Reflections | Sunday, 2nd June 2013

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The Gospel reading this Sunday teaches us the power of the Word of God. It is amazing what the Centurion said to Jesus- Say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Luke 7:7) 

The centurion believed the Word of God and saw an almost instant manifestation of the Word. In today's post, I would like to talk about how the Word of God is a seed.

Taken from Andrew Wommack Ministries

A true revelation of God’s Word is the single most important element of a victorious Christian life.

The Word of God often refers to itself as a seed. There are a total of forty-four verses in the New Testament where the Greek word “sperma” was translated “seed.” This is the same word from which we derive our English word “sperm.”

To conceive and give birth to the miracles you need, you must first plant God’s Word like a seed in your heart. Conception cannot take place without first planting the seed. There has only been one virgin birth, and the birth of you’re miracle won’t be the second.

I constantly meet Christians who pray and believe for God’s intervention in their lives, but remain frustrated with the results. It’s because they are missing the seeds of conception; they just don’t know God’s Word.

In Mark 4, the Lord taught three parables which illustrate that the Word is to the kingdom of God what a natural seed is to a harvest. The first of these parables, the story of the sower, is the key to unlocking all the Word of God (Mark 4:13). If we don’t understand these truths, Jesus said we won’t understand any of His other parables.

There are many life-changing truths in these parables, but one fact must be understood to get the full benefit of this teaching. The Lord used the comparison of His Word to a law of nature that is unchangeable, not an institution of man.

Here’s what I mean. You can cheat or manipulate nearly all systems that men have created. The legal system can be beaten, letting the guilty go free. Our educational system can be beaten, passing students who haven’t really learned the material. But you can’t change seedtime and harvest.

What if a farmer waited until he saw his neighbors reaping their crops before he sowed for his crop? Regardless of how sincere he was, or the justification for not sowing his seed at the proper time, he would not reap a crop overnight. The law of seedtime and harvest cannot be violated.

This is why our Lord chose to compare the way His Word works to a seed. There is a germination process of the Word of God in your life that takes time and can’t be avoided. In the second parable of

Mark 4, Jesus said in verses 26-29,

“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”

The seed is the Word of God (verse 14), and the ground is our hearts (verse 15). Our hearts were created by God to bring forth fruit when His Word is planted in them. Just as a seed has to remain in the ground over time to germinate, so the Word of God has to abide in us.

Jesus said in John 15:7,

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

What would happen if you planted a seed in your garden and then dug it up each morning to see if anything was happening? It would die and never produce fruit. You have to have faith that the seed is doing what God created it to do.

Some people put God’s Word in their hearts for a day or two, but if they don’t see fruit almost immediately, they dig up the seed through their words and actions and wonder why it didn’t work. You have to leave it in the ground over time. Then, there are also different stages of growth.

Mark 4:28 says,
“First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Many people are impatient, wanting to bypass the growth cycle and get the full ear right now. I’ve actually had to tell people that what they were believing God for was not going to happen, not because the vision wasn’t good, but because they were expecting a complete ear of corn immediately.

For example, one of our Charis Bible College students came to me who had never held a job, had been in a mental hospital, and had lived on welfare his whole life. When he heard the teaching on prosperity and vision, he started dreaming big. He had a plan to buy and renovate an old hotel. The total cost would be over four million dollars.

It really was a grand plan. I complimented him for the fact that he was dreaming and told him to keep dreaming big. Then I told him that it might work for someone but it wouldn’t work for him. Why? Because this person had never believed for a dime before. There has to be “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

You may think that’s not so. It’s possible that he could have won the lottery or the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. It’s possible, but that wouldn’t have been God. God’s kingdom operates on laws, like the laws that govern the fruit-bearing process of a seed. God will not give you the full ear of corn if you haven’t seen the first blade.

That’s the way God’s kingdom works. And this is precisely the reason most people don’t see God’s best come to pass in their lives. They think that since God loves them, He will just grant their request regardless of whether they put the miracle of the seed to work or not.

Look at what happened after Jesus taught His disciples these principles of the seed.

Mark 4:35 says,
“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.”

In a sense, Jesus was giving them a test. On the same day that He taught them the principles of God’s Word as a seed, He gave them a seed. He said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let us go halfway across and drown.” The disciples had a seed from the lips of the Creator that gave them authority over the creation.

What happened? A two-hour trip turned into a fight for the disciples’ lives. Instead of using the seed the Lord had given them, they did all they knew to do in the natural and then got put out with the Lord.

They said in verse 38,
“Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

This wasn’t a cabin cruiser. Jesus was in an open boat full of water (verse 37) sloshing all around Him. He was well aware of their plight and yet was trying to sleep. They wanted Him to pick up a bucket and bail or row or do something.

How did Jesus respond? Did He apologize and say, “I’m sorry guys. I was really tired”? No!

Instead He said, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (verse 40).

Jesus was telling them that they should have stilled the storm. If they would have operated in faith instead of fear, that’s exactly what they could have done.

The Lord did His job by giving them the seed of His Word. Their job was to take the seed and make it work. Instead, they doubted Jesus’ love for them and thought He wasn’t pulling His weight. Likewise, we often complain to the Lord, “Don’t You love me? Why aren’t You healing me or prospering me, etc.?”

