan’s dominion and stripped him of all the power and authority he exercised over you and over me and over the earth.  Paul writes in Colossians that Jesus spoiled (to strip of or disarm) the devil and took away from him all his offensive weapons and made a show or display of him openly so that all those powers in heaven in earth and in hell would know that the devil was (and still is) totally and completely defeated.  So the devil is a defeated foe right now.  And he always will be.

Col 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

One of the blessings of our redemption is the revelation that the devil is presently defeated.  He has no power.  He has no authority.  He has no right and no legal place in our life in this present world… because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the Law.  This revelation has just begun to operate in my life. 

Just the other day Pat called my attention to the baby.  He had begun to run a fever, his nose was running and as I held him in my arms I could tell that his body temperature was rising and that he was getting worse by the minute.  I could sense by what I saw and felt that he was getting sick.  And it just made me mad.  Real mad.  I hate the devil and I hate what he tries to do to my family and especially to my children.  I just got mad.  I placed him back in his bed and decided to get away so that I could have a sit to with the devil.  I got in the car and drove off and before I got out of the drive way may anger had turned into a righteous rage.  I began to scream at the devil.  I began to rebuke him loudly.  I resisted Him in the Name of Jesus.  I called him names that I would not say in public, much less in the pulpit.  I found out I have the right to do just that.  I cursed the devil and verbally attacked him and told him just where to go… I actually told him to go to hell.  I commanded him to leave my community and my property and my household.  I told him he could not stop at Georgetown or Wilmer or Lucedale… but that he must keep on running.  I reminded him that he had no right or authority to harm or hurt those people in those towns just like he had no authority to harm me or my wife or my kids or my dogs.  I cursed him and fumed at him and lashed him with my tongue.  I slapped him with the Word.  With great rage and violence I came against him all the time I was riding around in my car.  Pat will be my witness that when I got back to the house that baby did not have a runny nose, he did not have any fever and he was not sick.  He has been well ever since.  Hallelujah.    

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the broken law and the curse has no power over us… not anymore.  Do you know what the curse of the broken law is?  It is sickness, and poverty and spiritual death.  These three things are the results of the broken law and Jesus has redeemed me and my family from these three things.  He has redeemed me from sickness.  He has redeemed me from poverty. He has redeemed me from spiritual death. 

I am Born Again.  I am well and not sick.  I am rich and not poor.  I am alive and not dead.  I am just passing through this world, I am not a citizen of this place, my home is in heaven and one day not too far off, I will rule and reign with Jesus right here on planet earth because I am a son of the Living God and I have been redeemed from the curse of the law.  Hallelujah.    

If Jesus delivered me from sin when I got saved He also delivered me from sickness and from poverty because sickness and poverty, just like sin, is a curse of the broken law.  Have you considered the life of Abraham in the Old Testament?   Have you read about him and what God promised him and what God did for him and what God gave him?  If we are studying about the blessings of Abraham which are legally ours because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse, we need to look at this man.  Just how was he blessed?  And what did these blessings include?

Did you know he was one of the wealthiest men who ever lived on this planet?  He was blessed with material things.  Not only did he have wealth, he also had good health.  He was so strong and viral that he fathered a child when he was 100 years old.  He walked and lived in divine health.  He was not sick.  He was not overcome by disease.  He was not weakened by old age.  He was the recipient of tremendous spiritual and natural blessings because God blessed Abraham and Abraham’s seed.  One time God commanded him to look in the heavens and attempt to number the stars because that was just how many offspring he was going to have…he was and is the father of many nations and his offspring is still increasing, just like God said it would.     

The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 and verse 10,

 “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…”  

More than likely, we have all heard this verse because it is one of the verses we use when we are witnessing to someone who needs to be saved.  However there is something in this verse that I did not see until recently.  The word “salvation” in this verse is the Greek word for “deliverance.”    “Salvation” means “deliverance.”  But deliverance from what?  It means I am delivered from sin, I am delivered from sickness, I am delivered from disease, I am delivered from poverty and I am delivered from instability and I am delivered from an unsound mind.  I am delivered from depression, oppression, despair, fear, anxiety and thousands and thousands of other negative and death dealing things the devil tries to hang on me.  

This word “salvation” is an all-inclusive word of God’s matchless grace and love.  It means tons more than just getting saved and going to heaven and missing hell.  It means that if we confess with our mouth because we believe in our heart we will receive the blessings (all of them) of Abraham and we will nave them now in this life on this earth before we die and go to heaven.  And this is because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law.  Our Faith Confession brings possession.  What we say we begin to have.  What we decree and speak by faith begins to come to pass.  It is a scriptural principle that we will have what we say.  Remember Mark 11:23? 

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.

Let me tell you something… in this verse God says one time that we are to believe.  But in the same verse He says three times we are to say with our mouth.  So you see, confession is the key to possession.  Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law but if you don’t believe it and never confess it and never say it but just walk around and keep your mouth shut (or if you do open it you say things that are contrary to the Word)…  you are going to have a very difficult time realizing and experiencing the results of your redemption. 

If you don’t say what God says and you don’t claim what God has already given you to claim, you’ll be sick and you’ll  be broke and you’ll be distressed and sad and fearful and defeated…but IF you get hold of this revelation and begin to confess these things with your mouth and begin to say them and believe them, you will see them begin to come to pass. 

Let me share for moment about the kinds of confession.  There are three kinds of confession.  One type of confession is good only for those who are lost.  The sinner can only confess Jesus as his Lord.  That is the first confession a lost person can make.  Until he makes that confession, no other confession he makes regarding spiritual things will do any good.  We must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and when we do, that brings about salvation. 

The second type of confession is made when a believer gets out of fellowship with God and recognizes his backslidden condition… he is miserable and  unhappy and he has no joy.  He can confess his sins that are responsible for his separation from God… and according to 1 John…

 1Jo 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And when he makes this confession to God the scripture says that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

The third type of confession is the confession that is made by believers like you and me…when that revelation begins to rise up in our spirit and convince us… really convince us… that when we confess what  the Word says,  we can have what the Word says we can have.  You can have faith, but until you are willing to confess with your mouth what you REALLY BELIEVE in your HEART, you will never see what you say. Unless you are operating with a spiritual mind these things will be hard for you to understand.  But I am telling you what God’s Word says. 

God says we have what we say.  If you go around talking about how bad you feel all the time, you will have what you say and you will feel bad all the time.  You talk about the devil being after you then guess what will happen…. The devil will continue to be after you.  You talk about being sick… guess what will happen?  You’ll be sick because what you say is what you get.  You talk about being broke and poor and needy…. Then that’s exactly what you will be.  What you say is what you get. 

But if you will begin to confess some good things…. Some things that God has provided for you in your complete redemption… begin to confess and say “Praise God, I’m redeemed from the curse….. I’m feeling good and I am well and not sick, I am happy and not sad, I am rich and not poor, I am strong and not weak, I have good health I have a great marriage, I have wonderful children, I am free and delivered from unwholesome habits… “  Confess with your mouth and you will begin to possess what you confess.  Confess that you will succeed and not fail confess that the devil is defeated in your life, confess that he has no power and no authority and no right to mess with you or with anything you have…

Confess and say these good things (they are things that God has already said about you) and they will begin to come alive within you and you will start to see them manifest in your life.  Praise God. This is a Word principle that will change your life.     

Now, what are we supposed to confess?  Let me just give you some ideas. 

You need to begin by confessing what God has provided for you in His Plan of Redemption. 

That could take you three or four weeks right there if you just confess that.    What has God provided for us in His Grand Plan of Redemption?  At one time, my little religious head and heart could only believe that my redemption would keep me out of hell.  That was it.  Get to heaven and miss hell.  Now that’s not bad but it is only the beginning.  It barely scratches the surface.  Thank God for that.  That’s good but when I got the revelation that my redemption provided heaven on earth  for me before I died and that I could receive and enjoy heaven’s benefits right here while I was alive… it nearly blew me away!  It was awesome.  It IS awesome! 

God provided health for me here, He provided prosperity for me here, He provided deliverance for me here, He provided joy and peace and happiness and RIGHTEOUSNESS for me here…  I don’t have to wait until I die and go to heaven to receive these great benefits. What did David the shepherd boy write?  Remember he said,

“bless the Lord O my soul and FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS…”

 Look in Isaiah chapter 61. This is one of the greatest and grandest prophecies in the whole Bible concerning Jesus the Messiah.  And it was written nearly 800 years before Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem.

1 ¶  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

What do we have through God’s Great Redemptive Plan?  More than we can list or say… we have Joy unspeakable and full of glory, we have a song in our soul and the sound of victory ringing in our ears…  We have peace and power and soundness of mind. We have freedom from worry and fear and all those things that so easily beset us and draw us away from Jesus.  We have Hope.  We have Faith.  We have Expectancy.  We have Strength.  We have the thrill of fellowship with the Savior and an intimate relationship with Father God.  We have the excitement of Fresh Revelation coming to us through the Word. 

We have the awesome baptism in the Holy Ghost and all the wonderful Gifts of the Spirit.  We have the awesome New Testament Church clothed in the power of the Holy Ghost that is continuing to do what Jesus Did while He walked on this earth.  We have Signs and Wonders and Miracles.  Hallelujah.  Confess these things  and say these things  because they are  REDEMPTIVE FACTS and a RESENT DAY REALITIES.    

Next, we need to confess what God has done IN US

What has God done in us?  I can tell you some of what God has done in me.  He has made me a NEW CREATION in Christ Jesus.  Old things are now passed away, they are history, and all things have become new.  I am a New Creation in Jesus.     I am getting better and not just older.  My youth is being renewed in me like the eagle’s…  I am wiser, more intelligent, I have greater experience and I am continually receiving greater revelation from the Word.  My mind is being renewed.  My physical body is under the influence of the Holy Ghost and what He does for me and in me is timeless.  It is not affected by the passing of years.  Hallelujah. 

I am living by the principles and promises of the Word of God.  Therefore, I am not moved by what I see or what appears to be or what men may say or what the world may dictate… I am moved only by the Word of God and the Word of God is changeless and eternal.  What God promises He performs.  Christ has redeemed me from the curse. 

Confess what God is doing for us RIGHT NOW

Do you know what Jesus is doing for us right now?  He is Interceding for you and for me at the Right Hand of God’s Throne in Heaven.  As we go about our daily living… working, playing, ministering, serving… Jesus is praying for us.  Jesus is praying for me.  Jesus is praying for you.  Jesus is praying for Lott Road Church.  Jesus is ministering to God in our behalf… for us… for our benefit.  Right now.   He is our Advocate.. . our Special Attorney who represents us before God in the presence of the Accuser… He pleads our case and declares us innocent of all charges.  He dispatches Ministering Spirits (Angels) to specifically come and help us in our times of need… when we are hurting and enduring temptations and trials…. He Knows who we are, where we are and what we need… and He is presently occupied in getting the supply to our need.  He is active and aggressive and diligent in caring for and protecting each of us…. He is Christ the Lord and He has redeemed us from the curse. 

Confess what God CAN DO through us. 

This is one of the main reasons I am teaching you about Jesus redeeming us from the curse of the law.    What can God do through us?  He has already told us in Mark chapter 11 that if we believe and speak to mountains, they will be removed and cast into the sea.  God tells us that we can do mighty and miraculous things when we speak God’s Word out of our mouth because we believe it in our heart. 

