Author: rbeaird

THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST – Part II


Spiritual Blog - Spirit

Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” NKJV

 

Picking up where we paused yesterday talking about the Infinite Victory of Christ and the strangeness of this Spiritual War we are engaged I suggest we consider Ephesians 2.  Paul addressed the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world and the children of disobedience among whom this spirit works.  In our modern world, we too often, refuse to accept the reality of an unseen spirit realm.  We are far too sophisticated and educated to believe in superstition, as it is often called.  If you were to go around many of the primitive tribes of this world you would find they understand a universe of spirits or a spirit realm.  They are wrong in what they believe but they realize the existence of a spirit realm.  Life is far more than what you can see, feel or taste and that realization makes them ten steps closer to the truth than the professor of humanism who only sees what he sees and believes what he can touch or taste.

The being identified as the devil or Satan is not a minor figure in the Bible.  I have been around Christians who seem to believe in dual gods, one good and one evil.  The devil is not God with a capital “G”.  There was a time when the devil was not!  God is the ONLY true and living God and He is eternal.  There was a time when that being we call Satan came into being.  Something happened in him causing him to fall and be cast out of heaven.  There is much we do not know about the devil.  The Bible refers to him as “The Great Dragon” or “The Serpent of Old” who is called “The devil and Satan.”  He, according to Revelation 12, is the deceiver of the whole world.  (That should explain some of what is happening in our present world on every front.)

Jesus said that the devil was a “murderer from the beginning”.  He said of the devil that there is no truth in him and whenever he speaks he speaks a lie because he speaks of his own and is a liar and the father of lies.  He is a master deceiver!  Do you know what “The Satan” means?  It means “the gossip”.  He is the accuser seeking to do murder and the original liar.  He seeks to usurp and destroy all that God created.

Man made in God’s Image and Likeness was placed as lord over all the earth and has become the particular hatred of the devil.  If you do not understand just how much the devil loathes man you will miss much of what the Bible teaches.  He seeks man’s destruction and it is not a passing fancy or idle threat, it is a full-time job.  You catch a glimpse of this in the Book of Job.  The devil poses a real problem because he is a liar and mankind doesn’t seem to realize just who he is.  He comes across as the benefactor of the human race and his suggestions appeal to the carnal nature of man.

Sin virtually never looks bad.  I do not believe that most people sin knowing exactly what they are doing.  Remember what Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”  Satan never comes in looking like a murderer and never sounds like a liar but he is.  There is a truth that too often we seem to overlook or completely miss that is vital to our understanding of the Infinite Victory of Jesus and the Triumph in which we can and should walk.

When the man “disobeyed” God in the Garden of Eden he “obeyed” the devil.  His “disobedience” to God caused his relationship with God to be severed.  The fellowship with God was broken but not neutral.  If he “disobeyed” God and is severed in his fellowship with God that means he is “united” with the devil and that is the picture of the human race coming out of the Garden of Eden.  This is now a race that is united with the devil.  It is important to remember that God made Adam Lord of the Earth and since man has united with the devil, Satan becomes “legally” the administrator of the planet.  God allowed that because He had placed lordship of the earth in Adam and Eve’s hands and they broke fellowship in disobedience and thereby obeyed the devil relinquishing their lordship into his hands.  It was a LEGAL ACTION.

Likewise, the devil became the legal administrator of the curse of death.  The man who was made to be Lord of the planet is now a whimpering slave of the devil.  To verify what I’m saying I ask you to consider Luke 4 where the devil said to Jesus, “All the kingdoms of this word… I will give you this domain and its glory for it has been HANDED OVER TO ME, and I give it to whomever I will.”  Some will argue this but I challenge you with this thought – If it were not true Jesus would never have let it stand.  Satan said, “It has been handed over to me…”  That’s the key!  It was not his originally.  The man was the Lord of the Earth.  Therefore, the first Adam handed it over to the devil through disobedience.  1 John 5:10, “The whole world lies in the power of the wicked one.”  Terrifying!  That means that the entire world system lies in the power or domain of the evil one.  There is a real spirit of disobedience working in the children of disobedience!

I’m painting a grim picture but need to do so to show you the Infinite Victory of Christ and our Triumph.   We will put this on hold until tomorrow but until then may you walk in the fullness of Christ’s victory, power and love.  Blessings abundantly!

