COME TO THE TABLE
AND SAVOUR THE SIGHT
THE WINE AND THE BREAD
THAT WERE BROKEN
AND ALL HAVE BEEN
WELCOMED
TO COME IF THEY MIGHT
ACCEPT AS THEIR OWN
THESE TWO TOKENS
THE BREAD IS HIS BODY
THE WINE IS THE BLOOD
AND THE ONE WHO
PROVIDES THEM IS TRUE
HE FREELY OFFERS
WE FREELY RECEIVE
TO ACCEPT AND BELIEVE
HIM
IS ALL WE MUST DO
COME TO THE TABLE
AND TASTE OF THE GLORY
AND SAVOUR THE SORROW
HE’S DYING TOMORROW
THE HAND THAT IS
BREAKING THE BREAD
SOON WILL BE BROKEN
AND HERE AT THE TABLE
SIT THOSE WHO HAVE
LOVED HIM
ONE IS A TRAITOR
AND ONE WILL DENY
THOUGH HE’S LIVED HIS
LIFE FOR THEM ALL
AND FOR ALL BE
CRUCIFIED
COME TO THE TABLE
HE’S PUT THERE FOR YOU
THE BREAD OF
FORGIVENESS
THE WINE OF RELEASE
COME TO THE TABLE
AND SIT DOWN BESIDE
HIM
THE SAVIOUR WANTS YOU
TO JOIN IN THE FEAST
COME TO THE TABLE
AND SEE IN HIS EYES
THE LOVE THAT THE
FATHER
HAS SPOKEN
AND KNOW YOU WERE
WELCOME
WHATEVER YOUR CRIME
THOUGH EVERY
COMMANDMENT
YOU’VE BROKEN
AND NOT TO CONDEMN
AND HE OFFERS A
PARDON OF PEACE
IF YOU’LL COME TO THE
TABLE
YOU’LL FEEL IN YOUR
HEART
THE GREATEST
FORGIVENESS
THE GREATEST RELEASE
HOW BEAUTIFUL
TWILA PARIS
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TWILA PARIS MUSIC VIDEO
How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty road and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sins and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price
How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure love so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
THE SECRET IS...
CHRIST IN ME
THE
SECRET IS CHRIST IN ME
NOT TO
TRY TO BE LIKE HIM
BUT BE
TRANSFORMED
BY HIS
POWER WITHIN
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE SECRET IS CHRIST IN ME
JESUS THE
SON OF GOD DIVINE
MY LORD,
MY GOD,THE BREAD, THE WINE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE SECRET IS GLORIOUS LIBERTY
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
RESURRECTION
POWER REIGNING IN MY LIFE
THE
OUTFLOWING FRAGRANCE OF JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE SECRET IS JOYOUS CERTAINTY
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE WIND
OF HIS SPIRIT AROUND ME
THE
FRAGRANCE OF HIS LOVE SURROUNDS ME
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE
SECRET IS GIVING HIM CONTROL
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
SPIRITUAL
ADVENTURE FILLS MY SOUL
IN JESUS
NAME, BE MADE WHOLE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
THE SECRET IS CHRIST IN ME
NOT TO
TRY TO BE LIKE HIM
BUT BE
TRANSFORMED
BY HIS
POWER WITHIN
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE
CHRIST
ALIVE IN ME
Copyright Ann McGee
TALITHA
CUMI
TALITHA
CUMI
TALITHA
CUMI
I SAY TO
YOU
LITTLE GIRL
ARISE!
TALITHA CUMI
TALITHA CUMI
TALITHA
CUMI
I SAY TO
YOU
LITTLE
GIRL
TAKE MY HAND
THE HAND OF JESUS
ARISE!
ARISE!
...SPIRIT OF FIRE
WORD RISING
HIGHER AND HIGHER
IN COVENANT
WIND BLOW FROM HEAVEN
WIND BLOW
ITS COMING TO PASS
WIND BLOW...
IT'S GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
AND IT'S COMING TO PASS
FIRE OF GOD
ITS COMING TO PASS
SPIRIT POURED OUT
FROM THE SEA OF GLASS
GOD WATCHES OVER HIS WORD
HIS WORD IS GOD
ITS COMING TO PASS
HIS WORD IS GOD
WIND BLOW FROM HEAVEN
WIND BLOW...
ITS COMING TO PASS
WIND BLOW...
GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
AND IT'S COMING TO PASS
FIRE OF GOD
ITS COMING TO PASS
SPIRIT POURED OUT
FROM THE SEA OF GLASS
GOD WATCHES OVER HIS WORD
HIS WORD IS GOD
ITS COMING TO PASS
HIS WORD IS GOD
WIND BLOW FROM HEAVEN
WIND BLOW...
SPIRIT OF FIRE
WORD RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER
IN COVENANT
IN COVENANT
IT'S GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
AND IT'S COMING TO PASS...
GOD’S WORD
GOD’S WORD
AND IT'S COMING TO PASS...
YOUR NAME IS
AS PERFUME POURED OUT
YOUR NAME
IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
YOUR NAME
IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
JESUS MY
LORD
YOUR NAME
IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
YOUR NAME
IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
WONDERFUL
COUNSELOR
MIGHTY GOD
EVERLASTING
FATHER
PRINCE OF
PEACE
YOUR NAME IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
YOUR NAME IS AS PERFUME POURED OUT
CHORUS:
IN THE
NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
IN THE
NAME OF MY LORD
IN THE
POWER OF JESUS BLOOD
IN THE
FIRE OF HIS WORD
THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
YOUR NAME
IS AS
PERFUME
AS PERFUME
AS PERFUME
POURED OUT
JESUS, MY
LORD
MY MAKER
REDEEMER
EMMANUEL
THE LAMB
THAT WAS SLAIN
YOUR NAME
IS AS
OINTMENT
AS
OINTMENT
AS
OINTMENT
POURED OUT
JESUS, MY
LORD
CHORUS:
IN THE
NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
IN THE
NAME OF MY LORD
IN THE
POWER OF JESUS BLOOD
IN THE
FIRE OF YOUR WORD
THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
THE
SPIRIT, THE WATER AND THE BLOOD AGREE
BY THE
WORD OF MY TESTIMONY
IN THE
NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
BRING
VICTORY
MY LORD
..CONTINUE
AS LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT...
JESUS
MY KING....
WIND BLOW
OVER THE
HILLS FROM CALVARY…
WIND BLOW
OVER
THE GRASS
WIND BLOW
OVER ME
BRING
RESURRECTION VICTORY
WIND
BLOW...
...DANCE....
THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU
AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU
THE LORD TURN HIS FACE TOWARDS YOU
AND GIVE YOU PEACE
____
EXTRACTS
FROM THE SERMON OF
CREFLO
DOLLAR
RESTING IN THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
ROMANS 5:17 SAYS:
FOR IF BY ONE MAN’S OFFENCE, DEATH REIGNED BY ONE; HOW MUCH MORE I
WHO RECEIVE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE, AND OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, SHALL REIGN
IN LIFE BY ONE, JESUS CHRIST.
WITHOUT JESUS, NONE OF US
ARE RIGHTEOUS, BUT IN HIM I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I HAVE RECEIVED THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S GRACE,
AND THE GIFT OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, TO REIGN IN LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, MY
LORD. I STAND BEFORE GOD WITHOUT
SHAME. I STAND IN HIS ANOINTING AND
AUTHORITY. I AM BORN AGAIN, BAPTIZED,
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN OTHER
TONGUES. I STAND BEFORE GOD PURE AND
HOLY, THROUGH THE FREE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVEN TO ME. I HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHTEOUS. I AM A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD.
I WALK IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF GOD ALMIGHTY. THROUGH THE BLOOD OF
JESUS, AND IN HIS NAME, I DECLARE MY AUTHORITY TO LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND
THEY WILL RECOVER; TO SPEAK, AND I’LL SEE WHAT I SAY; TO SOW SEEDS, AND THE HARVEST
WILL COME FORTH, TO CAST OUT DEVILS, AND THEY WILL LEAVE. I KNOW THAT WHEN I PRAY I HAVE AN ANSWER TO
MY PRAYERS. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES ME
INCREASING REVELATION OF MY AUTHORITY THROUGH RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD
ALMIGHTY. MY PROSPERITY HANGS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS,
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT HANGS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS, MY DELIVERANCE HANGS ON
RIGHTEOUSNESS, MY AUTHORITY HANGS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS; IN CHRIST, I AM THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
PRAYER IS NOT WHAT I DO TO
BECOME RIGHTEOUS; PRAYER IS WHAT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE DO. JESUS HAD MADE ME RIGHTEOUS. COMING TO CHURCH – I DON’T COME TO CHURCH TO
TRY TO BECOME MORE RIGHTEOUS; COMING TO CHURCH IS WHAT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE DO. I DON’T TITHE TO BECOME RIGHTEOUS; TITHING IS
WHAT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE DO. I DON’T PRAISE
THE LORD TO BECOME RIGHTEOUS; PRAISING THE LORD IS WHAT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE
DO. I DON’T WALK IN LOVE TO TRY TO
BECOME RIGHTEOUS; HEY, WALKING IN LOVE IS WHAT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE DO. I DON’T LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, TRY TO SHOW
OFF, AND SHOW HOW RIGHTEOUS I AM, THAT’S JUST WHAT I DO. I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND THESE ARE
THE THINGS THAT I DO.
I STAND BEFORE GOD, KNOWING
THAT I AM POSSESSED BY GOD’S ABILITY. I
STAND BEFORE GOD WITHOUT GUILT.
