OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MONDAY 13TH MARCH 2017
THEME: CONSPIRACY & FORNICATION
MEMORISE:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but
he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1
Corinthians 6:18
READ: Job 5:12-14, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (KJV)
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body;
but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1-3 and Isaiah 58:13-59:15
MESSAGE:
A conspiracy can be defined as a secret plan by a group of persons to
do something unlawful or mischievous. Whenever you agree or partner with
one or more persons to do something against God’s express word or will,
you are guilty of conspiracy. The attitude of the Holy Spirit towards
conspiracy is clear from His judgement against Ananias and Sapphira, who
conspired to test Him with their lie (Acts 5:1-11). Ahithophel and
Absalom also engaged in conspiracy against the Lord’s anointed, King
David (2 Samuel 15:12). They paid for this sin with their lives, and
they both died similar deaths through hanging (2 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel
18:9-14). Do you know that many people still conspire to lie to the Holy
Spirit today? When auditors are visiting some churches, their pastors
will connive with accountants to present doctored records. On arrival,
when the auditor asks the accountant if the books presented are the
actual financial records, they would affirm that they are. That is
conspiring to lie to the Holy Spirit! Those who engage in conspiracy
often die together, just like it happened to Ananias and Sapphira,
Absalom and Ahithophel, and Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 26:9-10).
This is where married couples need to be extremely cautions. If your
spouse is going the way of destruction, never follow him or her. Do all
you can to deliver him, but if the fellow refuses, let him or her take
the evil step alone. Are you engaged in a conspiracy to defraud your
employer or government? It’s time to pull out of such schemes and
repent.
In like manner, the Holy Spirit hates adultery and
fornication. Why? It is because your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit. You are His dwelling place. Adultery separates God from His
temple. It keeps God outside His throne in your heart. Some people
erroneously think that they can fornicate without affecting the presence
of the Holy Spirit in them. No way! How can you expect the Holy Spirit,
whose personality is defined by holiness, to dwell in a body yielded to
filthiness? The Bible in James 4:4 says,
“Ye adulterers and
adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity
with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy
of God.”
Fornication strips the glory of God away from you and
clothes you in rags and shame. There is nothing glorious about sexual
sin. It never adds anything to you; rather, it always takes away your
prized possessions. Repent and flee fornication daily! Whatever
separates God from you is something to resist by all means!
ACTION POINT:
Confess and repent of any form of conspiracy or sexual sins you are
involved in. Break away from every form of relationship that facilitates
these.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
Monday, 13 March 2017
DON'T PLAY LIGHT WITH SPEAKING IN TONGUES
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, MONDAY, March 13th, Pastor Chris
TOPIC:
✨DON'T PLAY LIGHT ON SPEAKING IN TONGUES.✨
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1 Corinthians 14:4).
Speaking in tongues is so important for us as Christians. The Bible says, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing…” (Isaiah 28:11-12). Peter describes it as “…the times of refreshing….” (Acts 3:19). There’s refreshing, rejuvenation, and flourishing for the one who consistently speaks in tongues.
Also, speaking in tongues improves you. The Amplified version of our opening verse says, “He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself….” When you speak in tongues, you become sensitive to spiritual realities; you’re synchronised with the Spirit, and His voice becomes clear to you. Some people say they don’t know when God is talking to them. If they’ll speak in tongues, their spirits will become sensitive to God, to hear and understand His Word.
Another important benefit of speaking in tongues is the purification of your faith. Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” (AMP). Your most holy faith is your most sanctified faith; unalloyed faith, devoid of doubt or fear. It’s your highest, purest, and best expression of your faith so far. God expects you to build on that “most holy faith” through speaking in tongues.
The Apostle Paul revealed speaking in tongues as one of his secrets of success in ministry. He was bold to tell the Corinthian church, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18). It goes to show how much he spoke in tongues. No wonder, he was so successful. Choose to speak in tongues more than ever. Edify your spirit. Improve yourself spiritually. Flourish and make progress in your life, with speaking in tongues!