God has done His part; He has given us the Word. For example, the Lord doesn’t give us money directly. Deuteronomy 8:18 says that the Lord gives us the power to get wealth. The power is in His promises, His Word. As we plant those promises in our hearts, the truth of His Word germinates and prosperity comes.

Healing operates the same way. There are numerous scriptures that get the point across that God’s Word is health to all our flesh. Here’s two:

“For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:22).

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Ps. 107:20).

Yes, a person can get healed without planting God’s Word in their heart. It comes through the prayers of others with the gifts of healing (1 Cor. 12:9), but it is not God’s best. We should never be too proud to ask for help, but the proper way to get healed is to take God’s promises of healing and plant them in our hearts until they release their life-giving power into our physical bodies.

This law of seedtime and harvest operates in every area of our lives. If we will plant God’s Word in our hearts, then allow the seed to germinate and the plant to grow to maturity, we will reap the fruit of a harvest. That is God’s best!

I cannot tell you strongly enough how important it is that you know God’s Word and that you plant the seed of His Word in your heart long before you need the fruit of the harvest. It could mean the difference between prosperity and poverty, or even life and death. I believe this is so important that it’s the very first class I teach to new students at CBC every year.

My teaching series A Sure Foundation will help you understand the power and importance of God’s Word in your life. It will help you go beyond the “touchy-feely,” emotion-based thinking that many mistake for faith. It’s not about what you feel; it’s about what has been planted in your heart and come to full fruit. It’s the foundation to receiving the promises of God.

So, make this year your personal Year of the Bible and build a sure foundation in your own life. It will be the best decision you have ever made. 

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Reflections | 1st June 2013

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Throughout the Ministry of Jesus, the chief priests, scribes and elders were jealous of Him. If you think about it, they were the ones who wanted to Crucify our Lord.

In today's Gospel reading, the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus: By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”(Mark 11:28) It is amazing how Jesus replied to the question of the Pharisees with another question. (Mark 11:29-33)

The main problem between the Pharisees and Jesus was that Jesus taught salvation by faith alone while the religious leaders stressed on salvation by works.

Salvation by faith alone has the power to transform the lives of people but it also liberates them from the control of religion. Selah. A person who believes in Salvation by faith alone is no longer dependent on his church, temple or mosque and its rituals for Salvation.

If billions of people began following the attractive and true Gospel of Salvation by faith alone, the Devil and religious institutions would lose billions of dollars in offerings as well as power over the ignorant masses. This could be one of the main reasons why the Devil and religious leaders do not like this Gospel. Selah.

But today, I would like to take this opportunity and share with you the True Gospel. It is the power of God unto Salvation for everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16-17)

(Taken from Mumbai Christian Diary)

The True Gospel teaches that you are saved and made right with God by His grace through faith and you should continue in His grace after you are saved. (Colossians 2:6) (Ephesians 2:8-9) Grace simply means it is nothing you did or deserve. It on on an unearned, undeserved basis.

Paul made it very clear that you cannot be saved by both grace and works. It can only be one of two, either by works or by grace (Romans 11:6). So if you ever do fall short and we all do at times, you should not base your relationship with God on what you did but on what Jesus did for you and rest in His grace.

For example, lets say you get really angry in morning with a colleague. You got to remember that God loves you because of what Jesus did on the cross and not because of anything you do and instead of feeling guilty you should repent and receive his grace and the gift of no condemnation. (Romans 8:1)

The minute you start thinking that God is unhappy with you because you got angry, you fall from His grace and begin to relate to Him based on works. Never let that happen. You either relate to God based on what Jesus did or you relate to God based on what you do. The former will bring you life and peace but the latter death. (Romans 8:6).

Paul made a very strong statement in Galatians 2:21. He said: I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. In simple words if you think that you can earn right standing with God based on what your works like good deeds, rituals and tradtions, then Christ died for you in vain.

When you trust in your own works and what you do, you reject the great salvation that God offers you in Christ. (Hebrews 2:3)

Paul had a powerful ministry in Galatia and many turned to Christ when they heard him preach the Gospel of Grace. But when he left, the people began to be deceived by false teachers that the Grace of God was not enough and that they needed to have certain works also to have right standing with God. When Paul found out, look at what he writes to the Galatians:

Galatians 1:6-9 (NKJV)
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

He says that even if we or an angel from heaven preach to you another Gospel than what we have preached to you let him be condemned to hell. Now that's powerful.

I have made know to you the Gospel of Grace (Also Read | Righteousness) and just like Paul told the Galatians, let no one deceive you into believing another Gospel. Do not try to earn righteousness but labour to rest in what Jesus has already done for you. (Hebrews 4:11)

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Also Watch: Saved by Grace through Faith by Benny Hinn

The Reformed Rosary

If I ever wrote the prayers of the Rosary. This is how I would write it. 

Hail Jesus, full of grace, (John 1:14)

You are always with us, (Hebrews 13:5-6) 

Blessed are we because of you, (Galatians 3:13-14)

And blessed is the fruit of our body. (Deuteronomy 28:4)

Holy Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, (Revelation 4:8)

He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 

He made us kings and priests unto God, the Father, 

to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

GRANT US ACCORDING TO THE RICHES YOUR GLORY TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT THROUGH YOUR SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN

THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN OUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH, THAT WE BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE ,

MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHAT IS THE WIDTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT-

TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSES KNOWLEDGE; THAT WE MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD

NOW UNTO TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US,

TO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, WORLD WITHOUT END. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. (Ephesians 3:16-21)

Also Watch: A Better Way to Pray by Andrew Wommack

Reflections | 31st May 2013

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In the Gospel reading, Elizabeth said to Mary, the mother of the Lord: Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45)

The most amazing thing about Mary is that she believed God and said: Let it be to me according to your word. (Luke 1:38)

Truly, this how every believer should appropriate the promises of God in the Bible. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Do God's Promises Cover what you want? (Taken from Kenneth Hagin Ministries)

Through the years, many people have asked me to pray with them, saying, “Brother Hagin, I want you pray with me about such-and-such.”