He tells us that if we will resist the devil he will flee from us.  The Bible tells us that we can do ALL THINGS though Christ Who is our strength.  He tells us that NOTHING shall be impossible to us.  He tells us that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  He tells us that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ASK or THINK according to the POWER that worketh (is energized) in us.  He tells us that we are the Church of the Living God and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. 

He tells me and you that He has placed an open door before us and that no man (demon or devil) can close it.  He tells us that if we can believe ALL THINGS are possible to him that believeth.  Jesus tells us that we can even do GREATER THINGS on earth than He did.  What did He do?  He cast out devils, He raised the dead, He healed the sick, He gave sight to the blind, He opened the ears of the deaf, and caused the dumb to speak.  He spoke to storms and they stopped.  He fed the multitudes with a few fish and a few of loaves of bread.  He walked on water.  He turned water into wine.  He caused the crippled to walk and the lame to leap.  This is what GOD can DO THROUGH us.  We need to believe this and confess these things.  We need to talk about what we can do instead of what we can’t do. 

Don’t go around feeling sorry for yourself.  Get up and get away from your little pity parties.  Forget about feeling like you are some special blessing from God because you go around sick all the time.  Confess that you are well and not sick.  Confess that you are not poor.  The Bible says that Jesus, though He was rich,  became poor that we, through His poverty might be made rich. 

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

So, according to the Bible we are rich.  Right now.  At this moment.  Heaven’s Prince became poor that we might become rich. 

Jesus became sin that we might become His Righteousness.

 2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Now say that.  Confess that.  He became sin, and disease, and corruption, and hate, and violence, and every vile and wretched thing the devil has ever hatched up…Jesus BECAME that LITERALLY.  That’s why He was all but unrecognizable in His outward appearance as He hung on the Cross.  He became THAT so that you might have heaven on earth.

 He HATH redeemed us from the CURSE. 

Begin to confess these things that we have in Jesus and begin to say these positive and powerful things GOD says about us… and we will see these things come to pass. The devil is terrified of any believer who will put into practice what I am teaching in this message.  God is holding us responsible for what we hear and what we know.  He tells us that “to whom much is given much shall be required…” (Lk 12:48) 

We will all answer to God at the Judgment Seat of Christ regarding the things we KNOW.  Folks, the devil is whipped.  The only power he has is the power we give him.  That is the only power he has.  He is defeated once and for all.  Jesus dealt with him on the Cross.    He has been overcome by the Captain of our Salvation and it is time that we begin to live like we have been redeemed from the curse.

Now, believe right.  

Believe down in your spirit… receive the Revelation… that the devil is whipped.  Really believe this.  Believe this because the Bible says it. Jesus defeated the devil and if the Bible says it then it is so.  It is a fact as well as a truth.  Jesus stripped him of all his power and all his authority and he is still stripped.  He is naked. He has nothing.  He is nothing.  He is a nobody.  He is only as powerful as you let him be. 

Do you remember the cartoon called the Road Runner?  The cartoon character in that series that really pictures the devil was old Wiley coyote.

Every time I see old “Wiley” with all his cockamamie schemes, I see the devil.  And the roadrunner reminds me of those believers who really believe the Bible.  They are constantly setting traps for the stupid one.  The coyote.  Ole “Wiley” the devil.  And he is always getting smeared and smashed and crushed and bashed.  There he stands with band aids everywhere and bandages and bruises and bumps… a classic example of a defeated enemy.  Nothing he tries ever works for the smart and quick and nimble road runner. 

The Bible says the devil walks about “like” a roaring lion… it does not say that the devil “is” a lion but he is “like” a lion.  And the Bible says he is constantly seeking  (looking for) those whom he might devour.  Do you know why he has to look for those he might consume?  He has to search and seek out those who do not know what I am teaching  you in this message.  Those who are ignorant of these things I am teaching are open prey for the roaring lion. 

The Bible says,

 my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… (Hos 4:6).

I am telling you some things that will keep the devil away from you.  Now, believe in your heart…. Deep down inside… in your Spirit that Jesus HAS REDEEMED you from the Curse of the Law.  Quit dragging about like a bunch of senile old worn out people and get some fire and anger and rage toward the devil down inside your spirit.  Then get aggressive and offensive in your war against him and his demon hoards. 

Next, Talk Right. 

Talk like you are the victor and not the victim.  Talk about your victories.  Don’t talk about your problems.  Don’t talk about your circumstances.  Don’t talk about your sickness.  Don’t talk about your failures… talk about your conquests and your victories.  Talk about what you have in Jesus.  You are the Sons and daughters of the Living God.  You have overcome the enemy by the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus.  You are ruling and reigning as kings and priests unto the Lord.  You can do what God says you can do.  You have what God says you have.  And you are who God says you are. 

Let’s begin to talk the Word.  Let’s begin to say what God says about us.  Do you know how the devil finds out stuff about us?  He is not omniscient.  He does not know everything.  He has to LEARN about you.  And he does this by LISTENING to what you say.  He cannot “read your mind.”  But he has open ears to hear what you say and demon messengers to run to the devils office and tell on you.   When you begin to talk right he has to go find somebody else who is not as smart as you are. 

Next,  Act Right.  

Some tell me I’m crazy.  Some say I’ve gone off “into the deep” whatever that means.  Some say I’ve lost my mind and gone insane.  Bro. John Osteen used to say that if this is “insanity” just think about what a beautiful insane asylum we are going to.   Act like that thing I’ve been telling you is real.  Act like it is an established fact.  Act like it works.  Act like you really believe it. Act like Jesus has redeemed you from the curse.   Let what you do be an outworking of what God has put  in you.  The scripture says that we are to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling…” 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Now just what does this mean?  It means we are to Work out what God has worked in.  We are to act out what God has put in.  We are to act like what is an established fact…  and that is Christ has Redeemed us from the Curse… and we need to ACT LIKE IT.  We are redeemed.  We are delivered.  We are liberated.  We are set free.  We are more than conquerors.  Then we are to act like it.  Amen? 

When the world see us as redeemed, they should be able to tell that Something has Happened to Us.  We are not acting like those who are in the world we are acting like we are citizens of another country.  We are pilgrims just passing through.  We are people of another world.  We are literally aliens on this planet.  Now let’s act like it. 

Next, we are to Rejoice Like IT. 

“O preacher you just don’t know how the devil has been after me…  I have never had it so bad.  I am at my rope’s end.  I just can’t stand any more….”  There you go making a bad confession and using your mouth to say wrong things.  You are being hung by your tongue.  Somebody came up to me and said “preacher I’ve really got the devil on the run!”  I said “Praise God… that’s the way it ought to be….”  Then they said “you don’t understand… He’s doing the running and I’m doing the fleeing…” Sad, but all to true.  When the devil tries to slip up on you, just turn around and look him straight in the eyes and shout PRAISE GOD!  YOU ARE A WHIPPED AND DEFEATED DEVIL!  He’ll run off like a scared dog.  Then Sing.  Rejoice.  Shout.  Dance.  Run.  Do whatever you can do to let the world (and the devil) know that you are REDEEMED  and Delivered and Free. 

Now , PLAN like you have been redeemed from the curse….

 Because you have been!   Plan your life like you constantly have the victory.  Plan your future like you are redeemed from the curse.  I know folks that have planned their funeral for years.  Some have already picked out their casket. They have chosen and selected the clothes they are to be laid out in and given their loved one the order of service.   Some have called me and given me specific instructions about their funeral service.  What songs to sing.  What scriptures to read.  What funeral home to use.   That may be alright for some, but I’m just not planning on dying.

I have found out how to live and I am planning on living  in all the benefits of my redemption.  Some folks are planning on going to the hospital.  They have gone out and bought a brand new pair of pajamas and a new robe and all the stuff they need for a hospital stay.  I want to plan on staying well.  I want to plan on never being sick.  Never needing a hospital.  Let’s make up our minds to plan like we are redeemed from the curse. 

Next, VISUALIZE  it in your spirit. 

See it in your spirit with your faith eyes.  Someone in our church came up to me the other and I said “Have you seen our new auditorium? “  And they sort of looked a little stunned.  I wonder how many of you have seen our new auditorium.  I have a great picture of our new auditorium in my spirit.  And I look at it all the time with my faith eyes.  Have you seen our new gymnasium that goes with our new auditorium?   I have.  I have seen the auditorium full of folks worshipping and praising God.  I have watched our Faith Academy students and our church young people play basketball in our new gymnasium.  I have visualized these new buildings and I am constantly looking at them with my faith eyes.  Have you seen our new classroom building and our new cafeteria yet?  Where have you been?  What have you been seeing here…. Nothing?  Well, I have been seeing SOMETHING and that SOMETHING is an answer from God to our Faith.  And I can see it.  And just where is all this money coming from?  From heaven.  It is coming from God.  He has it.  And He is going to get it to us in answer to our Faith.  

As I confess these things with my mouth and as I really believe that what I confess and what I say will be what I see, I need to act like it has already happened and  begin to rejoice like it has manifested.  I am  planning like it is real and I am seeing it constantly in my spirit with my faith eyes….

Guess what?  I am going to drive up in this parking lot one day soon and SEE a new auditorium and a new gymnasium and a new classroom building and a new cafeteria…  I will preach in the new auditorium and see many saved and brought to God and filled with the Holy Spirit… I will minister to hundreds and hundreds of young people and children who are students at Faith Academy… I will see them as they enjoy the benefits of our faith in a new gym and a new cafeteria, I will live to SEE what God has promised because I have been REDEEMED from the curse.  Hallelujah. 

Remember now, the Bible declares that the blessings of Abraham are ours.

13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The same book that lists all the curses of the broken law also lists all the blessings that are ours because we are the Seed of Abraham.  Read Deuteronomy chapter 28….

1 ¶  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

3  Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4  Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5  Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6  Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7  The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

8  The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9  The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10  And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11  And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12  The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13  And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. 

Note:

This message was preached in December of 1975.  In the next 5 years all of the buildings we spoke of were constructed and in use: a new auditorium along with a new High School classroom building, a new gymnasium and a new cafeteria.  And a growing Faith Academy enrollment from grades 1 through 12.

God is Faithful.

Word for Today:  August 6

Called of God.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Judg. 6:12

I’m quite sure that Gideon did not feel like a mighty man of valor.  He had been hiding out behind the barn to thresh the wheat so the Midianites could not see him.  He was nervous.  He was afraid.  He was uncertain.  He had no confidence in himself.  He was intimidated by the enemy.  Yet, God calls him a “Mighty man of valor.”

This is what God calls you.  He calls you what you are… not what you feel like you are.  You may be hiding behind the barn, but He sees you with a Fire in your heart and a Sword in your hand

There is no lottery program in the Call of God.    The call is direct and personal and based on something God sees within the person He is calling.   He sees in you possibility.  He sees in you capability.  God sees in you potential.  He sees your Heart and He knows what kind of a heart you have.

You may not “feel” like a Mighty Warrior.  You may not look like a threat to hell and the devil.  You may not think you are More than a Conqueror, but that is what God sees in you and that is what God calls you.  And that is precisely what you are.

Today, be WHO God says you ARE

Word for Today:  August 5

Continuing in victory.