CONFESSION
I flourish daily like the palm tree, because I’m continually filled with the Spirit. As I speak in tongues even now, I’m edified; my spirit is lifted to function from a vantage position of boldness, audacity and victory in Christ Jesus. I don’t struggle, but enjoy unstoppable growth and progress as I receive guidance and light from the Lord. Hallelujah!
Further Study:
1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Jude 1:20 AMP But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 15:21-47, Numbers 34-36
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 22:23-33, Exodus 22
TOPIC:
✨DON'T PLAY LIGHT ON SPEAKING IN TONGUES.✨He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church (1 Corinthians 14:4).
Speaking in tongues is so important for us as Christians. The Bible says, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing…” (Isaiah 28:11-12). Peter describes it as “…the times of refreshing….” (Acts 3:19). There’s refreshing, rejuvenation, and flourishing for the one who consistently speaks in tongues.
Also, speaking in tongues improves you. The Amplified version of our opening verse says, “He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself….” When you speak in tongues, you become sensitive to spiritual realities; you’re synchronised with the Spirit, and His voice becomes clear to you. Some people say they don’t know when God is talking to them. If they’ll speak in tongues, their spirits will become sensitive to God, to hear and understand His Word.
Another important benefit of speaking in tongues is the purification of your faith. Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit” (AMP). Your most holy faith is your most sanctified faith; unalloyed faith, devoid of doubt or fear. It’s your highest, purest, and best expression of your faith so far. God expects you to build on that “most holy faith” through speaking in tongues.
The Apostle Paul revealed speaking in tongues as one of his secrets of success in ministry. He was bold to tell the Corinthian church, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18). It goes to show how much he spoke in tongues. No wonder, he was so successful. Choose to speak in tongues more than ever. Edify your spirit. Improve yourself spiritually. Flourish and make progress in your life, with speaking in tongues!
CONFESSION
I flourish daily like the palm tree, because I’m continually filled with the Spirit. As I speak in tongues even now, I’m edified; my spirit is lifted to function from a vantage position of boldness, audacity and victory in Christ Jesus. I don’t struggle, but enjoy unstoppable growth and progress as I receive guidance and light from the Lord. Hallelujah!
Further Study:
1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Jude 1:20 AMP But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 15:21-47, Numbers 34-36
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 22:23-33, Exodus 22
Friday, 10 March 2017
FASTING INFLUENCES YOU , NOT GOD
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, FRIDAY, March 10th Pastor Chris
Topic:✨FASTING INFLUENCES YOU—NOT GOD.✨
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words (Daniel 10:12).
Topic:
✨FASTING INFLUENCES YOU—NOT GOD.✨Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words (Daniel 10:12).
The important thing about
fasting is the “purpose” of the fast. There’re those who emphasize
fasting for long periods, like forty days, the way Jesus did. Well, the
quality of a fast isn’t so much the longevity as it is the purpose. Some
people erroneously think that the longer the fast, the more God is
moved to answer them; no! God isn’t altered or influenced by your
fasting. Your fasting only influences and affects you.
Fasting helps you to become more conscious of the divine nature in you. I’m not talking about the kind of fast that’s done amidst all the distractions imaginable, but the kind where the flesh is completely subdued. I’m referring to the kind where you separate yourself from the rest of the world and spend time to pray, study, and meditate on God’s Word. At such times, it becomes easy for the Lord to get your attention, minister to you, and transform your life, because your affection is fully set on Him.
Through this kind of purposeful fasting, your spirit stands up like a giant; your humanity or the influence of the flesh wanes and your divinity rises. At such a time, when you utter a word, it transcends the arena of the human mind; it proceeds from your spirit with the potency and energy of the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Precious Lord, my heart rejoices at your Word today. I’m launched into higher realms of prosperity, blessings and glory. I walk in your perfect will for me, because I’m led by your Spirit from within, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 14:27-52, Numbers 27-28
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 21:33-46, Exodus 19
Fasting helps you to become more conscious of the divine nature in you. I’m not talking about the kind of fast that’s done amidst all the distractions imaginable, but the kind where the flesh is completely subdued. I’m referring to the kind where you separate yourself from the rest of the world and spend time to pray, study, and meditate on God’s Word. At such times, it becomes easy for the Lord to get your attention, minister to you, and transform your life, because your affection is fully set on Him.