I HAVE FAITH IN HIS
BLOOD. I KNOW WHAT HIS BLOOD HAS
ACCOMPLISHED, AND RATIFIED FOR ME. I
HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS THROUGH HIS BLOOD:
REVELATION 12 SAYS: “WE OVERCOME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE
WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY”. I OPEN MY
MOUTH, HALLELUJAH, I OPEN MY MOUTH AND TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT THE BLOOD HAS
ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED. I OPEN MY MOUTH
AND SAY TO YOU, DEVIL, ‘THE BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT IS MINE, GOD’S GIVEN ME THE
RIGHT TO COME TO HIM AND TO ASK FOR HELP, SO YOU BETTER HURRY UP AND GET OUT
FROM AROUND ME BECAUSE I’VE GOT RIGHT TO GO AND ASK FOR HELP!’ I DO NOT BOAST IN MYSELF, I TESTIFY TO WHAT
THE BLOOD HAS ALREADY OBTAINED FOR ME:
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO COME BOLDLY INTO THE THRONE OF GOD AND TO ASK FOR
HELP IN A TIME OF TROUBLE,
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO HAVE SOUNDNESS IN MY SPIRIT, SOUNDNESS IN MY SOUL
AND SOUNDNESS IN MY PHYSICAL BODY,
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO PRAY AND GET ANSWERS TO EVERY ONE OF MY PRAYERS,
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO HAVE THE EVER PRESENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST,
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO HAVE WEALTH AND RICHES IN MY HOUSE,
BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I
HAVE A BLOOD BOUGHT RIGHT TO LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND SEE THEM RECOVER,
AND BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS,
ANY DEVIL THAT RISES UP AGAINST ME, I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CAST HIM OUT BY THE
BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
AMEN, AMEN! IT IS SO.
WHEW, GLORY. I’M THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I’M THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. WHEN I PRAY, I GET
ANSWERS, BECAUSE I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
I MEAN, MY ATTITUDE, IT DOES SOMETHING TO MY ATTITUDE. BECAUSE IF I OPEN MY MOUTH UP AND GET DOWN ON
MY KNEES AND PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THAT THING WILL SURELY COME TO PASS
BECAUSE I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
BECAUSE IF I LAY HANDS ON YOU, SOMETHINGS GOING TO GET IN YOU, IT’S
CALLED THE ANOINTING, BECAUSE I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
IT DOES SOMETHING TO MY ATTITUDE.
I STAND BEFORE THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL FEARLESSLY, BECAUSE I
REALISE, THAT T’M POSSESSED WITH THE ABILITY OF GOD. IT’S A FREE GIFT GIVEN TO ME. I PUT ON CHRIST JESUS. I HAVE THE REVELATION OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I CAN DO WHAT JESUS DID. HE
SAID ‘THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL YOU DO ALSO, AND GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL
YOU DO BECAUSE I GO TO MY FATHER, AND YOU SEE ME NO MORE’. AND WHEN HE WENT TO HIS AND MY FATHER, HE
SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT IS ALSO CONVINCING ME THAT I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. LOOK OUT DEVIL! LOOK OUT DEVIL!
I HAVE EQUALITY WITH GOD, AS HIS SON, AN HEIR OF GOD AND JOINT
HEIR WITH CHRIST JESUS. THE SAME SPIRIT
THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD IS IN ME.
I DIGEST THIS TRUTH. I AM GOD’S
GLORY AND REFLECTION IN THIS EARTH. I
KNOW WHO I AM. I’M NOT A MERE MAN. I’M JUST LIKE GOD, JUST LIKE JESUS.
MAN IS MADE LIKE GOD AND IS A REFLECTION OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD IS A SPIRIT. SO I AM A SPIRIT. I DON’T HAVE A SPIRIT, I AM A
SPIRIT. MY BODY IS MY EARTH SUIT. IN ORDER TO HAVE PHYSICAL AUTHORITY, IN THIS
PHYSICAL WORLD, I NEED A PHYSICAL OUTFIT.
IT GIVES ME LEGAL AUTHORITY TO BE ON THE EARTH. JESUS WAS GOD BUT GOD IN AN EARTH SUIT, WHICH
MEANT HE HAD LEGAL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AS A MAN - WHICH MEANT THAT WHEN HE SAID
‘COME OUT’, YOU HAD TO COME OUT.
MAN, MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, TO BE LIKE HIM. ‘WHAT IS MAN, WHAT IS THIS MAN, WHAT IS THIS
MAN THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM? WHAT
IS MAN, THAT THOU VISITETH HIM AND CROWN HIS HEAD WITH GLORY AND HONOUR? WHAT IS THIS MAN, THIS MAN THAT THOU HAS MADE
A LITTLE LOWER THAN ELOHIM – THE GOD AND CREATOR OF ALL PHYSICAL THINGS. I HAVE CREATIVE ABILITY, LIKE ELOHIM, TO CALL
THOSE THINGS THAT BE NOT AS THOUGH THEY ARE.
OH, GLORY TO GOD.
AFTER GOD BREATHED INTO THE NOSTRILS OF MAN, MAN BECAME ‘ANOTHER
SPEAKING SPIRIT’ – ONE THAT WAS MADE LIKE THE ORIGINAL SPEAKING SPIRIT. ONE DAY, GOD DID THIS INSIDE MY VESSEL. AND I MAY NOT BE ALL OF THIS, BUT FOR SURE I
CAME FROM ALL OF THIS, SO THE SAME STUFF THIS IS, IS THE SAME STUFF THAT THIS
IS. I AM JUST LIKE HIM.
I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, MADE LIKE
GOD THEREFORE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL ‘ABBA FATHER’. I’VE BEEN MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN
ELOHIM. I’M NOT A MERE MAN, I COME FROM
GOD STOCK.
I AM MADE AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF GOD. (JAMES 3:9)
LET THIS MIND BE IN ME, (AMPLIFIED: LET THIS ATTITUDE BE IN ME),
LET THIS WAY OF THINKING BE IN ME, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS (WHO CALLED
ME HIS BRETHREN AND SAID I AM A JOINT HEIR), WHO BEING IN THE FORM OF MAN
THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD.
LET THIS MIND BE IN ME. I AM A
SON, MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
BUT WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON,
MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW, TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW,
THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE ADOPTION AS SONS.
ADOPTION. THAT MEANS WHEN GOD
ADOPTED ME, I HAVE THE EXACT SAME EQUAL PRIVILEGES THAT HIS OWN SON JESUS
HAS. AND BECAUSE I AM A SON, GOD HAS
SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO MY HEART, CRYING ABBA FATHER, WHEREFORE I
AM NO MORE A SERVANT BUT A SON, AND IF A SON, THEN I’M AN AN HEIR OF GOD
THROUGH CHRIST. I’M A SON OF GOD AND I
STILL WANT TO ACT LIKE A SERVANT? I’M NO MORE A SERVANT, I’M NO MORE A SERVANT,
I’M NO MORE A SERVANT, I’M NO MORE A SERVANT, I’M NO MORE A SERVANT, I’M A SON,
I’M AN HEIR OF GOD AND JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST JESUS.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD AS A SON.
BECAUSE I’M A SON, I CAN COME BOLDLY INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD AND I
CAN ASK FOR HELP IN A TIME OF TROUBLE, BECAUSE I AM A SON.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD, NOT AS A SERVANT BUT AS A SON, AND I KNOW
NOW WHEN I SPEAK IT SHALL COME TO PASS BECAUSE I SPEAK AS A SON.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD, NOT AS A SERVANT BUT AS A SON, AND I KNOW
NOW WHEN I LAY HANDS, THEY SHALL BE HEALED BECAUSE I LAY HANDS AS A SON.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD, NOT AS A SERVANT BUT AS A SON, AND I KNOW
WHEN I SOW SEEDS, I GET A HARVEST BECAUSE I SOW AS A SON.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD, NOT AS A SERVANT BUT AS A SON, AND I
REALISE WHEN I PRAY I GET ANSWERS TO PRAYER BECAUSE I PRAY AS A SON.
I’M STANDING BEFORE GOD, NOT AS A SERVANT BUT AS A SON, AND I
REALISE WHEN I RAISE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE THAT ANOINTING REMOVES BURDENS AND
DESTROYS YOKES BECAUSE I AM A SON.
I AM NO LONGER STANDING BEFORE MY DADDY WITH GUILT AND
CONDEMNATION AND INFERIORITY. NO, I’VE
BEEN ADOPTED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. THE
BLOOD OF JESUS HAS RESCUED ME. I AM THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I AM AN HEIR AND
JOINT HEIR WITH CHRIST JESUS. GREATER IS
HE THAT IS IN ME, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.
I RULE AND REIGN IN LIFE. I TAKE
OVER! I TAKE OVER! I GO IN THERE AND TAKE OVER MY FAMILY. I GO IN THERE AND TAKE OVER MY FINANCES. I GO IN THERE AND TAKE OVER MY
NEIGHBOURHOOD. I GO IN THERE AND TAKE OVER
THE TROUBLE. I KICK IT OUT! KICK IT OUT!
KICK IT OUT! KICK IT
OUT! I’M A SON.
WHEW, GLORY TO GOD. I TELL
MYSELF EVERY DAY I WAKE UP, I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I TELL MYSELF EVERY DAY I GO TO WORK, I’M THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I TELL MYSELF WHEN
I’M FACING THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I TELL MYSELF IN THE FACE OF SICKNESS AND DISEASE,
I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I TELL
MYSELF WHEN MY BILLS ARE LOOKING AT ME, I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. I CALL MY POSSESSIONS FORTH. I CALL MY LAND IN. HEY, I’M THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
ALMIGHTY. WHEW, GLORY! I SHOUT IN THIS PLACE! MY GOD!
