Wrestling

Just on ‘wrestling’ with principalities:

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
Eph 6:13 Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The goal here is to stand. This means that the wrestling is bcos THEY, the powers and principalities, the rulers of darkness, come against us. We are not coming against principalities, looking for a fight with them, and then conquering them, which would mean stopping their activities. If you’ve fought a principality and ‘won’, then they could no longer do anything, right?

We are resisting them and having the victory in Christ when we don’t obey their suggestions. Simply don’t obey their word, or their suggestions, and submit yourself to God, and the devil will flee,  then you’ve effectively wrestled with them and gotten the victory, by faith.

When we cast a demon out of a person then they go and enter someone else, someone who has opened the door to them thru sin. We’ve not ‘defeated’ the demon or rendered it powerless. Yet a great victory has been enforced in the life of that person.

If one thinks they can drive principalities out of a city, then, if they did go, they would just go to another city and the people there would curse you for that!

Take care of the temple

of the Holy Spirit, your body, your health.

I’ve been taking Cod Liver Oil capsules for some time now and they really do fill a gap in our diet – the missing Omega 3 oils and Vitamin D, and i can feel the difference.

Also, by making an effort to increase lightly cooked onion and garlic in your diet you will have a much better resistance to any flu which comes along. And you know what they say about an apple a day….  it’s true.

http://johnmcternansinsights.blogspot.com/2009/11/health-and-nutrition.html

Thanksgiving is the cushion

on which i make myself comfortable. Everyone needs to curl up on God’s ‘sofa’ now and then : thanksgiving is the cushion on that sofa, on which i rest and take comfort – to be truly thankful. Unthankfulness – lack of gratitude, is a hard bed to lay on. (Btw, I’m not referring to America’s Thanksgiving day)

A great multitude

Revelation chapters 6,7 & 8.  A certain number of Jews are sealed on the earth (so that they won’t be harmed) then a great multitude from every nation is taken up into heaven out of the great tribulation, that is, before the real wrath of God is poured out on the earth, and one third of it destroyed.

Abhor that which is evil

Rom 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Abhor that which is evil. I should abhor evil more than i do. Considering, that to abhor it is to really hate it and have an aversion to it; to find it utterly disgusting.

Some professing Christians  seem to have little or no abhorrence of evil!

What is knowledge?

Knowledge of knowledge? Or, knowledge of God?

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:2-3

Knowledge:  G1922  ἐπίγνωσις  epignōsis

From G1921; recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: – (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment).

So, the knowledge of God, knowledge of Him, is the recognition and acknowledgment of everything that He is. Your spirit and mind recognizes Him. How can that be possible? Only if He dwells within, by His Spirit, His Spirit witnessing to our spirit (1 Cor 2:10-16). Knowledge is ac-knowledge-ment.

To lack the knowledge of God is to not recognize and acknowledge Him. See the distinction between knowledge of knowledge and knowledge of Him? See how some can be ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth? (2 Tim. 3:7)  They are ‘learning’ but they are not coming to an acknowledgment of Him, bcos they don’t recognize Him. So, there is a form of knowledge which is actually a substitute for Him.

All things that pertain unto life and godliness  are through the knowledge of Him.

This tells us that the true knowledge of Him radically affects someone’s life and godliness. False knowledge doesn’t.

Love the LORD

your God with all your heart…   This love for Him should be the essence of our life: coloring, flavoring, fragrancing all that our life and living consists of.

I’ve wasted it, Jesus

Let this mind be IN you

We must very dearly consider these words :  Let this mind be IN YOU which was also in Christ Jesus…

Our LORD never went seeking out His own glory, or profit, or advantage. Never maneuvered His way into anything. It was His Father who glorified Him, bcos He came to do His will and finish the work He was given.

If we have the same mind as Him, then the Holy Spirit will glorify the Father and the Son IN US, and in our assembly.

WOF – “It does not work”

When this phrase is used it reveals that WOF [word of faith] is a technique to get something from God, or to get God to act for you, which is essentially idolatry. All techniques, formulas, exercises, ‘follow these steps’, are idolatry, as God is a Person, a loving Father, not  an idol.

Related to this, people are funny, bcos as some think Calvin invented predestination, or Luther, justification, so they think that Hagin invented faith (yet another form of idolatry- idolatry of men), which is amazingly blind. I know saints in India who’ve never heard of WOF, who believe in divine healing and health… that is, how vital it is to trust God, that a double minded man will receive nothing from the LORD… Simple folk who read the Bible and believe. [ Note: To receive from God is very different to ‘getting’ from God, or ‘making a deal with God’]

We’ve also seen non-Spirit-filled believers here who believe that everything that happens to them is God’s will. We’ve seen the devil do so much in some families, just steamroller them, and they just glibly resign it to being God’s will, not standing by faith, not having the shield of faith which quenches all the fiery darts of the enemy. So, wisdom is required in all things.

Preparing a temple for the antichrist, the king of the world

”It will be a modern building, with car parks and elevators, but it will look very much like the Second Temple.”

The Temple Institute museum contains a large-scale model of what the Third Temple will look like, with its main building set to reach a height of 60 metres.

Today, the Temple Mount is dominated by the al-Aqsa Mosque and the gold-topped Dome of the Rock.

”Al-Aqsa can stay,” Mr Glick said, pointing to the mosque. ”It’s not even on the Temple Mount proper. But we intend to just build over the Dome of the Rock. We might be able to find a way to include it in the Third Temple.”