Through this kind of purposeful fasting, your spirit stands up like a giant; your humanity or the influence of the flesh wanes and your divinity rises. At such a time, when you utter a word, it transcends the arena of the human mind; it proceeds from your spirit with the potency and energy of the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Precious Lord, my heart rejoices at your Word today. I’m launched into higher realms of prosperity, blessings and glory. I walk in your perfect will for me, because I’m led by your Spirit from within, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 14:27-52, Numbers 27-28
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 21:33-46, Exodus 19
LETS INTERCEDE FOR THESE BROTHERS
Uche and Chidi are two young believers who gave their lives to Christ few years ago, but recently the pressures of life has pushed these two young babes in Christ to forget who they are. The are going back to their old life, and this is disheartening. Please lets join faith to intercede for these young men. We are praying that the hand of the enemy is removed from them, as they come back to faith. We are praying that the hunger for God, the word of god and the fellowship of the holy Ghost is rekindled in them in Jesus Name. Thank you for praying.
HOW DOES THE BELIEVER SIN?
HOW DOES THE BELIEVER SIN?
HIS has been a bone of contention in the Theological world. You see, man is a spirit being. He is in the same class with God. He was created in the image and likeness of God. He had to be in order to become a partaker of the Divine Nature. When he sinned, he became a partaker of Satan's nature, selfishness. Can you imagine the world free from selfishness? Can you imagine an eternity with people who have no selfish impulses? Man was like that before the Fall. The part of man that is recreated in his spirit. God imparts to our spirit His own nature, Eternal Life. The law that governs the New Creation man is love. God has shed that love abroad in our hearts. The Holy Spirit imparts to us that love nature so that our spirit becomes the fountain of love just as our senses are the fountain of knowledge.
The ultimate of the New Creation, yes, of Redemption, is fellowship. Man was created for fellowship with God. God was love-hungry, His heart craved love, so this spirit man came into being. God gave him a physical body so that he could live on the earth.
His body is the home of his spirit and of his five senses. It is through his senses that his brain receives all of its impulses. The senses give birth to all of the knowledge that natural man has. Let us look at man from another angle for just a moment. When man is recreated he comes into relationship with God. With that relationship comes fellowship.
The world is dominated by Satan, and we come into contact with it through our senses.
When man is Born Again, his spirit is recreated, but his mind is still dominated and ruled and receives all of its impulses from the senses. There is only one law that governs the New Creation, and that is love. We are to love "even as He loved us." For me to break the law means that I step out of the realm of love into the realm of the senses. Sin, then, is living in the realm of the senses and leaving the realm of love. When I step out of love, I step into selfishness. There are only two great forces in the world today; they are love and selfishness.
Every sin that a believer commits begins in selfishness. Selfishness may lead him into a host of different kinds of sin, but there is only one basic sin, and that is selfishness.
Someone has said that the "I, my, me and mine" are the four highways into the realm of broken fellowship. Sin then, for the believer, is reverting to the practices of the former life. It is a denial of the dominion of love. It is seeking to find satisfaction in the realm of selfishness. Selfishness causes all of the misery and heartache in our homes. The cure for broken fellowship is the study of the Word and the practice of the Word, the living of the Word, and the "doing of the Word."
If one is occupied in leading men to Christ, he will not sin. if he is occupied seeking to build someone up in the faith life, in helping someone, and bearing someone else's burdens, he will not sin. There is no sin in love. The sin is stepping out of love. Sin is never attractive when we have a deep rich fellowship with the Father. When fellowship is at floodtide, sin has no seductive power over us. Sin is breaking fellowship with love, leaving the spirit realm for the sense realm. Sin is letting the desires of the senses rule, letting the senses gain control. When the senses run riot, God is forgotten. The New Creation man is to practice love and develop his spirit so that it becomes a master over his senses.