_____
Extracts from the sermon on tape given to his parters
JERRY SAVELLE
GOD WANTS ME FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. HE HAS DELIVERED AND DRAWN ME TO HIMSELF OUT OF THE CONTROL AND DOMINION OF DARKNESS, SATAN AND ALL HIS COHORTS. SATAN HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER ME WHATSOEVER, AMEN. ACCORDING TO WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL TEACHES ME, ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT CALVARY, WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE, JESUS DEFEATED SATAN, AND TOOK FROM HIM HIS ABILITY TO HOLD ME CAPTIVE. COL. 2:15 SAYS: ‘HAVING SPOILT PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS HE MADE A SHOW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.’ THE AMPLIFIED SAYS: ‘HE DISARMED THEM’. – HE DISARMED THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS THAT RANGED AGAINST US. ‘HE DISARMED THEM’ MEANS HE TOOK AWAY SATAN’S WEAPONS – HE HAS NO WEAPONS, PRAISE GOD. JESUS DEPRIVED HIM OF HIS ABILITY TO HARM AND TO HURT ME. ‘DISARMED’ MEANS JESUS OVERCAME SATAN’S HOSTILITY AGAINST ME. ‘DISARMED’ MEANS HE REDUCED HIS POWER AND HIS ABILITY TO ZERO. HALLELUJAH.
LUKE 11:22 SAYS: ‘BUT WHEN A STRONGER THAN HE SHALL COME AND OVERCOME HIM, HE TAKETH FROM HIM ALL HIS ARMOUR WHEREIN HE TRUSTED’. JESUS WAS THE STRONGER AND HE OVERCAME MY ADVERSARY AND TOOK FROM HIM ALL THE ARMOUR IN WHICH HE TRUSTED. REVELATION 1:8 SAYS: ‘I AM HE THAT LIVETH AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE, AND I HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH’. HEBREWS 2:14 SAYS: ‘THAT THROUGH DEATH, HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL’. THE AMPLIFIED SAYS: ‘AND TO BRING TO NOUGHT AND TO MAKE OF NO EFFECT HIS POWER AND HIS ABILITY’. THE ROTHERHAM TRANSLATION SAYS: ‘HE PARALYSED SATAN’S DEATH DEALING POWER’. HALLELUJAH! THE ONE YOU AND I ARE DEALING WITH IS POWERLESS. HALLELUJAH! WHY THEN, ARE SO MANY OF GOD’S PEOPLE STILL IN BONDAGE AND STILL IN CAPTIVITY? A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. I PRAY THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN HIS KNOWLEDGE. THE BIBLE SAYS IF I CONTINUE IN THE WORD, I WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE ME FREE. WHEN I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS, I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. I AM BEYOND DEFEAT. AMEN.
1 JOHN 2:14 SAYS: ‘YOU ARE STRONG, AND THE WORD OF GOD ABIDETH IN YOU AND YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE’. STRONG, WHY? BECAUSE ‘THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU’ AND WHEN THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN ME RICHLY, I WILL OVERCOME EVERY ATTACK OF THE EVIL ONE, NO MATTER WHAT COMES AGAINST ME, IT WILL NOT SUCCEED WHEN I STAND IN THE AUTHORITY THAT JESUS HAS CONFERRED ON ME. LUKE 10:19 SAYS: ‘BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU POWER, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU’. JESUS HAS SHATTERED SATAN’S AUTHORITY. HE HAS NO POWER OVER ME, HE HAS NO CONTROL OVER ME. AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO FEAR REGARDING SATAN AND HIS OPERATIONS. IT’S TIME FOR ME TO BEGIN TO ACT AS IF I TRULY BELIEVE IT. WHEN I ACT LIKE THE BIBLE IS TRUE, THEN I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. TRIAL AND ADVERSITIES MAY COME MY WAY, BUT THEY CANNOT KEEP ME FROM LIVING A VICTORIUS LIFE WHEN I KNOW WHO I AM IN CHRIST AND I KNOW MY AUTHORITY AS A CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD. PSALM 34:19 SAYS: ‘MANY EVILS CONFRONT THE CONSISTENTLY RIGHTEOUS, BUT THE LORD DELIVERS THEM OUT OF THEM ALL’. GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR ME TO FAIL, HE NEVER INTENDED FOR ME TO LIVE A DEFEATED LIFE. NOTHING MAKES GOD HAPPIER THAN WHEN HE SEES ME TAKING HIS WORD, TAKING HIS ARMOUR, TAKING HIS NAME AND OVERCOMING EVERY ATTACK THAT IS LAUNCHED AGAINST ME. I REFUSE TO GIVE UP. I REFUSE TO GIVE IN. GOD IS ON MY SIDE. AND IF GOD BE FOR ME, NO-ONE CAN SUCCESSFULLY BE AGAINST ME. GOD HAS PROMISED NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER. HALLELUJAH. WHEN GOD IS ON MY SIDE, I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. DEFEAT BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST. GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY. RIGHT NOW, WHILE I’M TALKING, GOD IS MAKING THAT WAY, HALLELUJAH. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:10 SAYS: ‘FOR IT IS HE WHO RESCUED AND SAVED US, AND HE WILL AGAIN DELIVER US FROM DANGER AND DESTRUCTION AND HE WILL DRAW US TO HIMSELF’. THE APOSTLE PAUL EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES GOD’S DELIVERING POWER. MANY TIMES PAUL FACED DEATH, MANY TIMES HE FACED TRIALS AND ADVERSITIES, BUT GOD DELIVERED HIM TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND PAUL IS SO CONFIDENT THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER HIM THAT HE SAYS ‘HE WILL AGAIN DELIVER US FROM DANGER AND DESTRUCTION AND HE WILL DRAW US TO HIMSELF’. I AM HIS CHILD. HE WILL DELIVER ME ALSO. HALLELUJAH. GLORY TO GOD. ACTS 7:9-10 SAYS: ‘BOILING WITH ENVY AND HATRED AND ANGER, HIS BROTHERS SOLD JOSEPH INTO SLAVERY IN EGYPT, BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM AND DELIVERED HIM FROM ALL HIS DISTRESSING AFFLICTIONS AND WON HIM GOOD WILL AND FAVOUR’. WHEN GOD’S FAVOUR IS ON MY LIFE, WHEN GOD’S GOODNESS IS SURROUNDING ME THEN GOD WILL SEE TO IT, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF AFFLICTION I MAY EXPERIENCE, GOD WILL TURN EVERY SETBACK INTO A VICTORY. HE DID IT FOR JOSEPH AND HE WILL DO IT FOR ME. I MAY BE STRUCK DOWN, BUT I AM NEVER STRUCK OUT, HALLELUJAH. I AM INDEED BEYOND DEFEAT. WHEN I ACT ON WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ME, NOT WHAT MAN THINKS, SATAN CANNOT KEEP ME FROM OVERCOMING EVERY ATTACK THAT HE LAUNCHES AGAINST ME. CONTRARY TO WHAT SATAN SAYS, HE IS NOT ALL POWERFUL. ONLY GOD IS ALL POWERFUL. SATAN IS NOT ALL POWERFUL AS HE WOULD HAVE ME BELIEVE. I’M THE ONE WITH THE POWER. GOD’S THE ONE WITH THE POWER. AND THANK GOD, IT’S BEEN BESTOWED UPON ME. I HAVE BEEN INDUED WITH POWER, THE BIBLE SAYS. I’M THE ONE WITH THE POWER. I’M THE ONE WITH THE AUTHORITY, NOT SATAN. HE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO. I ACT ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO ME. LUKE 24:49 SAYS: ‘WE SHALL BE INDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH’. INDUED MEANS I HAVE PUT IT ON AND AM CLOTHED WITH IT. WHEN I AM INDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH, IT MEANS I HAVE PUT IT ON AND AM CLOTHED WITH IT. I AM WALKING AROUND WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY. FOR AS I KNOW, AND AM FILLED WITH, THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, I REALISE THAT POWER AND AUTHORITY IS AS CLOSE TO ME AS MY NEXT BREATH; POWER AND AUTHORITY IS AS CLOSE TO ME AS MY ABILITY TO SPEAK THE NAME OF JESUS AND THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD. IT ALSO MEANS THAT I AM SKILLED IN POWER. I KNOW HOW TO TAKE THIS POWER AND AUTHORITY AND APPLY IT TO ATTACKS AND ADVERSITIES AND OPPOSITION, AND KNOW, THAT NO POWER IS GREATER THAN THE POWER OF GOD UPON MY LIFE. MATTHEW 16:18 SAYS: ‘UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT’. THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAYS: ‘SHALL NOT OVERPOWER IT’. WHAT IS THE ROCK? REVELATION KNOWLEDGE. HALLELUJAH! WHEN I AM WALKING IN REVELATION KNOWLEDGE, THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT OVERPOWER OR PREVAIL AGAINST ME. I REFUSE TO HAVE A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF MY AUTHORITY OVER SATAN AS A BELIEVER. I WILL ACT ON THAT KNOWLEDGE. I WILL NOT GIVE UP BECAUSE I WILL WIN. IT’S NEVER GOD’S WILL FOR ME TO BE DEFEATED. I KNOW WHO I AM IN CHRIST. THE BIBLE SAYS: ‘THANKS BE UNTO GOD THAT CAUSES ME TO TRIUMPH ALWAYS’. JESUS ALREADY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR THIS AUTHORITY THAT I AM INDUED WITH, THAT I POSSESS. GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS. HIS WORD WILL WORK FOR ANY BELIEVER THAT WILL DARE PUT IT TO WORK, HALLELUJAH. I EXERCISE MY AUTHORITY AND I STAND MY GROUND. DEFEAT IS NOT GOD’S PLAN FOR MY LIFE. I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. NOT AFTER WHAT JESUS DID AT CALVARY, I CANNOTBE DEFEATED. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN MY ABILITY, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN MY MIGHT, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN MY STRENGTH. IN MY OWN ABILITY I’M NO MATCH FOR SATAN. BUT I QUIT LEANING ON MY ABILITY AND I AM FILLED WITH THE MIGHT OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HALLELUJAH. AND I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME. AND SATAN IS NO MATCH FOR THE MIGHT OF THE ALMIGHTY, HALLELUJAH! I AM JUST DECLARING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. DEUTERONOMY 28:13 SAYS: AND THE LORD WILL MAKE ME THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL. I SHALL BE ABOVE ONLY AND I SHALT NOT BE BENEATH’. THAT’S MY COVENANT. GOD PROMISED BY COVENANT THAT I WILL BE THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL. I WILL BE ABOVE ONLY AND NOT BENEATH. THAT MEANS IT IS NEVER THE WILL OF GOD THAT I EXPERIENCE DEFEAT IN MY LIFE. I AM A WINNER. THERE IS NOT A LOSER IN THIS ROOM TODAY. GLORY TO GOD. NO MATTER WHAT SETBACKS, I’M NOT A FAILURE UNTIL I DECLARE I AM A FAILURE. AND I AM NOT GOING TO DECLARE THAT, BECAUSE THE BIBLE DOES NOT DECLARE THAT, AND ‘M NOT LEANING TO MY OWN WISDOM, I’M LEANING TO THE WISDOM OF GOD. AND WHETHER IT LOOKS LIKE IT, WHETHER I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED SUCCESS OR NOT, THE BIBLE SAYS I AM, THE BIBLE SAYS I CAN, AND I’M GOING TO HOLD FAST TO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, AND EVENTUALLY THINGS WILL TURN AROUND IN MY LIFE, HALLELUJAH! GLORY TO GOD. HIDE AND WATCH, IT AIN’T OVER YET! LET ALL THE WINNERS SHOUT HALLELUJAH. I AM DEVELOPING A WINNER’S ATTITUDE. I’M NOT A LOSER. I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. NOT AFTER WHAT JESUS DID AT CALVARY, HALLELUJAH. JESUS DEFEATED MY ADVERSARY. HE’S BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO. GLORY TO GOD. HALLELUJAH. I REFUSE TO ACCEPT DEFEAT. I KNOW WHO IS FOR ME: THE ALMIGHTY GOD. GOD IS FOR ME, GOD IS WITH ME, AND GOD IS IN ME. AND GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD, HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! I HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF A WINNER. I KNOW GOD IS FOR ME, I KNOW GOD IS WITH ME, AND I KNOW GOD IS IN ME. WHEN I HAVE A REVELATION OF GOD FOR ME, GOD WITH ME AND GOD IN ME, THEN I AM BEYOND DEFEAT. HALLELUJAH, GOD IS FOR ME, GOD IS WITH ME, AND GOD IS IN ME, AND I CANNOT BE DEFEATED. HALLELUJAH. GLORY TO GOD. I CANNOT BE DEFEATED WHEN I KNOW THESE THINGS. I DON’T NEED MORE MONEY, MORE BREAKS OR MORE SLACK. I NEED MORE KNOWLEDGE. IF THE WORLD CAN ACHIEVE WITH WILL POWER, WHAT CAN I ACHIEVE WITH GOD POWER. I REFUSE TO LAY DOWN OR GIVE UP, I HAVE GOD POWER ON THE INSIDE OF ME. I AM A WINNER, NOT A LOSER. I WILL NOT PLAY DEAD AND LET THE DEVIL RUN OVER ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, AND LET THE DEVIL KEEP ME FROM EXPERIENCING ALL THAT GOD SAYS IS RIGHTFULLY MINE. I WILL ACT LIKE THE BIBLE IS TRUE. I AM WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS I AM, I HAVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS I HAVE, AND I CAN DO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS I CAN DO. DEFEAT WILL BECOME A THING OF THE PAST, WHEN I BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS I AM AND BELIEVE THAT I CAN DO WHAT GOD SAYS I CAN DO. MY BREAKTHROUGHS ARE GOING TO START COMING MORE RAPIDLY THAN BEFORE, AND I CANNOT BE DEFEATED, AMEN. I GIVE THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, WHO HAS DELIVERED ME.
I TAKE AUTHORITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS OVER.....
_____
KENNETH COPELAND
BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY MAGAZINE MAY 2000
REFUSE THE FEAR
‘FEAR NOT’ IS NOT JUST A SUGGESTION;
IT’S A COMMAND - A COMMAND WE’VE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.
‘I’M AFRAID SO’
‘I’M AFRAID NOT’
‘I’M AFRAID I CAN’T MAKE IT ON TIME’
NO ONE LIKES TO BE AFRAID. YET PEOPLE HAVE BECOME SO USED TO FEAR, THEY
HAVE TROUBLE IMAGING LIFE WITHOUT IT. IT’S
SUCH A PART OF THEIR THINKING THEY’VE MADE IT A FAMILIAR - EVEN WELCOME - PART
OF THEIR CONVERSATION.
‘WELL, BROTHER COPELAND, ISN’T FEAR A NATURAL THING?’ YES,
AND THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT. GOD’S WORD NOT ONLY TELLS US WE CAN LIVE FREE
FROM FEAR, BUT IT ALSO COMMANDS US TO DO SO.
LOOK AT WHAT THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID ABOUT FEAR.
FEAR THOU NOT; FOR I
AM WITH THEE: BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA, I
WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS
(ISAIAH 41:10).
FEAR NOT; FOR THOU
SHALT NOT BE ASHAMED; NEITHER BE THOU CONFOUNDED; FOR THOU SHALT NOT BE PUT TO
SHAME: FOR THOU SHALT FORGET THE SHAME OF THY YOUTH, AND SHALT NOT REMEMBER THE
REPROACH OF THY WIDOWHOOD ANY MORE. FOR
THY MAKER IS THINE HUSBAND; THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME; AND THY REDEEMER THE
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE BE CALLED (ISAIAH
54:4-5).
IN BOTH OF THESE PASSAGES ‘FEAR NOT’ IS NOT JUST A SUGGESTION; IT’S A COMMAND - A COMMAND WE’VE NOT
TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. YES,
THE HUMAN RACE IS RIDDLED WITH FEAR, BUT CHRISTIANS NOT ONLY DON’T HAVE TO BE,
BUT SHOULD NOT BE.
LET’S LOOK AT HOW FEAR CAME INTO THE WORLD. THE BIBLE SAYS, ‘…SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN…’ (ROM 5:12). WHEN ADAM MADE SATAN HIS LORD, SATAN -
WHO NEVER CREATED ANYTHING - PERVERTED THE FORCE OF FAITH IN ADAM AND IT BECAME
FEAR.
EVERYTHING GOD HAD INVESTED IN ADAM’S SPIRIT CAME
UNDER THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH, FROM WHICH CHRIST (THE ANOINTED ONE) FREED US
(ROM 8:2). THE FAITH ADAM RECEIVED WITH
WHICH TO CONNECT WITH GOD BECAME THE SAME SPIRITUAL FORCE THAT CONNECTED HIM TO
THE DEVIL. FEAR IS TWISTED OR PERVERTED FAITH.
FEAR WORKS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD THE SAME AS FAITH - IT ACTIVATES SATAN THE WAY FAITH ACTIVATES
GOD.
EVIDENCES OF THIS ARE ALL AROUND US. FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE WHO IS TOLD THEY’LL DIE
OF CANCER WILL FEAR DEATH BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAITH IN CANCER. FEAR OF CANCER IS REALLY FAITH IN ITS ABILITY
TO KILL YOU. FEAR OF A POISONOUS SNAKE
IS REALLY FAITH IN THAT SNAKE’S ABILITY TO HURT AND KILL. FEAR OF OUR CHILDREN FALLING ILL WITH DISEASE
IS FAITH IN THE SICKNESS AND DISEASE.
FEAR IS CONNECTED TO
THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH THE SAME WAY FAITH
IS CONNECTED TO THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS.
SO WHEN GOD
SAYS ‘FEAR NOT’ WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS TO RESIST FEAR.
THE KEY TO GETTING
RID OF FEAR
REMEMBER, GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU HANDLING THE FEAR. HE’S ALREADY OVERCOME IT FOR YOU. HE WANTS YOU TO GET RID OF IT! LET’S SPEND SOME TIME IN ISAIAH 54 LOOKING AT HOW FEAR OPERATES
AND HOW WE CAN GET RID OF IT. LOOK AT
VERSE 10 AND VERSES 13-14:
FOR THE MOUNTAINS
SHALL DEPART, AND THE HILLS BE REMOVED; BUT MY KINDNESS SHALL NOT DEPART FROM
THEE, NEITHER SHALL THE COVENANT OF MY PEACE BE REMOVED, SAITH THE LORD
THAT HATH MERCY ON THEE… AND ALL THY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT OF THE LORD; AND
GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF THY CHILDREN.
