Speaking in Tongues!
“And these signs will accompany those having believed: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;” Mark 16:17
Speaking in tongues is the language of the New Creation. When mankind was created as flesh in Adam; they ALL spoke one language until the day of Nimrod and Babel. Now mankind is recreated as spirit through the Lord Jesus Christ the Second Man and we also have ONE language that is of the Spirit. Zephaniah says, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.” Zephaniah 3:9 It is a process of maturing in the Spirit, as any child born into the world learns to walk and talk, we are also expected to walk in the Spirit and talk in the Spirit.
The Abomination of Desolation
“Therefore when you shall see ‘the abomination of desolation,’ having been spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place—the one reading, let him understand— then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains;” Matthew 24:15-16
This passage is one of the MOST misinterpreted verses in the Bible. We have taken the words the Lord spoke in respect to Jerusalem and its destruction in 70 AD and we have applied it to the day of Wrath to come. Through which we have also misunderstood the entire book of Daniel. Here is a contradiction, we take the words of the Lord in respect to ‘the abomination of desolation,’ and apply it to the distant future, and by the same breath we go back to the precise verse in the book of Daniel and interpret that very passage to have been fulfilled in the days of the Maccabees, which was 150 years prior to the Lord Jesus Christ. Through which we disregard the OBVIOUS meeting point of 70 AD in fulfilment of the prophecy of the Lord.
The CLUE is in the name, ‘the abomination of desolation,’ meaning an act of abomination that brings about a desolation. In the days of Jeremiah and king Nebuchadnezzar the Lord said, “And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” Jeremiah 25:11 And Jerusalem and Judah were emptied of all their inhabitants and the Temple burned to the ground and they went into captivity in the land of the Chaldeans. However, Israel was NOT made desolate in the time of the Maccabees. The ONLY other time Jerusalem and Judah were made desolate was during the destruction Rome brought in 70 AD, and the inhabitants were bound and sold all over the world and the Second Temple destroyed. The Land once more was made desolate for more than 1900 years! Our Anchor has to be the WORD of the LORD, who HIMSELF interpreted Daniel 11:31 for us, not the imagination or cleverness of men.
The words of the Lord describing the events of the last days were recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke each from their own perspective, in Matthew 24:9-14, Mark 13:11-13, Luke 21:12-19. They ALL follow the SAME Narrative. So if you read Luke and clearly see how the armies of Rome surrounded Jerusalem to destroy her and lead the people into captivity THEN that also MEANS Mark and Matthew are also describing the same thing, in respect to the abomination of desolation. It is the SAME event! Please NOTE, Israel will never again be desolate, even though Zechariah 14 speaks of in the last days half of the inhabitants will go into captivity but they are NEVER again desolate. Therefore, Matthew 24:15-16 is not EVEN speaking of the Antichrist, its similitude is only in regards a type and shadow.
The Gates of DEATH!
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the Gates of HADES not will prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens,” Matthew 16:18-19
In a fair portion of Bible translations, the word for “Hades” is translated to mean “Hell.” Now, this does not seem to be a big deal since both Hades and Hell represent an eventual end of mankind that has rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. However, this small mistranslation has resulted in the mindset of many believers and nonbelievers alike that Hell is a place of stronghold for the devil, so much so there is a saying in relation to the devil that says, “better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.” However, Hell is NOT a place of stronghold, it is NOT a throne, hell is a place where angels and mankind are both punished for all of eternity. The Lord says, to mankind that have rejected Him, “Depart from Me, those being cursed, into the eternal fire, having been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41 So Hell is NOT an expression of power even when applied to the devil, it is the one place he and all of his angels are in dread of as the time of the end draws near.
So, should this slight oversight matter? Yes! Because “Hades,” encompasses and restrains the power of the devil and the implication that it has in terms of the lives of Christians. Hades is a place where the souls of mankind are held, it is associated with the Hebrew word for Sheol, Hezekiah wrote, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the Gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.” Isaiah 38:10 So the gates of Hades or Sheol will not prevail means the devil has no power to hold those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, we possess the gates of our enemy when we snatch people out of the grip of Hades, that even includes the raising of the dead.