 

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THE INFINITE VICTORY OF CHRIST…


Spiritual Blog - Victory

Ephesians 6:10-20 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —  19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” NKJV

 

This is a very familiar passage.  This is a subject that has been discussed, debated and even dismissed in Christian circles for years.  Some of the discussions have been biblically based and some human theory that sounded logical and good.  However, this is a matter that is of utmost importance to every Christian in this time.  It is incredibly important because there is a Spirit Realm.

I have no desire to deal in human curiosity regarding the Spirit World but have a great desire to learn about, discuss and teach the Infinite Victory that Jesus has over the devil and the triumph we can and should walk because of His victory.  WE ARE IN A WAR!  However, it is a very strange war.  There is the idea often advanced in Christian Circles that we must “go out and fight” this war.  There is the idea there is a power that we must go out and overcome.  I declare to you that is incorrect.  We, the people of God are those who are celebrating a victory not trying to win one.

This warfare we in which we are engaged is not to somehow win a victory.  That is what makes this war strange.  We are those who proceed from a victory!  This is a war that is not fought it is a war where we STAND and having done all to stand, WE STAND!  We are not fighting the devil we are overcoming him.  We are not fighting trying to win but enforcing that which has already been won by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The key word in the passage above is the word FINALLY.  You see, the apostle Paul has given us the information in the first five chapters and having all the details of the war he says, “Finally”.  That is not a finally as in a preacher coming to a conclusion of a message but it is a finally in the apostle saying, “I’m wrapping this up and putting it in a neat package so you can digest it.”  I suggest that we often read the Bible wrong and take isolated verses whereas if we read the Epistles properly we will read the entire letter in one sitting.  This is a letter and as in any letter, you do not simply read a paragraph a day you read the entire letter and thereby gain an understanding of what the letter is all about.

When Paul says FINALLY he is declaring that the knowledge presented in the first 5 1/2 chapters is describing a CELEBRATION of the Triumph of Jesus Christ over all the powers of evil.  He tells us that our problem is not flesh and blood.  Our struggle is against the rulers, power, world forces of this darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  This is Spiritual Warfare.  I am convinced that many fail to grasp the message of the Bible and especially the New Testament because they do not understand we live in a world that is more than physical and material.

We are spirit persons!  We happen to live in a body residing in a material universe but there is a spirit world in existence that we do not see.  We are spirit people and more than bodies or the passions of our flesh.  God created us in His own image and God is a Spirit and we are spirit beings.  That’s what separates us from the rest of creation.  I am not like the animals for I am a spirit created to have fellowship with God.

 Because of the Fall in the Garden man has become united to the wrong spirit and that has produced the conditions that exist in this present world.  The whole of the chaos, confusion and destruction have its roots in the Fall and the wrong uniting.  Jesus came to right that wrong and bring us the Victory which is realized in Salvation and walked out in the Abundant Life He affords.

More on this but we will pause here and say, God bless you and may you walk in His fullness as you go through this wonderful day He has made.   Rejoice!

 

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HEARING GOD or HEARING ABOUT GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Hearing God

John 10:27 – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  NKJV

My title is not an attempt to diminish the importance of hearing about God but to emphasize the importance of HEARING GOD.  I would never de-emphasize the value of education in all walks of life including the ministry but I would never desire to overemphasize the importance of formal education and ministerial training.  I have known some who have impressive credentials educationally who know about God but were seemingly very limited in the power of His person in their lives and ministries.

Jesus said in John 8:47, “He who is of God hears God’s words…”  Isaiah spoke of hearing God in 30:21 saying, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’…”  Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Therefore, the value of God’s word cannot be questioned in our lives and labors.

We know that the LORD instructed the disciples in the Gospels to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…”  We also read in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?…”

Spiritual Blog - This is the Way

I recall once hearing a group of ministers discuss a fellow pastor who had not been to Bible College or Seminary and some laughingly said, “He won’t last a year because he won’t have anything to say without proper training.”  He not only out lasted each of them in their respective works but the LORD used him to bring revival to the community so powerfully that the entire community developed an outreach to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the needy and care for people in the natural and spiritual.  He did not know Hermeneutics or Homiletics but when he spoke he spoke as one who had been in the Throne Room of God and His words were powerful reflections of God’s heart and love.  It could be said of him as was of the disciples by the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” 

Spiritual Blog - Faith Comes by

I am thankful for my Bible training but more importantly I am thankful for a personal relationship with the LORD.  I am more interested in hearing God than I am just hearing about God.  I want to introduce and expose people to “Christ in me”.  Yes, we preach about God but our objective is to not have them simply hear ABOUT God but to HEAR God and thereby have their lives changed eternally.

