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The Kingdom of God

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HANDS FOR JESUS

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Copyright 2004 by Merle E. Koepke

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Introduction

It is important that we understand the kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:10,11 it says,

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

It is given means, "it is the will of God that we know and understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God." There are some who will not understand the kingdom of God, but for us, it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (or God). We know that in these last days, many will be deceived (Matt. 24:24). But we do not need to be deceived, when we understand the kingdom of God.

Before we study the kingdom of God we need to see the foundation upon which it is built. Everything God does has a foundation (that is, a beginning) upon which the remaining works of God are established. If there is not a solid foundation it will not stand.

As an example, the foundation of this creation starts with the book of Genesis. Whereas the foundation for eternity started before this creation. Let's quickly see these two foundations.

First, let us see the foundation for eternity, for this began before the foundation of this creation. The foundation for eternity is seen in John 1:1,2 where it says,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

Everything that God is, and all that God does is based upon "the Word of God." Everything from eternity past and throughout all eternity is based upon "the Word of God." All throughout the Bible we will see the emphases upon the Word of God.

We must not confuse "the Word of God" spoken of in John 1:1,2 with "the written Word." For in John 1:1,2, there is a two-fold revelation. One is the revelation of "the spoken Word of God." The spoken Word of God in the Greek is called "logos." It's the spoken Word of God that controls all eternity. What God says stands forever, it never changes, it cannot change, for it is spoken by God.

The second revelation of "the Word of God" in John 1:1,2, is "the manifestation of the Word of God." Jesus is the manifestation of the Word of God. We see that in John 1:14, where it says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The Word of God manifested in God's Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:2).

The complete Bible is a revelation of the Word of God manifest through the Son of God, which is Jesus Christ. Therefore, we see in Revelation 1:8, Jesus speaking to the apostle John, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

So we have two foundations concerning the Word of God, one foundation for all eternity, and another foundation for this creation (which began about six thousand years ago).

What about the kingdom of God, where is it's foundation? It is revealed all throughout the Bible, starting in Genesis 1. Yet, it is clearly spoken of in Daniel 2:44. It says, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Daniel was prophesying the coming of "the kingdom of God," which would come during the reign of the Roman Empire (the fourth kingdom, that held the Jewish people in captivity, starting with the Babylonian captivity).

Jesus, Who is the King of kings, and LORD of lords came at the time of the Roman Empire to set up His kingdom, which shall have no end. As Daniel prophesied, His kingdom "shall never be destroyed." It is an everlasting kingdom, and "it shall stand for ever."

A second important part of the prophecy of Daniel is, this "kingdom shall not be left to other people." Jesus will remain as King, and the Holy Spirit will remain as the source of all power within the kingdom of God. It will never be left to "other people, or other nations," but people of all nations will enter into this "kingdom of God."

The kingdom of God is a New Testament kingdom, not an Old Testament kingdom. In the Old Testament, people were placed as kings over the children of God. In the New Testament, Jesus is the King over His kingdom, and the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God will never be left to any other.

People do not reign in the kingdom of God by their power, or their ability. Yet, people do reign as kings and priest unto God in the kingdom of God (Rev. 1:6). But, the reign of people is by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by their power or their might. God, the Holy Spirit, works through those who are a part of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit manifests through individuals, by the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. These are operations of the Holy Spirit, using human vessels to manifest through.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus laid the foundation for the kingdom of God. The foundation of the kingdom of God is like the foundation of a building. If the foundation is laid properly, the building will stand against all elements and obstacles it faces. No matter what happens, the building will stand. But, we do not live on the foundation of the building, we live in the building which has a good foundation.

We must go beyond the Gospels to live in the kingdom of God. But, never get off the foundation upon which it is built. When we go to the Acts of the Apostles, we see the Holy Spirit working through the apostles. The Holy Spirit manifested His power through the apostles according to the writings of Luke (who wrote the book of Acts). Not all of what the apostles did is recorded in the book of Acts.

Therefore, we must continue on in the epistles, written by others from Romans on through Jude. Each of these epistles reveal things important to understand, that we may know the truth, and not be taken in by error.

God does things "decently and in order." That is, the Holy Spirit inspired the New Testament to be laid out in order that we can go from the beginning to the end and mature as we go. Like building a building, first the foundation, then the floors upon floors until the building is complete.

From Matthew through Jude, the information on the kingdom of God is fairly well complete. Each epistle emphasizes areas that need to be understood.

The book of Revelation is an over-all "Revelation of Jesus Christ," who is the Son of God, the creator of all things. He is the LORD of lords and the King of kings. He is the One whom the Father put in control of all things right from the beginning.

It's interesting to notice that the Gospels come first in the New Testament, then the book of Acts. Then the epistles, each one building upon the next, and relying upon the one before to continue to build until the last one. The book of Romans is very important, for it reveals to us many things "very important" to our life in the kingdom of God. One of the most important statements made in the book of Romans is "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17). Hebrews 10:38 speaks of the same subject, but adding to it by saying, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Then in Hebrews 11:6, it explains it this way, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Faith is the key to the whole New Testament. Jesus began laying the foundation of the Kingdom of God by emphasizing the need for faith.

As we go through the epistles, the last epistle is that of Jude. Jude sums up everything all the other epistles taught. He started by emphasizing the need for faith (Jude 1:3). Christians need the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Then he went on to explain why Christians do not have the faith that the apostles had in the beginning. When we get to verse 20, Jude goes back to the importance of faith, saying "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."

The kingdom of God is summed up in the book of Jude, by emphasizing the need to put the Holy Spirit in control in every area of our lives by "praying in the Spirit." The Apostle Paul explained the importance of praying in the spirit in 1 Corinthians 14. One of the important facts is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:2, where it says, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." Then in verse 4, it says, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." Our personal life in the kingdom of God has a lot to do with "praying in the Spirit." In 1 Corinthians 14:14 he explains "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." It's when we yield over to the Holy Spirit and let Him take control of our lives, then we can enter into the kingdom of God, and do the will of God in our lives.

Understanding the kingdom of God is very important for every Christian today. If we do not understand the kingdom of God, we will easily be led astray by other spirits.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

It's interesting to notice in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that Jesus was actually preaching "the Kingdom of God." In Mark 1:14 it says, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." Unknown to many, Jesus was not preaching the gospel of the new birth, or the gospel of Salvation. In Mark 1:15 it tells us Jesus was saying "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." In saying, "the kingdom of God is at hand," meant that the kingdom of God had not yet come, but it was about to come. Jesus added to that, this statement, "repent ye, and believe the gospel." Repent means "to think differently," or "change your thinking."

In the kingdom of God, we must change our thinking, for our natural mind does not naturally think the way God thinks. Our natural mind is taught to think the way the natural man thinks (Eph. 2:2). Therefore, we must change our thinking to agree with the "written Word of God" (2 Cor. 10:5).

Because most of what is taught among the Christian churches today is man's ideas, and man's doctrines; we need to understand what the words "kingdom of God" actually mean. The word "kingdom" in the Greek is "basileia," it means "royalty, rule, and reign." Royalty, rules and reigns in a manner such as a king, who is the top and highest authority within his domain. So to understand the words "kingdom of God" in the Bible, we should understand it as "the LORD ruling and reigning in total control of everything that happens with in His Kingship." At the same time, we must also understand "how" the LORD rules and reigns in His kingdom.

The LORD, who is Jesus Christ, "the anointed One" rules and reigns by "the anointing." The LORD is the highest authority over this creation, not over the Father in heaven, but over this creation. John 1:3 says, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." This creation is the LORD'S creation. John 1:10 says, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." Colossians 1:16 says, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him"

The LORD is not the Father. The LORD is not the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:36 says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." God did not make the Father, both LORD and Christ. God did not make the Holy Spirit both LORD and Christ. God made JESUS both LORD and Christ.

Jesus is "the LORD of Lords, and the King of kings" (Rev. 17:14). Therefore, this same Jesus that went about teaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God is the same person who is "the LORD of Lords, and the King of kings." Not, because He made Himself to be God, but because God made Him "both LORD and Christ;" "the LORD of Lords, and the King of kings."

No king can reign unless he has someone within his kingdom to carry out his orders. Jesus, the LORD of Lords, and King of kings has "the Holy Spirit" here on earth to carry out His orders (Acts 1:2). Therefore, His reign is not called "the kingdom of JESUS," which actually, we could say it is, but it's called "the kingdom of God," which is "God, the Holy Spirit," carrying out the orders of Jesus Christ here on earth.

Before Jesus arose again from the dead, the Holy Spirit was not yet given to carry out the orders of Jesus here on earth. John 7:39 says, " (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" In John 16:7, Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Then, after Jesus had arisen from the dead, just before He went to be with the Father, in Acts 1:8 He said to His disciples "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

For the Holy Spirit to reign on earth as God in the Kingdom of God, He also needed someone here on earth to work through to carry out the orders of the LORD of Lords, and King of kings. The Holy Spirit had to empower Christians "to reign with Him" here on earth. Therefore, 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, "For we are labourers together with God..."

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 it says, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." An ambassador does not have the right to give his personal opinion as to what the King should do. He only has the right to report the TRUE FACTS, and let all decisions up to the King. This is the same way within the kingdom of God.