Now, there are two main criteria the Lord makes in the main text of our study: the first is the gates of Hades in terms of sin and death, the second is in obtaining the keys to the kingdom of heaven, that is of righteousness and sanctification. Now, many believe to escape Hades but fall short to enter heaven, like the five foolish virgins. This is expressed in the children of Israel that escaped the destruction of the destroyer by the blood of the lamb yet they fell short of the promised land and died in the wilderness because they could not walk with God in faith according to His word. Hebrews 3:16-17. And we also have as example, the servant who came into the wedding feast without a wedding garment in Matthew 22:13, as well as the unprofitable servant who buried his one talent in Matthew 25:30, all of whom were cast out into the outer darkness, NOT into Hades because they were all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, when we say “the gates of Hell” instead of “the gates of Hades,” we blur this distinction that separates the Gates of heaven from the gates of Hades, through which many are deceived and fall. The outer darkness is specifically there for believers that have escaped Hades and yet have fallen short of the kingdom of Heaven, it is akin to the wilderness of Sinai that is between Egypt and the promised land, likewise the darkness that is between Earth and Heaven. There is a difference between the Last Adam and the Second Man: One brings us out of the domain of the god of this world and the Other brings us in to God. [ 1 Peter 3:18] Israel sacrificed the lamb to escape the destroyer and passed through the Red Sea, but they entered the Promised Land by crossing over the Jordan led by the Ark and with Joshua. That is to say by the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14
PLEASE NOTE: The Lord did not say “Hell will NOT prevail against the Church but Hades.” Hades is under the power of the devil, Paul wrote, “He who had the power of death.” Hebrews 2:14 However, Hell, Gehenna is under the power of God, “Indeed rather you should fear the One being able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” Matthew 10:28 The Church makes a VERY BIG mistake when blurring these two. The judgement was unto death through the Sin of Adam but we are judged unto WRATH for Righteousness in Christ. Hebrews 10:29
My Grace is Sufficient for you!
“Now we have such confidence through Christ toward God. NOT that we are sufficient from OURSELVES to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our SUFFICENY is of GOD, who also has made us competent as ministers of a NEW COVENANT, not of the letter, but of the Spirit.”2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Our own strength is the biggest hindrance to the work of God. God uses the least part of us, the despised, the base, the weak and the foolish, [according to the flesh] so the working of His strength through the Spirit can clearly be exhibited. Luke in Acts records, “Now seeing the boldness of Peter and of John, and having understood that they are UNSCHOOLED and ORDINARY men, they were astonished. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 Their weakness became a testimony to the glory of the Lord.
Saul had a great standing among his people, he was blameless in the Law, full of zeal and learned at the feet of one of the most honoured teachers. But it is in the eyes of those in whom he was most confident that he was brought low, being rejected, despised, persecuted, insulted and shunned. Where he thought was his strength to minister to the like minded, he was the least effective for God. Because his strength gives no place for the working of the grace of God. Whereas, Peter in his common unschooled standing was the ideal candidate to manifest the strength of God in his weakness.
“And He said to me, “My grace suffices you, for the power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
The Washing of Water of the Word!
“We should draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been SPRINKLED clean from an evil conscience and our body having been WASHED with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22
Both of these actions are written in the Perfect tense, meaning they are a once done act never to be repeated. That is our acceptance of Christ to believe in Him to the purification of our soul followed by the baptism of our body into death with Christ is a perfectly once done event. So Paul is speaking of our hearts being purified once and for all by faith and our BODY washed by WATER BAPTISM.
“Husbands, love the wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might SANCTIFY her, having cleansed her by the washing of water by the word, so that He might present to Himself the church in glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any of the such things, but that it would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-26
So when Paul says in Ephesians “the washing of the water of the word,” he is referring to the continual renewing of our mind. Our soul [conscience] is purified and our body of sin is buried in death through water baptism but our mind is being renewed by the washing of the water. That is from conformity to this world to the will of God, which is sanctification. The Lord said, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17 Therefore, the perfect [SANCTIFIED] man, according to the stature and measure of Christ, is obtained through the knowledge of the Son of God. [Ephesians 4:13]
“Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, for you to prove what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
The Law is Blind to Righteousness!