IN RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALT THOU BE ESTABLISHED: THOU SHALT BE FAR FROM OPPRESSION; FOR
THOU SHALT NOT FEAR: AND FROM TERROR; FOR IT SHALL NOT COME NEAR THEE.
THE KEY TO GETTING RID OF FEAR IS GIVEN TO US IN THAT
LAST VERSE - BE ESTABLISHED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
BEING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN
THROUGH OUR OWN EFFORTS. WE ARE IN RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD
BECAUSE HE SAID SO, THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
OUR PART IS TO ESTABLISH THAT TRUTH IN OUR OWN THINKING. WE ARE RIGHTEOUS IN HIM AND GOD IS FOR US AND
NOT AGAINST US. EVEN WHEN WE MAKE
MISTAKES, GOD SAYS, ‘DON’T WALLOW AROUND IN GUILT! JUST COME TO ME, CONFESS THE THING AND GET
RID OF IT!’
THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD BE TO
TEACH THEM GOOD JUDGMENT - NOT FEAR.
WHEN WE TRAIN OUR CHILDREN WE COULD SAY, ‘DON’T GO OUT IN THE
STREET. DADDY’S AFRAID YOU’LL BE
RUN OVER…’ OR WE COULD SAY, ‘ YOU SEE THAT CAR?
CARS ARE GOOD AND ONE DAY YOU’LL BEG ME TO DRIVE MINE. BUT DON’T PLAY IN THE STREET BECAUSE CARS CAN
MASH YOU FLAT!’ THE SECOND WAY DOESN’T
BRING FEAR INTO GOOD JUDGMENT. SURE, IT
TAKES MORE TIME THAN SAYING, ‘GET OUT OF THE STREET. DON’T YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET KILLED OUT
THERE!’ BUT IT DOESN’T RELEASE FEAR INTO
THE CHILD’S LIFE.
FAR FROM OPPRESSION
ACCORDING TO VERSE 14, WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEN WE’LL BE FAR FROM OPPRESSION BECAUSE WE WON’T FEAR. ONE DICTIONARY DEFINES OPPRESSION AS ‘THE
TAKING AWAY OF MEN’S GOODS OR ESTATES BY TERROR OR FORCE WITHOUT HAVING ANY
RIGHT THERETO, BY WORKING ON THE IGNORANCE, WEAKNESS OR FEARFULNESS OF THE
OPPRESSED. (AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, NOAH WEBSTER
1828). ACTS 10:38 DESCRIBES JESUS AS
GOING ABOUT ‘DOING GOOD, AND HEALING
ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL’.
OPPRESSION IS SOMEBODY TAKING SOMETHING AWAY FROM YOU
(WITHOUT A RIGHT TO IT). SICKNESS IS A
SATANIC OPPRESSION. THE DEVIL DOESN’T
HAVE ANY RIGHT TO TAKE YOUR HEALTH. HE’S
NOT YOUR GOD. YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, AND YOUR
BODY BELONGS TO JESUS. BY THE STRIPES ON
HIS BODY, YOU WERE HEALED.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW, WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHED IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND KNOW OUR COVENANT RIGHTS, WE CAN STOP THE ENEMY FROM
USING OPPRESSION AND FEAR TO STEAL FROM US. MY DAUGHTER, KELLIE’S SECOND CHILD, LYNDSEY,
GOT SICK THE CHRISTMAS SHE WAS ELEVEN YEARS OLD. CHRISTMAS MORNING SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND
WHEN THEY WOKE HER, SHE DIDN’T KNOW ANYBODY.
THEY RUSHED HER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE
MOST DEADLY TYPE OF SPINAL MENINGITIS.
ITS USUAL KILLING TIME IS 48 HOURS OR LESS. TWO CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL HAD DIED AND
ANOTHER HAD BOTH LEGS AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF IT, YET THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALISE SAID SHE’D NEVER SEEN A WORSE SPINAL TAP TEST.
KELLIE KNEW FROM PSALM 112, THAT A PERSON WHOSE HEART IS FIXED TRUSTING IN THE
LORD, NEVER FEARS EVIL TIDINGS.
MY DAUGHTER TERRI TOLD ME LATER, ‘KELLIE LEFT THAT DOCTOR, WALKED UP TO
ME, LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE FACE AND CALMLY AND FIRMLY SAID, ‘I REFUSE TO FEAR IN THE NAME OF
JESUS.’
WE TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN THIS WAY. WE
REFUSE TO HAVE FEAR EVEN AT A MOMENT LIKE THAT!
AT THE TIME OF THIS ATTACK, GLORIA AND I WERE IN
COLORADO WAITING ON A FRIEND’S AIRPLANE TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO THEM. AS WE PRAYED, I LOOKED AT GLORIA AND SAID, ‘I
HAVE A STRONG URGENCY TO RECEIVE COMMUNION TOGETHER.’ SHE SAID, ‘I DO TOO. LET’S TAKE COMMUNION RIGHT NOW.’
SO WE DID.
AT THE HOSPITAL, MY DAUGHTER, TWO SONS-IN -LAW AND
JERRY AND CAROLYN SAVELLE WERE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO TAKE
COMMUNION. WITHOUT BEING AWARE OF IT, WE
ALL TOOK COMMUNION AT THE VERY SAME TIME.
THEY IN FORTH WORTH AT THE HOSPITAL - GLORIA AND I IN COLORADO. FIVE MINUTES LATER, LYNDSEY WOKE UP AND SAID,
‘DADDY, WHY ARE ALL THESE WIRES ON ME?’
BY THE NEXT AFTERNOON, SHE WAS RUNNING AROUND THE HOSPITAL.
WHERE DID THE VICTORY TAKE PLACE? THE
VICTORY TOOK PLACE IN US.
EVERY ONE OF US
TOOK AUTHORITY OVER FEAR AND REFUSED TO BE MOVED BY IT. WE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF GOD AND STAYED FAR FROM OPPRESSION. WITHOUT
FEAR THERE WAS NOTHING TO CONNECT US TO IT.
ACTING ON THE WORD
ONLY
THAT PARTICULAR DISEASE TRIES TO CUT OFF CIRCULATION
IN APPENDAGES OF THE BODY. WHEN THE
DOCTORS TESTED LYNDSEY, THEY FOUND SOME HEARING LOSS. THAT GAVE US ANOTHER GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BE
AFRAID. WHEN GLORIA AND I ARRIVED LATER
THAT FIRST NIGHT, I WENT TO LYNDSEY’S BEDSIDE.
‘LYNDSEY,’ I SAID, ‘I SPEAK TO
THE ANOINTING THAT IS IN YOU ACCORDING TO 1 JOHN 2 THAT SAYS THE ANOINTING WE
HAVE RECEIVED OF HIM ABIDES IN US NOW. I
STIR IT UP!”
LYNDSEY LOOKED UP AT ME, GRITTED HER TEETH AND SAID, ‘I AM HEALED, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.’ NOW THE DOCTORS SAID THE HEARING LOSS WAS
WORSE IN ONE EAR THAN THE OTHER, SO WHEN LYNDSEY TALKED ON THE TELEPHONE, SHE
WOULD USE THE EAR THAT WAS WORSE, ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO WALK BY FAITH!
WHY WOULD AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL DO THAT? BECAUSE HER MAMA AND DADDY TAUGHT HER TO DO
IT! THE THINGS OF GOD ARE MORE NATURAL
TO HER THAN THE WORLD’S WAY OF DOING THINGS.
LYNDSEY AND HER MOTHER QUOTED SCRIPTURES ABOUT HEARING EVERY MORNING AND
NIGHT, OVER HER EARS. SEVERAL WEEKS
LATER SHE HAD LESS HEARING LOSS, AND FINALLY EVEN THAT LEFT.
ACTING ON
THE WORD OF GOD INSTEAD OF ACTING ON FEAR PUTS US FAR FROM OPPRESSION. YES, THE DRIVE TO BE AFRAID IS A TERRIBLE
FORCE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN REBORN. THERE’S
A GREATER FORCE AT WORK IN US. THE FAITH OF GOD WE FEED WITH THE WORD KEEPS
THAT FEAR CAST OUT! BY RECEIVING
JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR AND ACTING ON THE WORD, WHAT WAS A FOUNTAIN OF FEAR
HAS BECOME A FOUNTAIN OF FAITH.
WHAT THE DEVIL TRIES TO DO IS TRAIN US IN HABITS OF
FEAR SO HE CAN STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY. BUT WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE THOSE THOUGHTS. IN FACT, ANYTHING THAT JESUS BORE ON THE CROSS, WE’RE OBLIGATED TO RESIST WITH
EVERYTHING THAT IS IN US! LOOK AT
ISAIAH 54:15: ‘BEHOLD, THEY SHALL SURELY GATHER
TOGETHER, BUT NOT BY ME: WHOSOEVER SHALL GATHER TOGETHER AGAINST THEE SHALL
FALL FOR THY SAKE.’
WHEN FEAR AND OPPRESSION AND TERROR TRY TO GET TO YOU,
TELL THEM TO FALL. SAY, ‘FALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS! I REFUSE TO BACK OFF FROM YOU.’
YEARS AGO, A PREACHER TOOK ME WITH HIM TO MINISTER IN
A HOSPITAL. I’D BEEN SAVED A MONTH OR SO
AND DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING.. AT THE TIME,
I WEIGHED ABOUT 245 POUNDS. WE WENT TO
SEE A LITTLE, SICK, MOSTLY OUT OF HER HEAD OLD WOMAN, WHO WEIGHED ABOUT 75
POUNDS. WE WERE JUST STANDING THERE BY
HER HOSPITAL BED WHEN SUDDENLY SHE RAISED UP, LOOKED RIGHT AT ME AND SHOUTED, ‘SICK,
BOY! SICK, SICK BOY! SICK!’