Continuing in victory depends on continuing in the Word.  What you do with the Word determines what the Word will do for you.  How you Work the Word determines what and how the Word will work for you.  Giving the Word first place in your life and making the Word your Instruction Manual is extremely important. You need to learn the Word.  Study the Word.  Know the Word.  Meditate the Word. Speak the Word.  Pray the Word.  Believe the Word.  And, most importantly, Do the Word.

When you get full of the Word, no matter what shakes you, only the Word will come out.  If a glass is full of only water, no matter how badly it’s shaken, nothing but water will come out.   When you are full of the Word, no matter how bad your circumstances may be, nothing but the Word will come out.

Hide the Word in your heart and plant it in your spirit.  Think it and meditate it.  Never turn away from it.  Keep it before your eyes night and day.  Treasure it.  Love it and honor it.  Obey it.  See it as your Source.  It is food for your spirit and protection for your body and healing for your bones…  GET INTO THE WORD and GET THE WORD INTO YOU.

Be fill with all the fullness of God…  Eph 3:19

 Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…

God specializes in Workable Simplicity.  He is a Specialist in making things work and making them work efficiently and effectively… with no waste and with the least expenditure of energy.  He perfects creation.  He perfects creations operation. What He does perfectly He also does efficiently and economically… that is He gets the Very Most out of the Very Least. 

We are New Creation People… He has created us and equipped us so that we can accomplish the impossible without outside help.   He has imparted to every one of His Children the Power that taps into and connects with His Ability; His ability to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think…. This power is in us.  Now.  This minute.  The primary purpose God has imparted this Power to us is so that we might take Dominion over all things. 

Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalm 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Psalm 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:               

What is this Powerthat is supposed to work in us?  Where is it?  Where does it come from?  What does it do?  How does it function and work?  Do I have it?  How can I get it and be sure I have it?  These are some of the questions we will be addressing in this study regarding the power and the authority possessed by those who are Born again and in Partnership with God. 

The purpose and plan of God is for His Children to Reign in Life.                 

Romans 5:17  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

The word “reign” comes from a word that means:  to be the king, to exercise kingly power, to reign, to exercise the highest influence, to control.   This is a place I definitely want to be. Don’t you?  The Word also calls Believers “overcomers.”  Listen:

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

To “overcome” is to conquer… to carry off the victory, come off victorious.  To win.   All the time and every time.  This is what the Bible says about you and me.  Us. Believers.  The Bible also says that we are “more than conquerors.”  We are not just winners, but MORE than winners.  The outcome is not even close… the Bible says we win by a wide margin. 

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.     

The Bible declares that we can do all things through Christ and that nothing shall be impossible to us.  That if we ask, we will receive.  If we knock it will open.  If we seek we shall find and that with God, all things are possible.  We can live in the Supernatural.  We are who He says we are. We have what He says we have.  We can do what He says we can do.  These wonderful things He has promised us come out of Partnership.  They come out of His Word.  They come out of His Covenant with us.  These are His promises to everyone who will dare to believe.  This is absolutely awesome.  The Bible says that He always causes us to triumph in Christ… this means that we always win.  Every time.  God even says that we shall do even greater works than Jesus did because He has gone to the Father and sent the Holy Ghost.  God promises to supply all of our need according to HIS riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.  He even tells us that we can Choose Life and Refuse death.  And that by choosing Life both we and our seed shall live.  These are profound promises and awesome declarations… and they are to come to pass according to the Power that is working in us. 

How do we do this?  Where does the power and the ability to overcome, to win and to reign come from?  Most would say “from God.”  However, according to the Bible, it comes from what God has done inside the believer.   This power or ability to reign in life and overcome the world comes from inside the New Creation Man.  Then something must happen to a person to make this possible. 

The initial Transaction takes place at the time of the New Birth.  It happens when one gets Born Again.  At this particular instant, the moment of Regeneration, God Himself comes into the heart  (spirit) of the believing sinner.  When one believes with the heart and confesses with the mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who came from heaven, was crucified for our sin, was miraculously raised from the dead and Who is now Alive and sitting at the Right Hand of God… that person is Born Again.  Saved.  Redeemed.  Regenerated.  Re-gened… his sins are forgiven and forgotten and he becomes a New Creation. 

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

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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

The Nature and Character of God Himself takes up residence inside the heart of the believer.  The believer becomes, through his faith and through the Grace of God, Born Again.  He becomes A Child of God.  We actually, factually and literally become “partakers” of the divine nature of God, our Father.  We have His character and His nature imputed to us. 

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The word for “partakers” in this context means:  a partner, associate, comrade, companion…   a sharer, in anything and everything. So, according to the Bible, at the time of Conversion, the believer becomes a sharer, a partner, or an associate with God.  This experience affects the recipient, spirit, soul, and body.  The spirit is quickened and brought to life, the soul (mind and emotions) is renewed by the Word and the body becomes the Temple of the Holy Ghost… the very dwelling place of God Himself.  The Believer is also made Righteous. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Righteousness and sin are totally incompatible.  Just as darkness is incompatible with light, sin is incompatible with righteousness.  If one is Just and Righteous, there is no possibility of sin, failure, weakness or death in his spirit.  (It is the Spirit of Man that is made Righteous… not necessarily his mind and or his body).  Where there is no sin, there is no possibility of weakness and failure.  There is no place for condemnation and guilt. 

What is the seat of God’s Power?  We know He is Omnipotent (all-powerful).  But just where in God does His power reside?  Our concept and understanding of the Nature of God is essential if we are to comprehend anything at all regarding His power.  He is Creator.   Out from Him (by His Power) everything that is made was made.  Out from Him (by His Power) everything that is made is sustained and upheld.  

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…

What is it that makes God all powerful?    I believe it is His Righteous Nature.  His power comes out of His Righteousness.  Righteousness means Just and Right.  His power comes out of His Justice and His Rightness.  He is “Just Right.” 

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness (“Just-rightness”) for His name’s sake…”  Psalm 23:3.  Just what does this mean?  If God leads me… He takes me somewhere.  He is in front and He takes me by the hand and He goes somewhere with me.  We are together.  And we are going to the same place.  We go along the path of Righteousness.  The road of “Just Right.”  (Justice and Rightness).  As long as I walk with Him in this place… along this path, then I bring honor and glory to His Name.  (For “His Name’s sake”).  To bring Honor and Glory to His Name is to receive and walk in all that His Name provides.  This is walking in Covenant or Partnership with Him.  The power to do this is in and  by and through the Power of Righteousness; the Force of Righteousness.   Where is this Force and where is this Power?   Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:20. 

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able (dunamai; Present Tense… a simple statement of FACT or REALITY viewed as happening in actual present time.) to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according (Kata: down from… through) to the power (Dunamis:  power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature) that worketh (Energeo:to be operative, be at work) in us…     

On close examination, this verse tells us some very important facts:

1. God is Able.
2. God is Able to do something.
3. The Something God is able to do is far beyond our ability to ask or think.
4. He is able to do this According to something that works kata… “down from”  “through” the Power.
5. Power that is Energized in us (energeo) “to be operative, to be at work…

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made (caused) him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made (become) the righteousness of God in him.

The PRIMARY purpose of the Substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is that those who believe might be made Righteous.   This verse declares that God, the Father, caused… was the Author of… Jesus becoming sin even though He never knew sin… IN ORDER THAT we (believers) might BECOME (be made) the Righteousness of God.    Paul speaks of the possibility of us becoming filled with all the fullness of God…

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

I believe the “fullness of God” has to do with the Righteousness of God.  The force and energy and power of being Just Right.  Justified and Righteous.

In order to understand the principles of Righteousness and the Power of Righteousness, we need to define some terms.

Righteousness:  Dikaiosune.  “The virtue or quality or state of one who is Righteous.”  Equity.  Equality.  Justified.  Justification.  Innocent.  Guiltless.  Faultless.  Free.  “The state of him who is such as he ought to be….”  The only condition that is fully acceptable to God.   

 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Partakers.  Koinonos.  Partner.  Associate.  Comrade.  Companion.  Sharer.  “To be the partner of one doing something.”  

Divine.  Theos.  Deity.  Divine nature, power, providence.

Nature.  Phusis.  Natural lineal descent. 

God’s Nature is a Nature of Authority and Power,  a Nature of Abundance and a Nature of Righteousness.  As Believers we are partakers of this very Divine Nature or the very Essence of God.  This study will attempt to reveal the How and the Why of the believer’s Righteous Nature.  We will look at where we get this nature and how we get it.  We will discover what this nature is and what it will do for us.  We will learn how most religious teaching and religion teachers have failed to tell us the truth about Who we Are.  They have become experts at telling us what is wrong with us but few have received the Revelation concerning what is Right with us.          

This teaching will dispel all guilt and condemnation.  This truth will set us free from legalism and works-oriented salvation.  This message will magnify our appreciation for God and His Provision for all His children.  We will discover more about the Grace of God and the Mercy of God… we will see God and Know God in a new and deeper way.  We will feel His Heart and know His Mind.  We will enter into a Higher Dimension of Spiritual living and be better prepared for what God has in store or us in this hour.  Hallelujah.

“…and they who receive abundance of grace and the GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ…”  (Rom. 5:17)

“But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you…” (Mat 6:33)

“For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us (you and me), Who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we (you and I) might be made the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Him.”  (2 Cor 5:21)

Righteousness was lost.

 “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin... (Rom 5:12)  “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” (Rom 5:19)

When God created the first man, Adam, He created him in Righteousness and true holiness. He created him in His very own image, His very own likeness and with His very own nature. Adam was a created man with a righteous nature.  Adam was aware of his righteousness.  He was in right standing with God and he communed with God without restraint or hindrance.  He was “just and right” with God.  This Righteous Nature and the Power in it gave Adam dominion over his world and the inhabitants of his world.  Adam had power with the words of his mouth and he ruled over creation with the power of his words.  The power and authority that Adam had was given to him by God when God created him with a righteous nature. 

When Adam chose to sin against God, he lost everything God had given him.  Adam was literally born again in reverse… he was born out of his righteous nature into his sin nature.  (When we get saved we are born out of our sin nature into the righteous nature of God) He was no longer a creature of righteousness and light but instead he was a creature of sin and darkness.  He lost his authority.  He lost his power.  He lost his right standing with God.  He lost his ability to commune with God on God’s level.  He lost eternal life.  He lost Divine health.  He lost Divine prosperity and Divine protection.  Adam became a loser.  Adam became death-doomed and failure-doomed and destruction-doomed.  The result of Adam’s sin contaminated the entire human race.  “Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men…”  Romans 5:12

Righteousness has been restored.  We have been “Reconciled” unto God By Jesus Christ.  “God was in Christ, reconciling (restoring) the world unto Himself…”  (II Cor 5:19)  “God made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him…”  (II Cor 5:21)

When we receive Jesus by faith, we receive the Righteousness of God.  When we are Born Again, we are born OUT OF the sin nature and IN TO the Righteous nature of God.   Jesus has exchanged His righteous nature for our sin nature.  When we make Jesus Lord of our lives we are born out of our sin nature and into the righteous nature of God.  We are not a person with two natures, but we are NEW, having never existed before!  What was before… the sin nature, darkness, lack of power, sin, poverty and lack, failure and frustration… is dead.  Jesus has bought back what Adam lost… and MORE.  What God did in us is greater than what satan did in Adam.  Where sin abounded… Grace (Righteousness) did much more abound.  