Again, I am thankful for the education and training I have received, it has helped me avoid error more often than I can relate but it is secondary to my HEARING GOD.  May the LORD be with you as you go through this day He has made rejoicing and being glad in it!  BLESSINGS!

Addendum:

If you have ever experienced a tornado you realize that hearing about one is vastly different than actually hearing one.  I grew up hearing how the cry of a panther sounded like the blood curdling scream of a woman in distress but one night standing in the middle of a field in the black of night near a creek I heard one.  No description I heard about compared to what I heard.  Jesus said, “If I stand at the door and knock (hearing required), I will come in to him…”  I know some believe that it is impossible to hear God and without splitting hairs over the audible voice of God let me declare that the voice of God to the heart is quite real and would be far more frequent in our lives if we tuned in to His station and tuned out the world from time to time!

 

 

 

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GOD WON’T DO IT ALL FOR YOU…


Spiritual Blog - Miracle

Luke 9:10-17 – “And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.  Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”  15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.  16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.”  NKJV

 

We all love the accounts of feeding the multitudes and the greatness of the miracle but how often do we fail to catch the key command of Jesus to the disciples?  We do not know how many were in the crowd that day for the typical method of counting was men not women and children.  The food available to them was five loaves and two fish.  Obviously feeding 5 was incredibly but how about possibly fifteen thousand using the meager offering is impossible in the natural.

The fact that Jesus had them seated in groups of fifty is significant but not the topic I will not pursue at this juncture.  The fact that all were filled and of the fragments there were twelve baskets leftover is important and significant but not the focal point of what I am desirous to convey.  The fact that it was an object lesson not soon to be forgotten is valuable but again not the command I want us to focus on.

The most important command of Jesus to the disciples that day, in my view was?  When the disciples approached the Master with their plight and predicament of a hungry multitude, they asked the LORD to disperse the crowd so the people could go into the neighboring villages and find food but Jesus ignored them.  Instead He said something many seem to miss.  He said, “You give them something to eat.”  He did not say, “Sit them down and I will work a miracle.”  He did not say, “Bring them to me and I will pray over them and they will miraculously find food from the rocks or manna from heaven will fall like dew.”  He said, “YOU give them something to eat.”

Imagine that!  Simply, take what you have and begin feeding the people.  Step out with what you have and be confident that I will be with you.  Be like David with the five smooth stones and face the Giant.  Be like Gideon with the 300 against a multitude and face the insurmountable odds.  Be like Moses when facing the Red Sea with the Egyptian Army on their heels and step forth in faith.  Be like Abraham when instructed to offer Isaac in confidence that God is a God of His word.  He never leaves nor forsakes but is with us and will provide.

Spiritual Blog - God

They did not immediately respond to the directive of Jesus, but continued to offer objections based on natural reason as to why they could not.  Jesus then demonstrated to them what they could have done based on His command.  Remember Jesus said, “The works that I do shall you do and greater works…”  He took what they had, prayed and gave thanks and distributed food to the multitude.

I am not suggesting that you launch out into the impossible where you would encounter massive debt but when instructed by the Spirit of God, based on the Word of God to do something – DO IT!  If God orders it He will see to it that it comes to pass.  Remember in Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”  If God says jump through the hole in the wall it is our job to jump and His job to make a hole in the wall.

            God bless you as you walk in full obedience on this beautiful day!

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A FORGOTTEN TRUTH – Obedience…


Spiritual Blog - Obedience

John 14:15-18 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever —   17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  NKJV

 

I have railed against Phariaism and the man-made list of rules and regulations so many legalist proclaim as much as anyone.  However, there often appears to be a truth forgotten in much of Christendom today regarding obedience.  This passage used as our text illustrates this powerfully and I wonder if sometime we miss the message.