“Jesus says to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. And it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to the one having been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your mat.” But he answered them, “The One having made me well, that One said to me ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” Therefore they asked him, “Who is the man having said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” John 5:8-12
[Jp] Teaches How through this dialogue between the man and the priests, the great sign of God’s miracle was neglected. Even though the man is testifying, pointing to the Man who cured his illness, the priest’s response was NOT “Who is He who made you WELL? BUT “Who is the man having said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” They missed the miracle of the man being made well.
This is a very clear illustration of how the Law is not concerned with nothing else but Only of infringements. Made Well, healed or raised from the dead it is of no consequence but only where the Law was compromised? Similarly the Law is never concerned with you being righteous only that you did not break its command, because the Law comes alive ONLY in a moment of infringement. “Therefore by works of the Law, not any flesh will be justified before Him; for through the Law is knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20 So through the Law righteousness is not achieved because the Law is there ONLY to point and punish sin.
“For whoever shall keep the whole Law, but shall stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10
Righteousness is not a little bit here and a little bit there, it is being perfectly blameless, it is faultless. For the Law to come to effect IT MUST by ITS Nature shatter your stand of righteousness. So if the Law is active you can be sure you are NOT righteous. However since SIN is dealt with once and for all in Jesus Christ the Law no longer has a place. [Hebrews 9:26] Now only Grace reigns through Righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:21] So the Holy Spirit now convicts the believer only of righteousness. It is unlawful for Him to point at our failures, since He cannot disregard the covenant of righteousness inaugurated by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Law could NOT see us apart from our faults, likewise the Holy Spirit will NOT see us apart from being righteous in Jesus Christ.
“And having come, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgement: concerning sin indeed, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go away to the Father and you behold Me no more; and concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” John 16:8-11
Conviction of the Holy Spirit!
Conviction of Righteousness: The Holy Spirit now brings to the mind of the believer of our stand in Christ. He is not looking at us but reminding us we are in Him and testifies His qualities to us. The Lord said, “He will glorify Me, for He will take from that which is Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:14 That we may be established in the righteousness of faith.
Conviction of Judgement: the Holy Spirit wants the world to know, God has condemned the Devil NOT us. He will convict the world [of judgement] “because the ruler of the world is judged.” Adam was condemned to death for disobedience, the devil is condemned to eternal fire for rebellion. We however are judged in righteousness [that is the Right to life from the dead]. Failure to obtain this in Christ is what relegates us to hell, Not our Sin which is already condemned in death. “The wages of Sin is Death [Not Hell.]” However the price for rejecting Christ [Righteousness] is Hell. “Depart from Me, those being cursed, into the eternal fire, having been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41
The Gospel of Peace!
“Having shod the feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
[M.p] Explains the meaning of this verse from the point of view of, we take the peace we have with God wherever we go and that becomes our testimony. The Lord said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear.” John 14:27 This peace we have is the essential evidence of the Gospel which is an expression of our relationship with God. Paul says, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 It is the armour of God, so it is the peace we have from God.
Now the above verse is speaking from the perspective of withstanding the evil day, the instruction for us is we being determined to stand in the peace of God. “Let not your heart be troubled.” And Peter, addressing this very circumstance of an evil day, shows how we ought to share this peace we have in midst of threats and persecutions, “Even if you should suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. “And you should not be afraid of their threats, neither should you be troubled.” But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord, always ready for a defence to everyone asking you an account concerning the hope in you; yet with gentleness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:14-15 He is telling us to hold fast to the peace we have in the Lord, which gives rise for the opportunity to share our testimony of the gospel of Christ. Nothing quite describes the hope we have in us like the peace we have with God. Peter when closing his letter wrote, “Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and without blemish.” 2 Peter 3:14
The Lord also associates peace with the gospel when He instructed His disciples to preach saying, “And entering into the house, greet it. And if indeed the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor will hear your words, shake off the dust of your feet going forth out of that house or that city!” Matthew 10:12-14
Resurrection is the Proof!
