What We Believe...
Ascension Giftings
Apostles are leaders and visionaries... they bring direction to the church.
They have the courage and ability to keep the Church moving forward, growing,
building in new directions. Apostles are also fathers, able to nurture and
disciple the other ministry gifts. They have maturity and experience beyond
their fellows and can give guidance as well as leadership. They wear the Helmet
of Salvation, which means they walk "within" salvation. They know the mysteries
of Christ's salvation. Such knowledge is only acquired through time and
experience, trials and testing. An apostle is proven by his example of holiness
and demeanor in Christ Jesus. The Helmet of Salvation is not a royal crown: it
is the hat of a warrior general who is accustomed to putting his life on the
line, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Many who are in this office will never
be recognized as APOSTLES!
There are so many times, things under the surface that are going on which are
never addressed. The Bible tells us that God's people (not the world, but the
Children of God) are destroyed (Satan is stealing, killing, and destroying them
- see John 10:10) by lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). Somehow, the church
today thinks that if we just launch a few prayers to heaven, that the will of
God will be done... completely ignoring the whole idea of how a lack of
knowledge can destroy the children of the kingdom!
The root to the disease Lupus is almost always rooted in issues of self-hate.
You can pray all you want for somebody to be healed, and I'm not saying that
God cannot step in and do a divine miracle, but most of the time He is waiting
for us to address the roots of our bondages. Henry Wright, a highly respected
leader in healing and deliverance ministry, said that when you address the self
hate, certain diseases such as lupus just start to disappear.
Let me ask you this: if your car didn't start on Sunday morning (a very
important prayer service that you didn't want to miss for the world), and you
prayed and asked God to transport you in the Spirit to church on Sunday
morning, but He didn't do it, would you dare say that it wasn't God's will for
you to be in church that morning? Many of us might say that the devil hindered
us, as Paul was hindered by Satan (see 1 Thessalonians 2:18). Why don't we
apply this principal to healing prayers that failed? Why is it so quickly God's
will for somebody to be sick, just because a prayer for healing isn't answered?
What if you prayed and prayed for a loved one to get saved, and they died
cursing God and went to hell? Would we dare say that it was God's will for that
person to go to hell, just because our prayers were not answered? Do you see
how immature it is to assume that just because a prayer isn't answered, means
that it was not God's will to see that prayer answered? Let's look at the
verse again where we are told to ask for wisdom, but to ask in faith (see James
1:5-7)... clearly it is God's desire to give us wisdom, but according to this
passage, if we aren't fulfilling the requirement of this passage, then we may
not receive a thing from God. Again, that doesn't mean it was not God's will to
let our prayer go unanswered.
To even take this a step further, there is only one place in the entire NT
which speaks of praying for the sick... all the times the disciples and Jesus
ministered healing, it was done by exercising their authority over the sickness
or disease, which further proves the point that we have been given authority
over sickness. We don't need to beg God for something that He's put us in
charge of and told us to go out and "heal the sick".
Many times, what happens is that Christians are praying for a healing, while
leaving the root of the problem alone, and then when God doesn't do a miracle,
we begin to spread the word that it must not have been God's will for them to
be healed. Even in the case where the man was born blind, God got the glory
from the man's HEALING... not the man's infirmity! Nowhere in the entire NT am
I aware of, did God ever get an ounce of glory from somebody remaining in their
sickness or disease!
One good point that the Holy Spirit had shown me was concerning the will of
God here on earth, and that it is the same as His will in heaven. You can read
my teaching on The Will of God on Earth for a better understanding of this
revelation. Basically, what we see happening in heaven, is what God wants to
see here on earth (remember "Thy will be done here on earth as it is in
heaven"?). Do we see things missing, broken, sickened, and lacking up in
heaven? Not at all! Then what makes us think that these things are God's will
here on earth then? Or are we going to argue that those are God's will up in
heaven? The whole point of Jesus coming here to earth and doing all those
miracles, healings, deliverances, etc., was to demonstrate and bring the
Father's will down here to earth. This is why Jesus equipped the saints to heal
the sick and cast out demons (see Mark 16:17-18), so that His will could
manifest here on earth, and we could carry on the ministry that Jesus started
and demonstrated to us during His time here on earth.