Jesus set the example in His own life here on earth, saying such things as "I can of mine own self do nothing..." (John 5:30). Jesus had no "right, power, or ability" to do anything of Himself, while He was here on earth as the Son of Man. Neither does anyone "here on earth," "in the kingdom of God." Jesus said, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true" (John 5:31). This is the same, if any Christian bears witness of himself, his witness is not true. In John 5:19, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

There are two ways of seeing things. One is with our natural eyes, and the other is by revelation of the Holy Spirit. In the kingdom of God we are never told to operate according to our natural eyes, but only by revelation of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 it says, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Christians have both a natural body and a spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:44). We are not told to do things in the kingdom of God according to our natural body, which is called "psuchikos" in the Greek. "Psuchikos" in the Greek includes the physical body, controlled by the mind, will, intellect, and etc. We are not told to operate in the kingdom of God according to our "psuchikos" but according to our "spirit" where the Holy Spirit dwells.

In John 6:38, Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." In the kingdom of God, Christians are never told to do their own will, only the will of God. Christians are never told to do the will of God from the flesh. In Matthew 16:16-18 it says,

Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Now, the name "Peter" does not mean "rock," Peter means "a stone." The LORD is going to build His Own Church. He is the rock, and it's on Christ, the anointed One, that the church is going to be built. In the Old Testament there is a prophetic word concerning the way the LORD is going to build His Church in the New Covenant. In Zechariah 4:6 it says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Everything that is done in the New Covenant that is of any value, is done by the Holy Spirit, which is where the anointing comes from that manifests through those who God calls and equips. If the anointing is not there, the LORD is not involved!

In 1 John 2:27 it says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." You cannot have the anointing without the Holy Spirit. If you do not abide in the Holy Spirit, you cannot abide in the anointing. Whenever Christians are not abiding in the Holy Spirit, there is no anointing. When there is no anointing, they are walking in the flesh. Whatsoever is done of the flesh brings forth corruption Galatians 6:7,8 says,

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

To reap life everlasting, we must sow to the Spirit, by the anointing within us. Romans 8:5-7 says,

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The word "flesh," in verse 5 is from the same Greek word as "carnally," in verse 6 and "carnal" in verse 7. It's all the same thing, the same subject. When the apostle Paul wrote of his battle with the flesh in Romans 7:14-24, he said in verse 18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Again, the word "flesh" is the same word used in Romans 8:5,6,7. Paul was a Spirit-filled Christian, and he still had problems in his flesh, in his mind, will, intellect, etc.

Many, theologians have tried to say Paul's example of himself was before he was converted. Other theologians have tried to teach that Romans 8:5-7 does not pertain to born again Christians. That is ignorance gone to seed! That is a work of the enemy in the minds of those who think they are called to teach the Word of God, but do not have spiritual discernment (1 Cor. 2:14).

In the kingdom of God, we must receive all our information from the Holy Spirit. He is our Guide, Comforter, Helper, Teacher, and Leader in everything pertaining to our new life in Christ Jesus. He teaches us by the anointing that abides within us (1 John 2:27). If we are not "taught by God" (John 6:45; Isa. 54:13; Jer 31:34; Mic 4:2; Heb 8:10; 10:16; 1 John 2:27), then we are not in the kingdom of God, only in the family of God.

Very few preachers have taught what Jesus taught in the Gospels. Jesus taught "the kingdom of God" in almost all of His teachings in the Gospels. He did very little teaching on the New Birth, or Salvation. But, in the Gospel of John, and especially in John 3:3-21 Jesus did teach on the New Birth and Salvation.

Jesus specifically said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The word "see" in this verse means "understand." A person must be born again before they can understand the kingdom of God. When a person is born again they become related to God. God becomes their Father, and they become children of God. Paul calls them "babes in Christ." In 1 Corinthians 3:3 Paul wrote, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" They are born again, but they are still "carnal," walking in the flesh. The evidence is, "there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions."

Jesus said in John 3:5, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."Therefore, a person must be born of the flesh and the Spirit (John 3:6), before they can enter into the kingdom of God.

Christians do not enter into "the kingdom of God" by the new birth, they only enter into eternal life, into the family of God; where God is their Father. This is all a work of God, not of man. John 1:13 says, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Our New Birth was planned by God from the foundation of the world. God knew who would receive Jesus Christ before Adam was formed of the dust of the ground. Revelation 13:8 says, "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." If there are some, whose names "were not" written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, then there are also some whose names "were" written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. Revelation 3:5 says,"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." The LORD cannot blot anyone's name out of the Book of Life if it was never in the Book of Life. In Ephesians 1:4 it says, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Every person that receives Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior was "chosen...in him before the foundation of the world..." The new birth is a work of God, not of man.

But, once a person is born again, they make the choice if they will enter into the kingdom of God, or remain just a child of God, walking after the flesh? That is why, Jesus's spent most of His time "...preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,...And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14,15).

Entering into the kingdom of God is a choice a born again Christian must make themselves. God does not put them into the kingdom of God without their own willingness to enter. God does translate us into the kingdom of His Dear Son (Col. 1:13), but that is referring to the body of Christ (See verse 18). All who are born again are a part of the body of Christ. That takes place when we are born again, we are baptized into one body (1 Cor. 12:12,13; Eph. 4:4). This baptism into the body of Christ does produce Salvation (1 Peter 3:21).

We choose if we will enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." We must do the seeking to enter the kingdom of God. It's up to each individual person to seek the Kingdom of God. Most of Jesus' teachings was on "entering into the kingdom of God," where God is our source for everything, physical and spiritual. Which includes, as Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matt. 6:25).

Entering into the kingdom of God is man's choice, not God's. We must, of our own free will "enter into the kingdom of God." God will not force us to enter the kingdom of God. But God will bless us if we will make the choice to enter the kingdom of God.

We see this very clearly in the teachings of Jesus. Especially in the parables, such as Matthew 13:44, where Jesus said, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." The buying of that field was a choice the man made. Of his own free will, he desired to buy that field and he bought it. God did not give him that field. He sold everything he had to buy that field. Likewise, if we are to enter into the kingdom of God, we must be willing to sell all we have and do everything we can to enter into the kingdom of God.

Another parable is in Matthew 19:45.46, which says,

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Just like the previous one, a person must be willing to sell all he has to enter into the kingdom of God.

Now go to Matthew 19:16-24. This is not a parable, but an actual case of a young man who had great possessions. He said, he had kept the law from his youth up. But, if he wanted to enter into the kingdom of God, Jesus said to him, "go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matt. 19:21). After Jesus said that to this man, it says, "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matt. 19:22). Jesus then said to His disciples,

Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:23,24).

There is a type and shadow of this in the Old Testament. The children of Israel were chosen in Abraham. The LORD said to Abraham in Genesis 13:16, "And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." The dust of the earth is speaking of the descendants of Abraham according to the flesh (whereas, the stars of the heaven are Abraham's seed according to the faith Gal. 3:16,29).

Then in Genesis 15:13,14 the LORD said to Abraham,

Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

In Exodus 3:7,8, the LORD spoke to Moses. It says,

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

The LORD was keeping His promise that He made to Abraham about four hundred years before this. In Exodus 6:1-8, the LORD explained to Moses, that in keeping His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He was going to bring them out of Egypt, and into the land of Canaan.

Notice, the children of Israel did not have to do anything about being brought out of bondage to Pharaoh. Just like the new birth into the family of God. Christians do not have to do anything about entering into the family of God (except, receive Jesus Christ into their life as LORD and Savior). John 1:12 says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

What about entering into the promised land of Canaan, what did the children of Israel have to do? First in Numbers 13, it tells us the LORD had Moses send out twelve spies into the land to spy out the land. Then it was necessary for them to "trust in the LORD, and go in and take the land." They had to give up their position, their belongings, their families and go to battle against the nations in the land of Canaan. The LORD did not give them the land of Canaan FREE! They had to go in and fight for the land to possess it!

In Numbers 14, we are told that they were not willing to go in and fight against the nations in the land of Canaan. Therefore, the LORD said, all those over twenty would die in the wilderness before He would take those under twenty into the land of Canaan to possess it.

When the forty years were up, the LORD was with them as Joshua led them into the land of Canaan. But, they had to fight every nation in the land of Canaan to possess the land. They had to be obedient to the LORD and "take the land by force." Even after they took the land, they still had to work and fight to keep it. Many battles were fought by the children of Israel, even after they took the land to possess it. From Joshua on, over and over the children of Israel did battle against enemy forces. The battles never stopped. All through Judges, over and over the LORD had to raise up judges over the children of Israel to deliver them from their enemies. From Samuel on, the LORD gave the children of Israel kings, to assemble armies to fight their enemies.

In the kingdom of God, the children of God and the sons of God still have to be willing to give up everything they have to possess the kingdom of God, and enter into eternity with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Entering the kingdom of God is not automatic, you must fight the enemy, the thoughts that come to your mind, and the desires of the flesh, if you want to remain in the kingdom of God.

ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Entering into "the family of God" is God's choice. He choose you, you didn't chose Him. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). The new birth is a work of God, not of man.

Many of Jesus' teachings were focused upon entering the kingdom of God. He began His ministry teaching the kingdom of God. Yet, if we desire to enter the kingdom of God, we must be willing to give up the things of this world and let God have control in our lives.

Jesus made many statements concerning the kingdom of God that can help us to understand "the reign of God" here on earth. In 1 Corinthians 15:50 it says, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." That is, we cannot operate in the kingdom of God by our natural mind, will, and intellect. Not the way natural people operate in this world. In the kingdom of God everything is done from our spirit.

