ContentsIntroduction

1ManUnderAuthority

2InHisImage

3DominionThroughWords

4KeystoUnderstandingtheBible

5Noah’sCovenant

6Abraham’sCovenant

7TheMiraculousConception

8TheAuthorityoftheBody

9TheAuthorityofJesus

10JudgmentofthisWorld

11Jesus,TheSinOffering

12Jesus,ATypeoftheRod

13First-BegottenoftheDead

14KeysoftheKingdom

15DominionInThreeWorlds

16OneWithGod

IntroductionThephoneranginabusinessofficeandwasverypromptlyanswered.The

angryvoiceonthelinesaid,“Iwanttotalkwithsomeonearoundtherewithalittleauthority.”

Tothat,themanreplied,“Well,talktome.Ihaveaboutaslittleauthorityasanyonearoundhere!”

Thisistoooftenthecasewithmanybelieverstoday.Theyseethemselveswithsuchlittleauthoritythattheywouldn’tdareexerciseit.

Authority In ThreeWorlds is dedicated to the Body of Christ. It is notintended to perpetrate a doctrine or stir any controversy. It simply bringstogetherawholepictureofwhichsomanyhaveonlyasmallpart.

Ichallengeyoutoreaditwithanopenmindandwithmuchprayer.Itisnot a book you can read quickly. It requires some pauses for thought,meditation,andsearchingofScriptures.

Thisbookmaycomeasashocktothereligiousmind.Don’treaditwithyour religious eyeglasses on, for this book will take you on a scripturaljourneythatwillshocktheaveragechurchgoer.

ItwillcausesinnersandsaintsaliketobothweepandlaughforjoyoversogreatadeliverancethatwaswonforusbytheholySonofGod.

Thousands will be saved while reading this book. Multitudes will behealedas the revelationof totaldeliveranceunfolds in thepagesof theOldTestamenttypes.

Authority In Three Worlds is a scriptural help to a proverbial jigsawpuzzle.Itwillgiveyouawide-angleviewofGod’sloveandconcernformanonearthandwillcauseyoutofalldeeplyinlovewithJesus,HisSon.

1

ManUnderAuthorityThe people of the world have not yet seen the authority given them

through Jesus Christ. Neither have they accepted the authority that isrightfullytheirsbecauseofbeingbornonearth.

ManwascreatedinGod’slikenesstohavefellowshipwithDeity.Hewasthecrownofallcreation.Hepossessedabilitiesbeyondourcomprehension,yethefailedbecausehebrokeGod’sWord.WhenAdambowedhiskneetoSatan,helosthisspiritualauthority.

Let’s beginwithMatthew8:5-10 and use this as a launching point intoauthority.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him acenturion,beseechinghim,andsaying,Lord,myservantliethathomesickofthepalsy,grievouslytormented.

AndJesussaithuntohim,Iwillcomeandhealhim.The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou

shouldestcomeundermyroof:butspeakthewordonly,andmyservantshallbehealed.

ForIamamanunderauthority,havingsoldiersunderme:andIsaytothisman,Go,andhegoeth;andtoanother,Come,andhecometh;andtomyservant,Dothis,andhedoethit.

WhenJesusheardit,hemarvelled,andsaidtothemthatfollowed,VerilyIsayuntoyou,Ihavenotfoundsogreatfaith,no,notinIsrael.

ThismanwasaGentile.HewasnotaCovenantman.HewasanoutcastinhisdayandhadnolegalgroundstocometoJesus.TheGospelwastotheJewfirst, then to theGentile.EvenwhenJesussentHisdisciples topreach,He said, “Go to those of the House of Israel. Go not into the way of theGentile.”(Matt.10:5,6.)

ThismanwasnotincludedintheCovenant,butJesussaid,“Iwillcomeandhealyourservant.”ThecenturiontoldJesusthatHedidn’thavetowalktohishouse.Inthosedays,Jesuscouldn’tcatchaplaneoratrain.Heeitherhad to walk or ride a donkey, and if you’ve ever been on one of those

donkeys,youknowthatyouwouldratherwalk!

ThecenturionsaidtoJesus,“Youdon’thavetowalktomyhouse,forI’mamanunderauthorityandIknowhowauthorityworks.WhenI’mtoldtodosomething,Idoit.Ihavesoldiersunderme,andwhenItellthemtocomeorgo,theydoit.Now,Youjustspeakthewordandmyservantshallbehealed.”