Let's take a moment and look at true Biblical faith faith. I have a more
detailed teaching on Biblical faith and healing, but I want to
address briefly here as well. You cannot have faith for something that has not
been promised to you. If I never promised to pay your student loan off, you
have no grounds to believe that I will. It would be impossible for you to have
faith that I'm going to do something that I never said I would do. The same is
true with God, as faith comes by hearing God's Word (which include His
promises!). As Pastor James Brandt says, "You can only have faith for something
that is promised to you in the Word." The Bible refers to the prayer for
healing as a prayer of faith, which means it is a prayer of knowing (see James
5:15). Furthermore, in that passage, we are told that the prayer of faith WILL
save the sick. This prayer of faith is a very important subject all by itself,
as it is not just a prayer of concentration ("if it be thy will"). This makes
it virtually impossible to have uncontaminated faith in God for a healing, if
we are on the fence as to whether or not it is God's will to heal us. The Bible
tells us that he who asks of faith needs to ask believing, or else he cannot
expect anything from God (see James 1:6-7). Having faith in somebody for
something means that you are trusting them to come through on a promise made.
You cannot have a whole lot of faith that I'm going to pay your car payment
this month if I never promised to do such a thing, can you? The same principal
is true when it comes to receiving the promises of God.
I'm going to be honest with you, until I see the church demonstraiting the
success rate that Jesus' ministry and that of the early church had when it came
to healing ministry, I am not satisfied with their beliefs and approaches
to healing ministry. We can leave all of this, "Is it God's will?" business on
the back burner, and get busy figuring out what we are missing, what knowledge
we are lacking which is destroying our friends and loved ones. God's Word tells
us that it was Satan who came to kill, but Jesus came to give life. Cancer
(which is almost always demonically rooted) is a means of killing God's saints.
The man born blind never died in that state, or it would have never given God
glory. All too often people take their sicknesses and diseases to the grave,
which brings God no glory. The ONLY case where a death due to sickness gave God
glory, was the story of Lazareth, who brought God much glory ONLY because he
was later raised from the dead. What gave God glory in the NT concerning
those who were sick? It was when they were healed; scores of healings took
place and brought God much glory among the people.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that
were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils,
and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Matthew 4:24
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:
and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.
Matthew 8:16
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes
followed him, and he healed them all.
Matthew 12:15
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples,
and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of
Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they
that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude
sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
Luke 6:17-19
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and
laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by
might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with
unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:15-16
Once we reach the level of success that is demonstrated to us in the NT, then
let's sit down and discuss this whole idea of God's desire to see His children
sick and miserable (as they are in heaven?).
Spiritual Bootcamp
By seeing the truth about the need for an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father, you are one step closer to your healing and deliverance. Relationship with Him is the foundation needed to be able to love yourself and love others. When our love relationship with God is healed, it will cast out all fear and torment of your heart and mind and flesh!
Along with books, teachings, and DVDs, this website is dedicated in helping
individuals develop their faith in God so that when "stressors" of life come,
they will not be shaken or confused or fall into doubt, unbelief or fear, but be
strengthened, and even gain more peace!
Each teaching has been founded on truth and put to the test! Many are finding
what they need just by reading the studies, listening to the audio teachings,
and praying... We are here to plant seeds, water a little, but God gives you
revelation and truth for change.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who
are taken captive by him at his will.
1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of
glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on
your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end
be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
This is a study website sharing the Word of God,
testimonials and insights that may help you gain knowledge necessary for
understanding truth that can make you free. Go to "Teachings" and enjoy the
journey!
"... and you shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you free." (John
8:32)
"Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." (John 8:36)
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..."
(Revelation 12:11)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
We are to share what God has done for us, it's
what helps defeat the enemy. When the 10 lepers were healed by Jesus, and went
away to their home, only one returned to give Him glory! And when he did, he was
the only one who was made Whole. That means, any limbs, any tissue any parts of
his body that needed healing, was completely restored! The other 9 may have
received healing, but they may have been healed without restoring parts. It's
when we give God glory for what He has done and is doing that the REAL miracles
occur!