Jesus said in Luke 17:21, "the kingdom of God is within you." Once we understand this, it can be very helpful to keep us from following other spirits, or those who teach false doctrines. God works from within our spirit. This has always been, from the beginning. In Job 32:8 it says, "there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

In the kingdom of God, God works with each individual from within their spirit. That is why 1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." God works in man by His anointing.

Jesus did not do any mighty works until after He received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Yet, Jesus was always the Son of God, even from the beginning. Jesus proceeded forth from the Father before the creation of the world. He was with the Father from the beginning. Jesus, Himself created this world and all things that are therein (John 1:3,10, Col. 1:16).

But, Jesus was thirty years old before He did any miracles. The first miracle that Jesus did was in Cana of Galilee. There He turned water into wine. The apostle John, writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said, "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee..." (John 2:11). If we were to follow the Gospels in chronological order, this beginning of miracles happened somewhere between two to six months following Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. As Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit came upon Him (He was baptized in the Holy Spirit) (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10, Lu 3:22, John 1:32-33). About six months after Jesus' baptism in the Holy Spirit, He took up the scrolls in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and read from Isaiah,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18,19).

Without the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the anointing is not within us. That does not mean we cannot do miracles unless we have the baptism in the Holy Spirit. No, all throughout the time of the Old Testament many did miracles. God never stopped being God. He did miracles in the Old Testament and He still does miracles today.

But, the anointing abides within those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit, and it's the anointing that does the works. Jesus could do no mighty works without the anointing. But, once He was anointed He did many mighty works.

God does things in the New Testament a little differently than in the Old Testament; yet, God never stopped doing mighty miracles. God can do mighty miracles without using people. But, God desires to use people to do His great and mighty miracles today. God works from within the spirits of those who are His children.

If you desire to enter into the kingdom of God, the first thing you need to do is receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The same anointing that was on Jesus, is the same anointing that was upon the apostle Peter, John, Paul, and the others following Acts 2. They all had the same anointing that you can have when you receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5,8, 2:4).

When a Christian receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit, they receive the power to do mighty miracles. Jesus said, "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The power is given "to be a witness" unto Jesus. The best witness unto Jesus, is to do the same things Jesus did the same way Jesus did them. There is no greater witness than that of another person walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

Once a person receives that power, it remains in them (John 14:16). The anointing abides in you (1 John 2:27). Any time you so desire you can shift over from your natural mind into the spirit and pray in tongues.

It doesn't make any difference what your natural mind is doing. What you do while praying in the spirit is independent of your natural mind. Look what it says in 1 Corinthians 14:14, "if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." Your natural mind has nothing to do with what your spirit is doing.

Your natural mind is a part of your outward man, the man of the flesh. Your spirit is a part of the inward man, the New Creature in Christ. These two are independent of each other when it comes to the things of the spirit realm. When God and man came together in one being, "Christ in you, the hope of glory," your living soul was translated from the flesh to the spirit (Rom. 8:9, Col. 1:13). Now, you can operate from your new spirit, in the things of the spirit, and the anointing within you will do mighty works.

If we continue to operate from our natural mind, we will never enter into the kingdom of God. To enter into the kingdom of God, we must shift over into the realm of the spirit, and operate from our spirit, by the unction of the Holy Spirit within us. When we speak in tongues, it's not of ourselves, even though we make the decision to speak in tongues. It's the Holy Spirit within us giving us the words to speak.

When we speak in tongues, it's the spirit within us doing the speaking, and no man understands what we are saying. Look at 1 Corinthians 14:2, "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." When we speak in unknown tongues, God is in control of what we speak. God has more wisdom, knowledge, and understanding then we have, so it's wise to let God do the speaking through us.

When you are speaking in tongues, God is in control of what you say. That is one time when the "kingdom of God" is operating in you. You can enter into the kingdom of God, by speaking in unknown tongues.... Every time you yield over to the Holy Spirit within you, you give God the opportunity to do mighty works in you and through you.

There are a number of other things we must do to enter the kingdom of God. We must be willing to follow Jesus, that is, deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus! Taking up our cross means to put to death the desires of the flesh, that we may enter into the kingdom of God, where God can do His will in our lives.

The next important thing we must do is "pray in the spirit" and "study the Word of God." These two things are the most important in entering into the kingdom of God. When we pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit can work in our lives according to His wisdom and knowledge. When we study the Word of God the Holy Spirit can reveal things to us that we never understood in the natural.

There are many Spirit-filled Christians today, studying the Word of God with their natural mind, and receiving all sorts of ideas of what the Word of God says. The truth of the Word of God can only be obtained by "revelation" from the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit does not reveal the truth to us, we will not know the truth. All we will have is "intellectual knowledge." Intellectual knowledge is "man's wisdom." Man's wisdom will lead us away from God, not to God! Man's wisdom gets in the way for the wisdom of God. Our natural mind is contrary to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:17). Therefore, praying in the Spirit helps to receive revelation from God (1 Cor. 14:2). Praying in the Spirit also helps to build up our faith (Jude 1:20). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

Let me tell you some things that can happen when you decide to pray in the spirit! A brother in the LORD in Africa gave this testimony. While he was still in High School, he and a number of his friends would spend all night on Fridays praying in the Spirit. Then on Saturday morning they would go to a certain hospital and pray for the sick in that hospital. They did this for five years.

He told me that for five years, not one person died in that hospital. Every person in that hospital went home healed, not always the same day, but by the next Saturday there were all new patients in that hospital. Can you imagine, not one person dying in a hospital for five years! That's what praying in the Spirit can do for those who will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, when they determine to set their plans aside and take the time to pray in the Spirit for hours a day!

To do what these High School students did, you must deny yourself, and take the time to pray in the Spirit. God sees your heart, and will respond to the desires of your heart if you will deny yourself and take the time, daily, to pray in the Spirit.

Another brother in the LORD, told of how he got started into the full-time ministry. At about the age of thirty, he and his wife made a decision, he had to answer the call of God in his life. He quit his job and partitioned off a small room in a building they had rented to hold church services.

That small room he used as his "prayer closet." Every day he spent at least eight hours praying in the Spirit. He said, if he could work eight hours a day for the world, he could spend eight hours a day working for the LORD, praying in the Spirit.

For months he was faithful to spend at least eight hours a day, praying in the Spirit. Everything you can imagine came against his mind. Every thing you can think of concerning what he should be doing to provide for his family came at him. The thoughts in his mind were constantly coming against him as he was continuing to pray eight hours a day.

At times, things did not look good in the natural. There was no food in the house, no money to pay the bills, etc. Yet, he kept his commitment to pray in the Spirit eight hours a day.

After some months of every day praying in the Spirit, God begin to show His faithfulness. People would stop by the house and give them groceries and things they needed to live on. As he continued his praying, months and months went by and it seemed as though it was of no avail. Nothing was happening, except he was just continuing to pray in the Spirit.

Then one day, a woman who he knew came and invited him to attend a meeting of her denomination. Now, her denomination didn't believe in speaking in tongues, but it would be a chance for him to get out of the prayer closet for a short time. He decided he would go to the meetings.

While at the meeting, he sat in the back of the room. He had gotten to the meeting a little late, and did not notice the elderly woman sitting next to him came in using a crutch to walk with. During the meeting, he looked over toward the elderly woman sitting next to him, and it was as though he had x-ray vision. He saw, as it were her hip socket, it had a dark substance around the ball joint, extending three or four inches down the leg.

As he saw this, he started to pray, "O God, O God, what is this? Do You want me to pray for this woman? What in the world do You want me to do?" God did not respond. After a while he said to the woman, "Ma'am, you have trouble with your hip"! She turned and looked at him, and all of a sudden the word "arthritis" came out of his mouth. Then he said, "it's arthritis in your hip"! She said, "that's what the doctor tells me, young man"! Excited, he said, "God wants to heal you. Ma'am, may I pray for you"? Thinking "he must mean when he gets home," she said to him, "Yes, you may pray for me"! As soon as she said that he leaped out of his chair, laid hands upon her and prayed. The LORD healed her instantly, and she leaped up shouting and praising the LORD for what God had done. The whole assembly got up in wonder. They had never seen a miracle and healing like that in their church.

Following that meeting, people were healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The LORD opened up this brothers ministry that day. He has been flowing in the gifts of the Spirit ever since; healing and miracles happen wherever he goes.

There's another brother in the LORD who comes to my mind, that spent many years as a evangelist, and then at times as a pastor. When I met him he was the pastor of a church. He spent a lot of time in prayer and in the Word. Many times on Sunday mornings he never got time to preach a sermon. Usually, following praise and worship the LORD would start to use him in the gift of knowledge. He would call people up that had sickness, disease or some other infirmity in their bodies and the LORD would heal them. Because of his life style of prayer and the Word, the anointing was always present.

There were many Sunday mornings that he never had a chance to preach. It would take a large book to tell all that happened. One instant I would like to relate to is; there was a man who had many growths on his body. He had them for years, and they were all over his body; on his arms, his legs, his stomach, all over him. Some of them were very large, almost the size of a golf ball.

He went to a hospital to have them checked out and they had intended to surgically remove a number of them. He entered the hospital on a Thursday morning and by Friday afternoon they had already decided which growths they would remove. But, they decided to wait until Monday to do the surgery. They let him go home for the weekend. That Sunday morning he was in church. The Pastor called him up and told him the LORD was removing those growths on his body, and by Monday they would all be gone.