I purposely ask them, “What scriptures are you standing on?”

Eight out of ten times—and I kept a record of it for years—they looked at me with a blank expression and said, “Well, none in particular.”

I told them, “That’s what you’ll get then—nothing in particular. You have no foundation for faith. Faith is based on what God said. Faith in God is faith in God’s Word.”

Many times we use terms loosely. Recognize that when talking about faith, we’re talking about faith in God—and faith in God is faith in His Word. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). You’re not going to have faith for something if you don’t hear the Word of God on it.

So find scriptures that cover your case. Find scriptures that promise you the things you are praying for. Then you have a solid foundation for faith.

If something arises—even though I know the scriptures which apply and can quote many of them from memory—I don’t pray about the matter immediately. I go to the Word. I read again the same scriptures I could quote. I go over them again and again sometimes for a day or two. (If an emergency arises, that is a different thing. In doing that, I am building the Word of God into my spirit. That way, when I get ready to act in faith, there is no doubt. I am solid.

I do not want to attract attention to myself—I tell this to glorify God and His Word—but not one single time in more than 50 years have I had a prayer go unanswered. (Now you understand I am talking about things concerning myself individually. When you are praying about someone else, that person’s will enters in.) As far as for me individually, I never prayed about anything without receiving the answer.

Sometimes it would take a little time. I just stayed in the Word every moment I could. I would meditate for hours on the scriptures that covered what I was believing for. Then I believed only what the Word said. I had a sure foundation for faith.

Sometimes I had to make adjustments before the answer could manifest. I made them in a hurry. For instance, in 1949, I left the last church I pastored and went out into a field ministry at the Lord’s direction. At the end of my first year of traveling, I spent three days fasting and praying. I reminded the Lord of something He said in the Old Testament: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19).

(That Scripture belongs to us, too. We can prove from the New Testament that we are heir to it. It means that you will prosper and have a good life. It does not mean you will never have any tests—because the devil will put pressure on you.)

I told the Lord, “Lord, my children are not even eating right. I’ve worn out my car; now I’m out here on the field on foot. I’m sure not eating the good of the land—yet You promised that I would. Something is wrong somewhere.” (I knew the trouble was with me. The problem is never with God.)

The third day of my fast, just as plainly as somebody speaking, the Lord said, “That text you keep quoting to Me says, ‘If you be willing and obedient.’ You were obedient, but you weren’t willing. You don’t qualify. That’s the reason it’s not working for you.”

I kept trying to magnify the obedience part—He got on the willing part! Just as a child can obey his parents and not be willing, so you can actually obey the Lord and not be willing and therefore still miss it. I got willing in 10 seconds! Don’t tell me it takes a long time to get willing. It didn’t take me 10 seconds to make a little adjustment right down on the inside.

Then I said, “Lord, I’m ready now. You already told me I was obedient. Now I’m willing. I know it. You know it. And the devil knows it. So I’m ready now to start eating the good of the land.”

He said, “Yes, you are. Now I will tell you what to do.”

He told me, and I’ve been “eating the good” ever since!

The psalmist of old said, “The entrance of thy words giveth light . . .” (Ps. 119:130). The entrance of God’s Word gives light.

When there is light in a room, it is no problem at all to walk around. As long as the light is there, you can walk fine. But with all the lights out on a dark night, you may stumble and fall over objects in that room.

The entrance of God’s Word gives light. The reason many fall and fail is because they have left the light of the Word of God. They are walking in presumption or folly.

What does God’s Word say?

Too many answer, “Well, I don’t know.”

Find out what it says. Find the scriptures that promise you the things you are praying for. You’re always on safe ground when you’re standing on the Scriptures. When you get away from God’s Word, you are in a gray area.

Some people want to step over into the dark, and whether or not the Word of God promises it, they say, “I’m just going to believe.”

Believing God is believing His Word. Oh, how necessary it is to know the Word of God. Thank God, He has given us His Word. We need not be in the dark. The entrance of God’s Word gives light.

What does it mean to walk in the light? It means to walk in the Word! Walking in the Word is walking in the light. To walk away from the Word means to walk into darkness.

Make these confessions aloud today:

I am a believer.
I am not a doubter.
I do have faith.
My faith works.
My faith is in God the Father.
My faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
My faith is in the Holy Bible, the Word of God.
God’s Word is true.
I believe the Word of God.
Therefore, I believe God.
God’s Word works!

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Also Read: Possessing the Promise

Reflections | 30th May 2013

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In the Gospel reading we hear about how Jesus taught the Kingdom of God and healed all who were in need of healing. (Luke 9:11) It is important for us realize that most of the teachings of Jesus were about the Kingdom of God. As a minister of the Lord, I have decided to follow Jesus and teach the Kingdom of God, just like He did in my Ministry. In today's message, I want to focus on the Blessing of Abraham. 