The voice of condemnation
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation 12:10
This is another one of those common tactics of the enemy that we see literally all the time in the ministry of deliverance. The accusing spirit is an anti-Christ spirit, because it approaches people with no love, but a tone of condemnation. It works through a voice; the voice of condemnation. It constantly tells you how much of a failure you are. It tells you how your heart
is not right with God. It tells you that if you don't read your Bible every day, that you aren't serious about your relationship with God. It basically tells you that you're never good enough. This is the exact opposite nature of God. It tears down rather than builds up. The accusing spirit uses the letter of the law to lay heavy burdens and crush it's victims, just as the Pharisees
would do:
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:4
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2 Corinthians 3:6
The accusing spirit works hand in hand with the family of religious spirits and strongholds, including legalism. The accusing spirit will manifest in a variety of ways. It can cause accuse a person directly, it can cause them to accuse others around them, or it can accuse God in a person's mind. Anytime the enemy brings up your past failures, that is the work of the accusing spirit. This spirit feeds on past mistakes, in order to justify how that person is supposedly a failure, even though the Blood of Christ has washed away those failures and cast them into the depths of the sea! In this way, the accusing spirit is an anti-Christ spirit, because it deliberately writes off the work of Christ and the shed blood of Jesus.
A while back, I wrote it's on how to discern Condemnation versus Conviction. Who speaks the voice of condemnation? The accusing spirit! Even when the accusing spirit seems to be pointing to the answer, the burden that it lays on the person is overwhelming or irrational. For example, it may tell a person that
they must go back to everybody that they have ever wronged, and apologize... then they can be forgiven. That is not only unbiblical, that is salvation by works, and God's Word tells us that if we try to be made right by works, then we have fallen from grace: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:4
And getting us to fall from grace, that is, to stop trusting God's mercy and grace for our salvation and justification, is exactly what the accusing spirit wants to do. As I said earlier, the accusing spirit is a voice. It speaks to us. It may even sound righteous, because it speaks of how failures are bad. It's true that failures are bad, but what Christ has done for us the a remedy to our failures. What the accusing spirit wants us to do is overlook or even discredit God's remedy for our failures! Sound like a Satanic mission? That's right! This spirit has all the makings of being righteous, even a minister of righteousness, but inside is a raving wolf seeking whom he may devour. He's busy carrying out the work of his father, the devil. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
The whole motivation behind this ugly demon spirit is to discredit the work of Christ in our lives. We failed, Jesus forgave, but this spirit keeps pointing to the mistake, as if Christ did nothing to erase it! Isn't that terrible? It is SATANIC!
The fruit of the accusing spirit is widely varied. Self-hate almost always involves the accusing spirit. Guilt, and fear resulting from guilt (when you feel ashamed, you'll be afraid like Adam and Eve were when guilt drove them to hide from God). Doubt, unbelief, hate, judgementalism, critical spirit, resentment towards God, feelings of hopelessness, shame, etc. The list goes on
and on.
What does the accusing spirit really want to do? Tear apart your faith and wear you down spiritually. He wants you to walk in guilt, condemnation, and never feel worthy of God's glorious plan for your life. It's goal is to wear
you down, and make you weak as a child of God.
The accusing spirit thrives on repeated failures or bondages, or iniquities. Pornography or lust, for example, is a perfect example. A person can keep failing, but have their heart right before the Lord. They feel terrible each and every time they fall into that sin. Paul told us in Romans chapter 7 that he struggled with repeated failures in his own life as a Spirit-filled believer! A person who doesn't understand their bondage may have no clue that pornography is usually a bondage with roots that need to be ministered to. The accusing spirit, however, is right there to tell them how dirty and sick their mind is. This is, again, the work of the accusing spirit.
The accusing spirit is a finger-pointing spirit. It is a blaming spirit that specializes in digging up the past, and blaming somebody for it. That somebody could be you, others, or God. It works hand-in-hand with a critical spirit, or judgementalism.
Bottom line, the accusing spirit will always point to the problem (even if it's been washed away by the work of Christ), while the Holy Spirit will always point you to the solution. If there is a case of true guilt from un-repented sin, then once the person confesses it and is forgiven, the guilt should be an issue of the past. If the person continues to struggle with guilt,
then (a) they have not mentally accepted the fact that their sin has been washed away, or (b) the accusing spirit is at work. Once a sin is confessed and forgiven, the Holy Spirit stops convicting, but the accusing spirit doesn't stop, but continues to badger the person over their failures. The accusing spirit will also work in conjunction with spirits of guilt, shame,
condemnation, hopelessness, etc.
How do we combat this deceitful spirit? For one, we need to fill our mind with the voice of God's Word (concerning the forgiveness of sins, God's love and mercy, etc.). We need to learn to recognize the voice of the accusing spirit and cast it down.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Being that this is a spirit which builds strongholds in our minds, we need to be diligent in renewing our mind with God's Word, in order to undo the damage that it has done to our thinking patterns. It's also possible that the accusing spirit, along with other related spirits such as religiosity, legalism, shame, etc. need to be driven out as well. You can tear down strongholds all day long, but if a spirit needs to be driven out, it will keep working against you to rebuild those strongholds.