I BOLTED FOR THE DOOR.
THE DEMONS IN THAT LITTLE WOMAN RAN ME OUT OF THAT ROOM! OUTSIDE, I WAS SO ASHAMED. I SAID, ‘LORD, THIS IS PITIFUL. IN
THE NAME OF JESUS, I’LL NEVER AGAIN RUN FROM THE DEVIL THE REST OF MY
LIFE. BUT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TEACH
ME HOW TO DEAL WITH DEVILS.’
SINCE THEN, I’VE BEEN AROUND SOME OF THE MEANEST, MOST
DEMONIC PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, WALKED RIGHT IN AND WALKED RIGHT OUT
AND HAD GOD ALMIGHTY PROTECT
ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. ISAIAH 54:17 TELLS US: ‘NO WEAPON FORMED
AGAINST THEE SHALL PROSPER, AND EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES UP AGAINST THEE IN
JUDGMENT THOU SHALT CONDEMN. THIS IS THE HERITAGE OF THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD, AND THEIR
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM ME,’ SAITH THE LORD.
REDEEMED FROM FEAR
AND OPPRESSION
WE HAVE AN
ANOINTING - THE BURDEN-REMOVING, YOKE-DESTROYING POWER OF GOD INSIDE US. SO FOR US TO ACT IN FEAR IS BLASPHEMOUS. WE MAY BE TREMBLING FROM THE KNEES UP AND
SHAKING FROM THE KNEES DOWN. WE MAY HAVE
BEEN AFRAID ALL OUR LIVES. FEAR MAY SEEM
LIKE IT’S JUST PART OF US. BUT WE CAN RESIST FEAR, SAYING, ‘I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM THE POWER
AND BONDAGE OF THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FEAR, TAKE
YOUR HAND OFF MY LIFE. I REFUSE TO BE
AFRAID OF ANYTHING I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED FROM.’
HEBREWS 2:14-15 SAYS:
FORASMUCH THEN AS THE
CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART
OF THE SAME, THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF
DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL
THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.
THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE TEMPTED TO RUN FROM THE DEVIL,
REMEMBER DAVID. WHEN PEOPLE WERE TRYING
TO HIDE FROM GOLIATH, DAVID WAS ASKING,
‘WHAT DO I GET IF I KILL HIM?’
WHEN GOLIATH MOUTHED HIS THREATS, DAVID TALKED HIS
FAITH: ‘I’LL TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF. I’LL SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD THAT
THERE’S A GOD IN ISRAEL!’ HE KNEW A
PERSON IN COVENANT WITH GOD IS NEVER AT THE MERCY OF ANY THREAT FROM THE DEVIL. DOWN GOLIATH WENT, AND DAVID CUT OFF HIS
HEAD.
THAT’S THE WAY YOU CAN BE. ‘(SUBMIT
TO GOD), RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.’ (JAMES 4:7).
MAKE THE DEVIL DREAD EVERY DAY
YOU GET OUT OF BED. WHEN THE
DEVIL COMES STORMING IN, TELL HIM, ‘GET OUT, IN THE NAME OF JESUS!’
PUT THAT WHOLE ARMOUR
ON! AND WHEN YOU DO, THINK WHAT
YOU MUST LOOK AND SOUND LIKE TO THE DEVIL.
YOU’RE STANDING BEHIND THE SHIELD OF FAITH. THE FACEPLATE IS PULLED DOWN ON THE HELMET OF
SALVATION. YOUR BODY’S COVERED WITH
TRUTH AND THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YOUR FEET ARE SHOD WITH THE
GOSPEL OF PEACE. WAVING THE SWORD OF THE (HOLY) SPIRIT AS YOU
REFUSE TO SPEAK ANYTHING BUT FAITH IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
THE DEVIL
WON’T KNOW THAT IT’S NOT GOD IN THAT SUIT.
AFTER ALL, IT’S GOD’S SUIT! SO,
TAKE YOUR STAND! BE BIGGER THAN YOU ARE BECAUSE THE BIGGER ONE IS
LIVING IN YOU. AND WHEN YOU ROAR,
ROAR LIKE THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!
IF YOU’LL DO THAT, IT WON’T BE LONG BEFORE YOU STOP
ASKING HOW YOU CAN GET RID OF FEAR.
INSTEAD YOU’LL WATCH
IN AMAZEMENT AT HOW FAST FEAR, AND EVERY OTHER OPPRESSION OF THE DEVIL, FLEES
FROM YOU!
BVOV
KENNETH COPELAND
BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY MAGAZINE APRIL 2000
WHEN BLOOD GETS
THICKER THAN WATER
WHEN I WAS A KID, I ALWAYS WANTED A BLOOD BROTHER.I WANTED ONE SO BAD, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.I NEVER HAD ANY BROTHERS OR SISTERS, SO I TRIED TO GET MY FRIENDS TO BECOME BLOOD BROTHERS.
I REMEMBER THINKING, INDIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BLOOD BROTHERS….
I NEVER COULD FIND ANY WHITE BOYS WHO WANTED TO SEE THEIR OWN BLOOD.IT WAS NEAT IN THE MOVIES, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO MAKE ‘THE CUT’ THEY DIDN’T WANT ANY PART OF IT.
TODAY, IN OUR CIVILISED SOCIETY, WE ARE NOT VERY AWARE OF OR CONSCIOUS OF COVENANTS - AT LEAST, NOT LIKE OUR ANCESTORS WERE- PARTICULARLY, BLOOD COVENANTS.
IN ANCIENT DAYS, AMONG ALL TRIBES OF PEOPLE AND ALL CIVILIZATIONS, THERE WAS THE COMMON PRACTICE OF COVENANTS MADE BY BLOOD.THESE BLOOD COVENANTS WERE A MATTER OF TOTALLY GIVING ONESELF TO ANOTHER FOR LIFE WITHOUT ANY RESERVATION.IT MEANT COMPLETE LOYALTY.WHAT’S MORE, ONCE A BLOOD COVENANT WAS CUT BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES, THAT COVENANT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT LASTED FOR AT LEAST EIGHT GENERATIONS.
WITH THE PASSING OF TIME, HOWEVER, AND THE MORE ‘SOPHISTICATED’ OUR CULTURES BECAME, THE HUMAN FAMILY STRAYED FROM SUCH COVENANTS.CONSEQUENTLY, TODAY, MANY BELIEVERS ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR OWN BLOOD COVENANT WITH GOD.THEY HAVE NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF ETERNAL PROMISES WRITTEN IN THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS.
IN THAT COVENANT OF BLOOD, GOD HAS PROVIDED EVERYTHING WE NEED TO TAKE AUTHORITY OVER OUR FLESH AND LET THE IMAGE OF CHRIST BE FULLY FORMED IN US.GOD’S COVENANT HAS GIVEN US THE POWER TO SUCCEED IN EVERY TASK AND FULFILL EVERY DREAM HE HAS PUT IN OUR HEARTS.SO, LET’S TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE RICH DEPTH AND RANGE OF PROMISES GOD MADE IN HIS COVENANT WITH US, SEALED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
IN THE DAYS OF THE ANCIENT HEBREW NATION, FAMILIES CUT COVENANT AS WELL.IN FACT, THE HEBREW WORD FOR COVENANT LITERALLY MEANS “A CUT WHERE BLOOD FLOWS”.THESE BLOOD COVENANTS WERE THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND SCRIPTURES SUCH AS PROVERBS 18:24 WHICH SAYS, ‘…THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.’THEY WERE ALSO THE REASONING BEHIND PHRASES SUCH AS, ‘BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.’
THE MOTIVE BEHIND BLOOD COVENANTS WAS QUITE SIMPLY, DIFFERENCES - THAT IS, COVENANTS WERE BASED ON THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED.FOR INSTANCE, ONE FAMILY OR TRIBE MIGHT BE GOOD FARMERS, WHILE A NEIGHBOURING FAMILY OR TRIBE MIGHT BE KNOWN FOR BEING SUPERIOR WARRIORS.SO, WHY NOT COME TOGETHER AND CUT COVENANT AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF EACH OTHER - ESPECIALLY IF THE FARMERS WERE ALWAYS GETTING ROBBED AND THE WARRIORS WERE ALWAYS GOING HUNGRY.
BEFORE THESE COVENANTS COULD BE MADE, HOWEVER, THERE WERE USUALLY LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.AFTER ALL, AN AGREEMENT MADE IN BLOOD SPANNING EIGHT GENERATIONS WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD COVENANTS, AS WELL AS OUR COVENANT WITH GOD, IT WOULD HELP US TO WALK THROUGH THE SEVEN STEPS OF A TRADITIONAL HEBREW COVENANT CEREMONY.
STEP 1 EACH FAMILY, OR PARTY, CHOSE A COVENANT REPRESENTATIVE
THE PERSON REPRESENTING THE FAMILY WAS ALWAYS THE FAMILY’S BEST - THE SMARTEST, THE STRONGEST, FLEETEST OF FOOT.
LIKEWISE THE ANIMALS TO BE USED IN THE COVENANT CEREMONY WERE ALWAYS THE BEST. THEY WERE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND PREPARED.THE HEBREW PEOPLE HAD LEARNED THIS EARLY ON WHEN GOD INSTRUCTED THEM TO OFFER ONLY THE BEST WHEN BRINGING SACRIFICES TO HIM.HE DIDN’T WANT ONE-EYED, DISEASED ANIMALS ON HIS ALTAR.
