The Kingdom of Heaven message preached before the death of Christ must not be confused with the dispensation of Grace inaugurated after Christ's death.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were inspired by the Holy Spirit to record the historical account of Jesus' life and ministry. Their records reveal that Christ kept every precept of the Law of Moses. He was called a "Rabbi" because He taught the Law; He was without sin and He kept the Law perfectly. Therefore, we understand these events occurred during the dispensation of the first covenant.
Everything Christ did was according to the Law of Moses.
Made of a woman, made under Law...Gal 4:4...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law
Circumcised according to the Law...Luke 2:21...And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS,
Mary offer sacrifice according to the Law...Luke 2:22-24...And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Jesus lived under Law, and taught the Law
Jesus preached Judaism, not Christianity!
Jesus dealt with the Law of Moses and the Kingdom promise to the Hebrew nation.
All of Jesus' sermons were preached to the Jew only, not the Gentile...John 4:22...for salvation is of the Jews.
Here's Matthew's record of Jesus' command to the 12,
Matt 10:5-7...These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Christ reconciled both Jew and Gentile into one body on the cross.
Eph 2:11-16...Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
The Church came into existence after Christ purchased it with His own blood and sat down at the right hand of the Father,
Acts 20:28...to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood
Your utmost attention is called to these facts so that you won't confuse the purpose of the authority given to the disciples to confirm the Messianic message. Misunderstanding this will lead to deception in your life. You may perhaps go out into the world commanding the Devil to step aside, taking a useless claim of authority over the Devil when he has no authority on earth. You may perhaps claim authority over the Devil and every problem of life that you face. Some never recognize the fact that the problems of life actually stem from the sin of Adam.
Remember, Adam lost power and authority to rule in earth, and since then, man has not regained complete dominion. Regardless of man's right standing with God he is unable to control the affairs of the world. Unpleasant things are going to happen to man and he will have no explanation for them. Man is unable to know why these things happen. If a man goes around attempting to exercise authority without having any authority; he is not only claiming something fictitious and contrary to the Word but also ignoring the true authority.
Many people ask, "What about the passage in Mark 16 that says?"
Mark 16:15-17...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe
Here the language of the Bible says that signs will follow the believer. Nothing is said about the believer having authority! It is the Gospel they believe that produces the signs, casting out Devils, healing the sick, and speaking with new tongues. These signs and wonders are produced when the Gospel is preached and believed. All these signs are going to follow if you are a believer, not because you commanded it saying, "In the name of Jesus".
In Mark we read about the fullness of our Lord's ascension as He works and confirms the Word with signs. Note how these signs follow the believer,
Mark 16:19-20...So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
The doctrine of "positive confession" which claims that every time a man confesses something he will receive it, is contrary to the Word of God! It is only during the future Kingdom that you can say to a mountain, "Be thou removed" and it shall come to pass.
Matt 21:21...ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
For believers today "to confess gain" is contrary to the Word of God. James states that rejoicing in this type of boasting is sinful. Why? It's a form of arrogance:
James 4:13-17...Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
For those who refuse to admit, or confess sickness, "This is not faith but foolishness". Read James where he states,
James 5:14...Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
It is true that during the Millennium, one can say to a mountain, "Be thou removed" and it will be, but we are not in the Millennium yet! Therefore to "confess" or "claim" things such as wealth or authority is wrong. In fact, any boasting of what we will do, have, or obtain is declared to be sinful in James 4:13-17.
Some even teach that merely to admit you have a problem is a "negative confession", a sign of weak faith. Ironically in truth, if we do not confess our need or weakness, we cannot Biblically receive the help and healing we do need.
James 5:16...Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
Once again, mountains can only be removed through speaking, after man regains control of the earth in the millennial reign of Christ. During that period of time, all man has to do is speak, and it will happen. People are going around today confessing various things without assurance and without certainty. Paul said,
2 Cor 4:13...as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Notice you first have to believe before you speak. The problem with many people is that they think they are going to "build their faith up" by speaking and confessing, and confessing and confessing. They go around confessing everything under the sun and still don't have one ounce of faith. Faith does not come by confession according to Romans.
Rom 10:17...So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
A believer does not receive things by confession. If he hasn't received it by faith, or in reality - he should not confess it. We only confess what we believe. You must believe first.