Thisisthehighestformoffaith.

I asked the Lord, “Why did the centurion have that kind of faith eventhoughhewasnotincludedintheCovenant?”

TheLordsaid,“Hewasamilitarymanwhounderstoodauthoritybecausehewasunderauthority.IfyouwillteachMypeopletounderstandauthorityasthismanunderstoodauthority,theywilloperateinthesamekindoffaith.”

WhenyouunderstandauthorityastheBiblesetsitforth,youwillrisetoanewleveloffaith.YouwillrisetoanunderstandingofGod’sWordthatwillsetyoufreefromthecircumstancesoflife!

YoucanuseyourGod-givenauthoritybyspeakingHisWordagainstthecircumstancesof life.TheywillconformtoGod’sWord!Theknowledgeofthistruthwillsetyoufree!

TakeAuthorityOverCircumstancesOnefellowmetanotherandasked,“Howareyoudoing?”

Hereplied,“Well,notsogoodunderthecircumstances.”

Themansaid,“Whatareyoudoingunderthecircumstances?”Wehavesungsongsofunbeliefforsolongthatwehavebeguntobelieve

them!“I’mjustawearypilgrim,trudgingthroughthisworld.”

We are not weary pilgrims, trudging through this world! We wereforeignersandstrangers,butnowwearejoint-heirswithChristJesus!

Anothersonggoeslikethis:“Iknownottodaywhattomorrowmaybring—shadows or sunshine or rain.” As you get an understanding of yourauthority through the Word of God, you won’t have to worry about whattomorrowbrings.

Takeyourfaithandchangewhattomorrowbrings!

TheKnowledgeofGodJesusspokeaprofoundtruthwhenHesaid,

Ifyecontinueinmyword, thenareyemydisciples indeed;andyeshall

knowthetruth,andthetruthshallmakeyoufree(John8:31,32).Godspoke throughHisprophetHosea,saying,Mypeoplearedestroyed

forlackofknowledge:becausethouhastrejectedknowledge,Iwillalsorejectthee(Hos.4:6).

Solomonsaid,

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge andunderstanding(Prov.2:6).

OneofthegreatestneedsofthisdayistorealizewhatGodhasdoneforusinChristJesus.Wefindinsighttothisin2Peter1:1.

SimonPeter,aservantandanapostleofJesusChrist, tothemthathaveobtainedlikepreciousfaithwithusthroughtherighteousnessofGodandourSaviourJesusChrist.

YouwillnoticePeteriswritingtothosewhohaveobtainedlikepreciousfaithwithus. Inotherwords,youandIareincluded!Wehaveobtainedthatsamefaith.

Graceandpeacebemultiplieduntoyou through theknowledgeofGod,andofJesusourLord(v.2).

Iwantyoutopayparticularattentiontothephrase,theknowledgeofGod.Graceandpeaceismultiplied,notadded,toyou!Peopleareseekingforpeacetoday.Mostofthemareseekingpeaceinplaceswhereitisn’tfound.

Notice, peace is multiplied to us through the knowledge of God andthroughtheknowledgeofJesus,ourLord.

Accordingashisdivinepowerhathgivenuntousall things thatpertainuntolifeandgodliness, throughtheknowledgeofhimthathathcalledustogloryandvirtue(v.3).

Ifyouhavebeengivenallthings,there’sjustnotanymoreHecangive.Thisscripturedoesnotsay,“Heisgoingtogiveusallthings,sometime.”

Hehasalreadydone it!Hehasgivenusall things thatpertainunto lifeandgodliness through the knowledge of HimWho has called us to glory andvirtue.ThiscomesonlythroughtheknowledgeofGod!

TheWordsays:

Andhegavesome,apostles;andsome,prophets;andsome,evangelists;andsome,pastorsandteachers;fortheperfectingofthesaints,fortheworkoftheministry,fortheedifyingofthebodyofChrist:

Tillweallcomeintheunityofthefaith,andoftheknowledgeoftheSon

ofGod,untoaperfectman,untothemeasureofthestatureofthefulnessofChrist.

Ephesians4:11-13He has given a fivefold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists,

pastors,andteachersfortheperfectingofthesaints.