Obedience is normally a fruit of either fear or love.  In this passage Jesus emphasized that IF we love Him we will obey Him.  We will not live unrestrained lives but will follow His commandments and directives.  He then revealed the difficulty in that effort and offered the comfort and hope of the truth that He is praying for us.  His prayers have a specific objective that the Father give us another Comforter or Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will be with us always.  He will come as the Spirit of Truth who is unknown by the world but would live in us and be our constant guide, conscience and teacher.  He would provide the help we need to enable us to be obedient.

When love fills the heart desire is there to please and conform to the wishes of the object of our love.  Most of us, who have children, know that although love is present and the desire is in the heart obedience is not always a given.  It could be due to any number of things such as knowledge or will power.  I never questioned whether my children loved me but there were times when they did not obey my commandments or instructions.  There were times when temptation overcame them and they succumbed to peer pressure or selfishness.  There were times when they wanted to obey and carry out my instructions but did not have the knowledge or ability to complete the task.  That is where the Holy Spirit comes in.  He knows the mind of God and can infuse courage and strength in our hearts so that we can resist temptation, know truth and enable us to walk in full obedience.

The Commandments of God are not to punish or deprive us but to protect and enable us to come out from among the world and live in the fullness of the Abundant Life Jesus brings.  God’s prohibitions are not designed to lessen our enjoyment of life but to enable us to truly live.  The Bible tells us that the pleasures of sin are but for a season.  It never said sin could provide no pleasure for the flesh, but it would not last.  In contrast the joy of the Lord is everlasting and not conditioned upon outward stimuli which feed the carnal man.

The statement of Jesus, “If you love me…” is quite revealing.  If one demonstrates a propensity to disobey it would be difficult to make the argument that love is present.  Whereas, if love is present there is a willingness and desire to obey.  Disobedience or failure to obey brings a contriteness to the heart because Love wants to please.  If love is present and willingness is demonstrated then we can be confident that the Holy Spirit will be present to enable and equip us to walk in obedience.  If you want to obey and love is in your heart, God will help you walk in obedience.

           God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Jesus!

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POSSESS THE LAND… (Continued)


Spiritual Blog - Possess

Revelation 12:10-12 – “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  NKJV

 

Picking up where we left off last time let me begin with an illustration.  In the American Federal Government there are three branches.  The Legislative passes the laws.  The Judicial interprets the laws.  The Executive enforces the laws.  This is applicable with regard to the devil’s legal defeat at the Cross.  In actual fact Calvary destroyed all of the devil’s legal claims.  Calvary was and is complete!  The enforcement is placed in the hands of the Church and if the Body of Christ fails to respond, the will of the head becomes a dead letter and illegal activity continues.

We have a Biblical  basis for exercising our authority over the devil.  That authority was delegated to the Church by the LORD Himself.  (Matthew 16:18-19, Matthew 18:18 and Luke 10:17-19).  In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus pressed this even further saying, “ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore…”  ALL POWER (Authority) was given to Jesus by virtue of His triumph which was consummated at Calvary.  In turn, He delegated that authority to His disciples and to all who would follow in successive generations.  Therefore, it is imperative to understand that WE CAN LEGALLY ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF CALVARY!   The question is are we and if not why not?  Biblically, as a result of the LORD’s work on the Cross the devil has No rights and No authority!

We have been given some weapons through which we can enforce the victory He won at the Cross. 

  • PRAYER

I have been cautioned about praying too much and not being active enough and although I understand that hesitation can be negative I view prayer as “warfare training” as well as petition.  God clearly has the power to do His work without our prayers but He is preparing us for rulership in His Kingdom and we need training.

God does not answer prayer upon the basis of worthiness or deemed worthiness.  None of us who pray are perfect.  The crucial factor in getting answers to prayers is not spiritual superiority but boldness, courage and faith to pray regardless of any sense or lack thereof worthiness.  If we are walking in the light God has given us, we should never permit a sense of unworthiness to enter our minds and hearts.  He deems us worthy of the Blood of Jesus.  How much more worthy can you be?

Prayer is not answered for a select few or the spiritually superior.  He does not answer prayer because of what we have done but because of WHAT HE HAS DONE.  It would be well for us to consider 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV) – “It is because of Him that you are in Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.  THE FINISHED WORK!”

  • AUTHORITY OF THE SPOKEN WORD.