That Monday morning the Pastor went to the hospital to see this man before he went into surgery. When the Pastor got their, they could not find the man. After checking the files in the office they discovered that he came in on Monday, but they could not find any growths on his body so they sent him back home.

Another case with this Pastor was that he had a woman come to his church who had heart problems. It got to the point were they said they needed to operate on all four heart valves. They admitted her to the hospital and scheduled her for open heart surgery one morning. This Pastor went to the hospital to pray with her before surgery. The Hospital staff knew this Pastor and let him go into the operating room where this woman was to be operated on.

For almost two hours, this woman lay on a cart, ready for surgery, in the same room where they were taking emergency cases in for operations. Two other emergency cases were operated upon while this woman lay awaiting. Neither this woman or the Pastor could understand why they kept her in the room while they operated on others instead. All that time this Pastor and this woman praised the LORD. They continued to praise the LORD, waiting for them to take her and operate on her.

When they finally got to operate on this woman, they found that all the heart valves were working fine. They sewed her back up, amazed that she did not need heart surgery.

While she was still in the hospital, following the surgery, they asked the doctor, why he kept her so long in the operating room, while taking other emergency cases before her? The doctor told them, "we didn't think she would live through the surgery anyway, so they tried to save others who they felt they could help. When they finally got time to operate on her, they could not find any bad heart valves, they were all working."

When Christians spend a lot of time in prayer and in the Word, the LORD can use them to help others. The LORD is always looking for those who will be faithful in prayer and in the Word.

God is looking for those who desire to enter into the kingdom of God. But we must enter in, not wait for God to put us in. We must be willing to set aside our will of the flesh, and do His will of the Spirit. We must be willing to do what the Bible tells us to do, and then God will respond with the anointing.

We must prepare ourselves by spending time in the Word and in praying in the Spirit if we want to enter into the kingdom of God. Yet, it must be a willingness to bring the flesh under subjection, and be doers of the Word not just hearers only. If we study the Word and pray in the Spirit for the wrong purpose, God will not respond. God looks at the heart, before He responds.

Let me give you another example. A brother in the LORD came from a well-to-do family. His father was a wealthy man, and he had a good college education. After he was born again he attended a theological seminary. Then he took the position of assistant pastor in a large church.

For years, he was well known in that church and had what was considered some of the best sermons around. But, God was not moving in those church services. There was no healing, no miracles, etc. This brother in the LORD got down and prayed one day, "LORD, what must I do to see the power of God in my services"? He said, the LORD answered him, "burn all your sermons, and let me do the speaking." He was so sure it was the LORD speaking to him that he called many of his pastor friends together to watch him burn his sermons. Many of them wanted to buy his sermons from him rather than see him burn them. He refused to sell them and a few of them joined him while he burned them.

The following Sunday, he got up to speak, not knowing what he was going to say. He had no idea of what he was going to preach on that Sunday. As he stood in the pulpit, the words came out of his mouth. The Spirit of God took over and people were healed and set free. People were filled with the Holy Spirit all over the congregation. He knew from that, it was not to be him preaching, but the Holy Spirit speaking through him.

Every Sunday, the Spirit of God took over the services as he stood in the pulpit ready to speak. People were healed, and set free, words of wisdom kept coming from him, knowing what was hindering the people and as he spoke them out the Spirit of God set the people free. It didn't take long for others to hear about what was happening in this brother's ministry. Soon he was asked to teach and speak at other churches and places where people came to hear him teach and be to healed of all sorts of infirmities. For years he traveled to different places teaching and letting the Holy Spirit have His way.

Let me give another example from my own life. When I attended Bible School, we were taught to make a sermon outline, then memorize it. It was necessary for us to preach that sermon without missing any points on the outline, and to finish within so many minutes. I tried to do that, but failed. I made out an outline, and tried to memorize it. When I got up to preach that sermon, I couldn't remember what was on the outline. I know I did not follow the outline at all. Yet, for some reason or other, the instructor still gave me a passing grade.

I have never been able to follow notes or outlines. I never could preach another person's sermon, no matter how good their sermon sounded.

When I get up to speak, sometimes I have an idea where to start, but from then on the words just come out of my mouth and I have no idea ahead of time what I am going to say. Many times, thoughts do go through my mind as I am speaking, but there is no preparation for what I will say beforehand.

One time, while ministering in a certain church on a regular basis, there was a brother in the LORD attending every session. I noticed he was very attentive of everything I was saying. This went on for months.

One morning he said to me, "you are always preaching at me"! I told him, I wasn't saying anything to him personally that I knew of. I had no idea of what I said that would be offensive to him in any way. Then he said, "well your preaching at me, but God is doing a work in me." He told me he had been smoking cigarettes for years. Then just a few days before, he was walking down the street and he met an old friend, who asked him for a cigarette. He said, he gave him a cigarette, then turned back to him and said, "here, take the whole pack." He gave the man the whole pack and turned to walk away, saying, "LORD, I don't want to smoke anymore." From that day on he did not have a desire to smoke cigarettes again.

As he continued to come to the meetings, he said he felt I was always speaking at him. Sometime later he told me he use to drink. One day, he said, "LORD I don't want to drink anymore," and he lost the desire to drink.

Then we had been giving to those who came on a regular basis a set of New Testament cassette tapes. I had given this person a set, and told him he should listen to at least one tape every morning and pray in the spirit all the time he is listening to the tape.

One Sunday morning he came to me and said, "I don't know what is happening, but the LORD is changing me. I get up in the morning and play the tape and pray in the Spirit while listening to it. When I do that, tears come to my eyes and sometimes I cry like a baby." He said to me, "I'm a grown man, I never cry"!

This man was being ministered to by the LORD while I was teaching and preaching without any outline, no notes, nothing but just getting up in front and letting the Holy Spirit use me.

God is looking for those who will respond to His Word, His way. He is not looking for those who want to do the work of the ministry from their natural minds. He is looking for vessels of honor, that He can use (2 Tim. 2:21). God will use those who prepare themselves for the Holy Spirit to use them, by spending time in the Word and in prayer, especially praying in the Spirit.

Yet we must remember, God works on His own timing, not on ours. God knows the future and God knows our hearts. For some, it only takes a short time of studying and praying in the Spirit. For others it may take years. But, never give up, never stop once you start. God knows when the time is right to move through you. God will move through you by the power of His Spirit if you are faithful to continue in His Word and praying in the Spirit. No matter how your mind tries to get you to stop, never give in. God is in control of all things in this creation. God knows when it's time to use you, and where to use you. Bring all your thoughts under subjection to the anointing within you, and God will bless you for your faithfulness.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11:12? "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." If you want to enter into the kingdom of God, you must take it by force. You must force yourself to study the Word and pray in the Spirit when your mind wants to do other things. You must take authority over your mind and your body and continue to pray in the Spirit. Then God will respond and reward you for your faithfulness.

THE REIGN OF GOD

In Mark 1:14 it tells us, Jesus went about "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." In verse 15, Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." How important is it to "believe the gospel of the kingdom of God"?

First we must be certain that we know what the kingdom of God is? In Romans 14:17 it tells us, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" Keep in mind, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink..." It's not "worldly prosperity, money, homes, automobiles, expensive food and clothing." Satan has brought into the Gentile church, teachings that attract many to the pleasures and things of this world.

Remember, Jesus said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world..." (John 18:36). All through the book of Matthew, it's called "the kingdom of heaven." If Christians let Satan get their eyes upon this world, and the things of this world, they will not enter into the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is, "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). The first is "righteousness." Righteousness means, "acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right." In 1 John 3:7 it says, "let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." Righteousness is doing what is "morally right, honest, fair and just." This means, no "lying, cheating, stealing, deceiving, taking advantage of others for personal gain." Righteousness also includes "never promising anyone something without having the ability to do what is promised."

Many, calling themselves Christians, are promising others that if they do what they say they should do (such as "send money"), then God will bless them! That is not "righteousness" in the kingdom of God. That is deception, to say the least, God is not in on it at all!

Christians are to be living according to the NEW COVENANT, not the Old COVENANT. In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit does the teaching, leading, guiding, and comforting. The Holy Spirit is our guide and helper, not some person who thinks they are somebody in the body of Christ. God does not send someone to tell others in the body of Christ what God wants them to do. In 1 Timothy 1:5, it tells us, "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." When someone comes to you and says, "God told me to tell you......" That person has taken the position of a mediator between you and God. Be very careful of those who think they can hear from God better than you.

Sometimes, God must send someone to "remind others what He has already told them," but not to give them information they know nothing about.

The Holy Spirit works "personally, on a one to one basis" with every child of God. The Holy Spirit works from a person's spirit, not from their mind. The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Peace." Everything the Holy Spirit does is in "peace." Therefore, the kingdom of God is "peace" (Rom. 14:17). God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). If there is a question concerning what someone says God told them to tell them; most of the time, it's not God; it's the flesh.

Being that the kingdom of God is "righteousness and peace," there will also be "joy." There is no joy in confusion, or questioning, "was it God or not"? You cannot have joy when there is confusion, therefore, the Holy Spirit is not in on those things that are not "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." It's either "in the Holy Ghost," or it's not of God. In the Holy Spirit is "righteousness, and peace, and joy."

Many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the Gentile Churches. These are not of God, but the enemy has put them there. We must know what is of God and what is not of God.