TruthAloneWon’tSetYouFreeRemember,Jesus’wordstoHisdisciples:

Ifyecontinueinmyword, thenareyemydisciples indeed;andyeshallknowthetruth,andthetruthshallmakeyoufree(John8:31,32).

Ihadbeenmisquotingthat.ThenonedaytheLordsaidtome,“That’snottrue.”

Iwasshockedandsaid,“Well,Yousaidit.Itmustbetrue.”Heanswered,“Youaren’tquotingall of it. If yecontinue inmyword…

thenyouwillknowthetruth,andthetruthwillmakeyoufree!”

Everyone won’t know the truth because they’re not continuing in theWord. It’s the knowledge of the truth that sets you free!Many knowabouttruth,butfewhavetheknowledgeofthattruth.

TheApostlePaulsaid,“Allthingsareyours!”Petersaidthesamethingin2Peter1,“TheLordhasalreadydoneit!”Heisn’tgoingtodoitsomeday.Infact,theBibletellsus,GodfinishedHisworkinsixdays,thenrested.SomeofushavebeentryingtogetGodtoworkeversince!Hesetitallinmotion.ItwasaccomplishedinJesusChristandisavailabletoallwhowillreceiveit.

Freedom comes to us when we continue in God’s Word because itproducestheknowledgeofGod.Petersaid,

Accordingas his divine power…Wherebyare givenunto us exceedinggreatandpreciouspromises:thatbytheseyemightbepartakersofthedivinenature(2Pet.1:3,4).

Hedidn’tsayyouhadtobepartakers.Hesaidyoumightbepartakers.It’savailable toyou.AspartakersofGod’snature,youarecapableofoperatingonthesameleveloffaithwithGod.ManwascreatedtohavefellowshipwithGod,theFather.

2

InHisImageBut one in a certain place testified, saying,What isman, that thou art

mindfulofhim?orthesonofman,thatthouvisitesthim?Thoumadesthimalittlelowerthantheangels;thoucrownedsthimwith

gloryandhonour,anddidstsethimovertheworksofthyhands.Hebrews2:6,7Notice, twodifferentpeoplearespokenof in thesescriptures—manand

theSonofMan.JesusalwayscalledHimself“theSonofMan.”

Godsetmanover theworkofHishands.Godgavemandominionovertheearth!Thoumadesthimalittlelowerthantheangels.

TheGreekstates,“…foralittletime,lowerthantheangels.”Becauseofthe Fall, man wasmade lower than the angels for a little while.Manwascreatedonahigherorderthanangelsinthebeginning.Onlymanwasgiventherighttochoosehiswordsandmakehisowndecisions;theangelswerenotgiventhatright.

Thouhastputallthingsinsubjectionunderhisfeet.Forinthatheputallinsubjectionunderhim,heleftnothingthatisnotputunderhim.Butnowweseenotyetallthingsputunderhim.

Hebrews2:8IfHeputallthingsunderhim,thereisnomoretobeputunderhim.He

putall things insubjectionunderman’s feet.As farasGod isconcerned, itwasdonewhenHeputAdamoverall thingsof thisearth;Adamwasgivendominionoveralltheearth.

YoucanseeinGenesisthatmanwascreatedtohavedominion.Allthingswereputinsubjectionunderhisfeet!Godisn’tgoingtodothisformankind,someday. He has already done it! God left nothing that was not put underman’sfeet!Manwasputaboveitall.

Youdon’tseeallthingsputunderhimyet,butyoudoseeJesusWhowasmadelikeman.ManhasnotattainedtothatpositionbecauseofAdam’sfall,butyouseeJesus.

Forasmuchthenasthechildrenarepartakersoffleshandblood,healsohimself likewise tookpartof the same; that throughdeathhemightdestroyhimthathadthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil…

Forverilyhetooknotonhimthenatureofangels;buthetookonhimtheseedofAbraham.

Whereforeinallthingsitbehovedhimtobemadelikeuntohisbrethren,that hemight be amerciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining toGod,tomakereconciliationforthesinsofthepeople.

Hebrews2:14,16,17Jesuswasmadejustlikeman.HetookuponHimselfthebodyofaman.

HecametoearthasamanandputallthingsunderHisfeet.

