His Wisdom In Us

When Jesus commissioned the twelve to go out before Him, He told them, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Wisdom is defined as, the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; the ability to use knowledge correctly. Although wisdom is defined as such, we must understand, as there is God's Kingdom of light and life, there is also Satan's kingdom of darkness and death. This means that wisdom can come from only one of these sources.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells, us, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:13-17)

So we can see, the wisdom that is in the world is not from God, but "earthly, sensual, demonic." This simply means, that every person on the earth, that is not born again, uses earthly, sensual, demonic wisdom to express their knowledge. However, the truth is, as they use this type of wisdom to promote their knowledge, the results are, bitter envy and self-seeking in their hearts, they lie against the truth and their world is filled with, envy, self-seeking, confusion and every evil thing. Simply look at any society, people group or person who does not know God or His Word, and we clearly see that these things are quite evident. For example, creation, God's wisdom, whereas, evolution is, earthly, sensual, demonic wisdom. For the believer, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3) For those who are not of God, there is still debate, vain discussions and differing opinions of how everything came into being. 

The Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Colossi reveals another interesting point concerning wisdom, "...that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians 1:9) The Holy Spirit tells us through Paul, that believers can be filled, (to make full, to fill up, to fill to the full) with the knowledge (precise and correct knowledge) of God's will (His will is His Word and His Word is His will) in all wisdom (from above, which is pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy) and spiritual (things of the Holy Spirit) understanding (the correct use of knowledge, moreover, the knowledge of His will, His Word). PTL 

Think about this. If believers have God's ability and His wisdom, and we do, and if we were to let them loose, what limitlessness there will be in the church as well as in the believers ministry and life. It is not a problem of education, but of letting God loose in us, liberating Him in us so He can reveal Himself through us to others. Again, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God..." (1 Corinthians 1:30) Simply put, Jesus has been made wisdom from God to and for every believer.

Going back to the Apostle James, we see, "And if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives with open hand to all men, and without upbraiding; and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith and have no doubts; for he who has doubts is like the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed into spray. A person of that sort must not expect to receive anything from the Lord such a one is a man of two minds, undecided in every step he takes." (James 1:5-8 WEY) However, I summit to you, that you have the knowledge of the life of God that is in you. You have the knowledge of the power and authority of His Word. You have the knowledge of your legal right to use the Name of Jesus in your combat against spiritual forces. You have the knowledge of the fact that God is actually in you, because you have the wisdom of God in you! So, now I encourage you to use these mighty facts to bless humanity. Amen!

The Holy Spirit, the greater one Who is in us, is no longer imprisoned, but is now set free to use us as He pleases. We are no longer hidden. People know who we are. The Father is glorified, the Name of Jesus is Magnified, the Holy Spirit is working mightily through us and the Word of God is growing and prevailing mightily. So, declare with me, "I have let God loose and have given Him the freedom to do through me the works that He did through Jesus to bless the world." "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)

Declared Righteous

One of the miracles of redemption, is the believers standing with God. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gives us the greatest revelation of the believers standing with God. One thing we are told is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21. It reveals what God did in Christ for the believer, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." When one repents, confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as Savior, (Acts 2:37-39; Romans 10:9-10), they immediately become the righteousness of God in Christ. This bears out further in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, "to demonstrate at the present time His (Gods) righteousness, that He might be just (righteous) and the justifier (righteousness) of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) "Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (being declared righteous) (Romans 4:25) "Therefore, having been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) 

What a wonderful picture of who and what the born again believer truly is in Christ. Righteousness is the ability to stand in the Father's presence without guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or inferiority. It also gives the believer the legal right to the use of the Name of Jesus. Now we have God's grace, His strength, His ability to stand in the presence of all kinds of sickness, diseases as well as stand in the presence of Satan without fear, as an absolute master over them all. This means that believers must become completely aware, without wavering or doubting, as to their legal position in Christ. In other words, we are a new creation and have the nature and life of the Father in us. (1 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 1:1-4). Without a total understanding of these truths, it becomes difficult to live the victorious life that we have been given through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:27)

Notice what the Holy Spirit speaks through the Apostle John, "You are of God, little children..." (1 John 4:4) Take a moment and let that soak into your spirit. Now say it over and over again, "I am of God...I am of God...I am His child...I am His child..." This is not doing mantras. This is speaking the truth over yourself. The more we receive these truths in our spirit, the more we come to realize that the old man, the old nature, with its weaknesses, its failings, its doubts, its fears, its sense of servitude to circumstances, is all gone, and we come to a greater understanding of what a new creation in Christ is all about. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Where we were once a slave, we are now free and filled with abundant life in Christ. Now we can understand the next part of 1 John 4:4, "...For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 