I wonder if you have ever thought that a man could become a spiritual athlete, and develop his love and fellowship with the lather until he becomes so strong that Satan and all his hosts cannot touch him. Those martyrs must have been spiritual athletes as they faced year after year of torture, and still held true to their faith in God. Eph. 6:10-18, "Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might (or power)." That could read, "be strong in His love and in the power of Ills grace. Be mighty in the deeds of love. Be a real Samson in the love realm. You see, the strength of God is love; the wisdom of God is love; and the beauty of God is love.
A strong healthy body is a beautiful body. By the same token, a strong healthy love walk makes a beautiful life. A literal translation of Eph. 6:10-18 gives us, "Finally, be strong in the Lord, be made powerful, and in the strength of His might put on the whole armour of God (or the whole armour of love) that you may be able to stand against the warring arrows of the devil." The only shield that the believer needs is love for his Master, and his desire to minister to others. We can conquer the adversary with our love life. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the powers. against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
If you will notice carefully, everyone of these battalions of the enemy are working against love. They are working against the mighty force that has ever been with us.
"God so loved that He gave . . . "For it is love that is at work within us." "Greater is love that is in yon than he that is in the world." "Wherefore take up the whole armour of love."
Do love deeds, think love thoughts, and then you will be able to stand in the evil day because you are standing in love. "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." Righteousness means here the ability to stand in the presence of the Father or of Satan without any fear or sense of inferiority. You can stand in the presence of the Father as a beloved son. You can face the hosts of darkness without any sense of fear. You are the righteousness of God in Him.
"Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Love is a peace maker. When it says that the "peace of God which passeth all understanding shall fill your hearts and minds," it means that love has gained such an ascendancy that doubt and fear have been driven out and love has taken the stronghold and is protecting it.
"And taking up the shield of faith wherewith you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy." Faith is a child of love. Hatred has no faith. Love is the faith builder and the faith giver. God is love, and God is a faith God. You are a partaker of the faith nature, of the Faith God. At the New Birth every man is given a measure of faith.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." That is not only the sword of the Holy Spirit which he uses through the lips of faith, but it is also the sword of our recreated spirits. You see, your recreated spirit is the one that uses the Word, and that Word is always soaked in love so that it is never given in bitterness, but comes pouring out of a heart of love. You meet the needs of the people around you. You are standing before a large audience . . . there are many unsaved and many out of fellowship, and you are going to open the Word to them now . .. that Word comes from your lips drenched with the love of the Master. No human being has a shield that can protect them from words burning with love.
The tongues of fire in that upper room . . . that was the flame of love. That was love that had set the Words on fire. Man cannot resist the Word of love. The weapons described in Ephesians that we have been studying, are love's weapons for the army of God.
You remember that Jesus told the disciples that they were to tarry until they were endued with power from on High. They were to tarry until they were endued with Love's ability to reach the hearts of selfish men. It was God's ability let loose in them. Remember that sin is walking in selfishness. The moment that a believer steps out of love, he breaks fellowship, and steps into darkness and sin. The believer who sins is one who has stepped out of love.
We have tried to build faith in the Believer by condemning their wrong doings, and by preaching sin and condemnation. No one ever gets faith that way. Anyone can
see that this destroys what little faith one has. All prayer for faith is nothing but unbelief. Unbelief grows out of a sense of unworthiness. Now, what shall we do about it?
In the first place one must know clearly what he is in Christ. As a New Creation he has passed from death unto life. He now has Eternal Life, he is a son of God, an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. This gives him legal grounds for a perfect fellowship with the Father. This fellowship is based on the fact that this New Creation has become the Righteousness of God in Christ. There is note no condemnation. He stands complete in Christ.
THE HIDDEN MAN, BY E.W KENYON
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HIS has been a bone of contention in the Theological world. You see, man is a spirit being. He is in the same class with God. He was created in the image and likeness of God. He had to be in order to become a partaker of the Divine Nature. When he sinned, he became a partaker of Satan's nature, selfishness. Can you imagine the world free from selfishness? Can you imagine an eternity with people who have no selfish impulses? Man was like that before the Fall. The part of man that is recreated in his spirit. God imparts to our spirit His own nature, Eternal Life. The law that governs the New Creation man is love. God has shed that love abroad in our hearts. The Holy Spirit imparts to us that love nature so that our spirit becomes the fountain of love just as our senses are the fountain of knowledge.