AdamWastobeGodOvertheEarthAsyoureadaboutthecreationofmaninGenesis1:26-28,yourealizethat

mankindwascreatedtoruletheearth.

AndGodsaid,Letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikeness:andletthemhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andover the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing thatcreepethupontheearth.

SoGod createdman in his own image, in the imageofGod createdhehim:maleandfemalecreatedhethem.

AndGodblessedthem,andGodsaiduntothem,Befruitful,andmultiply,andreplenishtheearth,andsubdueit:andhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andovereverylivingthingthatmovethupontheearth.

Notice in verse 26 the word, all—over all the earth, and over everycreepingthingthatcreepethupontheearth.

HereisoneofthemostastoundingstatementsoftheBible:Letuscreatemaninourimage.

SoGod createdman in his own image, in the imageofGod createdhehim;maleandfemalecreatedhethem.AndGodblessedthem,andGodsaiduntothem,Befruitful,andmultiply,andreplenishtheearth,andsubdueit…

(v.27,28).It’s important to notice that God did not say, “Just be humble and let

circumstances of life bowl you over. Don’t ever do anything about yourcircumstances. Just say, ‘What is to come will come’ and do nothing to

changeit.”

No!Godsaid,Subdueit!Inotherwords,iftheearthoranylivingcreaturegetsoutof line,youput itback in line!That’squitedifferent fromsomeofourSundayschoolideas.

Godcreatedmantobegodovertheearth.Manwasn’t put here as aworm in the dust.God created the earth and

gave it tohim. Itbecameman’s todowithashewould,butGodgavehimsomeguidelineswiththeabilitytocarrythemout.

Theheaven,eventheheavens,aretheLord’s:buttheearthhathhegiventothechildrenofmen.

Psalm115:16Godgavetheearthtoman.Hesaid,“Ifitgetsoutofline,don’tcallMe.

Youputitbackinline.”(That’s1Capps1:27).Don’tlaydownandplaydeadandsay,“Oh,Iguessit’sGod’swill.”

Use your faith and change the circumstances! Subdue it! Takedominionoverit!

God said,Let us makeman in our image after our likeness. The wordlikenessintheoriginalHebrewmeans“anexactduplicationinkind.”

GodduplicatedHimself in kind!Man didn’t spring from amonkey.Hedidn’tcomefromasinglecellthatdecidedtocrawlontheground,thenhangbyitstailfromtrees,andfinallywalkupright.That’sintellectualgarbage!

Godcreatedmanfullgrown,asgodovertheearth.HegavethisearthtoAdamandsaid,“Hereitis,Adam.Begodovertheearthandeverythinginit.Ifitgetsoutofline,youtakecareofit.”

Adam was an exact duplication of God’s kind! He was created in theimageofhisCreator.GodcreatedmanafterHisownkind.ThewholelawofGenesisbearsthisout:Everythingproducesafteritskind.(SeeGen.1.)GodisaSpirit…(John4:24).

Youdon’tplantpeachestogroworanges!Youdon’tplantcucumbersandharvestapples.Everythingproducesafteritskind.That’sthelawofGenesis—thelawofGod.

God said as long as the earth remained, there would be seedtime andharvest,dayandnight,coldandheat;itwouldnevercease.(Gen.8:22.)Thatlaw is working. God’s laws have never been superseded. They remain ineffecttoday.

God createdman afterHis likeness, an exact duplication in kind.Then,

what kind isGod? Jesus said,God is a Spirit. You aren’t God. You aren’tequal with God in His divine attributes, but you are a spirit being underauthority.YouareabletopartakeofGod’sdivinenature:righteousness.

Adam was subordinate to God. God created him, gave him all thisauthorityandpower,andsaidtohim,“BegodovertheearthasIamGodovertheheavens.”

TheBible tellsus thatmaniscreated in the imageand likenessofGod.Manisathreefoldbeing:Heisaspirit;hehasasoul;helivesinabody.

God said,Let us make man in our image. If man was made in God’simage, thenhe isa triunebeinglikeGod: theFather, theSon,andtheHolyGhost.

1.Manisaspirit.ThehumanspiritcontactsGod,Whoisaspirit.

2.ThebodyrelatestoJesus,WhowasthephysicalmanifestationofGodinthisearth.

3. The soul ofman (which is composed of the will, themind, and theemotions)relatestotheHolySpirit,WhoiscalledGuideandTeacher.