The kingdom of God is "the reign of the Holy Spirit" here on earth. When the Holy Spirit is reigning, then He is in control, not people. For the Holy Spirit to reign, the people must "deny themselves" and pick up their cross and follow Jesus (Luke 14:27).

We must understand the kingdom of God from the Scriptures. Another verse to study is in Matthew 6:10. Jesus, teaching on prayer said to pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." When we understand the word "kingdom" means "reign;" then we can understand what Jesus is talking about when He said, pray, "Thy kingdom come."

Many have taught man's knowledge of this, but missed what Jesus was talking about altogether. Jesus actually said, "Pray thy reign come." When Jesus told His disciples to pray that prayer, the reign of God had not yet come. It did not come until after Jesus arose from the dead.

That prayer is still a part of our New Covenant. Therefore, we should also pray that prayer, praying that "the reign of God the Holy Spirit would come into our lives, individually, and be in total control of everything we do." It's not a question of whether God is here on earth or not. God was always here on earth, right from Genesis 1:2 on. But God was not dwelling "in His people," He was only "with them." There are many references to this in the Old Testament (Ex. 25:8, 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Zech. 2:10). Then in John 14:16,17, Jesus said to His disciples,

I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

At the time Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the Holy Spirit was with them, and Jesus said, after they receive Him, He shall be in them.

That's only the beginning of the kingdom of God coming into us according to the prayer Jesus taught in Matthew 6:10. Once the Holy Spirit is in us, rather then just with us, we are in a position for the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives "individually."

The second part of Matthew 6:10 continued by Jesus saying, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." How is the will of God being done in heaven? If you study the Scriptures concerning the way things are done in heaven you will notice that everything is done by the power of God bringing to pass that which God has spoken.

In Revelation 21:4 it says, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." It says, "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..." It doesn't say that people will do it, it says God will do it! When it says in verse four "God shall..." that includes everything listed in verse four; God is going to do those things, not man.

In verse 5, it goes on to say, "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Who's sitting on the throne, God, the LORD, or man? It isn't man, it's the LORD. All the way throughout the twenty-first and twenty-second chapters of Revelation, it's God doing everything, and man responding to what God is doing. It's God all the way, man only letting God do what God wants to do, not man trying to do things man's way.

That is how things are done in heaven, and Jesus said, pray that things be done on earth as they are done in heaven (Matt. 6:10). Jesus, Himself set the example of how things are done in heaven in His life here on earth.

As a Man, Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30). That is the position Christians should take in the kingdom of God. In John 5:19, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." In John 6:38, Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

A child of God is a born again Christian. Born again means, "born from above." If we are born from above, then we also came down from heaven (that is; our new spirit came down from heaven according to Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26, 2 Cor. 5:17). Being, we came down from heaven, we did not come to do our will, but the will of God, Who made us a new creature in Christ Jesus. Our attitude of what we should be doing here on earth should be the same as the attitude of Jesus when He was here on earth as the Son of Man.

God is not looking for Christians to do their own will. He is looking for those who will obey the Holy Spirit, and do only the will of God. Not, only do the will of God, but do it according to the example that Jesus set when He was here as the Son of Man. Jesus never did His own will, He did only the will of God the Father. Jesus never did anything by His own ability as a Man, He only did things by the ability of God dwelling in Him. In John 14:10, Jesus said, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." In Matthew 12:28, Jesus said, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Jesus did not cast out devils by His own power as the Son of Man, He cast them out "by the Spirit of God" within Him.

The kingdom of God is "God reigning in the lives of people, who submit themselves to the reign of God." The kingdom of God is when God is in control of people within His kingdom. Everything that is done, is done by God, not by man. Everything God does is from the "new created spirit of man," not from his intellectual mind of the flesh. God works from man's spirit, not from his mind.

In Romans 1:9, Paul said, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit..." Everything God does is witnessed in our spirit. It's from our spirit that God gives us a witness of whatsoever He is doing or what we should be doing. It's out of our spirit (which is in our belly), flows "rivers of living waters"(John 7:38,39).

In 1 Corinthians 14:14 it says, "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful." When we pray in the spirit, it's our spirit that does the praying, not our natural mind of the flesh. We have an inward man of the spirit, and an outward man of the flesh. The inward man of the spirit is the new creature in Christ, born again of the Spirit (John 3:6). As we continue to mature in Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Every day, as we pray in the spirit, our inward man is renewed.

We must learn to die to the outward man of the flesh, that the inward man of the spirit can live unto God. We must deny the will of the outward man of the flesh, that the will of God can be done in the inward man of the spirit. If our outward man of the flesh is in control of our lives, the Holy Spirit is not in control. We must willingly give place for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, by denying our own will of the flesh. Jesus set the example, and He said "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30).

It must be God doing His will in us, not ourselves doing our will. In 1 Corinthians 14:1 it says, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy." What does it mean by "prophesy"? Prophecy comes by the unction of the Holy Spirit, not by the natural mind. To prophesy, we must be speaking by the unction of the Holy Spirit within us. It's not man, speaking from his mind, but the Holy Spirit speaking from our spirit. In 1 Peter 4:11 it says, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." If Christians speak at all, let it be by the unction of the Holy Spirit. If Christians minister, let it be by the unction of the Holy Spirit, which is the ability that God gives us.

Many Christians have failed in the ministry, because they tried to do the work of the ministry from their minds, not letting the Holy Spirit do the ministering from their spirit. This has been going on from the time of the apostles. In Jude 1:4 it says, "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." What is Jude talking about? In verse 19 he says, "These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." What does he mean by "sensual"? The word "sensual" in the Greek is "psuchikos," meaning the "natural man," born of the flesh. This is the same Greek word used for the "natural" body in 1 Corinthians 15:44. Jude is saying, they are operating from their natural mind, not from their spirit. They operate as though they do not have a "new spirit" born from above. He didn't say they were not born again, but they were not operating "by the unction of the Holy Spirit." They were, as though they did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.

Many Spirit-filled Christians today are doing the work of the ministry from their natural mind of the flesh, and not from the unction of the Holy Spirit from within their spirit. This is not uncommon, it has been going on since the time of the apostles. That is why Jude wrote the epistle of Jude. Faith operates from our spirit, not our mind. The Holy Spirit operates from our spirit, not our mind.

I know of many Spirit-filled Christians, operating from their natural mind of the flesh, trying to say they are doing what God called them to do. Many of these have taken the office of a pastor, saying God called them to that office. Others, just take the office of a pastor, and let people think they are called of God to that position in the body of Christ. They are Spirit-filled Christians, but they are not led by the Holy Spirit. They are not speaking by the unction of the Holy Spirit from their spirit. They are speaking the words of men, by the "wisdom of men."

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." What does he mean by, "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power"? It was the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul from his spirit. It was by the unction of the Holy Spirit that Paul spoke. Not by the wisdom of men, but by the wisdom of God, by the Holy Spirit within Paul.

How can you tell if a person is speaking by the unction of the Holy Spirit within them, or by the wisdom of man? Whenever a person speaks by the unction of the Holy Spirit within them they will always speak words that agree with the written Word of God. They cannot teach "man's doctrines" by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Whatsoever they say, must agree with the written Word of God, otherwise it's not the Holy Spirit speaking through them, it's the natural man of the flesh. The Holy Spirit will never go contrary to the written Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 12:3 it says, "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." Any person speaking under the unction of the Holy Spirit cannot speak against Jesus, or the Word of God. For, Jesus is the Word of God manifest in the flesh (John 1:1,2).

Whenever you hear teachings that do not agree with the written Word of God, it's not the Holy Spirit speaking from their spirit, it's man's wisdom, coming from the flesh. Let's take an example of man's wisdom that is being taught today.

There is a teaching that Cain is not the son of Adam, but rather the son of Eve by the serpent in the garden of Eden. This teaching uses a number of Scripture verses to teach this doctrine. Yet, the Word of God stands forever (1 Peter 1:25). The Word of God says, "Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD" (Gen. 4:1). There is no question in the Word of God concerning who Cain's father was. It says, it was Adam. Anytime someone comes teaching anything that disagrees with the written Word of God, it's not of God. The Holy Spirit will never give anyone the words to speak that do not agree with the written Word of God.

From this one teaching, there are many other teachings that glorify the devil, rather than raise up Jesus. The whole Bible, from Genesis through Revelation is bringing forth the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Everything from Genesis to Acts should point to the Cross. Everything from Acts through Revelation should point back to the Cross. It's on the Cross that God made it possible for man and God to be joined together in one body, "the body of Christ." It's at the Cross that the past is done away with, and the future is established. The Cross made it possible for man to become born again and live forever in heaven.

The teaching that Cain was not the son of Adam glorifies the devil. It does not glorify Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who created all things. It does not raise up Jesus that the whole world would know that Jesus Christ is LORD!

Another teaching among the Gentile churches today is that "you cannot be born again without water baptism"! Many have taught this doctrine. Yet, it's not of God. The Holy Spirit did not inspire that teaching. It does not agree with Acts 10:44-47. In Acts 10:44-46 it tells us that the house of Cornelius received the Word of God (which is to say, they were born again). Then it tells us they were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Following that, Peter said, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Truly, they were born again "without" water baptism!

What's bad about all teachings that do not agree with the Word of God is that those who teach such things are in danger of losing their salvation "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18).

We have the Written Word of God that we might know the Truth. If we do not walk in the Truth, we are in danger to say the least.