Apostles are leaders and visionaries... they bring direction to the church.
They have the courage and ability to keep the Church moving forward, growing,
building in new directions. Apostles are also fathers, able to nurture and
disciple the other ministry gifts. They have maturity and experience beyond
their fellows and can give guidance as well as leadership. They wear the Helmet
of Salvation, which means they walk "within" salvation. They know the mysteries
of Christ's salvation. Such knowledge is only acquired through time and
experience, trials and testing. An apostle is proven by his example of holiness
and demeanor in Christ Jesus. The Helmet of Salvation is not a royal crown: it
is the hat of a warrior general who is accustomed to putting his life on the
line, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Many who are in this office will never
be recognized as APOSTLES!
There are so many times, things under the surface that are going on which are
never addressed. The Bible tells us that God's people (not the world, but the
Children of God) are destroyed (Satan is stealing, killing, and destroying them
- see John 10:10) by lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). Somehow, the church
today thinks that if we just launch a few prayers to heaven, that the will of
God will be done... completely ignoring the whole idea of how a lack of
knowledge can destroy the children of the kingdom!
The root to the disease Lupus is almost always rooted in issues of self-hate.
You can pray all you want for somebody to be healed, and I'm not saying that
God cannot step in and do a divine miracle, but most of the time He is waiting
for us to address the roots of our bondages. Henry Wright, a highly respected
leader in healing and deliverance ministry, said that when you address the self
hate, certain diseases such as lupus just start to disappear.
Let me ask you this: if your car didn't start on Sunday morning (a very
important prayer service that you didn't want to miss for the world), and you
prayed and asked God to transport you in the Spirit to church on Sunday
morning, but He didn't do it, would you dare say that it wasn't God's will for
you to be in church that morning? Many of us might say that the devil hindered
us, as Paul was hindered by Satan (see 1 Thessalonians 2:18). Why don't we
apply this principal to healing prayers that failed? Why is it so quickly God's
will for somebody to be sick, just because a prayer for healing isn't answered?
What if you prayed and prayed for a loved one to get saved, and they died
cursing God and went to hell? Would we dare say that it was God's will for that
person to go to hell, just because our prayers were not answered? Do you see
how immature it is to assume that just because a prayer isn't answered, means
that it was not God's will to see that prayer answered? Let's look at the
verse again where we are told to ask for wisdom, but to ask in faith (see James
1:5-7)... clearly it is God's desire to give us wisdom, but according to this
passage, if we aren't fulfilling the requirement of this passage, then we may
not receive a thing from God. Again, that doesn't mean it was not God's will to
let our prayer go unanswered.
To even take this a step further, there is only one place in the entire NT
which speaks of praying for the sick... all the times the disciples and Jesus
ministered healing, it was done by exercising their authority over the sickness
or disease, which further proves the point that we have been given authority
over sickness. We don't need to beg God for something that He's put us in
charge of and told us to go out and "heal the sick".
Many times, what happens is that Christians are praying for a healing, while
leaving the root of the problem alone, and then when God doesn't do a miracle,
we begin to spread the word that it must not have been God's will for them to
be healed. Even in the case where the man was born blind, God got the glory
from the man's HEALING... not the man's infirmity! Nowhere in the entire NT am
I aware of, did God ever get an ounce of glory from somebody remaining in their
sickness or disease!
One good point that the Holy Spirit had shown me was concerning the will of
God here on earth, and that it is the same as His will in heaven. You can read
my teaching on The Will of God on Earth for a better understanding of this
revelation. Basically, what we see happening in heaven, is what God wants to
see here on earth (remember "Thy will be done here on earth as it is in
heaven"?). Do we see things missing, broken, sickened, and lacking up in
heaven? Not at all! Then what makes us think that these things are God's will
here on earth then? Or are we going to argue that those are God's will up in
heaven? The whole point of Jesus coming here to earth and doing all those
miracles, healings, deliverances, etc., was to demonstrate and bring the
Father's will down here to earth. This is why Jesus equipped the saints to heal
the sick and cast out demons (see Mark 16:17-18), so that His will could
manifest here on earth, and we could carry on the ministry that Jesus started
and demonstrated to us during His time here on earth.