Iamconvincedthatthesoulofmanisthecouplerthatlinksthespirittothe body. The Holy Spirit is spoken of as Guide throughout the NewTestament.

SincemanwascreatedanexactduplicationofGod’skind,hehastobeatriunebeinginordertoqualifyforthelikenessofGod.

AndAdamlivedanhundredandthirtyyears,andbegatasoninhisownlikeness,afterhisimage;andcalledhisnameSeth(Gen.5:3).

The exact words used to describe Adam’s sons are used by God todescribeman.ManwascreatedinGod’slikenessandinHisimage.That’sthelawofGenesis. If everything produces after its kind, Seth had to look likeAdam.WhywouldGoddeviatefromHislawofstructureintheuniverseandcreate something thatwasn’t afterGod’skind?God stayswithHis lawandusesthesamewordstodescribeSeth.

TheCreationofManAnd the LordGod formedman of the dust of the ground, and breathed

intohisnostrilsthebreathoflife;andmanbecamealivingsoul(Gen.2:7).Noticeitsaid,“Heformedman.”Thisisn’tthecreation.Somesaymanwascreatedoutofdust.That’snottrue.

SometimeswehavebeenlikethelittleboywhoheardhisSundayschool

teachersay,“Wearemadeoutofdust,andtodustwe’llreturn.”

Theboyasked,“Didyousay,‘We’remadeoutofdust,andwe’regonnaturnbacktodust?’”

“Yes,that’swhatGodsaid.”

The little boy replied, “Well, I looked under my desk, and there’ssomebodyeithercomingorgoing!”

Somehavebeenjustasconfusedintheirthinkingconcerningthecreationofman.

TheBibleshowsthatGodformedman’sbodyoutofthedustoftheearth.Createdmeans“tobringintoexistence.”Formingsomethingisnotacreation.You can take an existing substance and form something, but that isn’t acreation.

You can construct a building from trees. The trees existed before thebuilding was formed. The men didn’t create the building. They built it—formedandfashionedit—fromanalreadyexistingsubstance.

GodtooksomethingHehadalreadycreated(theearth)andformedman’sbody out of the dust of the already existing substance. There man was—completewitheyes,ears,nose,hands,feet—aperfectspecimen.Buthewasasdeadasadoornail.Therewasnolifeinhim.IfGodhadturnedhimloose,he would have fallen to the ground. There was no life in him until Godbreathedthebreathoflifeintohim.

GodbreathedHislifeintoAdam—thelifeofGod!

AndGodblessedtheseventhday,andsanctifiedit:becausethatinithehadrestedfromallhisworkwhichGodcreatedandmade(Gen.2:3).

Godcreatedsomeandmadeothers.Godcreated theearth,butHemademan’sbody.HemadeitoutofwhatHehadalreadycreated,thenHebreathedlifeintothatbody—spiritlife!ThecreationcamewhenGodbreathedspiritlifeintoAdam.

Thewordspiritmeans“windorbreath.”GodbreathedHisSpiritintomanandmanbecameanexactduplicateofGod’skind.

3

DominionThroughWordsWeseeGod’sthoughtbeforeandafterthecreationofman.

AndGodsaid,Letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikeness:andletthemhavedominion…

SoGod createdman in his own image, in the imageofGod createdhehim;maleandfemalecreatedhethem.

AndGodblessed them,andGod saidunto them…havedominionoverthefishofthesea,andoverthefowloftheair,andovereverylivingthingthatmovethupontheearth.

Genesis1:26-28HowwasAdamtosubduetheearth?

As an exact duplication of God’s own kind, Adam was capable ofoperatingonthesameleveloffaithwithGod.AdamwassubordinatetoGod,butalloftheearthwasunderhiscontrol.Adamwasamanunderauthority.

Some think that Godmade the earth out of nothing, butHe didn’t. Hemadeitoutofsomething.ThesubstanceGodusedwasfaith.

Let’scompareGenesis1:1withJohn1:1.

InthebeginningGod…(Gen.1:1).InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWord

wasGod(John1:1).ThenJohn1:3says,Allthingsweremadebyhim(theWord);andwithout

him(theWord)wasnotanythingmadethatwasmade.Godcreatedtheearthwithwords.