Ro 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

There is no truth in the statement that Believers are “only human”… this has been a lie from hell for centuries.  We have become partakers of the very Divine Nature of God… God has taken up habitation inside of us and we are possessors of His Perfectness and Righteousness.  We are God’s dwelling place.  He has chosen to live in us.  He has chosen to reproduce Himself in us. 

John 1:12.  As many as receive Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God…

“Power” here is exousia which means “legal right.”  We have received Jesus and therefore we have the legal right to partake (share in) the Divine Nature (Righteousness) of God.  Therefore, every believer is a God-person.  We have the Supernatural Life of God in us.  God has not limited us.  There are no boundaries… no lids… no fences… no restraints.  What God has made us to be WE CAN BE.   We have limited ourselves by saying that we are only human and thereby excuse ourselves for all the weaknesses and temptations we yield to.  Satan has constantly fed us the lie that we are “only human” and we have believed it and thought it and said it until we can hardly conceive of the TRUTH that we are more, MUCH MORE than that.  We are more than human… we are sharers in the Life of God.  Hallelujah.

Righteousness is the Nature of God.  God is Righteous and from His Righteousness all His Power emanates… His POWER comes out of His Righteousness.  The ONE domain Satan cannot enter is the domain of righteousness.  Whatever realm of our life Righteousness is ruling over that is the realm that satan cannot touch.  Whatever realm of our life that Righteousness is not ruling over that is the realm that Satan can enter and set up strongholds.  Satan has no legal right to come into the Righteousness of God.  He cannot and he will not.  Satan has no legal right to come into any area of our life that is ruled over by Righteousness.  He cannot and he will not.  Righteousness is the Power by which and through which we can REIGN in LIFE.  Where Righteousness is recognized and accepted and accounted, we are enabled to live the God Life.  In the God Life there is no sin, so sickness, no failure, no poverty, no worry, no lack, no demon activity.

The Righteous Nature of God is Imputed as a Gift into the Believer by the GRACE of GOD at the time of Salvation.  This transaction is completed as the believer acts on the Power of the Gospel by faith.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

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

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them… (Impute:  logizomai:  To put into one’s account). 

Impute means to “Put into one’s account.”  If I had a million dollars and I chose to freely put it into your back account  with no restrictions you would have the absolute right to spend it as you wished.  God has put His Righteousness into your Spiritual Account and you have the absolute right to use it to produce whatever Spiritual Victory you need.   God has “imputed” His Righteousness into your account as an act of His Grace in response to your Faith.  Remember… it is by His Grace in response to your Faith.  “By Grace are ye being save through Faith…”  Ephesians 2:8. 

Righteousness is not what you do or what you don’t do… RIGHTEOUSNESS is WHO YOU ARE.  Righteousness is what God has done in you.  Holiness is the outworking of the Believer’s RIGHTEOUS NATURE.  Righteousness has nothing to do with works.  Righteousness has nothing to do with how you live.  Most people are appraised for their righteousness by how good they are.  If they are good, they are considered righteous.  If they go to church regularly, they are considered righteous.  If they tithe and live a clean and holy life, they are considered righteous.  This is not what righteousness is.  Righteousness is not what you do or what you don’t do… Righteousness is not performance related.   Righteousness is WHO YOU ARE. 

Righteousness has to do with your inner man, not your outer man.  Righteousness is the characteristic of the New Creation Man.  Men are holy because holy living comes out of a Righteous Nature.  You are Made Righteous by your FAITH not by your WORKS.  Abraham BELIEVED (had faith) and because of his believing he was counted Righteous (Romans 4:3).  Righteousness is a FREE GIFT from God to every Believer.  Righteousness is IMPUTED at the time of the New Birth.  It is a Gift from God to the Believer. 

Romans 5:17  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

The Gift of Righteousness is the Energizing Force that gives us the ABILITY to REIGN and RULE in LIFE.  Righteousness is the SEAT and SOURCE of the BELIEVER’S AUTHORITY and POWER.  Just what is reigning and ruling in life? Reigning and Ruling in LIFE is DOING the Word and RECEIVING WORD RESULTS… it is doing what Jesus did with the same FAITH, with the same AUTHORITY with the same POWER with the same CONSISTENCY and with the same RESULTS.

Reigning in Life is total living in total Covenant Confidence.

Righteousness is a Force.  Righteousness produces Good Works… Good Works do not product righteousness.

  “Awake to Righteousness and sin not…” (I Cor 15:34) 

We can be RIGHTEOUS and not AWAKE to it.  We can be RIGHTEOUS and still have a carnal mind and a flesh-ruled body. Our carnal mind and our flesh-ruled body will SUPPRESS our RIGHTEOUS NATURE and prevent it from producing the FRUITS of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Phil 1:11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

The FRUITS of RIGHTEOUSNESS are the RESULTS of RIGHTEOUSNESS.  The FRUITS of Righteousness are the products of Righteousness.  They are what Righteousness produces.  (Deliverance from sin…Right standing with God…Health… prosperity… protection… peace of mind… forgiveness… Holy Spirit Power… Faith…) 

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the POWER that WORKETH IN US…”  (Eph 3:20) 

What is the POWER that WORKETH IN US?  It is the POWER of RIGHTEOUSNESS!  Until a man is RIGHTEOUS and KNOWS IT, Satan reigns over him and sin and sickness are his masters.  The very MOMENT a BELIEVER KNOWS that he is RIGHTEOUS and what it means to BE RIGHTEOUS, Satan is defeated. 

If Believers were as conscious of their RIGHTEOUSNESS as they are conscious of their WEAKNESS and UNWORTHINESS they would never be sick or in bondage to poverty and lack.  Most preaching and teaching over the years has dealt with sin, described sin and denounced sin.  This kind of teaching and preaching has made those who heard it and believed it more conscious of sin than they are conscious of God.  It has produced an awareness of weakness and unworthiness instead of an awareness of boldness, confidence and faith.  If Believers were as conscious of their IDENTIFICATION with CHRIST and their ONENESS with HIM as they are conscious of their physical weakness and physical need they would never have pain and never mention need again.

Most have approached Christian Living from the SIN POSITION instead of the RIGHTEOUSNESS POSITION.  We were taught and told what we were instead of who we are.  We have been ignorant about righteousness.  The revelation of Righteousness  is what turned the Apostle Paul into the Revelator of Justification by Faith.  We were taught in the past that if we did good things we were righteous and if we did bad things we were unrighteous.  We were taught that God would “bless us” us we did good things and that God would punish us if we did bad things.  (Santa Clause Theology)  We do not please God by doing things we please God through our faith in what He says about who we are.  “Without faith it is impossible to please Him…”  See Romans Chapter 4. 

Righteousness comes out of unshakable Faith in the Finished Work of Christ.

Never forget that Satan’s first line attack is to attempt to make us doubt who we are.  He tried to make Jesus doubt about who He was.  One of the temptations he presented to Jesus in Matthew chapter 4 was   “If thou be the son of God…”     If we operate in doubt we will always be defeated.   Doubt slanders every promise in the Word of God and negates faith.  Doubt is faith in reverse. Doubt is the antithesis of believing.  When we doubt we move out of the supernatural into the natural.  Doubt purchases sickness, sadness, depression, defeat, demonic activity, and every other thing that is opposed to God and God’s Word.

Doubt makes us forget who we are and whose we are.

Jas1:23  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:

Jas1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Hearing and not doing comes out of doubt and unbelief.  We can move in wonderful times of revelation and faith, but if we veer away from the revelation of who we are and What Jesus has done for us we will “forget” what we have known and fall into the realm of natural reasoning  and carnal thinking.

When we were Born Again the King of kings and the Lord of lords came into our human spirit and recreated it.  Our recreated human spirit was made a king who has the ability to rule and reign with Jesus through the power of His Righteous Nature that now abides within us. 

The NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE is compared to the Old Testament law of circumcision.

(Rom 2:28-29)  For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit…

Just as there is a cutting away of the flesh in physical circumcision, there is a cutting away of the flesh in the Circumcision of the heart.  The Sword of the Word cuts away forever the sin nature in us and we are made righteous.  We do not have two spirits (a flesh spirit and a spiritual spirit)… we have one Spirit… and that Spirit is the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST.  “But he that is JOINED unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT…”  (I Cor 6:17)

Just as our SPIRIT was dead to God before the New Birth so was our MIND darkened and blinded because of sin.  

It was bound and limited to operate by reason and emotion and sense knowledge.   As our Spirit was quickened  (made alive) and joined to the Lord, our soul (our mind, will and emotions) was also joined to Jesus.  As our Spirit took on the image of Jesus Christ our mind (soul) took on the Mind of Christ capable of thinking God thoughts and storing up Word Truth.

I Cor 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the LORD that He may instruct him?  But we have the MIND of CHRIST…  

When we consider just what kind of mind Jesus had, we come into an understanding of what kind of mind we are capable of having.  He Knew Who He was.  He knew what He could do.  He knew what God had provided for Him.  He knew the devil was defeated and that demonic forces were powerless.  He knew what was coming in the future.   He had knowledge of the Word that surpassed mere human capability.  He knew what He was born for and what His purpose in life was.  He had a mind that was constantly being renewed with and by the Word.  He had a fully functioning mind that worked without limitations imposed on it by emotions, feelings, reasonings or doubt.  He had a mind that was perfectly conformed to the will of God. 

 Our unsaved PHYSICAL BODY also functioned in slavery and darkness and bondage to sin.  Its appetites and desires were unchecked and undisciplined.  It was subject to Satan’s dominion and control and it was destined to die.  But now we are “members of His Body, of His Flesh, and of His Bones…”  (Eph 5:30)  Our physical body has become the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

I Cor 6:19-20 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which (who) is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s…  “Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  (I Cor 3:16)

And now, as a result of our inborn righteous nature, we are enabled to “bring our body under” or to suppress the ungodly and carnal appetites and desires of the flesh.  The Bible declares that we have overcome the world…

 1Jo 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

The Inborn Righteous Nature of the New Creation drives out the Old Nature and takes possession of all Redemptive Benefits  and Covenant Provisions just as Israel drove out the illegal inhabitants of the land that was promised to them and then took possession of it. The Righteous Nature that God imparted to every believer can drive out all the illegal inhabitants in the realm of human experience…. The Force of Righteousness released in the believer can and will retrieve and restore all that Satan has stolen and suppressed. 

Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to STAND…”  (Eph 6:11)  Part of this Armor is the Breastplate of Righteousness.  (Eph 6:14) This is one of the most important pieces of armor because it covers the vital part of the Christian’s identity… his right to the Authority provided by the Righteousness of Christ in him.  When you become conscious of your Righteous Position in Christ you have the boldness and courage to stand against the devil.

Conformity with God is a much higher form of living than merely being in submission to Him.  Jesus prayed for us in John 17 that we “all may be one;  as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee… ”  He goes on and prays “Father, show them that you love them as much as you love me.”  God loves us as much as He loves Jesus.  God sees us as equal with Jesus… there is no difference in His eyes.  This is because of our Righteous  Nature …. begin to see yourself as God sees you and then ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Some common causes of failure in the believer’s life:

1. Lack of Knowledge (epiginosko: full understanding) about the             Righteous Nature of the Believer.

Ho 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

2. Failure to apply the Word to failing situations.

Heb 4:2  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.