The ultimate of the New Creation, yes, of Redemption, is fellowship. Man was created for fellowship with God. God was love-hungry, His heart craved love, so this spirit man came into being. God gave him a physical body so that he could live on the earth.
His body is the home of his spirit and of his five senses. It is through his senses that his brain receives all of its impulses. The senses give birth to all of the knowledge that natural man has. Let us look at man from another angle for just a moment. When man is recreated he comes into relationship with God. With that relationship comes fellowship.
The world is dominated by Satan, and we come into contact with it through our senses.
When man is Born Again, his spirit is recreated, but his mind is still dominated and ruled and receives all of its impulses from the senses. There is only one law that governs the New Creation, and that is love. We are to love "even as He loved us." For me to break the law means that I step out of the realm of love into the realm of the senses. Sin, then, is living in the realm of the senses and leaving the realm of love. When I step out of love, I step into selfishness. There are only two great forces in the world today; they are love and selfishness.
Every sin that a believer commits begins in selfishness. Selfishness may lead him into a host of different kinds of sin, but there is only one basic sin, and that is selfishness.
Someone has said that the "I, my, me and mine" are the four highways into the realm of broken fellowship. Sin then, for the believer, is reverting to the practices of the former life. It is a denial of the dominion of love. It is seeking to find satisfaction in the realm of selfishness. Selfishness causes all of the misery and heartache in our homes. The cure for broken fellowship is the study of the Word and the practice of the Word, the living of the Word, and the "doing of the Word."
If one is occupied in leading men to Christ, he will not sin. if he is occupied seeking to build someone up in the faith life, in helping someone, and bearing someone else's burdens, he will not sin. There is no sin in love. The sin is stepping out of love. Sin is never attractive when we have a deep rich fellowship with the Father. When fellowship is at floodtide, sin has no seductive power over us. Sin is breaking fellowship with love, leaving the spirit realm for the sense realm. Sin is letting the desires of the senses rule, letting the senses gain control. When the senses run riot, God is forgotten. The New Creation man is to practice love and develop his spirit so that it becomes a master over his senses.
I wonder if you have ever thought that a man could become a spiritual athlete, and develop his love and fellowship with the lather until he becomes so strong that Satan and all his hosts cannot touch him. Those martyrs must have been spiritual athletes as they faced year after year of torture, and still held true to their faith in God. Eph. 6:10-18, "Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might (or power)." That could read, "be strong in His love and in the power of Ills grace. Be mighty in the deeds of love. Be a real Samson in the love realm. You see, the strength of God is love; the wisdom of God is love; and the beauty of God is love.
A strong healthy body is a beautiful body. By the same token, a strong healthy love walk makes a beautiful life. A literal translation of Eph. 6:10-18 gives us, "Finally, be strong in the Lord, be made powerful, and in the strength of His might put on the whole armour of God (or the whole armour of love) that you may be able to stand against the warring arrows of the devil." The only shield that the believer needs is love for his Master, and his desire to minister to others. We can conquer the adversary with our love life. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the powers. against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
If you will notice carefully, everyone of these battalions of the enemy are working against love. They are working against the mighty force that has ever been with us.
"God so loved that He gave . . . "For it is love that is at work within us." "Greater is love that is in yon than he that is in the world." "Wherefore take up the whole armour of love."
Do love deeds, think love thoughts, and then you will be able to stand in the evil day because you are standing in love. "Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness." Righteousness means here the ability to stand in the presence of the Father or of Satan without any fear or sense of inferiority. You can stand in the presence of the Father as a beloved son. You can face the hosts of darkness without any sense of fear. You are the righteousness of God in Him.
"Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Love is a peace maker. When it says that the "peace of God which passeth all understanding shall fill your hearts and minds," it means that love has gained such an ascendancy that doubt and fear have been driven out and love has taken the stronghold and is protecting it.