The Blessing of Abraham | Taken from Kenneth Copeland Ministries

The bible teaches that in the Kingdom of God, you are the seed of Abraham! What does that mean? It means everything God promised him belongs to you. It has been passed down to you through Jesus.

Abraham’s blessing is your inheritance! (Galatians 3:13-14) It has been willed to you by the Word of God. So let’s read the will today. Let’s look in the Bible and find out how God treated Abraham, because that’s how God has promised to treat us.

Genesis 12:2-3 is a good place to start. There we see the first promise God made to Abraham: “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

To fully grasp what God was saying here, you must realize when He blesses someone, He is not just telling them to have a good day. He is conferring upon them the power to increase and prosper in every area of life. In fact, according to W.E. Vine and Webster’s dictionary, the true definition of bless is “to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow favor upon, to consecrate to holy purposes, to make successful, to make prosperous in temporal concerns pertaining to this life, to guard and preserve.”

It was actually THE BLESSING of God that made Abraham rich! It caused him to prosper wherever he went.

In fact, he became so “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2) that he and his nephew, Lot, who was traveling with him, eventually had to go separate ways “for their possessions were too great for them to live together” (verse 6, The Amplified Bible).

Do you know what Abraham did when that happened? He gave Lot first choice of the available land. He said: “Is not the whole land before you?… If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot looked and saw that everywhere the Jordan Valley was well watered…. Then Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley…” (verses 9-11, The Amplified Bible).

Notice that Abraham wasn’t greedy or concerned about his own welfare. He didn’t have to be. He had a covenant of blessing with God and he knew God would bring him success no matter where he lived.

Put Your Name in the Promise 

Financial prosperity wasn’t the only benefit God’s blessing brought Abraham either. It also made him an overcomer. Because God had declared that those who cursed Abraham would themselves be cursed, Abraham could conquer any enemy that came against him or his family.

You can see that fact borne out in Genesis 14. It tells of the time when Lot and his family were taken captive by wicked kings who made war on Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abraham received the news about his nephew, he didn’t sit around wringing his hands wishing there was something he could do. “He armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued…and smote them…. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people” (verses 14-16).

Imagine that. Abraham and his servants single-handedly whipped four kings and their armies, then recovered everything and everyone they had taken captive!

What gave Abraham the boldness to go after those kings? He knew he had a covenant with God. He knew God had promised to be an enemy to his enemies, and he dared to act on that promise.

Abraham understood that God was God! Abraham took God at His Word when He said, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1).

We need to do the same thing. We need to take that promise and put our name in it. After all, it’s ours! We’re the seed of Abraham.

Years ago, when Ken and I first started to walk with the Lord, we were facing debts and problems that seemed overwhelming. So I took that promise from God to Abraham and put my name in it. I read it like this: Fear not, Gloria. God is your shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great!

I decided that since I was an heir of Abraham, those words were just as true for me as they were for him. And sure enough, they have been. In the years since, God has protected me and rewarded me beyond anything I could ask or think. He has been as faithful to me as He was to Abraham!

God keeps His promises, and He promised Abraham that He would bless his seed. He said: “I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Genesis 17:6-7).

Circumstances Can’t Stop THE BLESSING 

When I look at the life of Abraham, I’m convinced there is no limit to what THE BLESSING of God can do for those who dare to believe. It makes the impossible possible!

For example, when God told Abraham and Sarah they would have a son, naturally speaking there was no way. They were both more than 90 years old, and Sarah had been barren all her life. But that didn’t matter. Their covenant of blessing with Almighty God overcame those obstacles.

It not only enabled Sarah to give birth to Isaac, it kept her alive until he was 37 years old. It’s amazing enough for an old, barren woman to have a baby. But for her to live long enough to raise him to manhood, that’s really something!

The power of God’s blessing didn’t stop there, either. God so renewed Abraham’s youth that after Sarah died, he was able to remarry and have six more children. At 175 years old, the Bible says, “Abraham’s spirit was released, and he died at a good (ample, full) old age, an old man, satisfied and satiated, and was gathered to his people” (Genesis 25:8, The Amplified Bible).

What happened then? Did the covenant of blessing die too? No! Verse 11 tells us that “After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac.”

If you’ll read about the life of Isaac, you’ll see THE BLESSING of God caused him to prosper just like it did his father. It didn’t matter what happened around him, he just kept increasing.

Once, when there was a famine in the land, Isaac considered moving to Egypt to escape it. But the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt…. Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings…and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:2-3, The Amplified Bible).

Keep in mind, famines back then were just as terrible as they are today. I’m sure it was just like the pictures we see where the babies’ bellies are swollen from starvation and their arms and legs are little more than skin and bone. Yet right in the midst of it all, “Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings” (verse 12, The Amplified Bible).

I want you to know, that’s what THE BLESSING of Abraham will do. It will enable you to prosper no matter what’s happening around you. It will cause you to increase in the midst of recessions, depressions and every other kind of economic calamity the devil can dream up.

If you’re the seed of Abraham, you shouldn’t even worry about such things. They don’t have to affect you. You’re not dependent on the economic cycles of this natural realm. You’re not dependent on what the Federal Reserve does. You are dependent on your covenant with Almighty God—and that never changes! He never alters the Word that comes out of His mouth, and He has said you are BLESSED!