In the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit gives us the words we should speak. They do not come from man's intellectual knowledge, they come from our spirit. The Bible teaches, if any man speak, let him speak as the Holy Spirit gives him the words to speak (1 Cor. 14:1, 1 Peter 4:11).

THE PLAN OF GOD

God had a plan from the foundation of the world, that is, before the LORD formed man of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7). His plan is written in the Bible. To understand the plan of God, it must be revealed to us by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14). If we do not study the Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 we will easily be deceived by the spirits of this world into believing according to our "human intellectual knowledge." Human intellectual knowledge in the Bible is referred to as "the wisdom of men" (1 Cor. 2:5). What we learn with our human intellect is helpful, and the Holy Spirit can use what we know to help us understand the Written Word of God. We are told to "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). But, this cannot be done without the help of the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians, even Spirit-filled, tongue talking, Christians have studied the Bible so well that they can quote anything from any book, chapter, or verse at any time. They can even speak in Hebrew and Greek, and give you the meanings of every Hebrew or Greek word in the Bible. Yet, it's all "intellectual knowledge," "the wisdom of men." With their minds they have studied the Word of God, but they are still "conformed to this world," they have not been "transformed" by the renewing of their mind. Why is it that way? Because they have not entered into "the reign of God" (kingdom of God).

They have not done what Jesus said we must do to enter into the kingdom of God. One important requirement to enter into the kingdom of God is to become "a disciple" of Jesus. Jesus said, in Luke 14:26,27,33:

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

If a Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christian, is not willing to do what Jesus said they must do, they cannot be His disciple. Jesus added to this, "two commandments" for the New Covenant. In Mark 12:30,31, Jesus said,

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Notice that Jesus used the word "all" four times in the first commandment. How much is all? All is 100%, not 99% and not less than 99%, but a complete 100%. When you do that, how much of your heart, soul, mind, and strength is left to "love the world and the things of this world"?

In 1 John 2:15 it says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Even if we love the world, or the things that are in the world with only 1%, then the fulness of the love of the Father is not in us. The truth is, Jesus was talking 100%, and no less. That is the will of God for each individual Christian born again into the family of God.

The plan of God from the foundation of the world was that each one, individually, would enter into "the reign of God." That is, every individual person would be "led by the Holy Spirit" in everything they do here on earth. God has never "withheld any good thing" from anyone who will enter into "the reign of God."

God is Love, and God loves those who love Him. In Isaiah 43:7, the LORD said, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." The love of God can be clearly seen throughout the whole Bible.

In Revelation 13:8 it mentions "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Why was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world? To pay the price for the sins of mankind, which includes the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). With the sin issue settled from the foundation of the world, Satan has nothing on anyone "who is walking with God and led by the Holy Spirit," no matter what they did. The price was paid before Adam was created in Genesis 2:7. In Isaiah 43:25, the LORD said, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." In Isaiah 44:22 the LORD said, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." In 1 John 2:12 it says, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." In Revelation 22:17 it says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

God's plan from the foundation of the world was that everyone who would come to Jesus and receive Him, would spend eternity with Him forever. God never planned that man should spend eternity in hell. Hell was planned for Satan, the devil, and his followers; not for man. But if anyone desires to join Satan in hell, God will not prevent them.

God never forces anyone to serve the devil. And God never forces anyone to serve the LORD. God gave us a free will to choose who we will serve, God or the devil?

Now herein lies spiritual revelation if you can receive it? The LORD is the creator of all things. No one has power over the Creator. There is no power greater than that of God. Satan is a created being. Satan does not have power over the LORD. Satan cannot force the LORD to do anything. Satan can do nothing, unless the LORD permits him to!

This is where Satan has deceived many Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians, with his lies. God had a plan from the foundation of the world, and God never changed His plan one jot or one tittle. God never made any changes in His eternal plan because of what Satan did. When we understand that, we will begin to understand spiritual things from God's perspective. From the throne of God in heaven, the Father see's His plan working perfectly from the foundation of the world.

God's plan is, that every individual person born into this world would "deny themselves and be led by the Holy Spirit." Yet, the Holy Spirit cannot lead anyone who is not willing to submit to His leading. That is where man has missed the perfect plan of God from the foundation of the world: they let Satan blind their minds from the perfect plan of God.

God is not looking for those who think they can do His will by their own ability, no matter how great they think they are. What God is looking for, is human vessels that He can manifest His power and His glory through. All God wants is a human vessel fit for the Holy Spirit to use.

Until Christians are willing to deny themselves, God cannot use them the way He so desires. Satan has lied to everyone who will listen to him. His lies have deceived multitudes. Eve was deceived. Adam was deceived. Cain was deceived. And so on down the line.

But, look at Enoch! During his first sixty-five years on earth, Enoch learned how to walk with God (Gen. 5:21,24). Enoch was not born again. Enoch was not "filled with the Holy Spirit" as Christians today can be. Enoch was not baptized in the Holy Spirit as Christians today can be. God did not dwell in Enoch.

Yet, Enoch was led by the Holy Spirit and he was faithful to God, therefore, after three-hundred years of walking with God, God took him to heaven, body, soul, and spirit complete (Gen. 5:24, Heb. 11:5). Enoch never died physically or spiritually. Enoch is in heaven with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and many others, who obeyed the Word of God. Satan could not stop Enoch as he walked with God! When Christians today, learn to walk with God by, "being led by the Holy Spirit" they too will be taken to heaven when they leave this earth.

Now all of this Enoch did "after sin and death entered mankind," after Enoch himself, "was born with sin and death resident in him" (Rom. 5:12). Enoch had sin and death resident in his body and soul, and still walked with God and God took him. Now, for those who listen to those "religious spirits," they will not believe the truth about Enoch. But that will never change the Word of God, it stands forever!

How can anyone believe the lies of the religious spirits today, when Enoch fulfilled the perfect will of God in his life? Without being born again, without being baptized in the Holy Spirit, Enoch fulfilled the perfect will of God, even before the flood of Noah's time.

It's time Christians got their thinking "turned right" with God, and renewed their minds on the Word of God, so God can transform us into true "sons of God." Let God be God 100% in our lives and then we will see "clearly" the plan of God from before the foundation of the world.

Satan has brought into the churches, many false teachings and false doctrines. One example; of the teachings of men today: is that, many Christians believe that the flood at the time of Noah came upon this earth because that fallen angels had sex with women and produced giants that corrupted mankind. Through their comprehensive studies of the Hebrew language, and the use of Hebrew words in the Old Testament, they think they can prove their theory. But God has placed "stumblingblocks" in the Scriptures, that to the natural man it seems to be right. But spiritual things are not naturally discerned (1 Cor. 2:14). Spiritual things can only be discerned by the Holy Spirit, giving revelation to those whose heart is right, and eyes are opened by God to know the TRUTH.

Whenever a false teaching comes you will find it cannot, and does not agree, with the Written Word of God, from Genesis through Revelation. Somewhere in the Bible it will disagree with that which is written.

Fallen angels cannot have sex with women and produce human beings. In Genesis 1:24,25 it says,

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Five times in two verses God mentioned "after his kind, or after their kind." Fallen angels and human beings are not of the same kind. Angels do not marry, nor are they given in marriage for the purpose of having sex to reproduce after their kind (Matt. 22:30, Mark 12:25). Human beings, cattle, creeping things, beasts of the earth are all "living creatures" formed of the dust of the earth. Yet, even among the "living creatures," human beings cannot have sex with cattle and produce either, human beings or cattle. Neither can a pig have sex with a dog and produce a dog or a pig. These are not "after their kind," even though they are "living creatures."

Fallen angels are not "living creatures." The Word of God proves that fallen angels cannot have sex with women and produce giants, or any other human being.

Now we know Satan has powers beyond that of man. Satan can cause many manifestations and physical beings to appear in the flesh. He caused frogs to multiply on the land in Exodus 8:7. Satan also caused the rods of Pharaoh's magicians to turn into serpents in Exodus 7:12. Even today, Satan can cause some women to have children with deformed bodies, some even resembling parts of animals.

Yet, the TRUTH, concerning the flood at Noah's time came because "the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh..." (Gen. 6:3). Men, who "at one time" were led by the Spirit of God, "called the sons of God," no longer would listen and obey the Holy Spirit, but turned everyone to his own way.

Who are the sons of God? The Scripture clearly explains itself, stating "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). God never called demonic spirits or fallen angels "sons of God." That is a false impression many get by trying to understand spiritual things with their natural mind (1 Cor. 2:14). Sons of God remain sons of God even after they leave their physical bodies. They can still appear before the LORD as "sons of God" after they have died on this earth; just like Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:4).

God has already told us what happens when people think they understand spiritual things without the help of God. In Ephesians 2:2 it says, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Religious spirits still work in the minds of those who do not submit themselves to the Holy Spirit, that He can Teach, Guide, Help, Comfort, and Lead them. The natural mind of man works from the flesh, and Galatians 5:17 tells us, "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The end result of the lusting after the flesh brings about "the works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-21). Long before "the works of the flesh manifest," the lusts of the flesh were there, working in their members. This is similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 about adultery.

God's eternal plan for man is that "people be led by the Holy Spirit" in everything they do. When man turns away from the leading of the Holy Spirit, and goes about doing his own will of the flesh, God has no choice but to turn away from all who do such things. When the time came in Genesis, Chapter Six, that the "sons of God" had turned away from the leading of the Holy Spirit, the flood came, and only Noah, and his family were saved.