3. Unwillingness to continue (abide) in the Word.  

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

4. Wavering in faith.

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

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

We are New Creation People… He has created us and equipped us so that we can accomplish the impossible without outside help.   He has imparted to every one of His Children the Power that taps into and connects with His Ability; His ability to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think…. This power is in us.  Now.  This minute.  The primary purpose God has imparted this Power to us is so that we might take Dominion over all things and bring His Will to pass on planet earth… 

Let’s do it.    

Word for Today:  August 4

An Unfailing Anchor.

God’s Word is an Anchor that holds (Heb 6:19).   It is as reliable as God is.  It is as strong as God is.  It is as enduring as God is.  It is as changeless as God is.

The Word proved to be an unfailing Anchor in the lives and experiences of many of the Heroes we read about in the Bible.  It held steady in times of trials and impossibilities.  It gave them security in the times of storms and conflicts.  The Word was an anchor in them that held them secure in the Hand of God.

• The Word in Moses produced Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
• The Word in Joshua drove out the enemy and produced victory in the Promised Land.
• The Word in David gave him strength in the time of temptation and victory in the time of attack. The result was and is the matchless beauty of Worship and Praise in the Book of Psalms.
• The Word in Elijah produced water in the season of drought.
• The Word in Joseph sustained him in prison, delivered him from lies and brought him great favor and promotion as the Prime Minister of Egypt.
• The Word in Job kept him faithful to God in his loss of everything he loved and treasured.
• The Word in Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead, caused the axe head to swim and cleansed numerous lepers.
• The Word in Daniel stopped the mouths of hungry lions.
• The Word in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, cooled the fiery furnace and brought the Son of God from heaven to comfort them.
• The Word in John the Baptist caused him to launch Jesus into His public ministry.
• The Word in Peter gave him power to walk on water.
• The Word in Paul saw him through ship wrecks, stonings, scourgings, imprisonments, rejections and betrayals and produced most of the New Testament.
• The Word in John gave him a glimpse of the Rapture, the Return of Jesus and the Eternal Perfect State of those who are washed in the Blood.

The Word held them steady in the face of every impossibility.

The Word will hold you in every adversity and trial.

It is our Anchor.

It never fails

We will be considering the historical account of what happened when Israel came to Kadesh Barnea.  Do you remember how Moses sent spies to “spy out” the Promised Land before Israel was to go in and possess it?   I have found in these scriptures some suggestions that relate to our particular place here in this hour.  I believe this message will help us discover how we can conquer and possess our inheritance…. That Place that God has Promised us.

Num 13:25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.  (These are the spies who were sent to search out the Promised Land and they returned to Kadesh after their mission)

26 ¶  And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.  (They were the descendents of the giants…)

29  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  (Thank God for Caleb…)

This is an historical account of a real event that happened in lives of the people of God.  In my recent studies, God has revealed to me that nothing that happened in the Old Testament is without significance in our contemporary spiritual living.  We can read what happened in the Old Testament under the old covenant and see how it relates to us in this day in which we live… The Day of the New Covenant.  

All that has happened and that is happening in history has actually been foreshadowed in the Old Testament.  That is why I  say that the people of God who know the Word of God need never to be taken by surprise at what is taking place on the earth at any given time.  As a matter of fact, we are the only people who actually understand what is happening in the world today.  Did you know that every answer you are searching for can be found in the Word of God?  You can find the solution to every problem you are facing in the Word of God. 

Many ask me “what’s going on , Bro Dick?”  “What’s happening and where are we in God’s Grand Plan?”   “How can we relate to world events and what can we expect to take place in the near future?”   The fact is that nearly everything that happened to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament is some kind of shadow or type of what God is doing or going to do with His People in our day.

If you can visualize this and get this truth in your heart, you will understand something about  this message on Conquering and Possessing.  God is a God Who is Exact.  When God does anything He does it according to His own Plan and His own Time.  He does not vary one bit.  He is a God Who “changeth not.”  What God promises, God performs.  What God says, God does.  Therefore we stand on the Word of God.  We know that God is not like man, but He acts according to His promises and He does what His Word declares.  Knowing, this, we can look at some of the things that God did in Israel’s history and compare them to what is taking place today in the world and in the church. 

I want us to learn about conquering and possessing.  I fully believe that this is the hour that God has literally raised us up for (the Church as a whole and this Church in particular) … and that is to conquer and to possess what is legally and scripturally ours. 

The “acts” of God are receiving national attention.  Though many do not recognize what is happening as the “acts” of God. However, history is lining up with the prophetic Word of God.  Nations are rising and wars are rumored and international events are falling into place just like the Bible predicted them to hundreds and hundreds of years ago.   The Islamic world is poised and positioned to square off with Israel and the world is watching… very carefully.  The Church of the Living God has been raised up in this hour to declare the Word and to conquer and possess what God has promised to all those who believe. 

Now, just let me try to show you how exact God is.  Jesus was crucified during the time the Jews celebrated their Passover.  In the day when God was preparing to liberate Israel from Egyptian bondage the Passover commemorated the very time the Death Angel “passed over” those whose door posts and lintels were smeared with the blood of an innocent lamb.  You remember that story.  On the Passover at the time of Christ, the Sacrificial Lamb of God was crucified… and His death coincided exactly with the Day the Jews were delivered out of Egypt.  

What happened three days following the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross?  He arose.   Notice this… exactly three days after Israel was delivered from Egypt they journeyed to the Red Sea.  As the Egyptians pursued Israel, the Red Sea was miraculously parted and all 4 million of the Jews crossed over on dry land… what an awesome event! 

Three days after Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb, He was miraculously resurrected by the Power of God…  and this, my friend, was the greatest miracle of all ages… the established Fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead!  

Now, what happened 50 days after the risen Christ ascended to heaven?  Pentecost happened that’s what.   Pentecost  was the day the New Testament Church was born.  On this day, the awesome outpouring of the Holy Ghost took place and the world was forever changed. 

Let’s go back to Exodus and see how exact God is.  Fifty days to the day after Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage, the Jews were camped at the base of Mount Sinai the mountain that represented the very Presence of God.   Moses, their leader, went to the top of the mountain and communed with God… face to face… and brought the Tablets back that instructed them how they were to live under the Law. 

Can’t you see how God has “stretched” Himself to show us exactly what His will is?  Can’t you see how God has revealed Himself in His Divine Acts to prove His faithfulness?  The Miracle of Pentecost was foreshadowed in the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.    

On the Passover Jesus was Crucified then three days later… Raised from the dead.  Three days after Israel was delivered from Egypt, they supernaturally crossed the Red Sea.   

50 days after the Ascension Pentecost came.  50 days after Israel was delivered out of Egypt, they are at Mount Sinai waiting to hear from  God.   

How marvelous and miraculous is God’s timing and exactness in revealing His will and purpose to His people!  

At the time the 120 were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they were commanded to Conquer and Possess.  After Pentecost, the Church had One Commission:

Go ye into all the world (to the uttermost part) and preach the Gospel to all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. 

The Church was commissioned to conquer and possess the nations of the earth right after they received the mighty Baptism in the Holy Ghost.

 Mt 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1)

After Israel met with God on Mount Sinai, they received the commission to conquer every enemy and possess the Promised Land… a land that “flowed with milk and honey…”  Fourteen months to the day after Israel stood at the base of Mount Sinai, they made their way to Kadesh which is a city on the southern border of the Promised Land.  Fourteen months after they had met with God on the mountain, they are now ready to go into the land and possess it as God had commanded. 

Now it’s been much longer than 14 months since God gave the command to the Church on the Day of Pentecost to go to the nations and preach the Gospel. In this Dispensation of the Church Age God is pouring out  His Spirit on all flesh and He has commissioned you and me to Conquer and Possess.  Conquer and Possess.  No longer can we keep our lights hid under a bushel or under the bed, but this is the hour when we must launch out and conquer and possess the Land.

Just as it was in the Old Testament as Israel faced its greatest challenge,  I am discovering some attitudes in the Body of Christ today that concern me. 

For example, the 12 spies were sent to spy out the land… one man from each of the 12 tribes of Israel… they were assigned to find out how powerful the enemies were, how fortified their cities were, and how difficult it would be to overcome them.  Of  the 12 spies, there were but two of exceptional spiritual caliber.  One was Caleb and the other was Joshua. 

Caleb came from the tribe of Judah.  “Judah” means “praise the Lord.”  There is something unusual and exceptional about a man who is not ashamed to praise the Lord.  Caleb was one such man. 

It took the 12 spies 40 days to complete their assignment.  They returned and declared that they had never seen a land like the one they saw.    It was indeed flowing with milk and honey.  It was a land lush with produce and awesome to see.  They brought back one single cluster of grapes so large it took two men to carry it.  This was a token of the measure of God’s blessing on the Land of Promise. 

Everything looked very promising, but there were some in those days who “walked by sight” and not by faith.  Unfortunately, there are many today in the Body of Christ who walk the same way.  They live by what they see instead of by what God says.     When Moses and Aaron asked the returning spies what they had discovered ten of them replied… “We SAW giants… we SAW walled cities… we SAW great armies well supplied and well equipped… when we SAW the giants we looked like grasshoppers… “  They probably said, “Moses, we might as well forget it.  Hang it up.  They are too big and too much and too formidable… we will never be able to stand up to them, much less overcome them…”  “It’s impossible.”  “It just can’t be done.”  “We cannot take the land, there’s just no way…”  These ten were living by sight and not by faith.  They were moved by what they SAW and not by what GOD SAID. 

Thank God for Joshua and Caleb.  These two spies were faith walkers and not sight walkers.  They believed what God said and not what they saw.  They walked by faith and not by sight.  Ten came back fearful and doubtful and negative and pessimistic… two came back encouraged, full of faith and ready to take the land.  Ten came back and told Moses what they saw, two came back and told Moses what they believed. 

This needs to settle in our spirit.  We need to grasp this Spiritual Principle.  This ONE REVELATION will forever change how you live.  I have come to the realization that I will not be moved by what I see… I will not be moved by what I feel… I will be moved only by what I believe and I believe the Word of God. 

The spiritual ears of Caleb and Joshua had heard the voice of God when He said “every place that you put your foot on is already yours… I have already given it to you… All you have to do is go in and possess the land…  I am going to send my angel before you and he will go in and drive out every enemy and destroy every obstacle…  all you have to do is put your foot down on the place I have given you because it is already yours…” 

God had already conquered the land for them and all they had to do was go in and possess it.  Take it.  Joshua and Caleb were faith walkers.  Joshua and Caleb were Word Believers.  Joshua and Caleb were ready and anxious to immediately possess the  promise.  But the ten came back who were moved and influenced by what they saw. 