What’s more, He’s said you’re a BLESSING. That means the company or corporation you work for will be blessed just because you’re there.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” you may say. “I’m just a janitor and the company I work for is full of heathens!”

So what! Genesis 41 tells us Abraham’s great-grandson, Joseph, started out as a slave in the ungodly nation of Egypt. But because he was the seed of Abraham, he ended up saving that nation from being destroyed by famine. Not only that, he became the most powerful man in the nation next to Pharaoh himself. The entire country was blessed because of Joseph and his covenant with God!

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Also Watch: Prosperity Proven

Reflections | 29th May 2013

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In the Gospel reading James and John said to Jesus: Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory. (Mark 10:37) Throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus, His disciples thought that He was going to to overthrow the Roman Empire and set up His own Kingdom in Jerusalem. James and John wanted top positions in this New Kingdom that they expected Jesus Christ to establish. But Jesus Christ made it very clear to them that He did not come to establish a physical kingdom. He said: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus Christ came to accomplish something far greater than what His disciples could imagine. He did not come to set the Israelites free from the oppression of the Romans; Truly, He came to set mankind free from the power of sin and the oppression of the Devil. Selah.

Jesus Christ prepared the way for every Man to be delivered from the power of the Devil and enter the Kingdom of God through His death, burial and resurrection. (Colossians 1:13) (John 3:1-16) 

But it is important for us to understand that the Kingdom of God in its present form is in the unseen realm and cannot be perceived by the five senses. Jesus said: The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)

The Kingdom of God may be unseen but it is more real than any seen Kingdom or Government on the earth. Truly, it can be experienced by every Man or Woman who puts their faith in Jesus Christ and receives the New Birth. Selah. 

In the Gospel reading Jesus also taught us about how the Kingdom operates. He said: Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. (Mark 10:42-44) 

In the Kingdom of God, no child has more authority than his brother or sister. As believers, we are all hid in Christ and equal in the sight of God. (Colossians 3:3) But each of us has different Kingdom purposes to fulfill. If you think about it, we are all at the service of each other. 

Let us pray today that God will reveal to us our Kingdom purpose, make us useable and give us the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Name. Amen. 

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Also Read: The Holy Spirit by Andrew Wommack

Andrew Wommack says: On March 23, 1968, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My life was transformed instantly. Before the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I was in fear; afterward, I was as bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1). My love for the Lord went through the roof. It wasn’t me living anymore, but Christ was living through me.

My life wasn’t perfect then and still isn’t now. But receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit opened up a whole new, dynamic relationship with the Lord. You would never have heard of me if I hadn’t received the second work of the Holy Spirit, which the Bible calls the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s my desire to see you experience that same power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that come with it.

Also Watch: The Holy Spirit by Andrew Wommack

Reflections | 28th May 2013

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In Gospel reading Peter said to Jesus: See, we have left all and followed You. 

Jesus replied: Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30) 

Let me clarify that Jesus is not talking about renouncing family duties and responsibities in this verse. The bible says: But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8) The issue here is what you have given first priority in your life. If you give God first place in your life, then every other activity of your day will be planned around God and what He has said. Jesus said: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) 'To seek' means to study, understand and apply.

For some of you the first priority of your life may be to build a house and be successful financially. You might be working hard, day and night and as result left with no time to study the Word of God. Jesus taught that if you will make Him your first priority and study His Word above all else, He will honor that and add, not one but many 'houses' to your life. Truly, financial success will follow you and overtake you if you follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Selah.

For some of you, spending time with your family and friends may be your first priority. As result you have no time for the Word of God. Now, I believe that spending time with your wife is the second most important thing that you need to do after God. It is important to specially make time for that. But you might have to sacrifice time with your loved ones to spend time with the Word. If you are the only believer in the house, your whole family could be against you and your faith. But even in the midst of persecution from family members and friends, I have seen men and women of God give Jesus Christ and His Kingdom first priority in their lives. Jesus taught that if you do this, God will give you hundred times more than what you sacrifice for Him. In simple words, it does not matter what you give up for God, God will give it back to you a hundredfold. Truly, you cannot give God more than what He gives you in and through Jesus Christ. Selah.

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Also Read: Investing God's Way

Also Watch: Financial Stewardship by Andrew Wommack

Reflections | 27th May 2013

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In the Gospel reading we read about a man who ran up to to Jesus, knelt before Him and said: Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied: Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ (Mark 10:17-19)

The Bible says: we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man slayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:8-11)

In today's Gospel reading we read about how Jesus used the 10 commandment to show an ungodly man how ungodly he really was. His biggest lie was when he confessed to Jesus: Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth. (Mark 10:20) Truly, no man has kept all the 10 commandments except the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus saw this man's arrogance and ignorance the bible says that He was filled with Love for him and said: One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10:21) By doing this Jesus broke this pious man's arrogance and ignorance and showed him that he was indeed not keeping the Law of God. Through the Law, Jesus was able to reveal to this man the covetousness in his heart.

The Bible says: For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be give to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Galatians 3:21-25)

It is important for us to understand that law was given only to show us how sinful and helpless we are. The law brings us to our knees and forces us to stretch out our hands to God to save us from our sins.

Once we put our faith in Jesus Christ the bible declares that we are no longer under Law but under Grace. (Romans 6:14)

Let us pray today that God will teach us how to live under grace. Let us pray that we will not be hearers of the Word only but doers in Jesus Name. Amen.