CONSEQUENTLY, THIS IS WHERE THE TERM THE FATTED CALF COMES FROM.IN TODAY’S TERMS, WE COMMONLY THINK OF THE FATTED CALF BEING THE BEST OF SOMETHING TO CONSUME OURSELVES.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS THE CHOICEST ONE SET ASIDE FOR COVENANT CEREMONIES AND SACRIFICES.
FINALLY, A COVENANT SITE WAS CHOSEN, AND THE FAMILIES WOULD COME TOGETHER. EACH FAMILY’S COUNCIL OF ELDERS WAS PLACED WHERE THEY COULD WATCH CLOSELY, AND HEAR EVERY WORD SPOKEN.
STEP 2 THE COVENANT CUT WAS MADE
IN THE ANCIENT HEBREW COVENANT CEREMONY, THE CUTTING OF THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS WAS DONE DIFFERENTLY FROM EVERY OTHER SACRIFICE OR CEREMONY.
THE COVENANT CUTS WERE MADE FROM THE BASE OF THE ANIMAL’S SKULLS, LENGTHWISE DOWN THEIR BACKBONES.THE ANIMALS WERE SPLIT AND THEN PARTED DOWN THEIR BACKBONES.EACH HALF WAS MADE TO FALL SIDE TO SIDE, BUT THEN PROPPED UP SO THE BLOOD WOULD FLOW DOWN A PATHWAY.
THE COVENANT ANIMALS USUALLY INCLUDED A CALF AND A LAMB.THE CALF REPRESENTED MONETARY VALUE.IT REPRESENTED THE FAMILY’S POSSESSIONS. THE LAMB REPRESENTED TOTAL DEFENSELESSNESS.IN FACT, THE LAMB USED IN THE CEREMONY WAS SO YOUNG THAT IT DID NOT YET HAVE TEETH.IT HAD NO DEFENSE.
BY SACRIFICING THESE ANIMALS, EACH FAMILY WAS SAYING, ‘WE FREELY BRING OUR BLOOD TO THIS COVENANT.WE COME WITH NO MALICE -TOTALLY FREE, TOTALLY LOYAL.’ONCE THE ANIMALS WERE CUT AND THEIR BLOOD SHED ON THE GROUND, THE COVENANT CEREMONY BEGAN.
STEP 3 THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGED COATS
EACH REPRESENTATIVE WALKED THROUGH THE PATHWAY OF THE ANIMALS’ BLOOD TWICE, AND THEY DID SO IN A FIGURE OF EIGHT.AFTER THEY WALKED THROUGH THE BLOOD THE FIRST TIME, THEY STOPPED AND EXCHANGED COATS WHILE MAKING CERTAIN PROMISES ABOUT WHO THEY WERE, WHAT THEY HAD, AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO THE OTHER PERSON.THIS WAS SIMILAR TO OUR MODERN MILITARY TRADITIONS.
IN OUR SOCIETY, WE KNOW YOU CAN TELL A SOLDIER’S RANK BY THE COAT THAT HE OR SHE WEARS.THEIR COATS REPRESENT THEIR AUTHORITY, THEIR OCCUPATION OR SPECIFIC TASK, THEIR BRANCH OF SERVICE, AND SO ON.WE ALSO KNOW WHEN A PRIVATE WALKS INTO A ROOM FILLED WITH SOLDIERS, NOT MUCH HAPPENS. WHEN A GENERAL WALKS IN, HOWEVER, EVERYONE STOPS EVERYTHING TO JUMP TO ATTENTION AND SALUTE.
BUT NOW, IMAGINE A PRIVATE - WEARING A GENERAL’S UNIFORM - WALKING INTO THE ROOM.THAT PRIVATE WOULD GET THE SAME RESPONSE AS THE GENERAL.WHY?BECAUSE IT’S THE GENERAL’S UNIFORM THAT DOES THE TALKING.
THE SAME HELD TRUE FOR THE BLOOD COVENANT CEREMONY.A FARMER, FOR INSTANCE, WOULD COME TO THE CEREMONY WITH A COAT REPRESENTING HIS FAMILY AND HIS AUTHORITY.A WARRIOR WOULD COME WITH HIS.THEN, AT THIS POINT, THEY WOULD EXCHANGE THEIR COATS, AND THEREBY, THEIR IDENTITIES.
THIS ADDS GREATER INSIGHT AS TO WHY THE APOSTLE PAUL EXHORTS US TO ‘PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD.’ (EPH 6:11).IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO IS WEARING IT - IT’S THE ARMOUR THAT DOES THE TALKING!
STEP 4 THE REPRESENTATIVES EXCHANGE WEAPONS
AFTER THE REPRESENTATIVES WALKED THROUGH THE PATHWAY OF THE ANIMALS’ BLOOD IN A FIGURE EIGHT THE SECOND TIME, THEY STOPPED AGAIN AND EXCHANGED WEAPONS.
IN THOSE DAYS, WHEN MEN WENT TO WAR, THEY WORE A GIRDLE, OR BELT. IT WAS A GIRDLE BECAUSE THEIR OUTER GARMENTS WERE LIKE LONG, FLOWING ROBES.TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT, RUN, OR WALK COMFORTABLY, THEY HAD TO REACH BETWEEN THEIR LEGS AND PULL THE BACKSIDE OF THEIR ROBE UP TO THE FRONT AND FASTEN IT UNDERNEATH THEIR BELT.STRAPPED TO THEIR BELTS WERE ALSO THEIR WEAPONS.
NOW, IF THE FARMER DIDN’T HAVE ANY WEAPONS, HE AT LEAST HAD HIS FIGHTING KNIFE, AND MAYBE A GOOD AXE HANDLE TO FIGHT WITH.THE WARRIOR, MEANWHILE, PROBABLY HAD AN ASSORTMENT OF FEROCIOUS LOOKING WEAPONS STRAPPED TO HIS BELT.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY HAD, THEY EXCHANGED WEAPONS AND BELTS SAYING, ‘HERE’S MY AUTHORITY AND POWER IN WAR.I GIVE IT TO YOU.ANY ENEMY THAT COMES AGAINST YOU IS MY ENEMY.ANYONE WHO CURSES YOU, I CURSE.ANYONE WHO THREATENS YOU, HAS TO ANSWER TO ME.
JUST AS THIS ANIMAL HAS BLED AND DIED, I WILL BLEED AND DIE FOR YOUR FAMILY THE SAME AS I WOULD MINE.’
STEP 5 THE REPRESENTATIVES CUT THEIR FLESH
ONCE MOST OF THE COVENANT PROMISES AND BLESSINGS WERE MADE, THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES CUT THEIR OWN FLESH SO THEIR BLOOD WAS VISIBLE TO ALL THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS.THEN THEY BROUGHT THEIR HANDS TOGETHER, MINGLED THEIR BLOOD AND LIFTED THEIR HANDS TO GOD.THIS WAS WHEN THE MOST PRECIOUS OF THE VOWS WERE MADE BETWEEN THE FAMILIES.
BY LIFTING THEIR HANDS TO GOD, THEY WERE MAKING THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH THIRD PARTY TO THEIR COVENANT, BELIEVING ALMIGHTY GOD TO WATCH OVER THEIR AGREEMENT.EACH SWORE BY GOD TO KEEP THE PROMISES THEY HAD MADE.
BY BRINGING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER AND MINGLING THEIR BLOOD, THEY WERE CALLED ONE FAMILY.
FROM THAT DAY ON, THE SEAL OF THE COVENANT WAS THE SCAR ON THE BODY OF EACH REPRESENTATIVE.IF YOU SAW SOMEONE WITH A COVENANT SCAR, YOU REALLY DIDN’T KNOW WHO YOU WERE MESSING WITH, AND YOU WOULD PROBABLY THINK TWICE ABOUT STIRRING UP TROUBLE WITH THEM. THAT SCAR MEANT THERE WAS A BLOOD BROTHER HANGING AROUND SOMEWHERE.
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 18:19-20?‘AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF YOU SHALL AGREE ON EARTH AS TOUCHING ANY THING THAT THEY SHALL ASK, IT SHALL BE DONE FOR THEM OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.’
THE CHURCH HAS NEVER REALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT MEANS - BUT IT’S COVENANT.WHEN JESUS SAID IT, HE MEANT IT.WE JUST HAVE NOT HAD A COVENANT CONSCIOUSNESS TO UNDERSTAND IT FULLY.
STEP 6 THE COVENANT MEAL
THE MIGHTY CLIMAX OF THE WHOLE COVENANT CEREMONY WAS THE REMEMBRANCE PARTY.
IN THE BIBLE, THE WORD REMEMBER IS POWERFUL.EXODUS 2 TELLS US THAT GOD REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB.IT DOESN’T SAY, ‘HE HAPPENED TO REMEMBER IT.’GOD DOESN’T FORGET.THE WORD REMEMBER, THERE, LITERALLY MEANS ‘THE CLAW’.IT REFERS TO THE TALON OF A MIGHTY EAGLE.
AMONG SOME OF THE HEBREW TRIBES, PEOPLE CUTTING COVENANT WERE KNOW TO TAKE AN EAGLE’S CLAW AND PUT IT IN THEIR FACE AND SAY, ‘MY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU IS AS THOUGH I WERE STILL IN THE BLOOD, PROMISING YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE. MY COVENANT WITH YOU IS LIKE A CLAW IN MY BRAIN.I CANNOT EVEN SEE EXCEPT FOR SEEING YOU IN MY FACE.’