Remember the overcoming mentioned in Revelation was “The Blood of the Lamb AND the Word of their Testimony.”  This is not a praise service in which people stand to recount something but is a testimony or word spoken directly to the devil and his hordes in the Name of Jesus and on the basis of His work on the Cross.  Jesus Himself spoke directly to the devil (Matthew 15:23) saying, “Get behind Me Satan.”  James 4:7 implores us to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from us.”

Satan does not have a physical body and cannot be attacked with conventional weapons of warfare.  Therefore, one of the ways we can resist him is verbally.  When we come against him in THE NAME OF JESUS citing the WORD OF GOD we exercise power.  That is unless we are like those in Acts 19 (seven sons of Sceva) and try to use a formula without experience or faith.

I believe in being specific with the devil when I resist in prayer and in word.  We have been given authority over all his power.  I Corinthians 10:4-5 (Phillips) – “The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but are powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds.  Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defense that men erect against the knowledge of God. We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ.”

             Remember the devil does not care how you talk about him.  What defeats him is speaking directly to him in the Name of Jesus and on the basis of the authority of Calvary.  It is THE BLOOD!  There is a real devil, doing real damage and we have a real victory we need to enforce.  Three things are vital if we are to be successful:  Relationship with Jesus, Understanding of the Victory He won and Action.  The result will be spiritual victory!

            God bless you as you go through this day in the Victory of Christ.  Blessings!

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POSSESS THE LAND…


Spiritual Blog - Occupy

Revelation 12:10-12 – “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”  NKJV

 

In John 8:32 we read that if we know the truth (of Christ) that truth will make us free.  Hosea 4:6 declares that God’s people perish due to lack of knowledge.  In the Gospel record of the encounter between Jesus and the devil repeatedly our LORD declared, “IT IS WRITTEN” and silenced the devil with truth.  The Christian Life is Warfare and sometimes I feel Christians have forgotten this or failed to understand this reality.

If we could somehow communicate and convince believers that we face a colossal problem in the spiritual realm which spills over into the physical or natural we would have accomplished much.  We are beset by a host of self-conscious evil personalities called demons who are responsible for much, if not most, of the personality difficulties, complexities, spiritual pressures, strains and aggravated forms of evil in modern times.  Satan is alive and well on planet earth.  Yes, in the end he loses but he will fight to the finish and it would behoove each believer to understand that.  I am convinced that ignoring the devil’s activities is to empower him and place ourselves in a dire position.

In Revelation 12:11, after describing the war in heaven and the expulsion of the devil and his angels, John explains that there is a warfare launched against believers.  This is a war that can only be won by “The Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony.”  That brings me to a question I have asked Christians many times, “Was Calvary a Defeat or a Victory.”  Normally the response is victory but am often left to wonder if our response is “head knowledge” more than “experiential conviction.”

Here the reference to “The Blood of the Lamb” identifies the most powerful weapon the believer has in our spiritual conflict and is a direct reference to The Cross of Calvary.  It is a direct reference to the Victory won by our Lord through the shedding of His Blood for mankind.  I miss hearing and teaching about the Blood and believe that if we are going to effectively utilize this Spiritual Weapon we must first understand what took place at the Cross.  I also believe that to understand this truth we have to go back to the Garden of Eden and examine what took place in the Fall of Man.

Man, as originally created, was given authority.  Man was made to have dominion and immediately upon his coming forth from the creation experience he was given rule of the earth. (Genesis 1:26).  God gave man a bona fide grant of dominion over the earth and all that was in it.  In the Fall man, through disobedience, transferred his allegiance from God to the devil and allowed the devil to become the legal and actual ruler on earth.  He is the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air.  Some have suggested that God could and should have ignored man’s act and stripped the devil of his legal claim through Adams’ disobedience.  Had God done that it would have violated his nature, character and divine justice which demands “due process of law”.  It would have violated “divine jurisprudence” and thereby been a violation of principles to which God binds Himself.

Man legally transferred his right to dominion to the devil and since man did this the only way it could legally be reclaimed was through man.  It was lost by man’s wrong choice.  Adam’s allegiance created a situation in which man was no longer free but a slave.  He is now a slave to sin.  The devil had legal claim to man as a result of Adam’s disobedience and rebellion.