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Also Read: Seven Signs that you might be living under Law

Also Watch: Joseph Prince on Grace at Hillsong Conference 2012

Reflections | Sunday, 26th May 2013

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I believe the readings of this Sunday teach us about the Power and Authority that God has given the believer in Christ. In the Responsorial Psalm we read: What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than God, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, (Psalm 8:4-6) 

In the previous posts of the month God taught us how to enter the Kingdom of God. Today, God teaches us that He has put all things under our feet in the Kingdom. Selah. In the Kingdom of God we have authority to rule over sin, sickness, debt, poverty and every evil work of the Devil. We no longer have to live as victims of our circumstances. By our faith we are able to overcome the world and all the evil in it. (1 John 5:4) This does not mean that we will not be tempted by the Evil One but we will never be overcome if understand the Word of God and believe it. 

In the Gospel reading Jesus said: “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) 

In the Kingdom of God we are one with Jesus Christ in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17) The Holy Spirit takes what belongs to Jesus and declares it us because- What is True of Jesus is also True of us. The bible says: As Jesus is so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17) So if Jesus is Righteous, we are Righteousness in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). If Jesus is blessed with the blessing of Abraham, so are we in Him. (Galatians 3:13-14) If Jesus sits at the Right Hand of the Father far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. So do we in Him. (Ephesians 1:21-23) (Ephesians 2:4-8) Selah.

One of the Ministries of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to us our New Identity in Christ. Let it be our prayer today that God will teach us through gifted Men of God and through the Holy Spirit what our New Identity in Christ is. Let us pray that we will not be hearers of the Word only, be doers in Jesus Name. Amen. 

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Also Watch:  As His Thoughts Are, So Are Yours (As He Is, So Am I) by Joseph Prince

Reflections | 25th May 2013

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In the Gospel reading Jesus said to His disciples: Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15) In another verse Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) 

Jesus Christ did not come to give us another Religion. As some believe, He did not come to only give us an assurance of going to heaven when we die. Jesus accomplished a far greater work for mankind on the Cross of Calvary. Through His sacrifice He has prepared the way for all mankind to freely enter into the Kingdom of God and be one with Jesus Christ in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17) by grace through faith. We already touched upon this in the earlier posts of the month. 

In today's reading Jesus teaches us about how we can enter the Kingdom of God by using the illustration of a child. In John 3:1-16, Jesus taught us that we need to have another birth by the Spirit of God to enter His Kingdom. Another way of looking at this truth is to acknowledge that we must look to God alone to perform this great work of Salvation. There is nothing we can do in ourselves. Truly, our church attendance, acts of devotion, prayers, fasting, social service and rituals are incapable of providing us entry into the Kingdom of God. As little children who are completely dependent on their parents for everything, we too are completely dependent on God for our Salvation and entry into His Kingdom. David captured this truth perfectly when he said: Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 254-:5) 

Just like a little child is completely dependent on the mother's breast to live we too must be completely dependent on God and look to Him alone to be our Savior and Source of every good thing.

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Also read | Kingdom of God by Brother Krish Fernandez

Reflections | 24th May 2013

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In the Gospel reading, Jesus talks about why divorce is wrong. He said: But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9)

Jesus then said to His disciples: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”(Mark 10:10-12)

In this post I want to draw a parallel between the oneness of husband and wife and our oneness with the Lord in the Kingdom of God. The Bible teaches that he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17) 

In Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians, he addressed an issue in the Church were Church members were having sex with the temple prostitutes. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) He said: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,”He says, “shall become one flesh.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-16) Paul is speaking to Church members who have received the New Birth and are one with Christ in this verse. What Paul said here is profound. Notice that the sin of the Corinthians did not separate them from Christ. If you think about it, Jesus Christ was right there with them when they committed sexual sin with the temple prostitutes. Jesus said something similar in the Gospel reading. He said that it does not matter if you divorce your wife. You are still one with her and that is why it is adultery to marry someone else. Nothing can break the oneness of husband and wife in the flesh. Similarly, nothing can break our oneness with Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Spirit. Not even sin. Selah.

That is why a true born again Christian does not enjoy sin. After he has fallen into temptation and sinned, he feels uneasy and sad until he confesses his sin and righteousness in Christ. A Christian cannot enjoy sin, especially adultery because He is one with Christ and has the Holy Spirit in him. Therefore Paul said: Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

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Reflections | 23rd May 2013

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In the Gospel reading Jesus said: If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. (Mark 9:41-50) 

In this verse, Jesus was not advocating dismembering our bodies. Jesus is teaching us through this verse that it is more important to the enter the Kingdom of God than to preserve the parts of our bodies. It can be best understood in the comparative sense. 

We also see in this verse that the word 'Kingdom of God' and 'Life' are used interchangeably. In the Greek New Testament, 'zoe' or Life has a special meaning. (Taken from | WordBasedCounseling) It speaks of the life that is given by God through Christ Jesus to those who believe the gospel and enter the Kingdom of God. In this usage, zoe is often modified by the adjective aionios [English: eon] which means "eternal", "everlasting", "of endless duration."Scripture reveals that the source or fount of this zoe life is God the Father. Indeed, Jesus calls Him "the living [zao] Father" (John 6:57), indicating that zoe life is the very life that God has in Himself. Having life in Himself, the Father imparted this life to the Son: "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself" (John 5:26 NASV). 