Let's take a moment and look at true Biblical faith faith. I have a more
detailed teaching on Biblical faith and healing, but I want to
address briefly here as well. You cannot have faith for something that has not
been promised to you. If I never promised to pay your student loan off, you
have no grounds to believe that I will. It would be impossible for you to have
faith that I'm going to do something that I never said I would do. The same is
true with God, as faith comes by hearing God's Word (which include His
promises!). As Pastor James Brandt says, "You can only have faith for something
that is promised to you in the Word." The Bible refers to the prayer for
healing as a prayer of faith, which means it is a prayer of knowing (see James
5:15). Furthermore, in that passage, we are told that the prayer of faith WILL
save the sick. This prayer of faith is a very important subject all by itself,
as it is not just a prayer of concentration ("if it be thy will"). This makes
it virtually impossible to have uncontaminated faith in God for a healing, if
we are on the fence as to whether or not it is God's will to heal us. The Bible
tells us that he who asks of faith needs to ask believing, or else he cannot
expect anything from God (see James 1:6-7). Having faith in somebody for
something means that you are trusting them to come through on a promise made.
You cannot have a whole lot of faith that I'm going to pay your car payment
this month if I never promised to do such a thing, can you? The same principal
is true when it comes to receiving the promises of God.
I'm going to be honest with you, until I see the church demonstraiting the
success rate that Jesus' ministry and that of the early church had when it came
to healing ministry, I am not satisfied with their beliefs and approaches
to healing ministry. We can leave all of this, "Is it God's will?" business on
the back burner, and get busy figuring out what we are missing, what knowledge
we are lacking which is destroying our friends and loved ones. God's Word tells
us that it was Satan who came to kill, but Jesus came to give life. Cancer
(which is almost always demonically rooted) is a means of killing God's saints.
The man born blind never died in that state, or it would have never given God
glory. All too often people take their sicknesses and diseases to the grave,
which brings God no glory. The ONLY case where a death due to sickness gave God
glory, was the story of Lazareth, who brought God much glory ONLY because he
was later raised from the dead. What gave God glory in the NT concerning
those who were sick? It was when they were healed; scores of healings took
place and brought God much glory among the people.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that
were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils,
and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Matthew 4:24
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:
and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.
Matthew 8:16
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes
followed him, and he healed them all.
Matthew 12:15
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples,
and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of
Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they
that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude
sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
Luke 6:17-19
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and
laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by
might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with
unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:15-16
Once we reach the level of success that is demonstrated to us in the NT, then
let's sit down and discuss this whole idea of God's desire to see His children
sick and miserable (as they are in heaven?).
Spiritual Bootcamp
By seeing the truth about the need for an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father, you are one step closer to your healing and deliverance. Relationship with Him is the foundation needed to be able to love yourself and love others. When our love relationship with God is healed, it will cast out all fear and torment of your heart and mind and flesh!
Along with books, teachings, and DVDs, this website is dedicated in helping
individuals develop their faith in God so that when "stressors" of life come,
they will not be shaken or confused or fall into doubt, unbelief or fear, but be
strengthened, and even gain more peace!
Each teaching has been founded on truth and put to the test! Many are finding
what they need just by reading the studies, listening to the audio teachings,
and praying... We are here to plant seeds, water a little, but God gives you
revelation and truth for change.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who
are taken captive by him at his will.
1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of
glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on
your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer,
or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end
be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
This is a study website sharing the Word of God,
testimonials and insights that may help you gain knowledge necessary for
understanding truth that can make you free. Go to "Teachings" and enjoy the
journey!
"... and you shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you free." (John
8:32)
"Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." (John 8:36)
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..."
(Revelation 12:11)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
We are to share what God has done for us, it's
what helps defeat the enemy. When the 10 lepers were healed by Jesus, and went
away to their home, only one returned to give Him glory! And when he did, he was
the only one who was made Whole. That means, any limbs, any tissue any parts of
his body that needed healing, was completely restored! The other 9 may have
received healing, but they may have been healed without restoring parts. It's
when we give God glory for what He has done and is doing that the REAL miracles
occur!