Since Romans 10:17 states that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God; it means that you don't confess Christ as your Savior, until He has saved you. If you have not been saved, then you don't go around confessing Jesus in order to believe. This is contrary to the language of the Bible. The modern day confession in order to have faith is contrary to the Scriptures!
It's important to know that when people claim "to take authority over the Devil", they miss Jesus. Man does not need any authority if he believes and knows Jesus has all authority. To accept any other authority is to focus faith on something, or someone else. This is dangerous. A believer must totally rely on the authority of Christ.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Christ, our deliverer
Man's dominion over earth is to be restored at the second coming of Christ. All power of the enemy was defeated through the death of the son of God on the cross. Yes, Christ made an open show of the enemy and the powers of darkness. How, through His resurrection from the grave?
Col 2:15...And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
When the Messiah came He came to deliver Israel from Roman oppression. The Roman legions had made prisoners their servants. The people were led captive by the power of Rome. They once were slaves outside the Roman Empire. Now, they had become slaves to the Roman Empire. Likewise, Christ takes people that are slaves to sin and He leads them forth to become His sons. These believers now come under Christ's control, His authority, and His power.
Jesus Christ delivers us from the power of the enemy. He delivers us from the power of Satan, demons, and demonic forces of the world. The Holy Scripture does not say Christ is going to deliver us to the point where we will never get sick and never die. Christ's deliverance will not keep the wind from blowing or a tornado from destroying our home. Nor does this mean that our businesses cannot collapse; or the economic, political, and social structure of the world of which we live cannot fall apart. The Bible does not teach that. It does teach that Christ delivers us from the power of Satan and demonic forces that try to influence us to live selfishly, greedily, and with unholy hearts.
On the other hand, the doctrine that says that Satan is without power is unscriptural. The language of the Bible says:
1 Peter 5:8-9...Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Believers in Christ are to resist the Devil. The Bible goes on to say that the child of God wrestles with the power of darkness.
Eph 6:12...For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Why should we wrestle someone who cannot put up any resistance? Understand, Satan still has access to earth. He can use everything. If the Devil tempted the Son of God during his earthly ministry, he can tempt you. If he tried Jesus, he can try you. If Christ suffered, you are going to suffer.
The Apostles, among them Paul, did not deny Satan's ability. Paul said he was five times beaten with forty stripes save one. He was three times beaten with rods, once stoned, and three times shipwrecked. These are just a few of the many hardships he endured for the cause of Christ.
2 Cor 11:24-33...Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Paul suffered and did not say the battle was won at Calvary. Remember this - the obstacles of life are going to continue to come against us because Satan has the wicked under his control. He is the God of this age. He is the prince of the power of the air. He can use the things man lost control over. The child of God however, by faith in Christ, can defeat the Devil every day of his life.
1 John 4:4...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christ by His death on the cross established His right to rule and reign the earth in righteousness. When Christ comes back, He is going to establish an earthly, visible Kingdom. So many times people go around the country claiming to possess authority. This perhaps reflects a big ego. There are two things that are wrong with the religious teachers today.
1. They are giving the Devil more authority than he has.
2. They are claiming authority they don't have.
Jesus said in Matthew:
Matt 28:18...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
This should be accepted. Jesus has authority over every angel, archangel, seraphim, and over the countless beings God created in heaven. All these are subject to the King of Kings, and He has control over them all.
1 Peter 3:21-22...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
God has control over all things on the earth. He controls the political, social, and economic affairs of life. The weather is even under His control. Any time he wants to use anything on earth, He can use it.
The weather...Matt 5:45...for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God opened the bowels of the earth...Num 16:32-34...And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
God used David and one stone to render Goliath...1 Sam 17:50...So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
The Old Testament is full of accounts where God the Creator used His control of creation to bring both blessing and judgment.
In the Throne Room
All the power of Satan must submit to the authority of Christ because of His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation. When we as believers trust Christ's authority, we have victory over all circumstances and conditions of life that Satan would use against us. When we come to the realization that through Christ's exaltation we can exercise His authority by faith, we indeed understand our position at the right hand of the Father.
Eph 2:4-6...But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
By His death on the cross, Christ has put under His feet all principalities, powers, and dominions. Everything is now under Christ's authority.