“The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart.” That is, the word of faith which we proclaim, that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved. For in the heart is belief unto righteousness, and in the mouth is confession unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10
The Fact Jesus Christ was raised from the dead is what testifies of His righteousness, because Sin had always reigned in death. And the Lord’s victory over Sin and Death is expressed in the resurrection and is conveyed in these simple words, “Whom God raised up, having loosed the agony of death, inasmuch as it was NOT possible for Him to be held by it.” Acts 2:24 That is Death had no right to hold Him because He was absolutely Sinless. That the death He died not for His own sins but for the sins of the world [Romans 4:24-25]. Therefore the resurrection is proof that testifies that God saw no fault in Him. This is an undeniable pivotal point. So when we believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are actually saying we believe in His Righteousness and the righteousness of faith is imputed to us. [Romans 4:24-25]
Righteousness of faith speaks in this way!
But the righteousness of faith speaks thus: “You should not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring down Christ) or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring up Christ out from the dead).”
Do not say who will go into heaven or who will go to hell because when you say that according to the righteousness of faith, you are actually speaking against Christ and assessing a person according to the merit of their deeds. Righteousness of faith Attributes merit only to the Lord Jesus Christ,”it is not of the willing, nor of the running, but of God showing mercy.” Romans 9:16 Righteousness of faith is purely dependent on the belief Jesus Christ is Lord and God has raised Him from the dead.
The Prayer of Faith!
“Is anyone among you suffering hardships? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call near the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one ailing, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he might be one having committed sins, it will be forgiven him.” James 5:13-15
The prayer of faith is simply giving voice to God’s own predetermined purpose, which He had already bound Himself to. God has already committed Himself to the result, “The Lord will raise him up.” So if every component does its part God will certainly do His. The sick, to call on the elders, the elders to anoint with oil and give voice to God’s own will to raise the sick in the name of the Lord. The commitment is God’s own, it is not the faith of the elder that heals the sick but the fact God has already bound Himself in His word. He is committed to the result. The little faith required is our obedience to the word.
Ministering to the Sick!
“[The one having believed] and having been baptised will be saved, but the one having disbelieved will be condemned. And these signs will accompany [those having believed]: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; and with their hands they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it shall never hurt them; they will lay hands upon the sick, and they will be well.” Mark 14:16-18
Believers lay hands on the sick and they will recover. We know we are believers and we have the proof of His Holy Spirit in us, no one can talk us out of it, that is all the merit required to lay hands on the sick and to expect their recovery. Not because of our own great heart, but because God Himself Loves them and wants them well more than we ever will. It is His love we minister through our touch, His love and desire not our own. Faith here is the act of laying hands, knowing we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ [AND] that is all. Peter’s first miracle is described in this way, “Now Peter having looked intently upon him, with John, said, “Look unto us.” And he began to give heed to them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “Silver and gold, to me there is none; but what I have, this I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:4-6 What Peter gave to him was the life of Jesus Christ that was already present within him. He did not need to call it down from heaven; it was already present, the life of Christ nothing can taint.
True Doctrine!