Jesus' foremost purpose in coming was to give zoe life to men, that is, to cause men to enter into and partake of the very life of God. "...I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10 NASV). "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I myself will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:40 NASV). Again, "...Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life" (John 17:2 NASV).

Even before the ages of time began, God had promised to give zoe life to men: "...In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago ["before the world began"--KJV], but at the proper time manifested..." (Titus 1:2-3 NASV).

God offers every believer who enters the Kingdom of God by the New Birth the very Life of God. (John 3:1-16) If you have received God-kind of life, it means that you can live life just like God lives life. 

Life in Christ

The zoe life which we receive is not a package that Jesus gives us. It is not something separate from Himself. Rather it is IN Jesus. "...But the free gift of God is eternal life IN Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NASV, emphasis added). "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is IN His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life" (I John 5:11-12 NASV, emphasis added).

In fact, the zoe life we receive is Jesus Himself, for Jesus IS life. "I am...the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies..." (John 14:25 NASV). "I am...the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6 NASV).

Thus Jesus becomes and continues to be our life. "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4 NASV). "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live (zao), but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20 NASV).

Now and Later

Being made alive in Christ transforms the course and outcome of our lives both in this present age and also in the age to come. Here and now, we still dwell in a mortal body. But His life is manifested in and through our mortal flesh (II Corinthians 4:10-11). No longer do we live limited and bound by sin and flesh (the five senses). This fleshly tabernacle is now indwelt by the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16). As we abide with Him and His word abides in us, we bear fruit: "He who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5 NASV). Our hearts are changed: "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren: (I John 3:14 NASV). His righteousness and grace cause us "to reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:17 NASV). Thus our lives are metamorphosed as God works in us "both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13 NASV).

Yet, "if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied" (I Corinthians 15:19 NASV). But this in not the case. For there will be a resurrection and in the resurrection, eternal life will extend to the sphere of the body. "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment [KJV--damnation]" (John 5:28-29 NASV). Jesus knows His own (John 10:14) and, on the last day, will raise those who have eternal life (John 6:54). No one will snatch them out of His hand (John 10:28). On that day, He will "transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:21 NASV). And we will finally "be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (II Corinthians 5:4 NASV).

So let us live now to the fullest by His eternal life, and be raised by it later. For we have been given "everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (II Peter 1:3 NASV). Let us not take this life for granted, be ignorant concerning it, trivialize it, forget it, neglect it, or turn it into cliches. Let us not doubt or disbelieve it, let it slip from our grasp, or surrender it to the enemy of our souls. Instead, let us consider what we have received and reckon on the Zoe life of God who indwells us. Let us trust His promises, believe His word, and live by faith. Let us sow to the Spirit and from the Spirit reap eternal life (Galations 6:8). And as we abide in Him continually, His zoe life will cause us to grow and mature, and give us confidence in the day of judgement (I John 2:28, 4:17).

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Reflections | 22nd May 2013

In the Gospel reading John said to Jesus: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 

Jesus replied to John: Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. (Mark 9:38-40) 

The Name Is the Key! By Kenneth W. Hagin | Taken from RHEMA.org

The Name of Jesus is the key that will set you free. Start walking in the authority that is yours by delegation, and use the Name of Jesus to receive what belongs to you!

I have a key that unlocks the door of my car. I may say, “I’m going to unlock the door,” but, really, it wouldn’t be me unlocking it. The key unlocks the door! I am simply using the key!

I may put the key into the ignition and say, “I’m going to start the car.” But the key starts the car. I simply insert the key and turn it. Generally speaking, all the power in a car’s engine and everything in that car hinges on that key.

There’s also a key in the spiritual realm, and without it, we would get nowhere in life. That key unlocks the windows, doors, and storehouses of Heaven. It unlocks power from on High. This “key” is the Name of Jesus! Jesus is the Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, High Priest, and Lord Who stands between us and the Father. And He’s given us His Name!

The Scripture has something to say concerning the Name of Jesus as the key. In Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, He obtained the key to our spiritual authority. Then He gave us the key. He gave us the authority to do His works in His Name.

When Jesus appeared to John on the isle of Patmos, He said, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the KEYS of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18).

Where the Word says that Jesus had possession of “the keys of hell and of death,” it is not talking about death as the cessation of life. It’s talking about spiritual death. The last enemy that’s going to be put underfoot (it hasn’t happened yet) is the cessation of life, which is natural death (1 Cor. 15:26). So in Revelation 1:18, Jesus was talking about holding the keys of spiritual death. In other words, through Him, spiritual death could no longer have dominion over those who accepted Jesus as Savior and received eternal life.

Do you realize that the one who holds the key has the authority? By way of illustration, I have a key in my possession that can unlock every lock on our min­istry campus. It’s called the grand-master key. I have that key, and I have authority to use it any time.

But my authority extends beyond that. I have authority to say which employees may use the key, and I have the authority to give a copy of the key to whomever I please. In other words, I have author­ity to use the key, and I have authority to delegate authority to use the key.

We know that Jesus has all power and author­ity in Heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). But what did Jesus do when He conquered the enemy? He gave you the key. He delegated authority to you and me. He gave the “key” to us, His Church. What is the key? The key is the Name!