The voice of condemnation
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Revelation 12:10
This is another one of those common tactics of the enemy that we see literally all the time in the ministry of deliverance. The accusing spirit is an anti-Christ spirit, because it approaches people with no love, but a tone of condemnation. It works through a voice; the voice of condemnation. It constantly tells you how much of a failure you are. It tells you how your heart
is not right with God. It tells you that if you don't read your Bible every day, that you aren't serious about your relationship with God. It basically tells you that you're never good enough. This is the exact opposite nature of God. It tears down rather than builds up. The accusing spirit uses the letter of the law to lay heavy burdens and crush it's victims, just as the Pharisees
would do:
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:4
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2 Corinthians 3:6
The accusing spirit works hand in hand with the family of religious spirits and strongholds, including legalism. The accusing spirit will manifest in a variety of ways. It can cause accuse a person directly, it can cause them to accuse others around them, or it can accuse God in a person's mind. Anytime the enemy brings up your past failures, that is the work of the accusing spirit. This spirit feeds on past mistakes, in order to justify how that person is supposedly a failure, even though the Blood of Christ has washed away those failures and cast them into the depths of the sea! In this way, the accusing spirit is an anti-Christ spirit, because it deliberately writes off the work of Christ and the shed blood of Jesus.
A while back, I wrote it's on how to discern Condemnation versus Conviction. Who speaks the voice of condemnation? The accusing spirit! Even when the accusing spirit seems to be pointing to the answer, the burden that it lays on the person is overwhelming or irrational. For example, it may tell a person that
they must go back to everybody that they have ever wronged, and apologize... then they can be forgiven. That is not only unbiblical, that is salvation by works, and God's Word tells us that if we try to be made right by works, then we have fallen from grace: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:4
And getting us to fall from grace, that is, to stop trusting God's mercy and grace for our salvation and justification, is exactly what the accusing spirit wants to do. As I said earlier, the accusing spirit is a voice. It speaks to us. It may even sound righteous, because it speaks of how failures are bad. It's true that failures are bad, but what Christ has done for us the a remedy to our failures. What the accusing spirit wants us to do is overlook or even discredit God's remedy for our failures! Sound like a Satanic mission? That's right! This spirit has all the makings of being righteous, even a minister of righteousness, but inside is a raving wolf seeking whom he may devour. He's busy carrying out the work of his father, the devil. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
The whole motivation behind this ugly demon spirit is to discredit the work of Christ in our lives. We failed, Jesus forgave, but this spirit keeps pointing to the mistake, as if Christ did nothing to erase it! Isn't that terrible? It is SATANIC!
The fruit of the accusing spirit is widely varied. Self-hate almost always involves the accusing spirit. Guilt, and fear resulting from guilt (when you feel ashamed, you'll be afraid like Adam and Eve were when guilt drove them to hide from God). Doubt, unbelief, hate, judgementalism, critical spirit, resentment towards God, feelings of hopelessness, shame, etc. The list goes on
and on.
What does the accusing spirit really want to do? Tear apart your faith and wear you down spiritually. He wants you to walk in guilt, condemnation, and never feel worthy of God's glorious plan for your life. It's goal is to wear
you down, and make you weak as a child of God.
The accusing spirit thrives on repeated failures or bondages, or iniquities. Pornography or lust, for example, is a perfect example. A person can keep failing, but have their heart right before the Lord. They feel terrible each and every time they fall into that sin. Paul told us in Romans chapter 7 that he struggled with repeated failures in his own life as a Spirit-filled believer! A person who doesn't understand their bondage may have no clue that pornography is usually a bondage with roots that need to be ministered to. The accusing spirit, however, is right there to tell them how dirty and sick their mind is. This is, again, the work of the accusing spirit.
The accusing spirit is a finger-pointing spirit. It is a blaming spirit that specializes in digging up the past, and blaming somebody for it. That somebody could be you, others, or God. It works hand-in-hand with a critical spirit, or judgementalism.
Bottom line, the accusing spirit will always point to the problem (even if it's been washed away by the work of Christ), while the Holy Spirit will always point you to the solution. If there is a case of true guilt from un-repented sin, then once the person confesses it and is forgiven, the guilt should be an issue of the past. If the person continues to struggle with guilt,
then (a) they have not mentally accepted the fact that their sin has been washed away, or (b) the accusing spirit is at work. Once a sin is confessed and forgiven, the Holy Spirit stops convicting, but the accusing spirit doesn't stop, but continues to badger the person over their failures. The accusing spirit will also work in conjunction with spirits of guilt, shame,
condemnation, hopelessness, etc.
How do we combat this deceitful spirit? For one, we need to fill our mind with the voice of God's Word (concerning the forgiveness of sins, God's love and mercy, etc.). We need to learn to recognize the voice of the accusing spirit and cast it down.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Being that this is a spirit which builds strongholds in our minds, we need to be diligent in renewing our mind with God's Word, in order to undo the damage that it has done to our thinking patterns. It's also possible that the accusing spirit, along with other related spirits such as religiosity, legalism, shame, etc. need to be driven out as well. You can tear down strongholds all day long, but if a spirit needs to be driven out, it will keep working against you to rebuild those strongholds.