The flood did not come because of what Satan had done, but because men refused to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Today, the churches are very close to the same condition, whereby Spirit-filled Christians have left the leading of the Holy Spirit and have gone to do the work of God without the Holy Spirit. They have found another way to do the work of the ministry. They have found another source for their supply in everything they need to do for the work of the ministry. They, no longer "deny themselves," and trust 100% in the LORD. They have another way to do what they say God called them to do.

To those who walk after the flesh, they think what is going on in the churches is God, and they do not question the manifestations, neither do they try the spirits (1 John 4:1). Just like in the days of Noah, the spirits of this world control much of the spiritual operations in the world today, and many Spirit-filled Christians think it's God!

When Christians "loose their spiritual insight" by not denying themselves and trusting 100% in the LORD and the Holy Spirit, Satan has an advantage. God is not looking for those who think they can serve God from their natural mind. God is only looking for vessels, that have purged themselves from all things that are not of God, and from walking after the flesh, that they could become "vessels of honor" for the Master's use (2 Tim. 2:15-26).

The "wisdom of men," is as, an abomination unto God, so to speak. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Man cannot please God, operating from his natural mind. To please God, we must "walk by faith, and lean not unto our own understanding, but in everything be led by the Holy Spirit."

God's plan for man still is, "to be led by the Holy Spirit" in everything we do! That is what the kingdom of God is all about.

The kingdom of God is, when the Holy Spirit "reigns in our lives" 100%. Yet, He cannot reign in our lives if we desire to do our own will. Our will and the will of God are not the same. Therefore, even Jesus said, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30).

When we are led by the Holy Spirit, sin will have no place in our lives. The Holy Spirit will always led in the way of righteousness! "For the kingdom of God is....righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17).

Because "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" it is "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:17, Acts 14:22). We must crucify the flesh, that the spirit might serve God. The apostle Paul did not say "he served God with his mind." He said in Romans 1:9, "...I serve God with my spirit..." Those who try to serve God with their mind will stumble on the many stumblingblocks in the Scriptures.

Just like the flood at Noah's time, and every time God destroyed nations in the Old Testament; it was not because Satan brought sin into the land. It was because those who knew God would not obey Him. The Spirit of God was here on this earth from Genesis 1:2 until now, and will remain until there is no hope for anyone. He will always strive with man, that they will follow His leading. But if men turn away and turn from God to other spirits, the LORD may draw back His Spirit, and Satan will take over in their lives. We should study Romans 1:18-32, it's all explained in that chapter.

Satan can do nothing, unless the LORD permits him (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7). There is a time in the lives of many, when the LORD has no choice but to permit the devil to take control of a persons life because they turned away from His Word and the Holy Spirit! Christians bring the wrath of God upon themselves when they turn away from the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 1:18 it says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." This is talking about Christians, for those who are not Christians cannot "hold the truth in unrighteousness." The reason "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven," is stated a number of times in this Chapter. In verse 21 it says, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." In verse 25, it says "Who changed the truth of God into a lie," and verse 28, it says, "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge..."

There are multitudes of Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians today, who do not glorify God, are not thankful that they have been given eternal life FREELY, and are living without even thinking about God in their life. They live just like the rest of the religions of the world, who do not know God. Some of them get down on their knees and pray hours a day, but their prayers are not from their spirit, but from their mind. Just like the other religious people who pray to other gods. They quote Scripture verses, just like the devil did to Jesus in Matthew 4:6, where he quoted from Psalm 91:11,12. They are not "led by the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 8:14), they are led by the spirits of this world "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).

Romans 1:26,28 tells us, "For this cause God...gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." When God gives a Christian over to a reprobate mind, there is no return; unless, "God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth...that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Tim. 2:25,26).

It's so sad, that today, within the Gentile churches there are multitudes of Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians, sitting in the office of Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, or Pastor, who have "changed the truth of God into a lie," and have departed "from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim. 4:1,2).

Some Spirit-filled, tongue talking pastors, are teaching that "tithing is a false doctrine." It's impossible for any Christian to believe that "tithing is a false doctrine" unless the Holy Spirit releases their mind to the spirits of this world. The Holy Spirit will never go against the Word of God!

Once a person is "taught by God" on the subject of tithing, they will understand, "God is more interested in their time than He is in their money." Until Christians are willing to spend at least 2.4 hours a day in prayer and the Word, they will never understand tithing. It's through spending 10% of every day with the LORD in prayer and in the Word that the Holy Spirit can prepare a persons heart to give of their material things. If Christians would study Exodus 25, they will see that the LORD is only interested in His people giving material things when they are giving with a willing heart. Then, also, only those whose heart has been made willing by their spirit (by the Holy Spirit working in their spirit).

Those who teach "against tithing" are not listening to the Holy Spirit. They are teaching from their natural mind, where the prince of the power of the air is in control (Eph. 2:2).

If they continue to teach such things you will notice that many will end up with physical problems and not receive healing for their bodies. Whether it's teaching a false doctrine or taking the glory that belongs to God, the end result can be the same. It doesn't make any difference how great of an anointing they had or have. The anointing has nothing to do with the person.

One example is Alexander Dowie in the early 1900's. He had a great anointing for healing and miracles. Multitudes were healed under his ministry. But he taught some "false doctrines," and took the glory for himself, raising himself up as an apostle, believing he was "Elijah," come back.

Alexander Dowie spent his last years in a wheelchair after suffering from a stroke. He continued preaching from a wheelchair until he died. Healing is a gift from God for those who will obey the LORD! Those who serve the devil in teaching "false doctrines" usually will not receive their free gift of healing! God is not a respecter of persons, but God will not go against His Word! Many people have been used of God in great anointings, and through the anointing upon them, multitudes have received from God. But, the person themselves will suffer for their involvement in "teaching of false doctrines."

There are multitudes of examples in the Bible as well as in the world today. These should be for our benefit, that we do not follow the ways Balaam. Balaam had a great anointing to prophesy, and his prophecies were of God. But, in his personal life, he taught false worship of other gods, he "taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Rev. 2:14). There are two types of "fornication," spiritual and sexual. Spiritual fornication is "teaching false doctrines," leading others to believe a lie "anything that is not true according to the Written Word of God."

There are multitudes of "false doctrines" being taught within the Gentile Churches today. This is "spiritual fornication," no different than that which Balaam did! What does the Bible have to say about Balaam? Is it any different with others who teach "false doctrines"? God is not a respecter of persons. He would be unjust, if He treated Balaam differently than Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians.

False teachings and false doctrines are always, "doctrines of devils?" There are only two sources of information available to man on this earth, God or the devil. Man is only the vessel used by God or the devil. When a person confesses with their mouth, the information came from either God or the devil (Matt. 16:17,23). If we confess the Truth, it came from God. If we confess the false it came from the devil. Look at Matthew 16:15-17:

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Now look at Matthew 16:22,23.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

First Peter received his information from God, then he received his information from Satan. The same person received information from two different sources.

Multitudes of Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians are reading their Bibles and teaching "doctrines of devils." One of the greatest examples of this is in Luke 4:6, which says, "And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it." That was the devil that said that to Jesus in the wilderness. Now, Jesus knew the truth, He did not believe the devil. But today multitudes of Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians are teaching the LIE of the Devil world wide!

Jesus knew it was a LIE, he said in John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." The devil was a murderer from the beginning of his time "as the devil" (not as Lucifer, the anointed Cherub, created perfect, before he sinned and was cast down to the earth) (Isa. 14:12-20, Ezekiel 28:12-20). When Satan was cast down to the earth, he became a new being, no longer "Lucifer, the anointed Cherub, but Satan the devil." That was a New Beginning for Satan, the devil. From that time on, he has been a LIAR and there is no truth in him (John 8:44).

Jesus knew the devil was lying in Luke 4:8, but Jesus did not contend with the devil. Instead, Jesus quoted the Scriptures (Deu. 6:13, 10:20). This is the only way to speak to the devil, quote the Scriptures! But look how many Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians believed the devil? They have never looked up the Scriptures to see what they say!

In Proverbs 8:15,16, the LORD speaking, said,

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

What Daniel spoke to king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:37,38 was a word from the LORD, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Daniel said,

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

Psalm 103:19 says, "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all." In 2 Chronicles 20:6, King Jehoshaphat prayed, "And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?" In Romans 13:1 we are told, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Job 36:7, speaking of the LORD says, "He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted." In 2 Kings 19:15 it says, "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth." Daniel 4:17,25,32 says,

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

That makes twelve (12) times the Bible tells us "the LORD is over all the Kingdoms of this earth, even the kingdoms of the heathen." How can Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians preach that Satan has power over all the kingdoms of this earth and can give that power to whosoever he wills? It's simple, they listen to the lies of the devil more that they listen to their spirit, where they could receive "revelation knowledge" from the Holy Spirit. From their mind, they receive "man's wisdom" from their spirit they could receive "God's wisdom." Yet, they have chosen to listen to the lies of Satan over the WORD of God.

Out of this one verse, along with Matthew 4:9 Satan has been able to get the help of "multitudes" of Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians, to teach his "doctrine of devils." There are so many "false teachings" from this one incident, that it would take the "whole Bible" to name them all. If we were to write books containing all the lies the devil has spread throughout the Gentile Church, it could be that even the world could not contain them.