MARK 16:17–18

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

We have authority in His Name. What are we commanded to do in that Name? Cast out devils, heal the sick, and receive whatever the Word promises us. The power to do these things is in the authority that’s in the Name—the Name that is recog­nized in three worlds (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 5:13).

At the Name of Jesus, angels stand at attention; humanity falls prostrate; and demons tremble like a leaf in the wind. Why do people bow in reverence to the Name of Jesus? Why do angels recognize and reverence that holy Name? Why do demons shudder in fear? Because Jesus was given a Name that’s above every Name, and at that Name, every knee shall bow (Phil. 2:10–11)!

Let’s look at another passage in which Jesus told the disciples t “go ye . . .” in the power, or authority, that had been given to Him!

MATTHEW 28:18–20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH.

19 GO YE THEREFORE, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Some people ignorantly say that healing has been done away with. They say that tongues have already ceased and that the Church doesn’t have any authority. Now let me ask you a question. If that is so, then why should we obey Matthew 28:19, which says, “Go ye therefore”? Why carry a key around in your pocket if that key is useless—if it doesn’t unlock anything?

When I leave town by plane, none of the keys I ordinarily carry are of any use to me. I take them out of my pocket and put them in my briefcase, because it wouldn’t do any good to carry them while I’m in another city. Why should I clutter my pockets with a “useless” set of keys, since there aren’t any keys on my key ring that would unlock anything in the city I’m visiting?

For example, I could fly to Atlanta from Tulsa and find a car identical to the one I own. It could be the same make, model, year, and even the same color. But my car key will not work on that car. My key is useless as far as that car is concerned. So if the Church doesn’t have any spiritual authority today, as some people claim, then those keys that Jesus retrieved are useless, and He wasted His time telling us to “go ye therefore” in His Name!

But, no! The Name of Jesus works anytime, any­where! We have the Name of Jesus, and the Name is the key to the spiritual authority that we possess in Him. The Name is unlike any other key you own, so be sure to hold on to the Name wherever you go, because that key works anytime, any­where.

The authority in the Name of Jesus hasn’t been done away with. There is still salvation; there is healing; there is prosperity; there is the power of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. The Name of Jesus still holds all the power that it ever did.

How do we exercise the authority Jesus gave us in His Name? We have to say something! We have to speak God’s Word. We have to say, “In the Name of Jesus, I have the victory. In the Name of Jesus, every demon, every sickness, every bit of poverty, and anything with a name that’s hindering me has to flee, because it is all under the authority of the Name that’s above every name!”

The Church has possession of that Name. I’m not talking about your church or my church; I’m talking about the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are born again by the blood of Jesus—they have that authority. They have the power in Jesus’ Name. He gave it to us. He gave us the key.

It’s time we realize what belongs to us and then march out boldly like Peter and do the works of Jesus. Peter knew what he had in the Name of Jesus. He had the authority to tell a crippled man to “rise and walk.” At the Gate called Beautiful, Peter said to the lame man, “Such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6)!

Notice that Peter didn’t say, “In the name of Church, rise and walk.” He didn’t say, “In the name of Preacher So-and-so . . . .” Peter said, “In the Name of Jesus, rise and walk”!

God exalted Jesus when He raised Him from the dead, victorious over death and hell. Now Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, far above all other authorities and powers. God conferred upon Jesus the highest Name. Jesus, in His resurrected body, is seated at the right hand of the Father. But Jesus left us His Name. His Name with all its power, authority, might, and dominion is ours today. Let’s start using it to rule and reign over all the works of the enemy!

Also Read: Power of Jesus' Name

Reflections | 21st May 2013

In today's Responsorial Psalm we read: The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:19) 

When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the New Birth we enter the Kingdom of God and become citizens of heaven. (Philippians 3:20) As citizens in the Kingdom we look to God alone as our source for all things. That is why it does not matter what economic situation your country is in. If you belong to the Kingdom of God, God is your overseer and caretaker and bible says: You shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine you shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:19) 

In the book of Genesis we read about how Isaac faced a season of famine. (Genesis 26:1-3) But in those days the bible says: Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. (Genesis 26:12-14) 

The same blessing that was on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is upon us in Christ. (Galatians 3:13-14) 

The word blessing means- "empowered to succeed". In Christ we are empowered to succeed in business, at the workplace, in Ministry and in every area of life. No matter what the economic situation your country is in if you obey the Word of God and follow His leading through the Holy Spirit you too will prosper in your business and succeed at the workplace. Scholars say that Isaac was at least a multi-billionaire in today's standards. If God did it for Isaac, He will do it for you too. This is the will of God for you. 

Let us pray today that God will make us sensitive to the leading of His Holy Spirit and teach us how to live prosperous and fruitful lives on this Earth in Jesus Name. Amen.

Reflections | 20th May 2013

In the first reading we read about how Jesus came down the Mount of Transfiguration and delivered a child from the power of the Devil. It is important to note that Jesus was not happy that His disciples could not get the job done. He said: O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. (Mark 9:19)

In Christ every believer has the power of heal sickness and cast out demons. The Bible says that we are raised together with Christ and we sit together with Him far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21-22) All authority in heaven and earth has been given to us in Christ. (Matthew 28:18-20)

It is important as followers of Christ that we exercise our Authority and deliver the people in our community from their sicknesses. Let us pray today that God will teach us how to use our Authority in Christ and make usable for His Kingdom in Jesus Name. Amen.

Also Watch: DTH by Curry Blake