Chief Apostle Joseph B. Howard, Sr. Th.D.
Spiritual Fathers by Apostle Jonas Clark
Apostles are spiritual fathers. You need a spiritual father in your
life. Apostolic ministries have apostolic fathers. I came from a
generation of preachers who grew up in ministry without the benefit of
spiritual fathers. Like thousands of others we had to get whatever we
could through books, audios, videos, seminars, conferences and brief meetings
with men of God hurried off platforms and away from the people. I have wondered
how much more effective I might have become if someone would have taken a
personal interest in the call of God on my life.
As the apostolic church moves forward we can expect the heart of spiritual fathers to be restored toward the sons of God. One cannot be an apostle who doesn’t have the heart of
a spiritual father. Let’s look at the Apostle Paul as an example. Paul had a
vested interest in the success of his spiritual son Timothy. You can hear the
heart of the father when Paul says to Timothy, “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ you do not have many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Today fathers are abandoning their wives, children and responsibilities. This is a reflection of the spiritual condition of our world
as we note the same pattern of abandonment taking place in ministry. Over 1500 pastors quit the ministry each month and thousands more leave churches without cause. Pastors are leaving because the ministry is tough and a lack of
understanding the roles of fivefold ascension gifts leads to abuse. If you don’t understand the role of your leader then you can abuse that leader. Some leaders protect themselves by becoming insensitive. Callousness, however, can damage the work of ministry. In the past some ministry gifts would not take time to raise spiritual sons or daughters. Some even went out of their way not to make a way for any spiritual kinship at all and focused on building their own
ministries instead.
Some sons and daughters only want blessing, not correction and guidance by loving apostolic fathers. The result for
many of God’s leaders has been to follow the path of least resistance by concentrating on their own ministries and avoiding further aggravation. It takes more time to raise a spiritual son or daughter than it does to convert a sinner. The cry of the Spirit is the return of apostolic fathers toward the sons and daughters and sons and daughters toward fathers. For decades, we
have been missing the spirit of the father in our churches and homes.
Our society is a mirror of the spiritual condition of our nation. A lack of fathers in the home is the main social problem facing America says 72.2 % of those polled. In 2006 there were 12.9 million one parent families in the United States, 10.4 million single mother families and 2.5 million single father families. Just over 67 percent of the nation’s 73.7 million children
younger than 18 lived with two married parents. The results are grimly revealing. Children of single parent homes are:
5 times more likely to
commit suicide.
32 times more likely to run away.
14 times more
likely to commit rape.
9 times more likely to drop out of high
school.
20 times more likely to end up in prison.
The outcome of a lack of both parents in the home is lawlessness. The family is under attack but hope is on the way. God spoke of the turning spirit of Elijah returning to His Church in the last days.
“And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6). Times are changing. The Holy Spirit is challenging hearts and reversing them from self-centeredness to helping others.
Millions of children have been raised in single parent homes, mostly by good mothers doing the best they could. The role of mothers, however, is different from fathers. Take little Johnny, for example, that was told not to play baseball in his friends’ backyard. He disobeys and breaks the neighbor’s glass window. Who do you think he runs home to tell, his mother or
father? Most likely he ran to mommy. That’s because the role of mothers is different from fathers. Mother’s nurture and comfort but fathers set rules and boundaries for behavior. Fathers also discipline and correct. Little Johnny’s mother probably offered him hugs and plenty of love. I’m sure she told him that everything was going to be all right. But when dad came home little Johnny had to face the consequences of his rebellion, go to the neighbors house, repent and arrange to have the window repaired.
Spiritual fathers do not replace natural fathers. Don’t expect them to take you on fishing trips or out to ball games. They are spiritual fathers. Spiritual fathers are mentors that offer wise and trusted counsel designed to get you to think.4
Submission to their oversight is biblical, voluntary and comes through relationship. It also affords you spiritual covering and accountability. A mentor offers instruction, advice, guidance and counsel. A spiritual father also corrects. Don’t expect a true spiritual father to ignore your mistakes and personality malfunctions. Correction is designed to help you grow both
spiritually and emotionally. Spiritual fathers do not replace your relationship with God. They point you toward dependency on the Lord and away from themselves. It is Jesus that is the author and finisher of your faith.