1 Cor 15:25...For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Christ now has all power in heaven and in earth but remember, Satan can still use the curse of the fall to torment us. Satan is like an "illegal alien" who has no authority to use on earth. For this reason, we should recognize our position in Jesus Christ who was not only crucified, and rose from the grave but, is alive with all authority over all things!
When we accept Christ's authority over all things, we have personal victory in our lives. If Christ has all authority in heaven and in earth - we do not need any authority. For example, if a man comes to my home that stands about six-foot seven inches tall and is trying to knock the door down; do you think I'm going to go out there and exercise my authority? Never! All that needs to be done is to call the police department. They in turn send a couple of policemen over, and take the man away. He is an intruder. The Devil is an intruder. Demons are also intruders. What should I do when they try to use anything on earth to torment me? By faith, I acknowledge my seat in the throne room and ask King Jesus to exercise authority over them! By the authority of Christ, they must go.
All Christ ever had to say to demons was "Go" and they left. According to James:
James 4:7...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
So, when demons attempt to try or test the child of God all you have to do is say, "Go". You do not even have to speak a verbal command to Satan. A lot of people get the impression they must chant certain prayers in order to have the power of God. That is not true. Others believe they must pray ten hours to have God exercise His authority on their behalf. This is not true. They say, "If I pray and pray and pray, I will drive God Almighty to exercise His power in my life". Of course no man can bribe God, nor make Him do anything.
If you want more power of God in your life, recognize what the Scripture says about the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit and; about your being seated in the Throne Room, raised to sit in heavenly places with Him. Realize that your position is in the Throne Room with Jesus where He has all power and authority. If you don't know that the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, all the prayers on earth are not going to make you more spiritual.
The idea of people going around the country claiming authority and at the same time trying to regiment people to pray, pray, pray, is resented by this writer. In an attempt to teach people how to pray, what to pray, how to testify, how to fast, when to fast, and how to cast out devils is all contrary to Scripture. The Bible clarifies how all this is Holy Spirit's work, in heart of a believer:
John 15:26-27...But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness
The Holy Spirit will cause you to pray if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will cause you to fast if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will even take you to the Throne Room where Christ is seated with all power and authority if you live in a consciousness of His presence. The Holy Spirit is here to take care of you for time and eternity if you know His presence, and that He is God. He is able to minister to any believer, all the power and authority that Christ has at the right hand of the Father, over heaven and earth.
The Bible says in Ephesians:
Eph 2:18...For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
By one Spirit, both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we have a right to go into the Throne Room where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the privilege we have, to exercise Christ's authority over all the problems of life. Hallelujah!
Col 2:15...And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
When the Messiah came He came to deliver Israel from Roman oppression. The Roman legions had made prisoners their servants. The people were led captive by the power of Rome. They once were slaves outside the Roman Empire. Now, they had become slaves to the Roman Empire. Likewise, Christ takes people that are slaves to sin and He leads them forth to become His sons. These believers now come under Christ's control, His authority, and His power.
Jesus Christ delivers us from the power of the enemy. He delivers us from the power of Satan, demons, and demonic forces of the world. The Holy Scripture does not say Christ is going to deliver us to the point where we will never get sick and never die. Christ's deliverance will not keep the wind from blowing or a tornado from destroying our home. Nor does this mean that our businesses cannot collapse; or the economic, political, and social structure of the world of which we live cannot fall apart. The Bible does not teach that. It does teach that Christ delivers us from the power of Satan and demonic forces that try to influence us to live selfishly, greedily, and with unholy hearts.
On the other hand, the doctrine that says that Satan is without power is unscriptural. The language of the Bible says:
1 Peter 5:8-9...Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Believers in Christ are to resist the Devil. The Bible goes on to say that the child of God wrestles with the power of darkness.
Eph 6:12...For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Why should we wrestle someone who cannot put up any resistance? Understand, Satan still has access to earth. He can use everything. If the Devil tempted the Son of God during his earthly ministry, he can tempt you. If he tried Jesus, he can try you. If Christ suffered, you are going to suffer.
The Apostles, among them Paul, did not deny Satan's ability. Paul said he was five times beaten with forty stripes save one. He was three times beaten with rods, once stoned, and three times shipwrecked. These are just a few of the many hardships he endured for the cause of Christ.