I believe that the biggest problem to the success of the Church in taking the world for Jesus is the fact that it has traditionally been moved by what it saw and motivated by what it felt.  We have all been guilty of living by what we see rather than what we believe and by what the Word of God says.  We will never possess what God has promised if we continue to live and walk by sight and not by faith.  Joshua and Caleb came rushing back to Moses and said… “I’ll tell you what, we are well able to possess the land and overcome every enemy… and what’s more, let’s go do it RIGHT NOW!”   I like the “right now” kind of people, don’t you?  And I believe God likes the “right now” kind of people, too.  I’m tired of the “down payment, lay away, monthly installment plan…”  I want it RIGHT NOW.  Folks, there are some spiritual principles we must get.  In preparing to conquer and possess the land, these two faith filled spies gave some instructions.  Look at Numbers 14:

6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

7  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

8  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Verse 9 gives the instructions… Number one:

Rebel not against the Lord

9  …Only rebel not ye against the LORD…

In other words, do not resist what God is saying and what God is doing.  The word “rebel” here means to “quench  or resist or turn a deaf ear to…”  Do not resist what God is saying and what God is doing.  Do you realize that God is doing a mighty work in the earth today?  This is a unique and historical time.  We are eye witnesses to a Mighty Visitation of the Holy Ghost.  And the extreme tragedy is that many who God desires to bless and move through are resisting what He is doing. 

The first command before we can possess the Promise is;  do not rebel against the Lord.  Don’t resist what God is saying and what God is doing.  Don’t quench the Spirit of God.  When we refuse to rebel against the Holy Spirit we open the door to Revival and Renewal and Restoration.  Renewal begins when people determine to LET GOD and ALLOW GOD to do whatever He wants to do.

IF what we desire and what we believe does not coincide with what God’s Word says we need to change what we desire and what we believe and make it line up and coincide with the Word of God.  When we decide to believe God and to believe His Word and then determine to do what God says, we tap into the Power of God and the impossible becomes possible. 

When men and women determine in their hearts not to resist what God is doing and decide to get fully involved and committed to the Move of the Holy Spirit, they are getting ready to Conquer and Possess the Land.  Joshua and Caleb knew that God had some great things in store for them and that God’s favor rested upon them.  They determined not to rebel against the Lord.   

The second instruction is found in the same chapter and the same verse…

Neither Fear Ye the People

9  …neither fear ye the people of the land…

Praise the Lord!  Do you want to be delivered form any and all fear?  Fear that will rob you of the victory?  Do you want to Conquer and Possess the Land?  Do you want to live in the arena of great success and great accomplishments for the Kingdom of God?  Then God is saying to you “Don’t be afraid…” and especially don’t be afraid of what people think or say or do. 

Do you know what fear is?  Fear is faith in reverse.  It is faith backing up.  Nearly every time Jesus appeared in a time of difficulty, the first words He spoke were “Fear not”…  “Be not afraid…” 

Here at Lott Road, we are a strategic part of the Great Work God is doing in the earth today.  I am sure of this and I will not be afraid.  I will not fear man or what man may say or do or think. I will not fear denominational rebuke or threats from those who do not understand.   Fear of men will rob us of great spiritual victory.  Fear of what people say or think or do will negate our faith.  Fear of men will rob us of the greatest spiritual victories we will ever have.  Fear will paralyze us and prevent us from conquering and possessing.  Joshua and Caleb said “God is with us and we are well able to conquer and possess this land so don’t rebel against the Lord… and don’t be afraid…”  Thirdly, they said…

Our Enemies Have Already Been Defeated

9  …for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them…

In other words, they said all our enemies will be bread for us… they are already defeated.  Their defenses have left them and the Lord is with us.  We can eat them up.  Let’s go get ‘em…. 

Will you please tell me who our enemies are?  Do you know what their names are?  Are you aware that Jesus the Crucified and Risen Lord has already defeated them?   The devil and all his demon hoards are “bread for us” because Jesus has victoriously stripped them of all their power and authority.  And furthermore, the devil and all the demons of hell are still defeated and they will remain so until the very end of the Millennial Reign of Our Lord.  Hallelujah!  Glory to God!  Listen to this….

1Jo 3:8  …. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy (annul) the works of the devil.

Col 2:14 (Jesus’ Redemptive Work on the Cross succeeded in) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15  And having spoiled (disarmed)  principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus literally annulled the work of the devil and robbed him of all his resources.  Jesus humiliated him by parading him, bound and shackled, in the very presence of the entire demonic domain.  Jesus was the Ultimate Conqueror and Possessor.  And then Jesus gave you and me… all believers… total victory and authority over the devil and all demons and demonic powers… forever.    

Here, Joshua and Caleb give these fearful, unbelieving, timid, rebellious, spiritual crybabies, who dared to doubt God, a powerful and positive word that all Israel’s enemies had no defense.   They declared “we can swallow them alive!”… What a message!   And this message was given under the Old Covenant with Old Covenant limitations… we have that Same Message under the New Covenant that is ratified by the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God.   You and I are literally able to “swallow up” every devil and demon because Jesus has made them “bread“ for us through His redemptive work on the Cross of Calvary.  Hallelujah!

The next instruction for Israel was this…

God is With Us

9  …and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Folks, that’s enough right there even if we did not have the other benefits… amen?  Just to have the assurance that God is with us and that He will never leave us nor forsake us nor abandon us… what more do we need?  Why do we yet cower in fear and tremble in the face of difficulty and impossibility?  Remember what Paul wrote in Romans chapter 8?

Ro 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

What are you “saying” to your “all these things”?  Your disappointment.  Your weakness.  Your sickness.  Your lack.  Your discouragement.  Your impossibility.  What are you “saying” to all these “things”?   Paul said “If God be for us who (or what) can be against us?” 

Having God with us is enough.  More than enough.  Having Emmanuel at our side is more than adequate.  Do you believe the Word?  The Word says that you can “do all things though Christ…”  and that with God “all things are possible.”  The Word declares that all the Promises of God are “Yes and amen…”   We conquer and we possess by having and acting on the Revelation that God is with us.  There is absolutely no demonic force or power that has not already been conquered and that has not already been defeated.  And Jesus has given us the Victory.  Jesus told us that the very gates of hell cannot and will not prevail against the Church (the Believing Body of Christ).  Folks, that’s us.

The next thing these Faith Heroes declared is this…

Let’s Go and Let’s Go NOW

30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Joshua and Caleb were living in the Old Testament Age.  They were operating in the promises and provisions of the Old Covenant.  That covenant that was empowered by the blood of sacrificial rams, lambs, goats, and bullocks.  Now, you and I are living in the New Covenant Age.  We are empowered not by the blood of bulls and lambs and goats, but by the Awesome and Powerful Blood of the Precious Lamb of God.  This New Covenant provides much better promises and much better provisions because it is ratified and empowered by the Redemptive Work of Jesus on the Cross. 

Joshua and Caleb only had the testimony which was given to them by Moses.  They did not have the Bible as we have it today.  They were living under the Old Covenant with Old Covenant limitations and inadequacies.  Now, I am talking about promises and provisions given to you and to me by our Father God through the Sacrificial Blood of His dear Son and our Saviour the Lord of Glory… a New Covenant which is a New and Better Way according to the Book of Hebrews. 

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

If the above promises I have listed were available to the Old Testament Saints who were living under Old Covenant provisions, then, how much more is available to us who are presently living under the promises and provisions of the New Covenant?  How can we doubt the reality of the promise and provision for us to Conquer and Possess what God has already given?  How can we doubt our ability to overcome every obstacle and every impossibility knowing that God is with us and that Jesus has defeated every enemy and all demonic forces in order that we might Conquer and Possess what He has already provided? 

One of these days God is going to help me really communicate to you what I am feeling in my spirit.   Seems like all my faculties of communication are so inadequate and limited to really say what my sprit man is saying…   I feel it inside and want to get it outside…  I am laboring the point for you so that you may understand that God has already given us the ability and the power to Possess every Promise and to Conquer every enemy.  God had made three commitments to Joshua even before they began their journey into the promised land. 

First, God said that He would give the promised land to their seed. 

Secondly, God said that He would send His Angel before them to prepare the way. 

And thirdly, God said that He would drive out their enemies. 

These promises were made under the Old Covenant.   We live in a New Day.  We have a Great High Priest Who is Risen and Who is seated at the Right Hand of God…  He has entered into the heavenly Holy of Holies and has sprinkled His Blood on the Heavenly Mercy Seat.  Never again does an earthly high priest have to go into to an earthly temple or tabernacle to sprinkle the blood of goats and rams and bullocks and lambs each year to make a yearly atonement for our sins…  because Once and For All,  Jesus, our Personal Sacrificial Lamb has Entered in to the Heavenly Holy of Holies and sprinkled His Precious Blood on the Mercy Seat and has Put Away all our sins and the judgment our sins deserve… forever and ever and forever and ever.  Hallelujah.   

Under the Old Covenant God said:

(1) I will give this possession to your seed

(2) I will send My Angel before you to prepare the way and

(3) I will drive out every enemy. 

What do you think He is saying to us today?  To the Church of the Living God operating under the provisions of the New Covenant?  Just reckon what He is saying?  I’ll tell you what He is saying because He has already said it.

 “Ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”  (Jn 15:7)  

“With God all things are possible.”  (Mk 10:27) 

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”  (Rom 8:37)

Saints, God has more for us than we have ever even thought about.  If we have not been receiving it, it could be because we have been hung up just like the unbelieving spies in the days of Joshua and Caleb.  We do not have to go out and conquer the world.  It has already been conquered for us.  Jesus has defeated the devil and given us the victory.  The battle is over and the victory has been won.  Victories are won before battles are fought.  It is finished.  Satan is defeated.  Demons are conquered.  Jesus is Victor.  What more could we possibly ask?

Now, here at Lott Road, we are standing on the very threshold of a New and Better Thing.   We are at the place of entering into and receiving the Promises God has given us.  Let me tell you a little bit about the Promised Land that is ours by faith.  I agree that Canaan Land was and is a geographical and a physical location.  It had mountains and rivers and plains and valleys.  Just as surely as Canaan Land was a geographical reality so also is our Spiritual Land of Promise a Spiritual Reality.  And it is just as real as Canaan Land was. 

“Canaan Land” for the believer is not heaven.  It is not a possession for us to receive after we die.   The “Promised Land” is not heaven.  Even if some of our old hymns implied that it is.  The Promised Land is Here and Now and Today and it’s for you and it’s for me.   And we can have it if we want it.  If we don’t have it, it could be because we don’t want it or we have not received the knowledge necessary to acquire it.  Now exactly what is the Promised Land?

1. It is Unparalleled Power.  It is Dunamis.  It is Exousia.  It is Power and Authority.  It gives us the right to say “we are able” to conquer and possess the land.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John that we would be capable of doing greater works that He because of the Power we receive through the Holy Ghost.  The Land of Promise God has provided for us is one of Unparalleled Power and Victory and Ability to overcome daily every attack of the defeated enemy.  Every satanic attack.  Do you know why the devil is so interested in making us sick?  Do you know why the devil is so interested in making us physically weak?  It is because he knows that our body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost.
2. It is Unequaled Provision.  God said that He will see to it that we will lack absolutely nothing.  How about Milk and Honey?  Supernatural provision.  “Ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you…”  “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus…” 
   God has promised that he will withhold “no good thing” from us and that He has already blessed us with “all spiritual blessings” in Christ Jesus.  We have at our disposal all of Heaven’s resources.  And Angels stand ready to be dispatched on special assignment at our command.  
3. It is Unbelievable Communion and Fellowship.  Jesus has told us that He will never leave us and that He will never forsake us.  “Lo, I am with you always even unto the very end…”  Under the Old Covenant, Joshua and Caleb and the Old Testament saints had no idea what it would be like to dwell in the Constant Presence of Jehovah.  They only saw Him once in a while and then for brief encounters.  But we are able to enjoy constant communion and fellowship with our Heavenly Father …  We have the privilege of living in His Presence constantly and continually.  Communion and Fellowship with the Father has been forever reestablished for  all believers.  And we don’t have to have an earthly priest to get in to Him.   Hallelujah.
4. It is Undaunted Unity and Accord.  Read John chapter 17.  Jesus prayed that we all might be “one” as Jesus was in the Father and as the Father was in Him.   And that we all might be “one in Them” that the world might believe.  Jesus said that the Glory He had He has “given to us” that we might be one even as God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are all One.   Unity.  Accord.  Togetherness.  No more hierarchy. No more competition.  No more gossip and backbiting.  No more jealousy.  No more criticism.  No more division. No more factions.  But Together.  As One.  Forever.  Hallelujah.
5. It is Unlimited Knowledge and Understanding.  We are coming into the time and place where God is dealing with us by Divine Revelation and Divine Knowledge.  Secrets and truths that the church has never known nor understood since its birth on the Day of Pentecost are now being revealed.  I can’t speak for you, but I have made up my mind that I am going to possess what God has promised.  All of it.  Every bit of it.  I am going to have what Jesus has bought for me through His Work in Redemption.  I am going to have it.  And I’m going to keep it.   Hallelujah.