“Even because of the false brothers brought in secretly, who came in by stealth to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus that they will enslave us, to whom we did not yield in subjection for even an hour, so that truth of the gospel would be preserved with you.” Galatians 2:4-5
We relegate the value of true doctrine to be a subsequent feature but here Paul shows he did not give way in the least bit. He shows us our responsibility in striving to uphold true doctrine so that we might pass it on unblemished to the next generation. We all owe our salvation to the obedience of the truth, Martin Luther rediscovered. “But thanks be to God that you who were slaves of sin have now become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were committed.” Romans 6:17
Shortsighted views think it is of little value to address errors but each error compounded and passed on to the next will produce a generation dead to the things of God. And the eroding effect of false doctrine is clearly related in the book of Revelation in the first four churches. The Lord rebuking the church of Sardis for failing to uphold the truth says, “Be watching, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die; for I have not found your works having been completed in the sight of My God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard—and keep it and repent.” Revelation 3:2-3
So we might say, to one who is born again a little folly is of little current consequence, but to those coming after, this little folly could mean life or death, knowing God or missing Him. So Paul says we fought for the truth that it may be preserved with you. John also exhorting us saying, “Watch yourselves, so that you should not lose what things we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward.” 2 John 1:8 Many of the current faulty churches are a direct result of embracing such little follies compounded over time.
“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15
The Spirit of Prophecy.
Because of Unbelief.
“For who, having heard rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpse fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So they did not enter because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:16-19
What is unbelief, it is not just the denial of God as those without God, but also seeing God to be unable. Israel had God in their midst, they saw Him in the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, yet Israel did not take the promise land because they did not believe God to be able and rebelled. When we say God no longer does this and that we are acting in the same spirit. We are saying the powers of the world have supremacy over God. God has not changed, then the contention is the doctrine of men, who spread bad report saying what God is not able to do. There were giants in the land, the cites were walled and without God they would have devoured Israel, but with God the walls did not stand and the hearts of their enemies melted.
One of the questions the Lord asked of the people He healed is, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” and at their response He says, “According to your faith be it to you.” Matthew 9:28,29 Why is that necessary? They came to Him to be healed, they came to Him because they believed He is able to heal, then why ask that? We might say it is for our benefit, just as He asked of the woman with the issue of blood, that all may know they can be healed by touching His garments. In the same manner we might know, we make of Him what we believe Him to be able. But what we reason to be the limits of His power according to the dispensation of times, is not the depth of intellectual understanding, in revelations of the ways of God but just good old unbelief, we do not believe God will do. He Himself warns us saying, “Nevertheless, the Son of Man having come, will He find faith on the earth?” We have a choice, we either say the same thing as the word of God says or we speaking according to our own perception and of the world.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and to the ages.” Hebrews 13:8
To See What was in his Heart.
“Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” 2 Samuel 24:1-2
“Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.” 1 Chronicles 21:1-2
The above two verses record the same incident, David’s act of sin in numbering Israel as a means of evaluating the threat to Judah though he was king over both. One records the Lord has done it and the other Satan incited him and he sinned. This apparent contradiction can be resolved through the example of Hezekiah. “And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him [to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land], God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.” 2 Chronicles 32:31
Speaking of Hezekiah, the bible says, the Lord withdrew from him to see what was in his heart. And in his acts of boastfulness he exposed the treasures of Judah to the Babylonians, and Isaiah prophesied to him what is to come on the account of it. The Lord did not entice David to this act of sin, but gave way to it, the enemy worked on what was in his heart and David acted, on that bases he sinned and judgment fell upon Israel.
Let no one being tempted say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is unable to be tempted by evils, and He Himself tempts no one. But a man is tempted, being drawn away and being enticed by the own desire. Then desire having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin having become fully grown, brings forth death. James 1:13-15
A Disciple is to be like his Master.
“These twelve, Jesus sent forth, having instructed them, saying:… ”proclaim, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near!’ Heal the ailing, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons! Freely you received; freely give.” Matthew 10:5,7-8
“Therefore having gone, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, [teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you.] And behold, I am with you all the days, until the completion of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
To be a disciple of Christ is to be made according to the instruction He has given to His disciples. He says to them instructing them to observe, [All things] & [Whatever] “I have commanded you,” therefore every word of instruction that He gave to His apostles is given to each and every one of us, who claim to be His disciples. The Lord says, “It is sufficient for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” Matthews 10:25 We have only one Master that is Jesus Christ Himself. So praying for the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and casting out demons are our responsibility. He follows that with, I am with you always, that is just as He was with His apostles He is with us, even to the end of the ages.
We do not get to pick and choose, it is “all things, whatever I commanded you.”
Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption.
“But out of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who has been made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it has been written: “The one boasting, let him boast in the Lord.”” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Paul makes the following statement in regards to Israel and Righteousness, “For being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish the own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God.” Romans 10:3 and by the same measure we can apply this very logic to every aspect that is made available to us in Christ.
Redemption: We being ignorant of the total redemption that is in the blood of Christ, and seeking to [pay, account, make an offering] for our sins, we have not submitted to the redemption that is offered to us in Jesus Christ.
Sanctification: We being ignorant of the sanctification that is in Christ, and seeking to sanctify ourselves, through sets of rules and regulations, to conform our flesh, we have not submitted, [given place to] the work of the Holy Spirit, who works in us. It is, “if the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, He by His Spirit will also give life to your mortal bodies.” That is to our bodies which were dead in sin. It is not by strength or might but by the Spirit, “by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body.”
[But what does that mean?]: Paul to the Galatians writes, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Walking is fellowship, it is not a mere understanding of a concept, “I am not under law therefore no sin imputed,” But recognising the Holy Spirit, it fellowshipping with Him, (time spent in His presence and in His word), it is allowing Him to reign free in us, it is giving Him thanks for the work He is doing in us, it is worshipping Him.
If there was anything we have done to obtain any of those things we would have something to boast of in ourselves, but we do not ….
The Spirit of Faith.
“The spirit of faith” AND “the righteousness of faith” speaks in this way. The reason salvation is released through speech is faith must be spoken. That is the operation of faith. the spirit of faith is to believe and therefore to speak. Faith is forever linked with speech. That is faith is brought to action through words. So when it says, “For in the heart is belief unto righteousness, and in the mouth is confession unto salvation.” Romans 10:10 In order for it to be faith both components have to be present. It does not say with the heart one has faith unto righteousness but believes, and what you believe must be spoken.
And if faith is a gift of God, then when you have heard the word of God by which you are saved you were given the ability to speak those words to salvation. Faith is not apart from speech. No one says Jesus is Lord apart from the Holy Spirit. Therefore if you are saved by faith then your confession is an integral part, it is not by believing only but by faith. “But having the same spirit of faith according to that having been written:
“I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we also believe and therefore speak,” 2 Corinthians 4:13
No Inheritance, Through the Law.
The law represents bondage: Abraham gave no inheritance to Ishmael. The one who is born of the bondswoman will not inherit with the child of the promise, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” Genesis 21:10 Though Abraham was very rich, when he sent away Hagar and Ishmael, he gave her nothing but bread and a skin of water, “Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders,and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.” Genesis 21:14 This is odd since after the death of Sarah Abraham took a wife and concubines, and had sons and daughters. And the bible records, while still being alive, he gave all that he posses to Isaac, but gave gifts to sons of the concubines and sent them away to the east far from Isaac. [Genesis 25:5-6]. Sin is bondage, and the law is bondage, and through the working of the law there is no inheritance.
Galatians 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:26-29 there is a relation here, though the latter were written to the Hebrews and the application of the law, may it be sacrifice for redemption of the sins, the same concept is related in Galatians. They sought justification through the law. The result in both cases is the same, though strong words are used in Hebrews, being moved from grace is exactly just that. That is the introduction of any law, not necessary of old testament, any man made law as a means to be accepted by God is a move a way from the hope of the gospel. And no flesh will be justified by the working of the law.
“He has reconciled in His body of flesh through death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard.” Colossians 1:22-23
Administering Healing.
By. Curry Blake
If you can apply the principle of By His stripes I am healed, then you can administer by the same principle saying by His strips you are healed.
The Promise of God Must be Given Voice.
By. Andrew Womack
“And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates.” Jeremiah 51:61-63
God calls those things that be not as if they were; and God does this through those to whom He has given His word. Through visions and revelations that they may give voice to His purpose that it might be fulfilled. Joseph’s disclosure of his dreams to his brothers is a point of criticism. But it was Joseph giving voice to the visions God has given him, that brought them to pass. Likewise Jeremiah also instructs Seraiah, to speak out the words of the prophecy he has written down, that it might be fulfilled.