"And taking up the shield of faith wherewith you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy." Faith is a child of love. Hatred has no faith. Love is the faith builder and the faith giver. God is love, and God is a faith God. You are a partaker of the faith nature, of the Faith God. At the New Birth every man is given a measure of faith.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." That is not only the sword of the Holy Spirit which he uses through the lips of faith, but it is also the sword of our recreated spirits. You see, your recreated spirit is the one that uses the Word, and that Word is always soaked in love so that it is never given in bitterness, but comes pouring out of a heart of love. You meet the needs of the people around you. You are standing before a large audience . . . there are many unsaved and many out of fellowship, and you are going to open the Word to them now . .. that Word comes from your lips drenched with the love of the Master. No human being has a shield that can protect them from words burning with love.
The tongues of fire in that upper room . . . that was the flame of love. That was love that had set the Words on fire. Man cannot resist the Word of love. The weapons described in Ephesians that we have been studying, are love's weapons for the army of God.
You remember that Jesus told the disciples that they were to tarry until they were endued with power from on High. They were to tarry until they were endued with Love's ability to reach the hearts of selfish men. It was God's ability let loose in them. Remember that sin is walking in selfishness. The moment that a believer steps out of love, he breaks fellowship, and steps into darkness and sin. The believer who sins is one who has stepped out of love.
We have tried to build faith in the Believer by condemning their wrong doings, and by preaching sin and condemnation. No one ever gets faith that way. Anyone can
see that this destroys what little faith one has. All prayer for faith is nothing but unbelief. Unbelief grows out of a sense of unworthiness. Now, what shall we do about it?
In the first place one must know clearly what he is in Christ. As a New Creation he has passed from death unto life. He now has Eternal Life, he is a son of God, an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. This gives him legal grounds for a perfect fellowship with the Father. This fellowship is based on the fact that this New Creation has become the Righteousness of God in Christ. There is note no condemnation. He stands complete in Christ.
THE HIDDEN MAN, BY E.W KENYON
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Thursday, 9 March 2017
THE BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES, THURSDAY, March 9th Pastor Chris
Topic:✨THE BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER✨
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1).
The victorious and triumphant life, which is God-ordained, and His will for you in Christ, isn’t really possible without prayer. The Bible says, “...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Christians who don’t take advantage of the blessings and privilege that prayer provides easily become victims in life. Prayer is a privilege, as well as a right given to us to approach the Father in faith through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit. That opportunity of fellowship is something the Father always wants us to seize and take advantage of.
In Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The ensuing parable He told emphasized the connection we have with the Father in our constant communication that builds faith. It’s one of the beautiful benefits of prayer, in addition to the conditioning of your spirit. Thus, you need to be a praying Christian, and not a “playing” Christian; take your prayer life and routine seriously.
Prayer isn’t something you do when you have a need. That’s where a lot of people have missed it. They see prayer as the avenue to ask God for things, whereas, fellowship—deep communion with the Spirit—is the higher purpose of prayer. When you commit to spending time in fellowship with the Lord, you’ll always be synchronized with the Holy Spirit; His will and purpose will be clear to you.
The power and import of prayer isn’t so much in the answers we get when we pray as it is the impact it has on our spirits. Understand that before you ask, God hears you. However, there’s something about prayer, especially praying in tongues, that affects your spirit and causes it to glow. When you pray in tongues often, the glory of God is revealed in your inner man, causing you to function with divine wisdom.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer and the tremendous blessings and impact it brings to my spirit. My spirit, through fellowship with you is conditioned to know and walk in your perfect will, and manifest excellence always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
James 5:16-17 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 17 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. [I Kings 17:1.]
Jude 1:20 AMP But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 14:1-26, Numbers 24-26
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 21:18-32, Exodus 18
Topic:
✨THE BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER✨And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1).
The victorious and triumphant life, which is God-ordained, and His will for you in Christ, isn’t really possible without prayer. The Bible says, “...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Christians who don’t take advantage of the blessings and privilege that prayer provides easily become victims in life. Prayer is a privilege, as well as a right given to us to approach the Father in faith through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit. That opportunity of fellowship is something the Father always wants us to seize and take advantage of.