These "false doctrines," "doctrines of devils," which are the "teachings of men," have filled the churches all over the world. It's not just a few "unknown" Christians that are teaching these "false doctrines," it's among the largest ministries the Gentile Churches have ever seen.

We are nearing the time Jesus spoke of in Luke 17:26,27, saying,

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Why did the flood come at the time of Noah? "The LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh..." (Gen. 6:3). Today, it's not that man is flesh, but that man is "walking after the flesh," and not following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Men are teaching others "doctrines of devils," saying it's of GOD!

Some may wonder, why does the LORD let this happen? Why doesn't the LORD do something about all the false teachings in the Gentile Churches today?

The LORD is doing all He can according to the WORD of God. Years ago, a Word came from the LORD, saying,

"Those who have taught what they have heard others teach, and have not received it from My Spirit, if they will repent, My grace will cover them."

The LORD is trying to get Christians to repent, but if they do not, He cannot do anything for them. In John 12:47,48, the LORD said,

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

The LORD has already given us His Word, He cannot change it. He is not judging anyone at this time, they can do whatsoever they desire. But He will judge them on the last day for those things they taught while here on earth. In James 3:1 it says, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." The word "masters" in the Greek means "instructors or teachers." Those who teach "false doctrines," "shall receive the greater condemnation." Knowing these things, Christians should be very careful of what they teach. Jesus said, "the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

The words Jesus Himself spoke is only the beginning, for Jesus said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John: 16:13). Therefore, everything the Holy Spirit inspired to be written in the Bible is included. We will be judged according to everything that is written in the Bible. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." If we do not "Study to shew thyself approved unto God," and we do not "rightly dividing the word of truth," we will be held accountable for what we teach.

God is not trying to make it difficult for us. God has done all He can to make it simple for us. For He has already told us in His Word "how to do it." In 1 John 2:27, God said, "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." God, the Holy Spirit, will teach us ALL THINGS, Himself, if we will "abide in him." Those who refuse to abide in Him, can be deceived...

God is LOVE. He has done all He can to help us! Jesus said, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). All Christians need to do is keep Jesus' commandments (Mark 12:30,31). If they do that, they will never make any mistakes, and Satan will never have anything on them. Christians should deny themselves and let God be God in their lives.... The Holy Spirit will always lead in the way of "righteousness, peace, and joy" (Rom. 14:17).

LIES OF THE DEVIL

In the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit is the Teacher, and He teaches the TRUTH! Jesus said, in John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." How does GOD teach those who are His own?

In 1 John 2:27 it says, "the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." The "him" spoken of in this verse is the Holy Spirit! Once a born again Christian is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they are in Him and He is in them. That is what the word "baptize" means. It means, "completely submerged in, completely covered in the Holy Spirit." Colossians 3:3 says, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." We are hid with "Christ," the Anointed One, in God the Holy Spirit. We are in Him and He is in us, making us One with Christ in God.

When we received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to completely cover us, and dwell in us to teach us all things pertaining to God. Therefore, by the anointing that abides in us, the Holy Spirit teaches us "spiritual things," and natural things. For "all things" includes both spiritual and natural things.

For the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, we must abide in Him! Abiding in the Holy Spirit is not just a position of being "hid with Christ in God." Abiding in the Holy Spirit is an attitude of making Him your source of all things, like it says in Matthew 6:33, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." What are "all these things," that shall be added to us if we seek first the kingdom of God? Jesus had already named them in Matthew 6:25 saying, "what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Therefore, being these are natural things, they are included in what God will do in our lives if we will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Let's take a little side journey here and let me tell you of one instance where God supplied the natural things people needed "supernaturally." In John 6:1-13 it tells of a time when Jesus took "five barley loaves, and two small fishes," and "when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples," and it says, "the men sat down, in number about five thousand." Verses 12 and 13 tell us,

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

God multiplied the barley loaves and fish until there was enough to feed everyone and still had twelve baskets of food left over.

Where did God get all that food? He just caused it to appear, being He is God and He has that power within Himself. He created all things, and has power over all things at all times. This same power is in us, as the Holy Spirit dwells in us following the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Now, that is "dominion," in action. Dominion only works through "man." Satan does not have dominion, cannot have dominion, and never will have dominion on this earth! He has lied to multitudes of born again, Spirit-filled, tongue talking Christians, getting them to teach that he got Adam's dominion when Adam sinned in the garden of Eden. That is a lie of the devil, and there is no truth in him!

If Christians, would do what the Bible tells them to do, and "abide in the Holy Spirit," where He can, "by the anointing within them, teach them all things," they will get to know the TRUTH! Those who "enter the kingdom of God," after they are born again of the Spirit, "will be taught of God!"

What I could tell you about being taught by God from within my spirit, would take a book over two inches thick "at the least." What I have learned, by being taught by God, did not come from the teachings of men, it came from the Holy Spirit abiding in me. Out of my belly, comes the living waters, of the TRUTH of the Word of God, by the anointing within me. I did not receive it from men, or from the teachings of men.

If I were to write everything I received "from my spirit" "by the anointing," it would take years of writing. Everyday I receive information from my spirit. I do not have the time to write it all down. But, I have written one book "TAUGHT BY GOD," and intend to have another book soon on the same subject. This book, "TAUGHT BY GOD," along with many other books are FREE to anyone who has a computer connected to the Internet. All they need to do is go to www.handsforjesus.org and download it, and many other books into their computer, and print them out for themselves. It's that easy, and it's FREE! Hands For Jesus, Inc. is doing what Jesus said to do in Matthew 10:8, "freely ye have received, freely give."

At this time, let me help you learn how to receive the TRUTH of the Word of God from the Holy Spirit abiding in you. The Holy Spirit works in you by the anointing. He works from your inner being, as it says in John 7:39;

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The Holy Spirit is God, and does things "when He wants to and how He wants to." You do not control "when He reveals things to you, or how He reveals things to you." It's all, "as He wills" (1 Cor. 12:11). In your spirit, you will "always" have peace when the Holy Spirit reveals something to you. He is "the Spirit of Peace," and all things are done by Him in peace! Always remember, He is God in the Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). The Holy Spirit "can do nothing without the WORD of God," for the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are One with the Father (1 John 5:7). If it does not agree with the written Word of God from Genesis through Revelation, then it did not come from the Holy Spirit. This is a guarantee from God Himself, for Jesus is the Word of God, He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last" (John 1:1,2 Rev. 1:8,11). It's not possible for the Holy Spirit to do anything that does not agree with the Word of God!

Let me take a little side journey here and help you to understand that God is LOVE. God Loves everyone created in His image. God loves You just as much as He Loves JESUS! To God, JESUS is His Son, and always has been from the beginning. God Loves His Son, and He loves all of His children just as much as He loves His Son, Jesus. What He did for JESUS, He will do for you also, if you will love Him and obey Him. Everything God did for JESUS, He did it because JESUS obeyed Him. Obedience, brings the blessings of God to all who love Him.

I am the least of all those who are in Christ, yet God loves me just as much as He loves JESUS. For those who know me, I do not spend my time sight-seeing, fishing, hunting, golfing, ball games, sports, watching TV, listening to the Radio, etc. The world does those things, I am not of this world. I am born from above; heaven is my home. When you love the LORD and commit yourself to serve Him, you don't have time for the things of this world (1 John 2:15). I spend my time having fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the Word of God and in prayer, enjoying the fellowship we can have with God!

Yet, as you know, Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Therefore, we know that the devil and his demons are doing all they can to stop us from having fellowship with God. There are times in our lives, when people, even Spirit-filled Christians who we had long time fellowships with, will walk away from you. They don't seem to even want to talk to you anymore. Some of these result from us not wanting to waste our time going to hear someone speak from "man's wisdom" on religious subjects such as "evaluation verses Christianity." There's no value in trying to convert someone from "evaluation to Christianity" by using the "wisdom of man." If the Holy Spirit is not in on it, it's all of no avail. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). If the Holy Spirit is not working, I don't need to be there myself.

After many of our friends leave because of the Word, we sometimes feel like we are alone; but we know we must continue in our fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So there are times when God just likes to encourage us, by letting us see things in the spirit realm that will help to encourage us to continue on. Not for any special reason, except that God loves those who love Him:

On August 19, 2003, it was about 7:00 PM and I was about to go to bed. The temperature in the house was about 85 degrees and outside it was about 79 degrees. So I had two fans running in the windows, blowing cooler air into the house. I was ready to go to bed. I only had my house coat on when I thought I best not go to bed yet, but rather lay in the livingroom for a while, then shut the fans off before going to bed.

I laid down on the davenport for about a half-hour and fell asleep. While sleeping I felt someone grab my foot. I jumped and said, Hey! I looked, and beside the davenport, by my feet stood two angels dressed in US Army combat uniforms. They did not have any weapons, and only a small dress cap on their head. They stood near my feet looking at me (about four feet from my face). There was no fear, and they did not look as though they intended to do anything but look at me. They stood there like two people waiting for someone to take their picture.

I looked them over very carefully, from the combat boots up to the top of their heads. They did not have any identification on them, no rank, no name tag, none-whatsoever. They were both about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 180 pounds. They were both white complexion. One had blond hair the other one had black hair. They were clean shaven, no mustache, no beard. Their uniforms had a perfect press, as if it had just come from a dry-cleaners. Then I was staring in their faces to see if I might know who they were, I did not recognize either one as someone I knew. They never said a word to me and I did not try to speak to them. After