THIS REMEMBRANCE PARTY OR COVENANT MEAL, WAS WHERE THE FAMILIES BEGAN EATING BREAD, DRINKING WINE, DANCING AND CELEBRATING.THEY WOULD ACTUALLY FEED BREAD TO ONE ANOTHER, SAYING, ‘THIS IS MY BODY.I WILL LET YOUR FAMILY HAVE MY BODY, BEFORE I WILL LET THEM STARVE.’
THEN, SHARING WINE, THEY WOULD REMIND EACH OTHER THAT IT REPRESENTED THE BLOOD THEY HAD JUST WALKED IN, MAKING THEM ONE FAMILY.
STEP 7 THE FAMILIES EXCHANGED NAMES
BY THE TIME THE COVENANT CEREMONY WAS COMPLETED, BOTH PARTIES OR FAMILIES HAD NEW NAMES.FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE FARMERS AND THE FIGHTERS CUT COVENANT, PHIL FARMER WAS NOW PHIL FIGHTER-FARMER, AND FRED FIGHTER BECAME FRED FARMER-FIGHTER.
SUCH COVENANT NAMES WERE ANOTHER INDICATION FOR TROUBLEMAKERS TO LEAVE PHIL, THE FARMER, ALONE.THAT WAS NOT JUST PHIL FARMER ANYMORE.THAT WAS PHIL FIGHTER-FARMER.THAT WAS NOT JUST FRED FIGHER, EITHER.THE FARMER-FIGHTER FAMILY NOW HAD PLENTY OF FOOD TO SELL. THEY HAD COVENANTED WITH THE FARMER FAMILY.THEY WERE NOW ONE LARGE, POWERFUL FAMILY.
TODAY, WE OFTEN SEE NAMES OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE A HYPHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.THAT MEANS, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THOSE TWO FAMILIES CAME INTO COVENANT.
EPHESIANS 3:15 SAYS‘THE WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH IS NAMED’ OF JESUS.BY COVENANT, WE BEAR THE NAME OF JESUS -THAT NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME.AND BY COVENANT, WE GO INTO ALL THE WORLD BEARING THAT NAME (MARK 16:15-18).
YOU HAVE A BIG BROTHER
TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW PASSIONATE GOD IS ABOUT THIS COVENANT HE HAS MADE WITH YOU IN THE BLOOD OF HIS OWN SON JESUS, LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16-18, ‘…FOR YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD: AS GOD HATH SAID, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE… AND I WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY.’THIS WAS PAUL QUOTING FROM ISAIAH 52 AND EZEKIEL 20.
OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS USED A COVENANT WORD, WHICH IN HEBREW IS HESED.IT IS TRANSLATED AS ‘EVER LOVINGKINDNESS; TENDERNESS; MERCY.’THESE TRANSLATIONS, HOWEVER, MISS THE DEPTH AND POWER OF ITS MEANING.
HESED IS BEST DESCRIBED, PERHAPS, AS WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE A MOTHER OR A FATHER WHEN THEIR CHILD IS THREATENED.ONLY, IT GOES FAR BEYOND THAT.
HESED IS THE FORCE THAT RISES INSIDE A COVENANT BROTHER CAUSING HIM TO WANT TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS COVENANT BROTHER, OR COVENANT FAMILY.IT IS A DRIVE THAT FAR EXCEEDS ANY OTHER DRIVE KNOWN TO MANKIND.WE’VE ONLY TASTED A SMALL BIT OF IT.
FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE, HESED MIGHT BEST BE DESCRIBED USING JOHN 3:16: ‘FOR GOD SO HESEDTHE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON…’
LONG BEFORE GOD EVER CREATED MAN, HE PROVIDED A COVENANT LAMB, A LAMB WITHOUT SPOT, OR BLEMISH, SO IF MAN DID MESS UP, IT WOULD KEEP HIM FROM LOSING EVERYTHING - AND IT WOULD KEEP GOD FROM LOSING THE FAMILY HE SO LONGED FOR.
AFTER ADAM DID COMMIT HIGH TREASON AND BOWED HIS KNEE TO SATAN, HE LOST THE PRESENCE AND REVELATION OF GOD.WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE FIRST THING GOD DID WAS TO KILL AN ANIMAL IN ORDER TO CLOTHE ADAM.HE HAD BEEN CLOTHED WITH THE VERY GLORY OF GOD, BUT WHEN HE SINNED, THE GLORY LIGHT WENT OUT.
LATER, HOWEVER, GOD FOUND FOR HIMSELF A MAN, ABRAM, A MAN WITH WHOM HE COULD CUT COVENANT, A MAN WHO WOULD TEACH HIS CHILDREN THAT COVENANT (GENESIS 18).
BUT WHY DID GOD REQUIRE THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS? HE DID NOT HAVE ANY BLOOD OF HIS OWN TO SHED.WHEN ABRAM SINNED, GOD SAID, I’LL TAKE THE BLOOD OF AN ANIMAL, RATHER THAN HIM. I’LL TREAT HIM AS THOUGH HE DIDN’T SIN. I’LL ACCOUNT IT TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS - BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ME (GALATIANS 3).
ABRAHAM BELIEVED THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE PROMISES THAT WERE TO HIM AND HIS SEED.
GALATIANS 3:13-14 SAYS, ‘CHRIST [THE ANOINTED ONE AND HIS ANOINTING] HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US… THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.’
THE APOSTLE PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT, WHEN GOD MADE THOSE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM, HE WAS ALSO MAKING THEM TO JESUS, WHO HAD NOT YET BEEN BORN INTO THIS EARTH.GOD WAS MAKING A BLOOD COVENANT WITH A MAN AND HE EXPECTED THAT COVENANT, THOSE WORDS, TO PRODUCE A BODY WITH BLOOD - JESUS-WHEREIN HE COULD SWEAR.
JOHN 1:14 SAYS, ‘THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US…’
YOU AND I ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED.WE ARE HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE (GAL 3:29).IT IS NO LONGER BY THE BLOOD OF COWS AND SHEEP, BUT BY THE BLOOD OF ALMIGHTY GOD, HIMSELF.
OURS IS A COVENANT BETWEEN A RESURRECTED, IMMORTAL MAN, JESUS, AND A HOLY AND INFALLIBLE GOD.
WHICH OF THEM DO YOU THINK COULD EVER BREAK THE COVENANT? NEITHER.
WHAT’S MORE, WE CANNOT BREAK IT.WE MAY STEP OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WHEN WE SIN.BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CONFESS OUR SIN AND STEP BACK INTO THAT FELLOWSHIP (1 JOHN 1:9).
WE’VE BEEN GRAFTED INTO A COVENANT BETWEEN GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AND JESUS, OUR BLOOD BROTHER.KNOWLEDGE OF AND TRUST IN THAT COVENANT WILL REMOVE THE FEARS OF INSUFFICIENCY AND LACK THAT MEN FEED WITH SUCH THINGS AS OVEREATING AND COMPULSIVE SPENDING.IT WILL REMOVE THE FEARS OF REJECTION THAT HAVE CAUSED SO MANY TO SEEK COMFORT IN WRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND IN WHAT THEY PUT IN THE BODY AND ON THE BODY INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY FEED THE SPIRIT.GOD’S COVENANT LOVE REMOVES MEN FROM TRUST IN THE WORLD’S WAYS FOR THEIR SECURITY AND SUCCESS AND BUILDS THEIR LIVES ON THE UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATION OF GOD’S WAY OF DOING THINGS.
ALL WE EVER NEED TO DO, NOW, IS BEING DEVELOPING A CONSCIOUSNESS OF JESUS’ BLOOD, A CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR BLOOD COVENANT WITH GOD.WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AGAINST YOU, WHEN SICKNESS AND DISEASE COME AGAINST YOU, WHEN FEAR, WORRY, HARM OR POVERTY COME AGAINST YOU - REMEMBER THE COVENANT!
REMEMBER THE BLOOD.REMEMBER THE PROMISES.REMEMBER THE WORD.
YOU HAVE A BLOOD BROTHER, JUST TURN IT OVER TO HIM. YOU’LL SOON REALISE JUST HOW THICK HIS BLOOD REALLY IS!
BVOV
QUOTES ON REVIVAL
SMITH WIGGLESWORTH
REINHARD BONNKE
JOY MAGAZINE
IF YOU DO NOT PROGRESS EVERY DAY
YOU ARE BACKSLIDING
THERE ARE FOUR PRINCIPLES YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN:
1. READ THE WORD OF GOD
2. CONSUME THE WORD OF GOD UNTIL IT CONSUMES YOU
3. BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD
4. ACT ON THE WORD
SMITH LIVED SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD ONLY SEE JESUS.
THE SCOTTISH REVIVAL:
A GOD SENT REVIVAL IS ALWAYS A REVIVAL OF HOLINESS.
IT TAKES THE SUPERNATURAL TO BREAK THE BONDS OF THE NATURAL. YOU CAN MAKE A COMMUNITY CRUSADE CONSCIOUS. ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A COMMUNITY GOD CONSCIOUS.
1. LIST SITUATION:
a. LOW STATE OF RELIGION
b. DIVINE DISPLEASURE
c. CARELESSNESS TO WORSHIP
d. SPIRIT OF PLEASURE (REVELRY / DANCING WITH THE WOLVES)
e. DIVINE MERCY
f. SPIRIT OF REPENTANCE
2. WAIT UPON GOD, GIVE TO PRAYER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS
3. PLEAD THE PROMISE (ISAIAH 44:3)
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