In Luke 18:1, Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The ensuing parable He told emphasized the connection we have with the Father in our constant communication that builds faith. It’s one of the beautiful benefits of prayer, in addition to the conditioning of your spirit. Thus, you need to be a praying Christian, and not a “playing” Christian; take your prayer life and routine seriously.
Prayer isn’t something you do when you have a need. That’s where a lot of people have missed it. They see prayer as the avenue to ask God for things, whereas, fellowship—deep communion with the Spirit—is the higher purpose of prayer. When you commit to spending time in fellowship with the Lord, you’ll always be synchronized with the Holy Spirit; His will and purpose will be clear to you.
The power and import of prayer isn’t so much in the answers we get when we pray as it is the impact it has on our spirits. Understand that before you ask, God hears you. However, there’s something about prayer, especially praying in tongues, that affects your spirit and causes it to glow. When you pray in tongues often, the glory of God is revealed in your inner man, causing you to function with divine wisdom.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer and the tremendous blessings and impact it brings to my spirit. My spirit, through fellowship with you is conditioned to know and walk in your perfect will, and manifest excellence always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:
James 5:16-17 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 17 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. [I Kings 17:1.]
Jude 1:20 AMP But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Mark 14:1-26, Numbers 24-26
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 21:18-32, Exodus 18
MY CONFESSION GIVES ME POSSESSION
My Confession Gives Me Possession.
I Want you to note this fact, faith is governed by our confession. If I say I have been prayed for and I am waiting now for God to heal me, I have repudiated my healing.
My confession should he this: the. Word declares that I am healed, and I thank the Father for It, and I praise Him for it, because it is a fact. You remember Phil. 4:6,7 "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."
Why must prayer be made with thanksgiving? That means that I know the thing is done. I asked for it and now I have it, so I thank the Father for it. The seventh verse says, "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, will fill my heart." I am not worrying any longer. I have it. I am not going to get the money I need . . . I have it. It is just as real as though it were in my pocket. I am not going to get my healing . . . I have my healing because I have His Word, and my heart is filled with rapture. Your confession solves the problem.
A wrong confession hinders the Spirit's work in your body. A neutral confession is unbelief. It is just as had as a negative confession. It is the positive, clear cut confession that wins. "I know in whom I have believed." "I know that no word from God is void of power or fulfillment." "I know that He watches over His word to make it good." These are the confessions of a victor. I want you to notice several facts about the relation of confession to faith. Your confession is your faith. If it be a neutral confession, you have neutral faith. If it is a negative confession, it is unbelief dominating your spirit.
Unbelief grows with a negative confession. A confession of failure puts failure on the throne. If I confess weakness, weakness dominates me. If I confess my sickness, I am held in bondage by it. These negative confessions are acknowledgments of Satan's dominion over God's tabernacle. Your spirit always responds to your confession.
Faith is not a product of the reasoning faculties, but of the recreated spirit. When you were Born Again, you received the nature of the Father God. That nature grows in you with your acting on the Word, and your confession of the Father's perfect dominion in your body, and it causes your spirit to grow in grace and ability.
You remember that your confession is your present attitude toward the Father. In some special testing that may come to you, your confession is either in the realm of faith or in the realm of unbelief. Your confession either honors the Father or Satan ... either gives Satan or the Word dominance in your life. Now you can see the value of holding fast to your confession. Your confession either makes you a conqueror, or it defeats you. You rise or fall to the level of your confession. Learn to hold fast to your confession in the hard places. John 8:36, "If the Son has made you free you are free indeed." The Son has made you free, now stand fast in that liberty.
Gal. 5:1 is of vital importance to every believer. "For freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore." The time to make your confession is when Satan attacks You. You feel the pain coming in your body. You repudiate it. You command it to leave in the Name of Jesus. Romans 8:31-37 "If God is for us, who is against us" Your Father is for you. Disease cannot conquer you, nor can the author of disease. Circumstances cannot master you, because the Father and Jesus are greater than any circumstances. You have learned that in whatsoever circumstance or condition you are, to rejoice in your continual victory.