Are you ready to Conquer and Possess?  Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Do you sense that your spiritual life is in a rut?  Are you ready for more?  Do you intend to press into the Kingdom?  This awesome account of the faith of two men… Joshua and Caleb…  reminds  us of just how great our God is and what Great Provision He has for us. 

I challenge you… I challenge us… right now…  Let’s  “Go in at once” and Conquer and Possess what God has already given us….    

Let’s go.  We are well able.  We are the giants and they are the grasshoppers. 

Hallelujah.

Word for Today:  August 3

Look up

Why are you broken, wounded and sad?  What has come into your life that produced fear and dread and pain?  What are those elements in the Human Experience that make life miserable?  Do you understand that every misery and pain in life is caused by the devil?  By the powers of darkness… by those spirits in high places that purpose to kill, steal and destroy?    Here are a few and I know you can find some of these lurking within your heart….

Rejection, loneliness, being unloved, failure, frustration, fear, worry, uncertainty, bondage, being “blue,” feelings of melancholy, unhappiness, burdens… loaded with care, being broke… strapped financially, guilt, condemnation, sickness, disease, pain, broken hearted, weariness and fatigue, anxiety, grief, hopelessness, no joy, continual sadness, feelings of worthlessness, no purpose  in living, disappointment, boredom, lack of self-esteem, feelings of emptiness, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, and on and on I could go.

Are you in here somewhere?  Did you meet your “personal pain” in this list?  Are you continually coping with any of these?

Do you know that all of these are works of darkness and they are sent from the devil to destroy you?  Do you realize Jesus took these on Himself, shed His Blood and DIED to make you FREE of these?

Since satan did not succeed in keeping you from getting saved, he now purposes to make you miserable.  To make you tired of living.  To frustrate God’s Purpose for your life and to keep you blind and ignorant of the MAGNITUDE of YOUR REDEMPTION.

“Two prisoners stared through prison bars…  One saw mud, the other stars…”

Look Up

Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh…   Lu 21:28

Word for Today:  August 1

Fixing damaged faith.

Your faith can be damaged.  We are commanded to “have faith” (Mark 11:22) as well as to “Continue in the faith…” (Acts 14:22).  The one area of concentrated satanic attack is an attack on our faith position.  Some have developed strong faith only to have it attacked, damaged and weakened.

If your faith has been damaged, you need to get it repaired.  Every Believer can stand to have their faith undergirded.  Here are some things that can damage your faith:

• Situations that seem to contradict your faith position.
• Prayer that seems to go unanswered or ignored.
• When individuals who are strong in faith suffer sickness, setback or failure.
• Ministries or ministers who fall into sin and damage the integrity of the church.
• Answers that are delayed to the point of the Believer giving up. When the “due” season for reaping seems to never arrive.
• Slipping into compromise because doubting is easier than believing.

When your faith becomes damaged, what can you do to repair it?  How do we fix broken faith or strengthen weak faith?

• Begin each day with a positive attitude.
• Stand on and boldly confess the Word of God.
• Be faithful, consistent and steadfast.
• Expect good things to happen.
• Live in the atmosphere of praise and thanksgiving.

Working faith pleases God  (Heb 11:6)

Word for Today:  July 31

God wants to encourage you today.

He wants to build you up in your most Holy Faith…  He wants to strengthen you and help you and deliver you.  He wants you to be blessed.  He wants you to know that He is able to set you free from every snare and every devil and every fiery trial.  He speaks to you by His Word and through the Anointing and assures you that He has everything under control.

We have a lot going for us.  We are blessed and well provided for.  We live in abundance and suffer no lack.  We are God’s People and we are a special people…  God calls us “Peculiar”… “Set Apart”… “A Holy Nation”… “His Children”… “His Husbandry”… “His Garden”… “His Temple”…

We are blessed with an abundance of His Word…  Yet, many are hurting and wondering and wishing… some are doubting and even more are struggling with apparent impossible situations and trying circumstances.   If this is you…. hold on!

God wants you to be delivered.  God wants you to be free.   God wants you overcoming, ruling and reigning in life.  Deliverance is for you.  God is for you.  The Word is for you.

And God is Able!

The sower soweth the word. Mark 4:14  

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15  

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; Mark 4:16  

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. Mark 4:17 

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,   Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  Mark 4:19  

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.  Mark 4:20   

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1Pet. 1:23   

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4           

Jesus tells us that the Word is the Seed

Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.   Luke 8:11   

If the Word is the Seed then the Seed is alive.   The Seed is ripe and ready to produce.  The Seed has heaven-potential in it.  Whatever is in Heaven is in the Word. The Seed of Heaven is the Word of God.  There is life in the Seed.  There is healing in the Seed.  There is deliverance in the Seed.  There is prosperity in the Seed.  There is peace in the Seed.  There is joy in the Seed.  There is victory in the Seed. 

   When the Word Seed is planted in good ground, watered and protected, it will produce exactly what God produces.  There are no restrictions in the Seed… nothing is held back that is good.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield:  the Lord will give grace and glory:  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly…  

Psa 84:11    

          The SEED is OK.  Nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The Seed is perfect and the Seed is complete.  The Seed will grow and mature and produce fruit IF the proper conditions are met.  God’s Purpose is in the Seed.  God’s Will is in the Seed.  God’s Power is in the Seed. 

Just as all the intricate characteristics of any plant are in the seed of that plant, so are all the intricate plans and purposes for YOU in the Seed of God. 

There are two things we need to know:

          1.  What does God want the Seed to grow?

2.  What will it take to for the Seed to grow what God wants it to grow?

FIRST:  God wants to grow the Kingdom 

He wants the Kingdom of Heaven to grow on earth. 

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hollowed be Thy Name;  Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, in EARTH as it is in HEAVEN…   Mat 6:9-10

Jesus prayed this prayer.  It is a “model” prayer he gave us and should be a pattern for the way we pray. God wants to Grow Heaven on Earth. He wants to grow Heaven’s provisions on earth, He wants to grow Heaven’s qualities on earth and He wants to grow Heaven’s purpose on earth. 

This crop will not grow unless it grows in and though people. The people this crop is to grow through is the Church.  We (the Church) are God’s hope and dream for His crop production and His ultimate harvest. 

SECOND:  It will take the Seed (the Word of God) to grow what God wants to grow 

The entire purpose and plan of God is contained in His Seed.  In order for it to grow and mature and produce, several things have to happen:

1.  The Seed has to be SOWN  

In the parable of the sower in Mark chapter four there is an interesting word that is translated sow.  It is spiro  and it is derived from a primitive Greek verb which means “to draw out.”  

The Bible concept of sowing is DRAWING OUT or PULLING OUT what God has PUT IN.   

Therefore, it does not mean just to scatter or throw out or to cast out, rather the primary meaning is to DRAW OUT or PULL OUT. 

In order for the Seed of God to produce, the ground must PULL OUT of it what GOD has PUT IN IT. Paul tells the Philippians to “work out your own salvation…” (2:12b)  And this is the idea of “working out” or “pulling out” what God has put in.  In order to SOW the SEED the GROUND has an important responsibility.   It must PULL OUT what God has put in. 

          You are the Ground.   I am the Ground.  We are the Ground. The ground determines the harvest potential of the Seed of God.  The ground determines what the Seed will produce.  In order to pull the Kingdom of Heaven out of  the Seed of God, the ground has an awesome responsibility. 

According the parable, there are four kinds of ground.  (1) Way side ground.  (2) Stony ground.  (3) Ground with thorns, and (4) good Ground. 

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.    Mark 4:15   

Way side ground ignores the Seed  

It is sown, but it is ignored. Because it is sown and ignored,  Satan comes at once and steals it. 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;   Hebr. 2:3   

          Unfortunately, many people in the Body of Christ are guilty of ignoring the Word… the Seed of God.  They often cast it aside.  At times they make light of it.  Many fail to see the importance of it.  Sometimes they allow this Life-Providing, Need-Meeting, Sin-Forgiving, Sickness-Healing, devil-Defeating, SEED to remain unplanted and unproductive.  And sadly, some do not really care.

 Because many are careless, Satan comes and steals their healing, their prosperity, their joy, their strength, their hope and their protection.  Absolutely nothing is wrong with the Seed.  The problem is always with the ground.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;   Mark 4:16   

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.   Mark 4:17   

Stony ground can’t stand any pressure 

The Seed is gladly received, but before it can pull out what God has put in, when pressure and opposition arise, it just gives up and quits.  When pressures, temptations, trials and contradictions happen, they forget what is in the Seed and begin to look instead at what is outside the Seed. 

They often look at the impossibilities, the obstacles, the sicknesses and the failures of others.   Thousands today have quit or compromised because of the pressure and stress Satan has caused in their Christian walk.

God does not create trials and temptations and circumstances and “situations,”  rather, they are orchestrated by the devil and their purpose is to make you give up and quit.  Stony ground is shallow.  Stony ground is “touchy-feely.”  Stony ground is immature.  Stony ground is self-centered.  Stony ground is easily offended.  Stony ground is emotion-driven and often lives by feelings, by assumptions and by suppositions.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, Mark 4:18   

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.    Mark 4:19   

Ground with thorns is choked on materialism 

Before it can pull out what God has put in, it gets hooked on and addicted to the world system.  The glitter and glamour of riches and security,  the lust of the flesh and the desire for recognition take precedent over pulling out what God has put in. 

The Kingdom harvest is choked and stunted and it becomes unfruitful because of the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the desire for money and material things. 

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.   Mark 4:20  

Good ground hears and receives the Seed of God  

Hears: (akouo) to hear with understanding;  

Receives:(parad-ekhomahee) to receive near; to delight in.  

Interestingly, in the case of the stony ground, the word “receive” is lambano  which means to take casually. 

When you hear with the understanding and delight greatly in the truth of the Seed you are on the way to producing a Kingdom Harvest!

          Now, how do you reap your harvest?  Reaping your harvest involves five principles: 

          1.  Sowing the Seed.

          2.  Protecting the Seed that is sown.

          3.  Watering the Seed that is sown.

          4.  Waiting for the Seed that is sown to grow.

          5.  Harvesting what the Seed that is sown produces.

First, you MUST SOW    

You will never reap anything if you do not sow something.  Something must be sown, if you are ever going to reap.  No sowing means no reaping.  No reaping means no harvest.  No harvest means no life.  The first thing we must learn to do is sow.