However, as we come to know and walk in these truths, our Heavenly Father wants us to bear the fruit of righteousness. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:10) The Apostle John tells us, "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (1 John 2:29) For most, to "increase the fruits of your righteousness" or to, "practice righteousness" have thought it meant only our conduct, a carefulness in our walk. Although that is implied, it is actually doing the works that Jesus did while on earth as the Son of Man. It is taking Jesus' place and doing the things that He did and even greater. (John 14:12)

Keep in mind that believers do not do works in and of themselves, but it is recognizing and acting upon the grace of God. The Apostle Paul said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10) The Amplified Bible describes grace as, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13) 

Although in the past, we may have lacked in understanding these things, but now, through the Holy Spirit in us, we will major in these truths and present them to others. The Apostle James tells us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) "But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) Faith is simply acting upon God's Word and at the same time His grace goes to work through us. The Lord wants us to begin to live righteousness, to practice righteousness, to break Satan's dominion by speaking with authority just as Jesus did. So, as it was with the Apostle Paul, so it is with us, "...but I labored more  abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you...

He Is With Us

During Jesus' last days on earth as the Son of Man, He gave His disciples some final instructions prior to His departure concerning their future relationship with Him, "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-18) "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." (John 15:26) and... 

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:12-15) "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8) 

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after His departure to take His place on earth. Not only would the Holy Spirit be with them, but He would be in them. We see this fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) Notice that the Holy Spirit not only filled the whole house where they were sitting, (baptized, immersed), but also notice that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, two subsequent occurrences. 

Unfortunately, various creeds and doctrines have either limited or prevented people from this wonderful experience. When the disciples exited the upper room and took to the streets of Jerusalem, Peter explains what was taking place by quoting the prophetic scriptures that pointed to this event. He continues to tell them that what they were witnessing was a result of Jesus being raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God, which then released the promise from the Father, the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:5-33) Finally, Peter tells the people that God has made Jesus whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ. In response the people say to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39) 

Not only was the Holy Spirit poured out upon the apostles and those that were present in the upper room, but also we see that anyone who would be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Looking further into this experience, we note, "to your children" is a reference from the Prophet Joel, "your sons and daughters" (Joel 2:28); "to all" refers to, the whole race; not limited to Jews, "who are afar off" refers to, "those in other lands" and "as many" refers to, all those who hear the gospel and respond to it. There is no indication whatsoever that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was or is limited to a dispensation of time or a specific people group on the earth. 

That very day, the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit entered them and recreated them. They were now new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) What a miracle it is to have God the Holy Spirit immediately come into the person who confesses the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as their Savior. How wonderful it is to become instantly recreated becoming a partaker of the Divine Nature. (2 Peter 1:4) This means that we have the same creative ability of God in us, (Ephesians 3:20) and the same love of God also in us (Romans 5:5) No wonder the Apostle John tells us, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 

There is so much that can be shared concerning the Holy Spirit, but for now, take some time and meditate on the truths above as well as the following. The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who participated in creation. (Genesis 1 - 2) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who was in Jesus when He walked on the sea in Galilee. (Matthew 14:22-33) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19-21) The Holy Spirit who is in us, is the same Spirit that enables the believer to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater. (John 1:12) Although we may not have taken advantage of the riches of grace that belong to us, it does not change the fact that the same Holy Spirit who did these things is with and in us, "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13 AMP)

The Holy Spirit longs to be loosed in us to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth today through each and every believer, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) So remember, we are not alone. God Himself, that is, the Holy Spirit, is with us and in us, "strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure." Hallelujah...      

His Mighty Name

The Father has given His children so much through Christ, that it staggers the mind. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]." (John 1:16 AMP) One of the things that we have been given which is so marvelous, is the right to use the Name of Jesus. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14) The word ask here means "to demand something due." 

In this passage we need to understand that this is not praying to the Father, nor making a request of Jesus. It is using the Name of Jesus in the same way that Peter used it at the beautiful gate to set a certain man free who was lame from his mother's womb. (Acts 3:1-8) Peter did not demand anything from God, but demanded (commanded) the forces of darkness to become obedient to the authority of the Name of Jesus. It's like going to the bank where you have a savings account with a thousand dollars. You give the bank teller a withdraw slip for five hundred dollars. You are simply demanding the teller to release something that is already yours. The powerful Name of Jesus belongs to every believer. You may not have taken advantage of it, but is does not negate the fact that Jesus gave you the power of attorney to use His Name.