2 Cor 11:24-33...Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Paul suffered and did not say the battle was won at Calvary. Remember this - the obstacles of life are going to continue to come against us because Satan has the wicked under his control. He is the God of this age. He is the prince of the power of the air. He can use the things man lost control over. The child of God however, by faith in Christ, can defeat the Devil every day of his life.
1 John 4:4...greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christ by His death on the cross established His right to rule and reign the earth in righteousness. When Christ comes back, He is going to establish an earthly, visible Kingdom. So many times people go around the country claiming to possess authority. This perhaps reflects a big ego. There are two things that are wrong with the religious teachers today.
1. They are giving the Devil more authority than he has.
2. They are claiming authority they don't have.
Jesus said in Matthew:
Matt 28:18...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
This should be accepted. Jesus has authority over every angel, archangel, seraphim, and over the countless beings God created in heaven. All these are subject to the King of Kings, and He has control over them all.
1 Peter 3:21-22...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
God has control over all things on the earth. He controls the political, social, and economic affairs of life. The weather is even under His control. Any time he wants to use anything on earth, He can use it.
The weather...Matt 5:45...for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God opened the bowels of the earth...Num 16:32-34...And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
God used David and one stone to render Goliath...1 Sam 17:50...So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
The Old Testament is full of accounts where God the Creator used His control of creation to bring both blessing and judgment.
In the Throne Room
All the power of Satan must submit to the authority of Christ because of His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation. When we as believers trust Christ's authority, we have victory over all circumstances and conditions of life that Satan would use against us. When we come to the realization that through Christ's exaltation we can exercise His authority by faith, we indeed understand our position at the right hand of the Father.
Eph 2:4-6...But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
By His death on the cross, Christ has put under His feet all principalities, powers, and dominions. Everything is now under Christ's authority.
1 Cor 15:25...For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
Christ now has all power in heaven and in earth but remember, Satan can still use the curse of the fall to torment us. Satan is like an "illegal alien" who has no authority to use on earth. For this reason, we should recognize our position in Jesus Christ who was not only crucified, and rose from the grave but, is alive with all authority over all things!
When we accept Christ's authority over all things, we have personal victory in our lives. If Christ has all authority in heaven and in earth - we do not need any authority. For example, if a man comes to my home that stands about six-foot seven inches tall and is trying to knock the door down; do you think I'm going to go out there and exercise my authority? Never! All that needs to be done is to call the police department. They in turn send a couple of policemen over, and take the man away. He is an intruder. The Devil is an intruder. Demons are also intruders. What should I do when they try to use anything on earth to torment me? By faith, I acknowledge my seat in the throne room and ask King Jesus to exercise authority over them! By the authority of Christ, they must go.
All Christ ever had to say to demons was "Go" and they left. According to James:
James 4:7...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
So, when demons attempt to try or test the child of God all you have to do is say, "Go". You do not even have to speak a verbal command to Satan. A lot of people get the impression they must chant certain prayers in order to have the power of God. That is not true. Others believe they must pray ten hours to have God exercise His authority on their behalf. This is not true. They say, "If I pray and pray and pray, I will drive God Almighty to exercise His power in my life". Of course no man can bribe God, nor make Him do anything.
If you want more power of God in your life, recognize what the Scripture says about the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit and; about your being seated in the Throne Room, raised to sit in heavenly places with Him. Realize that your position is in the Throne Room with Jesus where He has all power and authority. If you don't know that the Holy Spirit is omnipresent, all the prayers on earth are not going to make you more spiritual.
The idea of people going around the country claiming authority and at the same time trying to regiment people to pray, pray, pray, is resented by this writer. In an attempt to teach people how to pray, what to pray, how to testify, how to fast, when to fast, and how to cast out devils is all contrary to Scripture. The Bible clarifies how all this is Holy Spirit's work, in heart of a believer:
John 15:26-27...But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness
The Holy Spirit will cause you to pray if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will cause you to fast if you live with a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will even take you to the Throne Room where Christ is seated with all power and authority if you live in a consciousness of His presence. The Holy Spirit is here to take care of you for time and eternity if you know His presence, and that He is God. He is able to minister to any believer, all the power and authority that Christ has at the right hand of the Father, over heaven and earth.
The Bible says in Ephesians:
Eph 2:18...For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
By one Spirit, both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father. By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we have a right to go into the Throne Room where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the privilege we have, to exercise Christ's authority over all the problems of life. Hallelujah!
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