Mr Glick envisages a house of prayer open to all believers in the monotheistic faiths, Christians, Muslims or Jews.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/jews-raise-millions-to-be-ready-for-coming-of-the-messiah-20091113-ieqk.html

Messianic expectation – that’s what it’s about. This temple is for ‘him’. So simple, just build it and he will come. What if three ‘messiahs’ come, how will they know the real one? Will miracles settle the matter? Can’t argue with a bona-fide miracle, eh.

Very interesting that the Temple Institute envisions a temple shared by Christians, Muslims and Jews, bcos that would mean that they are expecting a ‘messiah’ who will embrace these three religions, at the least. What a mess. And Christians are paying for this temple! Yes, they are fulfilling prophecy, but they don’t understand what they are doing, bcos the first ‘messiah’ to appear will be the devil incarnate, The Beast. Even the ‘messianic’ Christian movement is setting people up to receive the antichrist as messiah; universalist ‘christians’ , humanists ; Muslims, with their Imam Mahdi ; they are all being set up to receive their ‘messiah’ and his ‘kingdom’.

Boldly push forward

yet never be elitist; not in any way, shape, attitude or form. But don’t hesitate to proclaim the truth, even if people label you as elitist  (Like, Who do you think you are to be talking like that?! Do you think you’re better than others?! )  just don’t wear any label anyone gives you. We need to be gloriously free in serving the Body of Christ, our brethren :

For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 1 Cor. 9:19

How many of us can say we are free from all men?  And then, that we are servant of all?  Servant of all is the antithesis of elitism.

Are you happy in India?

(someone asks)

Are we happy and content here? We would not be any MORE happy or content if we lived anywhere else, bcos our happiness is IN Jesus, and how He is manifest in our family and friends – His love between us. We really feel that where ever we are we are ‘home’, bcos we don’t feel that this present earth is our home anyway. Sure, there’s been many times, when things got tough, that i wished i could go back to Australia to an easy life! But i always seemed to get over it. I’ve visited many countries, so i pretty well know what the world has to offer as far as cultures and lifestyles.

This has made me think that the grass is not greener on the other side of the fence.

Each time i’ve been back to Australia i’ve felt less at home there, bcos, as a post-Christian society the love of Christians is getting colder and colder, with some exceptions.

Here in India, our door is open to anyone, and many doors open to us. In Australia, not so, people have their own ‘private’ life and they don’t want real fellowship, or are just too busy. We have a few good friends in Australia, for which we are thankful.

The Badge

A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, “I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs.” Rancher says, “Okay, but do not go in that field over there,” as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, “Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me.” Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. “See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish…. on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand? ”

The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased close behind by the rancher’s prize bull.

With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he’ll get “Horned“ before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs…..

“Your badge. Show him your BADGE!!!”

God IS

…Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment has come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev. 14:7

The Bible describes a scenario far WORSE than any disaster movie

Yes, indeed. The truth is stronger than fiction.

A note on Branham

Part of my post on a blog:

Interesting you mention Graham in the context of Branham.

Some of Billy Graham’s closest associates and friends are/were 33 degree masons. To get that high in masonry you really need to be virtually demon possessed. Billy does not have the character to tell them the truth.

With Branham, such a thing would have been unthinkable, he hated such hypocrisy.

You know, all the people who cite Branham (as in, carrying on his spiritual legacy), like Cain, Joyner, Bentley… ,  Branham detested such people. Quite ironic, eh.

Branham’s life is a serious warning to all about what NOT to do. He didn’t fall into adultery or greed or anything like that, he got decieved by supernatural power, and not taking heed to the commands of the Apostles. If he had a mind like the early Apostles, worked as they did, he would not have fallen, and then been taken out in judgment. Btw, you can be taken out in judgment and still be saved, but its not recommended anyone try it out.

……..and i’m not doubting Billy Graham’s salvation either.

Not that we are sufficient

of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God… 2 Cor. 3  Encouraging, eh.

 

Brothers, sisters, mothers and children

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mark 10:29-30

Sounds like a spiritual family which we receive from God – brothers, sisters, mothers, children.

A bond and a relationship deeper than a natural family. And, if so, then it will be much deeper than merely being acquainted with people at the church we attend, rather, they will stick with us all our life, wherever we are and whatever happens. There will be a deep spiritual bond – nothing superficial. Something more than talk alone.

Pray that you would have one brother or sister like that you can pray with, and then one more, and so on – If two or more gather in my name I am there in the midst.

Error – a matter of the heart

Last night we had a close brother from the village visit us, we often fellowship. We got talking about, What is deception?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
(1Jn 2:15-17)

These things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.
(1Jn 2:26-27)

We discussed that “error” is not as simple as error in school. Like , if you’re helping your child in study, and you point out any errors and correct them, it’s straightforward. Not so in spiritual or Kingdom matters, bcos it’s not merely a matter of having ones facts wrong, it’s a matter of a deceitful heart which causes one to believe wrong, and therefore ones facts are wrong, and thus the above scriptures. We need to go to the root.

If one’s heart is set on SELF (1John 2:15-17) then that’s the filter thru which one reads scripture, which colors ones thinking and therefore what one bases their beliefs upon and their ‘ministry’ – upon themselves, their own desires, whether they are good or bad desires.