Jesus tells us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of 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 that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20) The word "disciple" means student, one who learns. Every believer is to go and make students of the Word of all nations. You have the ability to go and do it. Jesus said, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) 

These things belong to the church now. The age of miracles, signs and wonders is now. Every believer can live and walk in the fullness of God's strength and ability now. The Name of Jesus is yours to use at all times in your combat with spiritual forces. Now, by faith, you are going to use His mighty Name to bless others. You are longer hidden. People will come to know who you are and the Christ who dwells in you. (1 John 4:4) As Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) This is not simply believing in God, but believe God. He and His Word are one. He is faithful and ready to preform His Word from generation to generation. (Isaiah 40:8, 55:1; Jeremiah 1:12; Mark 13:31) So, let us rise and go from here being used of God to "seek and save those who are lost" and in the Name of Jesus set the captives free.

Fruit Bearers

One of the most thrilling things that every believer should aspire to, is learning about the depths of redemption that the Father has given through the Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so, we will come to understand and appropriate the marvelous ability of God that is in us. Think about it, the moment that one is born again, the living God takes up residence within them, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) We have God's life in us. We become new creations. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are God's masterpiece created in Christ. (Ephesians 2:10) We are partakers of God's divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4) Can we see that we have within us, as God's children, the very life and nature of God. The objective of Christ's coming was that we might have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..." (John 15:5) Every believer, a branch of the vine, Jesus, receive the same life that is manifested in the vine, that we bear much fruit. It is the vine's life in us that produces the fruit of righteousness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

However, these wonderful things are not actively a part of the believers life simply because the Bible teaches them. It requires every believer to spend time in God's Word "...and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21) The Apostle Paul tells us, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16) Notice, what the Word of God does in and through the believer; It is admonishing; educating; training; correcting, and causing us to step out of religion to where we are "admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Let us also not forget that God's Word also builds faith into our recreated spirit. (Romans 10:17) Look at the Holy Spirit's Word to the church through the Apostle Paul, "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:32) It is the Word that builds us up; it is the Word that causes us to know our privileges, our rights, our inheritance, that is, all that we have in Christ. 

The revelation that the Apostle Paul received and we have in his epistles, are the Father's Words about Jesus. When believers say, "I am a new creation created in Christ," it is actually the Father's Words expressing a fact through their lips. When believers say, "in the Name of Jesus, disease, stop being," they are using the very Words of Jesus. Remember, Jesus said, "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak...Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak." (John 12:49-50) When believers step out into their rights of righteousness and begin to bear fruit, it will be the same kind of fruit Jesus bore in His earth walk as the Son of Man. Righteousness means the ability to stand in the Father's presence without the sense of guilt, condemnation, unworthiness or inferiority. His righteousness becomes ours the very moment that we confess with our mouth the Lordship of Jesus Christ and believe in our heart. (Romans 10:9-10) Look at this literal translation of Romans 4:25 which reads, "Who was delivered up on account of our trespasses, and was raised when we were declared righteous." 

As believers spend more and more time letting God's Word wash over us, that is, reading, studying and especially meditating on it, the more God arises in our lives. The more we let God arise in our life, the more freedom, liberty, we will experience. When Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-29) He meant it. When God told the Apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) He meant it. When the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul said, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:20) and "For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13 AMP) He also meant it. 

So, let God arise and let His Word transform us so that we will be the fruit bearers that His strength, His ability, His power, His grace, which is continuously at work in us, can accomplish through us for His glory. Finally, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) PTL...

Our Inheritance

Inheritance in the legal sense refers to actual property or goods received after a family member's death. Although defined from the natural sense, this definition is fairly close to the biblical perspective of an inheritance. For instance, while Jewish inheritance customs were linked to family blood lines, Greek and Roman laws also provided for the placement of family possessions through the adoption of an heir. The Scriptures transform the concept of inheritance to include the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises from God. The Apostle Paul tells us, "In Him (Jesus Christ) also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will...who (the Holy Spirit) is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:11, 14) 

From the biblical sense, to inherit means to "receive an irrevocable gift" with an emphasis on the special relationship between the benefactor, God, and the recipient, the believer. Unlike legal inheritance, where the benefactor dies then the recipients can receive, for believers, as Paul tells us, our inheritance is through Christ. The great difference is, "knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more...Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God." (Romans 6:9, 8:34) The believers benefactor is Jesus Christ who is very much alive. It is through Christ that God provides material and spiritual blessings, our inheritance, for his people, both in this life and in the life to come.

The recipients of an inheritance are also heirs. An heir is defined as, "a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another upon that person's death; a person inheriting and continuing the legacy of a predecessor." The Holy Spirit through Paul reveals another wonderful work of the Father through Jesus for the believer, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:15-17) From the biblical sense, to be an heir means, "one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship." 

Notice how the Holy Spirit through Paul reveals that believers are adopted by God, in other words, believers are God's children, sons and daughters. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God..." (1 John 3:1) This in and of itself is a most wonderful inheritance, but it goes even further. 