You have to know to sow.  If you do not know you will not sow.  If you know you will sow!   And what you sow is what you will grow.  And what you grow you will reap. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked (ridiculed): for whatsoever a man soweth (draws out) that shall he also reap…  Gal 6:7  

When you sow the Word, you reap what the Word produces. 

Remember what the seed is

The Seed of God is the Word of God.  God was the First Sower and He operates by the sowing principle.  God sowed the Seed (His Word) and as a result, He reaped a Creation. 

God drew out of His Seed the sun, the moon, the stars… all of Creation.  God sowed His Word and Created.  God sowed His Word and Man came into being. 

And God SAID, Let us make man in our image…  Gen 1:26

God sowed His Word (Jesus) and reaped a Family.  Jesus is the Word.  Therefore Jesus is the SEED.  And God DREW OUT OF JESUS a New Creation.  A Holy Family.  A Royal Priesthood.  An invincible, undefeatable and unstoppable Church.    

          How do you sow?   What do you sow?

You sow the same way God sows and you sow the same thing God sows.

  God sows by saying.  And God says His Word.  SOWING  begins by SAYING.  Saying is WORDS.  Saying  is the fruit of the tongue.   You plant your dreams and plan your harvest by what you say (sow) with your mouth!   

 A man shall be satisfied (filled to satisfaction, have plenty of, have enough, filled to the fullest) with good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 12:14 

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth…  Pro 13:2 

A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul..   Pro 18:7 

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth: and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled… Pro 18:20   

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it (death or life) shall eat the fruit thereof…  Pro 18:21   

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles… Pro 21:23

          How do we protect what we plant?  How can we safeguard the ground that the Seed of God is in?  What can we do to guarantee an abundant harvest?  Here are some suggestions:

          1.  You protect what you plant by Surrounding yourself with solid, Word teaching and ministry.

You don’t need to be around false teachers and false teaching.   Get as much of the true Word as you can get.  Stay in church.  Stay in a good church.  Go to Bible class and small group Bible teachings.  Be in the every service.  Listen to good teaching on CDs and watch Bible Centered television channels.  Play worship music in your home or on your automobile audio system.     

          2.  You protect what you plant by Personal Intimacy with the Father. 

Seeking God protects the Word Seed that you plant.   If  you want to “find God” and fellowship with Him, you are going to have to seek Him.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.   Jer. 29:13 

          When you spend quality time with God you will safeguard the Word in your heart.  Practice the presence of God.  In addition to your scheduled “prayer” or “devotion” or “quiet” time, stay in communion with the Father all the time.  Paul admonishes all believes to “pray without ceasing.” 

Talk with Him.  Practice His continual presence. Pray in the Spirit. Instead of talking with yourself, talk with the Holy Spirit.  Let your natural man consider His presence by your side as you go through your normal daily routines.  Let Him “sit” with you.  Walk with you.  Ride with you.  See Him with you all the time in whatever you do.  Carry on personal conversations with Him.  Communicate with Him.  This is personal intimacy… be as personal with Him as you are with any close friend… or as close with you as a family member.  Practice His Presence with you all the time in every situation and in all circumstances.   

          3.  You protect what you plant by Continually Speaking the Word. 

Saying what God says keeps the Word Seed safe.  When you say the Word you are literally agreeing with God.  When you agree with God you are able to walk with Him.  As you walk with God the Word Seed is protected.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  Amos 3:3   

          4.  You protect what you plant by Keeping your Mind Renewed by the Word and by casting down “ imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”  

Right thinking protects the Seed.  Right thinking is Word thinking.  Don’t get caught up in a day-dream-imaginary world. Get out of fantasy land.  Your mind is always active.  It never shuts down.  Keep it focused on God stuff.  Get some Word CDs and listen to them as you sleep at night.  Keep your mind submerged in the Word.  This will protect the Seed.

          5.  You protect what you plant by being Aggressive and militant… by standing your ground. 

Don’t be a wimp.  Don’t be a push-over.  Don’t be easy on the devil.  Don’t wait for demons to show up… go after them. You do not need to be defensive be on the offensive.   Refuse to be ashamed.  Don’t be in the “silent majority” be in the “out-spoken minority.”  The more you stand up the braver you will become. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.   Rom. 1:16 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matt. 10:32 

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  Acts 4:29  

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  Phil. 1:20  

          6.  You protect what you plant by “observing to do all that is written therein (the Word)…” 

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  Josh. 1:7   

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Josh. 1:8 

          Obeying God’s Word protects the Seed.   Doing the Word is living the Word.  Keeping the Word is obeying the Word.  The most important thing you can do to insure that the Seed is protected and that it grows and produces is that you DO WHAT IT SAYS. 

7.  You protect what you plantby Believing the Crop is coming in!   

Believing is expecting something good to happen.  It is knowing that God will honor His Word.  Knowing is the substance of things hoped for.  It is knowing you have the crop (and acting like it!) before you have it!

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   

          8.  You protect what you plant by Being Diligent and Persistent. 

Remember the woman with the issue of blood? Diligence is determination.  Persisting is keeping on keeping on.  Refusing to quit or back down or ease up no matter what the difficulty may be protects the Word Seed.  Constantly confess: “I will not quit.  I will not stop. I will not give up.  I will not ease up.  I will not grow weary and faint.  I will fight until I win.”  Be stubborn and hard-headed about going on with God.  Don’t allow the flak from the devil deter you.  Press on toward the mark for prize of the high calling of God.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Mark 5:25-29

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,   

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse   

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

          9.  You protect what you plant by Praying in the Spirit. 

Praying in Tongues safeguards the Seed.  This is your special gift from God to help you build up your faith and to keep you strong.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,   Jude 20   

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  1Cor. 14:15  

          Praying in the Spirit is correct praying, accurate praying and effective praying.  You can pray in tongues anytime, anywhere and no matter what is going on around you.   Your mind is not involved.  It is your recreated human spirit that will be talking to God with utterances that cannot be understood by the natural man. 

          10.  You protect what you plant by Rejoicing in God,  through heart-felt worship and praise and by keeping a thankful heart. 

Singing, rejoicing, worshipping, praising, dancing, shouting, making a joyful noise unto the Lord… all these are ways to keep the seed safe and secure.     There is freedom where the Spirit of the Lord is.  God’s Presence induces joy unspeakable and filled with glory.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.   Neh. 8:10 

Your crop can be increased  

God wants it increased.  You need it to increase.  The world waits to see the increase.  Going into all the world with the Gospel demands an increase. 

God provides the Seed.  You provide the ground.  It is your responsibility to “draw out” of the seed what God has put in the seed.  You can increase your crop or you can decrease your crop.  You can make it grow or you can make it stop. 

The increase is up to you.  Knowing and understanding the Seed Principle is necessary to increase your crop.  Not hearing only, but seeing what you hear and doing what you hear will increase your crop.  When you work the Word (Seed) the Word (Seed) will work for you.  If you do nothing with what you hear you will receive nothing at harvest time. 

When your crop is increased there will be ENOUGH to go around.  There will be no lack and no shortage.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the POWER (seed) that worketh in us… Eph 3:20   

The purpose of the increase is to reach the World with the Word.  Jesus called the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations.  This will require an increase in our crop.  It will take more money.  It will take more material.  It will take more personnel.  It will take more prayer.  It will take more commitment.  It will take more determination.  It will take MORE. 

We have some, but we can have MORE.  We have a little, but we can have ENOUGH!  Jesus can take your small seed and produce a big crop!  Jesus can take a little and make a lot out of it!    He took two fishes and five loaves and fed 5000 with 12 baskets of leftovers!  He is the Same today!!

Little is much when God is in it

          Labor not for wealth or fame

There’s a crown and you can win it

                             If you go in Jesus’ Name[1]

Here are some suggestions on how to increase your crop:

Water what you plant with the Word  

Water it with the uncompromised Word…the infallible Word…the Inerrant Word…the  inspired Word.  The ground of your heart needs watering.  Watering will keep it soft and make it easy for the seed to break through.  Watering it will release the in-born nutrients in the ground that will cause the seed to grow strong and healthy. 

Once your dream is planted, you keep it nourished and watered with the Word.  Saturate your mind and your body with the Word.  Get in the Word.  Stay in the Word. 

See what you plant before it comes up 

The farmer will look at the package containing the seed he plans to sow.  The seed package has a picture of a healthy, fully matured, producing plant on it.  That is the goal the farmer is shooting for…. a healthy, fully matured, producing and reproducing plant.

When he plants the little seed, he can already see in his heart what the healthy, fully matured producing plant looks like.  He sees hundreds of them. Thousands of them. They are all lined up in neat rows and they are unrestrained and unrestricted… no fungus, no bugs, no imperfections, no weeds….. he sees the PERFECT FINISHED product IN HIS HEART. 

To increase your crop SEE what you SOW.  See it in the completed, God-created form!  See it finished and complete.  See it with your eye of faith. 

Take heed (blepo:  to see)   what you hear, with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you; and to you that hear shall more be given.  For he that hath (the Word) to him shall be given; and he that hath not (the Word), from him shall be taken even that which he hath…  And He said, So is the kingdom of God…    Mark 4:24-26    

Here the Word tells us to “see” what we “hear.”

We are told to walk by Faith (believing) and not by Sight (reasoning).  When we walk by Faith, we see the finished product with our Faith Eyes …  We see it just like God created it to be!  

Be willing to wait  

You don’t have to hurry the seed.  The production time is programmed in and it is just as dependable as God is dependable.  Waiting for your crop to come up will develop your patience and James reminds us to let

…patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing…   James 1:4  

This is the probably the hardest thing to do in crop production.  It is not too hard to plant.  It is not too hard to water.  It is not too hard to expect a harvest…But it is next to impossible to wait, with patience, until God will produce in us the “wanting nothing” condition! 

You will be tempted to dig the seed up every day to see “if anything” has happened.  This is your carnal, reasoning man over-riding your Spirit Man and trying to get you to depend on “sight” instead of faith!   God HAS SAID that we would:

reap in due season IF we faint not… Gal 6:9

In Hebrews the Word declares:

 For consider Him (Jesus)  that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds…  Hebrews 12:3 

 “Contradiction” here is anything that appears to disagree with God’s Promise.  It is the “high thing” that exalts itself against God that Paul writes to the Corinthians about (2Cor 10:5).   The contradictions are what cause our patience to waver.  The things that seem to make God and His Word out to be a lie are the things that attack our patience.

Rejoice in the answer before it comes

 “IT is finished!”   It is done.  It is settled.  It is established.  It is MINE!   How would you react if your crop came in today?  What would you do if your miracle manifested right here at this moment?  Would you be quiet?  Would you be still?  Would you be unmoved?  How would you act if your crop came in today?

I believe you would show some outward emotion and response.  I believe you would rejoice and praise God with total abandonment!  You might even go so far as to shout and run and dance.  Possibly your reaction would be like the one you would have if your favorite team won the national championship. 

So…. Go ahead and rejoice in God RIGHT NOW just as if your harvest has come in and your dream has come true!  

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[1] Words and Music: Katie L. Suffield, 1924