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy? Amos 3:7-8
Your Faith has Made You Whole.
By. Kenneth Hagain.
We are saved by faith: “by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself it is a gift of God.” We receive the Holy Spirit by faith: “That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” We are healed by faith: “Woman, your faith has made you whole.” We live: “The just shall live by faith.” and “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Faith has not stopped. If it had, there is no hope of salvation, there is no church and we are dead in our sins. God has not changed “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” We do not see great wonders because, we [lack knowledge] and do not exercise faith.
Jesus said “When the Son of Man returns will He really find faith on earth?” [Faith is Persistence.]
Do Not Forbid Tongues.
Tongues ought not be cause for offence. The restriction given in 1 Corinthians 14:23 it is given on an account of unbelievers, who might be shocked and kept back from faith. But was not addressed to believers, though in the same chapter it is recommended a level decorum for the sake of service to another. A believer hearing another praying in tongues is not a stumbling block, [that is to account what is Holy common]. A brother who lacks the gift, by seeing another might be encouraged to take a step of faith, or bring up desire but that is a good thing, since the yearning is not for what is earthly but for what is pure and Holy, the gift of the Holy Spirit. [“your Father will not give you snake if you ask for bread.” ] Rather the opposite is forbidden, that one who lacks should not forbid one who prays in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 That under no circumstances is the purpose of God, served by quenching the Spirit.
But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the the love of God. Jude 1:20-21
The Dove and the Tongue of Fire.
The Holy Spirit took the form of a Dove with Jesus, to show His pure and the Tongue of Fire on the day of Pentecost as a sign of the work of purification that He is going to work in those who receive Him.
The Greater Works.
As Elijah was taken up his mantel fell and Elisha picked it up and parted the water saying where the God of Elijah striking the water. Elisha received a double portion of the anointing of the Spirit that was on Elijah. That God was working through him as he did in Elijah. When Jesus was taken up the anointing that was on Him fell on men to enable them to do the greater works. That He gave some to be apostles, some prophets some evangelist some teachers and pastors … to equip the saints for the work of ministry. The same God that worked through Him, is working in them that received the anointing. [Dr. Bill Winston]
Take off your shoes.
Shoes represent self will and setting your own path. Moses was commanded to take of his shoes before he was sent to Egypt to free the Israelites. And so was Joshua after crossing the Jordan before the first battle the Angel of the Lord met him and commanded him to take his shoes off. Then God gave him the strategy to take the city. When you think you know best you tighten your shoe lace then you are moving away from God.
“I take off my shoes: I do not know the right and wrong, left or right, I need you to guide me” Dr. D.Y Cho
God Kind of Love.
A love that seeks to give all. Moses: “I pray thee forgive their sins or blot me out of the book you have written. Paul: “For I wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for the sake of my brethren in the flesh.” Both Moses and Paul had it mind and had it with all sincerity of heart they themselves may be lost to God, in order that their brethren may be saved. Moses would not proceed apart from them, Paul would have given himself to save them. Only Jesus, had Himself cut off from God on the account of our sins and descended into the depth [for the love of us.]
Parable of the Sower.
Reject the word [Reject salvation]: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. Matthews 13:19, The gospel is veiled to those who are perishing whose mind the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3
Uproot the word [Deny Him]: This is he who hears the word, and receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word immediately he stumbles. Matthews 13:20-21, But whoever denies Me before men, him I will deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:33, If we endure, we shall also reign with Him, If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12 [Enduring in the faith, the proving of the genuineness of faith.] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; John 15:6
Quench the Word [Unfruitful]: Now he who received seed among the the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he become unfruitful. Matthew 13:22, They abide in the branch yet produces no fruit because, the priorities are not right. The cares of the world, makes them unfruitful: rewardless yet saved. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22
Do the word [Fruitful]: But he who received seed on a good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:23, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bare much fruit. John 15:5,7-8
Bread Bait. 