The Apostle John tells us, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16) The Apostle Paul tells us, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9-10) The word complete means, "to make full; to fill up; to fill to the full; to cause to abound; to render full; full measure; to completely fill to the top so that nothing shall be wanting or lacking." All the grace that was manifest in Christ envelops us, surrounds us, we are completely in it. All the perfections and beauties in the character and life of Jesus are ours, we are complete in Him. The perfection of Christ was all reckoned to every believer. The Lord enables us, by His grace, to enter into our inheritance and to assume our responsibilities in His wonderful family as His sons and daughters. He won no victory nor did He win any triumph in His substitutionary work that was not for the benefit of the church, every believer. (Ephesians 1:22-23) 

Our inheritance, all that Jesus was and is, the believer receives as heirs from the Father, through Christ. His righteousness is ours; His love is ours; every promises is ours; as well as all the graces that embellish His beautiful life are ours. How is this possible? The writer of Hebrews tells us, "But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6) Believers are under a better covenant. A covenant that is greater and more fulfilling than any other covenant that God had established with man from the time of creation.  Our covenant through Christ, is complete and so far reaching, the believer lacks absolutely nothing. 

When, by grace through faith, we confessed Jesus as our Lord and received Him as Savior, all the wealth and riches in Christ became ours automatically.  How rich we truly are. The heart can hardly take it in, but that does not change the truth, that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, "That of His Fullness have we all received and grace upon grace." May the Lord help us by the power of the Spirit to enter into the riches of our inheritance in Him.    

The Greatest Name

What does the death, burial, resurrection and glorification of the LORD Jesus really mean to each and every believer. Do we see these things as simply traditions of the church or as a catalysis of greater things in Christ and His kingdom? We all have various traditions that we embrace in the natural world, but when it comes to the spiritual world, how few really know, possess, or enjoy what Jesus has provided through His death, burial, resurrection and glorification. You remember that Jesus said as He left the disciples, "In My Name ye shall cast out demons," (Mark 16:17) and you also may recall that a large part of His ministry was filled with combating the unseen hosts of darkness. One would naturally think in reading modern religious literature written today, as well as listening to the average preacher's sermon, that demons either no longer exist or else they had been herded together in the slums of the city and were spending their entire time among that environment only.

When Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus, he told them that their combat was, "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) We see this in the prayers of Epaphras for the church at Colossi, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12) Notice that the phrase "always laboring fervently for you in prayers," which means to wrestle, struggle, combat. Who was he wrestling, struggling and combating with? Surely, it was not with the Father, whose eternal purpose through Christ is to bless. No, he was combating the hidden forces that were warring against the purpose of God.

So many people are held by the power of demons. They want deliverance from sin, addictions and all manner of bondage's, but they are unable to break loose from the bonds that are holding them. They do not need a program, a pill or a doctor, they need deliverance. I do not often share stories of my experiences, but, I will share one here to further my point. I remember a person that I was sharing the gospel with. He was intoxicated when I met him. I later found out that he was held by darkness to alcohol and was constantly intoxicated. As I was speaking to him about Christ, he replied, "I cannot become a Christian. I want to, but something holds me." With that, a chill struck me. My flesh was experiencing the oppression that held him. The Holy Spirit rose up inside of me, I laid a hand on him and from my mouth I spoke with authority, "In the Name of Jesus, release him and come out of him."  With that, the man confessed Christ and was instantly and completely sobered by the power vested in the Name of Jesus.

The quicker we recognize that the very air about us is filled with hostile forces, who are attempting to destroy our fellowship with the Father, and to deprive us of our usefulness in the service of our Master, the better it will be for us. There are three things necessary in ones life in order to take the victory over demons and bring deliverance to the captives; First, we must be born again children of God. Second, we must not have any unconfessed sin or unforgiveness in the heart, if we do, the demons will laugh at our prayers. Third, we must know the power of the Name of Jesus, and know how to use it. Please take some time and read the Book of Acts carefully. Notice how the disciples used the Name of Jesus.

For instance, notice the simplicity of Peter's use of the Name of Jesus in Acts chapter three. You will notice that he does not stop to pray for the paralyzed man. All he does, is say, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) There is no hint that he attempted to exercise what we call faith. He did not worry about the situation nor did he stop to analyze what it meant. All he did was to act on the Words of Jesus, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." (John 16:23) Peter knew that Jesus had given him and all believers (Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12) the right to use His Name to continue the works of the Father on earth. Those in the early church simply entered into the right to use the Name of Jesus with authority, but with the simplicity of a child.

It seems to me that this is the same approach that all believers need to take today, that is, bring back the simplicity of true Christianity. The Christianity of love, power, unity, grace and faith, where Jesus is Master, Lord and King and the church is a direct reflection of Him. So, if you are dealing with defeat or you feel hemmed in by the power of the adversary, I want to encourage you to rise up in the Almighty Name of Jesus, cast off the enemy, receive your deliverance and then go, and set others free in the Almighty Name of Jesus...