The only way this could be broken was to find a “Qualified Representative” to satisfy Divine Jurisprudence and literally “buy back” man from the devil and strip Satan of his legal claim.  Jesus was that representative and thus the tireless effort of Satan to find even “one tiny flaw” in Jesus ensued.  Satan tried but Jesus defeated him with THE WORD and OBEDIENCE.  I am convinced that one of the reasons the devil wanted Jesus on the Cross was a hope He would resist the Father’s will and reject the Cross.  He did not and Satan’s dominion was broken.   When Jesus went to the Cross He not only defeated the devil in that conflict but He CANCELLED ALL OF SATAN’S CLAIMS on mankind!

Therefore, Satan is defeated, not annihilated but defeated.  All the legal claims he held through Adam have been cancelled through Jesus.  As a result of the Cross he has no rights or legal claims and all the power he exercises today is solely by deception and bluff.  He is operating ILLEGALLY and that is the basis of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 28:18 – “All power [authority] is given to me in heaven and in earth.”  Then in Luke 10:19 He says, “Behold I give you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions [demons], and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall be any means hurt you.”

Satan still roams and goes about as a roaring lion but if we, believers, ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF CALVARY we find that “legally” the Cross was the complete undoing of the devil.   “Legally” the Cross completely destroyed the devil, not annihilated but destroyed.  “Legally” all of the devil’s claims were cancelled when Jesus went to the Cross.  However, like any other LEGAL transaction for the Victory to be enjoyed it must be enforced.

I have gone long and want to say a bit more on this so until next time may the LORD of Host go with you and may the Power of the Spirit of God flow through you.  Blessings!

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NEVERTHELESS…


Spiritual Blog - Nevertheless

Luke 5:1-11 – “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”   NKJV

 

I purposefully used a lengthy passage to convey a simple truth.  Jesus was drawing crowds everywhere He went with His message of hope and life which was in stark contrast to that of the Scribes and Pharisees.  On this occasion, He came to the Lake of Gennesaret and Simon (Peter) and Andrew were washing their nets after a long night of fishing.  Jesus asked Simon to launch the boat out a little from the shore and the location of the boat created the effect of an amphitheater where He could easily speak to the multitude.  It would have been impossible for Simon and his brother to miss the message being taught to the crowd.

After Jesus finished teaching He instructed Simon to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  This was more than a reward for the kindness demonstrated in accommodating His earlier request, it was an object lesson that would stick with the disciples throughout their lifetime.  Simon offered a reasonable objection.  They had fished all night, the normal time for fishing, and had taken nothing.  Yet, as a result of hearing the words of Jesus, I believe faith was instilled in their hearts (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God).  Peter’s response should be our response to the directives of the Holy Spirit even when the directive seems illogical.  Simon said, “…nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

The result is too great a miracle to overlook.  The number of fish they caught were beyond their capacity and ability to handle.  They signaled the other boat and enlisted the help of James and John to handle the harvest.  The catch was so great both boats were in danger of sinking.  Imagine in today’s modern church world if we would be obedient to the voice of the Spirit of God and when we find so great a harvest and revival we enlist the help of other believers rather than trying to defend our domain.

There is always a time, in spiritual things, when we simply need to step out in faith and say, “NEVERTHELESS at Thy word…”  No wonder the Bible declares that obedience is better than sacrifice.  If we will allow our faith to rise to the level of His directives we will see more than we can imagine.

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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IF IT DOESN’T FIT THE NARRATIVE …


Spiritual Blog - Narrative

Habakkuk 1:5 – “…For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.”  NKJV

 

In my years of following Christ and being in Christian ministry I have encountered and experienced some amazing things and people.   I would venture to say that regardless of the denomination, sect, faction or group in Christendom there is a certain amount of closed-mindedness to be found.  I can hear the protests as those words were read but I stand by my assertion based on experience and the ideological wars fought by varying groups in the Body of Christ.

I know some who believe declare they are “full gospel” and that term implies to others not of them fall short in doctrinal correctness.  I have known some that declare they are the “word of faith” and by implication that suggests that those not of them are short in faith.  I know some that declare they are “the church of…” fill in the blank and the implication is that anyone not of them are, at best, second class Christians if Christians at all.  There are probably as many variations of doctrine as there are churches and within those churches the varying beliefs is nothing short of amazing.