You know that 1 John 4:4 is true. "Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them." Notice who you are. "You are of God." "You are born of God." You are a product of His, and of His own will He brought you forth through the Word. The rest of the verse reads, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." "For it is God who is at work within you, willing and working His own good pleasure." Phil. 2:13 has been my victory many many times. Now turn to Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
You must recognize this fact. All is yours by confession, or all is lost by a negative confession. You get God's best by the confession that you have it. The secret of faith is the secret of confession. Faith holds the confession that he has the thing he desires before he actually possesses it. Sense Knowledge faith confesses that he is healed when the pain leaves and the swelling goes down. There is really no faith in that.
Faith declares you are healed while the pain is still racking your body. Let me state it again, possession comes with confession.
THE HIDDEN MAN, BY E.W KENYON
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I Want you to note this fact, faith is governed by our confession. If I say I have been prayed for and I am waiting now for God to heal me, I have repudiated my healing.
My confession should he this: the. Word declares that I am healed, and I thank the Father for It, and I praise Him for it, because it is a fact. You remember Phil. 4:6,7 "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."
Why must prayer be made with thanksgiving? That means that I know the thing is done. I asked for it and now I have it, so I thank the Father for it. The seventh verse says, "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, will fill my heart." I am not worrying any longer. I have it. I am not going to get the money I need . . . I have it. It is just as real as though it were in my pocket. I am not going to get my healing . . . I have my healing because I have His Word, and my heart is filled with rapture. Your confession solves the problem.
A wrong confession hinders the Spirit's work in your body. A neutral confession is unbelief. It is just as had as a negative confession. It is the positive, clear cut confession that wins. "I know in whom I have believed." "I know that no word from God is void of power or fulfillment." "I know that He watches over His word to make it good." These are the confessions of a victor. I want you to notice several facts about the relation of confession to faith. Your confession is your faith. If it be a neutral confession, you have neutral faith. If it is a negative confession, it is unbelief dominating your spirit.
Unbelief grows with a negative confession. A confession of failure puts failure on the throne. If I confess weakness, weakness dominates me. If I confess my sickness, I am held in bondage by it. These negative confessions are acknowledgments of Satan's dominion over God's tabernacle. Your spirit always responds to your confession.
Faith is not a product of the reasoning faculties, but of the recreated spirit. When you were Born Again, you received the nature of the Father God. That nature grows in you with your acting on the Word, and your confession of the Father's perfect dominion in your body, and it causes your spirit to grow in grace and ability.
You remember that your confession is your present attitude toward the Father. In some special testing that may come to you, your confession is either in the realm of faith or in the realm of unbelief. Your confession either honors the Father or Satan ... either gives Satan or the Word dominance in your life. Now you can see the value of holding fast to your confession. Your confession either makes you a conqueror, or it defeats you. You rise or fall to the level of your confession. Learn to hold fast to your confession in the hard places. John 8:36, "If the Son has made you free you are free indeed." The Son has made you free, now stand fast in that liberty.
Gal. 5:1 is of vital importance to every believer. "For freedom did Christ set us free; stand fast therefore." The time to make your confession is when Satan attacks You. You feel the pain coming in your body. You repudiate it. You command it to leave in the Name of Jesus. Romans 8:31-37 "If God is for us, who is against us" Your Father is for you. Disease cannot conquer you, nor can the author of disease. Circumstances cannot master you, because the Father and Jesus are greater than any circumstances. You have learned that in whatsoever circumstance or condition you are, to rejoice in your continual victory.
You know that 1 John 4:4 is true. "Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them." Notice who you are. "You are of God." "You are born of God." You are a product of His, and of His own will He brought you forth through the Word. The rest of the verse reads, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." "For it is God who is at work within you, willing and working His own good pleasure." Phil. 2:13 has been my victory many many times. Now turn to Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
You must recognize this fact. All is yours by confession, or all is lost by a negative confession. You get God's best by the confession that you have it. The secret of faith is the secret of confession. Faith holds the confession that he has the thing he desires before he actually possesses it. Sense Knowledge faith confesses that he is healed when the pain leaves and the swelling goes down. There is really no faith in that.
Faith declares you are healed while the pain is still racking your body. Let me state it again, possession comes with confession.
THE HIDDEN MAN, BY E.W KENYON
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