Read more: http://www.jonasclark.com/christian-life/benefiting-from-spiritual-fathers.html#ixzz2QfMUQsPZ
Copyrights (c) Jonas Clark Ministries - Permission Only
life. Apostolic ministries have apostolic fathers. I came from a
generation of preachers who grew up in ministry without the benefit of
spiritual fathers. Like thousands of others we had to get whatever we
could through books, audios, videos, seminars, conferences and brief meetings
with men of God hurried off platforms and away from the people. I have wondered
how much more effective I might have become if someone would have taken a
personal interest in the call of God on my life.
As the apostolic church moves forward we can expect the heart of spiritual fathers to be restored toward the sons of God. One cannot be an apostle who doesn’t have the heart of
a spiritual father. Let’s look at the Apostle Paul as an example. Paul had a
vested interest in the success of his spiritual son Timothy. You can hear the
heart of the father when Paul says to Timothy, “For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ you do not have many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Today fathers are abandoning their wives, children and responsibilities. This is a reflection of the spiritual condition of our world
as we note the same pattern of abandonment taking place in ministry. Over 1500 pastors quit the ministry each month and thousands more leave churches without cause. Pastors are leaving because the ministry is tough and a lack of
understanding the roles of fivefold ascension gifts leads to abuse. If you don’t understand the role of your leader then you can abuse that leader. Some leaders protect themselves by becoming insensitive. Callousness, however, can damage the work of ministry. In the past some ministry gifts would not take time to raise spiritual sons or daughters. Some even went out of their way not to make a way for any spiritual kinship at all and focused on building their own
ministries instead.
Some sons and daughters only want blessing, not correction and guidance by loving apostolic fathers. The result for
many of God’s leaders has been to follow the path of least resistance by concentrating on their own ministries and avoiding further aggravation. It takes more time to raise a spiritual son or daughter than it does to convert a sinner. The cry of the Spirit is the return of apostolic fathers toward the sons and daughters and sons and daughters toward fathers. For decades, we
have been missing the spirit of the father in our churches and homes.
Our society is a mirror of the spiritual condition of our nation. A lack of fathers in the home is the main social problem facing America says 72.2 % of those polled. In 2006 there were 12.9 million one parent families in the United States, 10.4 million single mother families and 2.5 million single father families. Just over 67 percent of the nation’s 73.7 million children
younger than 18 lived with two married parents. The results are grimly revealing. Children of single parent homes are:
5 times more likely to
commit suicide.
32 times more likely to run away.
14 times more
likely to commit rape.
9 times more likely to drop out of high
school.
20 times more likely to end up in prison.
The outcome of a lack of both parents in the home is lawlessness. The family is under attack but hope is on the way. God spoke of the turning spirit of Elijah returning to His Church in the last days.
“And he will turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and
smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6). Times are changing. The Holy Spirit is challenging hearts and reversing them from self-centeredness to helping others.
Millions of children have been raised in single parent homes, mostly by good mothers doing the best they could. The role of mothers, however, is different from fathers. Take little Johnny, for example, that was told not to play baseball in his friends’ backyard. He disobeys and breaks the neighbor’s glass window. Who do you think he runs home to tell, his mother or
father? Most likely he ran to mommy. That’s because the role of mothers is different from fathers. Mother’s nurture and comfort but fathers set rules and boundaries for behavior. Fathers also discipline and correct. Little Johnny’s mother probably offered him hugs and plenty of love. I’m sure she told him that everything was going to be all right. But when dad came home little Johnny had to face the consequences of his rebellion, go to the neighbors house, repent and arrange to have the window repaired.
Spiritual fathers do not replace natural fathers. Don’t expect them to take you on fishing trips or out to ball games. They are spiritual fathers. Spiritual fathers are mentors that offer wise and trusted counsel designed to get you to think.4
Submission to their oversight is biblical, voluntary and comes through relationship. It also affords you spiritual covering and accountability. A mentor offers instruction, advice, guidance and counsel. A spiritual father also corrects. Don’t expect a true spiritual father to ignore your mistakes and personality malfunctions. Correction is designed to help you grow both
spiritually and emotionally. Spiritual fathers do not replace your relationship with God. They point you toward dependency on the Lord and away from themselves. It is Jesus that is the author and finisher of your faith.
Read more: http://www.jonasclark.com/christian-life/benefiting-from-spiritual-fathers.html#ixzz2QfMUQsPZ
Copyrights (c) Jonas Clark Ministries - Permission Only