I have had discussions with some who believe that miracles cannot happen today because we have the Bible and no longer need miracles to build the church as the early church did.  First, without getting into a hair-splitting contest, I must ask one simple question.  “Is God God?”  The Bible says he is the same yesterday, today and forever does it not?   Most Christians will acknowledge that God “could” work miracles but many believe He no longer does.  Again, not wanting to get into a debate over miracles but to focus on something larger I press on.

In Habakkuk the Lord, through the prophet, declared that He would work a work in their day that even if someone told them about it they would not believe it.  Why?  Because they had a preconceived notion of how things were, should be and would be.  In Acts 13, Paul was in Antioch and went to Synagogue.  After the customary reading of Scripture the leaders of the Synagogue gave opportunity for anyone to speak.  Paul seized the opportunity and presented Jesus to them.  In his presentation he brought them face to face with their rigidity of doctrine and quoted Habakkuk.  This caused some of the Jews to hate him and the Gentiles to beg for more teaching and explanation.

God does not always work according to our preconceived notion of how we think He should or what we think should transpire.  He does not seem to have any particular interest in our private or sectarian narrative but desires TRUTH.   Just because I have not seen it or it does not fit my neat arrangement of doctrinal presentations does not mean it is IMPOSSIBLE.   After all, does not the Bible declare, “Nothing is Impossible with God?”  Before you relegate something to yesteryear remember we are serving a God who can, does and will.

Bring your wind of revival to us Oh Lord!  Bring your refreshing today!   God bless you as you go through this day in Him care and keeping!

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THE IMAGE OF GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Image of God

Genesis 1:26-27 – “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”  NKJV

 

I have heard enough preaching and teaching on what constitutes the “Image of God” to become so thoroughly confused it is almost depressing.  Is possessing intellect, having the possibility of spiritual knowledge, love and wisdom enough to explain that description of created man?  Did man completely lose God’s image in the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden?  Is man a dichotomy or trichotomy?

Genesis 2:7 reveals, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground [BODY], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [SPIRIT]; and man became a living being. [SOUL].”  [Emphasis mine.]  If I take that, and I do, as a basis for understanding man I see him as a trichotomy having body, soul, and spirit.

In our composition our bodies are aligned with the earth.  Our human bodies are closely aligned with the inorganic creation on planet earth.  In discussing man’s soul, we realize that man is aligned with the other members of intelligent creation, at first it was Eve and then other men that Adam was aligned with.  In viewing his spirit man is aligned with God.  It was through his spirit that he knew and knows God.  Someone suggested that THE BODY is the seat and instrument of the senses, THE SOUL is the seat and instrument of the emotions and THE SPIRIT is the seat of the knowledge of God.  (1 Corinthians 2:11).  When Jesus died on the Cross they laid his BODY in a tomb, His SOUL descended into Hades and His SPIRIT was commended to God.  (Luke 23:46).

The Tabernacle and Temple have a clear similarity to man’s makeup.  There was the Outer Court and the only of the three compartments visible to all.  Then there was the Holy Place where the priests fellowshipped with each other.  Then the Holy of Holies.  Behind the veil dwelt the presence of God.  I believe you can see that the Outer Court represents the human body and Romans 12:1 admonishes us to present our bodies to God, a living sacrifice.  It was in the body that Jesus bore our sin on the Cross.  The Holy Place is representative of the soul.  That place of worship and fellowship interacting with others.  Then the Holy of Holies represents the spirit for God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.  God’s spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Man was created in the Image and Likeness of God and through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden man lost his connection to God.  In today’s world of modernism I hear sermons more akin to motivational speaking and self-help gurus than biblical truth.  No amount of personal discipline, moral reform, ethical teaching, education, or religion can transform man that only comes through the NEW BIRTH.  When we come to Christ and are born-again we are restored to the Image of God and are able to commune spirit to spirit with the LORD.  You and I are fearfully and wonderfully made but this physical house is just the outer shell and not the complete representation of THE IMAGE OF GOD.  If you want to see God you have to see beyond the physical for man is Body, Soul and Spirit.

Someone said, “We are the only Bibles some people will ever read.”  Therefore it is imperative that we allow the Holy Spirit, through the new-birth, to restore us to the Image and Likeness of God so when people read us they see God.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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