GodusedHisfaithwhenHecreated.HereleasesHisfaithinHiswords.Therewasno lightout thereuntilGodsaid, “Light,be.”Heproduced lightwithHisfaith.HeusedHiswordsasacarrierofthatfaith.

You’llfindthewordsAndGodsaidspokententimesinGenesis1.Whydidn’tGodtellMosestowriteAndGodsaid,thenlistallthethingsGodsaid?

The reason it was recorded this way was to reveal to you how God

created.

Hediditwithwords.HeusedHiswordsascontainerstocarryHisfaithoutwherecreationtookplace.God’swordsarefilledwithfaith,andHeusedthemtobringcreationintoexistence.

Nowfaithisthesubstanceofthingshopedfor…(Heb11:1).Faithisthesubstance.

Somepeople think that the spiritworlddoesn’t existbecause theycan’tseeit.ButGod,Whoisaspirit,createdthisworld!

Paul tells us to look at things that are not seen. How do you do that?Througheyesoffaith.

Things that are seen are temporal, which means they are subject tochange. We can see this world, so it is subject to change. It is not theestablishedworld.Itwillpassaway.

Thespiritworldistherealworld;itcreatedallthatyousee.Genesis1:1states, In the beginningGod created… . How?With theWord. Therewasnothingmadewithout theWord.Jesuswas theWord.Again,John1:3says,Allthingsweremadebyhim;andwithouthimwasnotany thingmade thatwasmade.

ThroughfaithweunderstandthattheworldswereframedbythewordofGod,sothatthingswhichareseenwerenotmadeofthingswhichdoappear.

Hebrews11:3Thingsyouseearenotmadewiththingswhichdoappear.Youcan’tsee

faith,buttheworldwasmadeoutofGod’sfaith.Thethingswhichareseenaretemporal;butthethingswhicharenotseenareeternal(2Cor.4:18).Inotherwords,thingsyouseearesubjecttochange.That’swhyGodtoldAdamtosubdue theearthandhavedominionover it.Youcan takeyour faithandchangeit!

WordofHisPowerGod,whoatsundrytimesandindiversmannersspakeintimepastunto

thefathersbytheprophets,hathintheselastdaysspokenuntousbyhisSon,whomhehathappointedheirofallthings,bywhomalsohemadetheworlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of hisperson,andupholdingall thingsby thewordofhispower,whenhehadbyhimselfpurgedoursins,satdownontherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh.

Hebrews1:1-3

Whobeingthebrightnessofhisglory….Whoseglory?God’sglory!…the express image of his person… . Jesus is the express image of God’sperson.TheGreek text states, “an exact expression ofGod’s substance.” IfyouwanttoknowwhatGodislike,lookatJesus.Hesaid,IandmyFatherare one (John 10:30). Hemeant that He was the exact image, the expressimageofGod’sperson.

Upholdingallthingsbythewordofhispower….IfHehadsaid,“bythepowerofHisWord,”thenyoucouldsaythereissomepowerinHisWord,butnotallpower.ButHedidn’tsay that.Heupholdsall thingsby theWordofHispower.ThespokenWordofGodisHispower.ItwasHiscreativeabilityofwordsthatreleasedHisfaith.

Light travels at the speed of 186,000miles per second. At the time ofCreation, God called into existencemore than 16 billionmiles of universewithinatwenty-fourhourperiod!

Scientists say theuniverse is stillexpandingat thespeedof light.Therearegalaxiesbeyondwhatwecansee,millionsoflight-yearsaway.(Distancesinspacearemeasured in light-years,which is thedistance light travels inayear.)WhatavastexpanseGodsetinmotionwithHiswords!

GodcreatedAdaminHisimageandinHislikeness.AdamwasmeanttohavedominionovertheearthbyreleasinghisfaithinwordsjustasGodhaddonewithHis.Godusedwordstobringforthallcreation.Hesetitinmotionby saying, Let there be… (Gen. 1:3). And there was! God’s faith wastransportedbywords.

4

KeystoUnderstandingtheBibleThe keys to understanding the Bible are in the first three chapters of

Genesis. If you don’t understand these chapters, you’ll never be able toaccuratelyunderstandtheBible.PeopletodayareatheistsbecausetheyhavenotunderstoodthisimportantbookoftheBible.

AndGodsaweverythingthathehadmade,andbehold,itwasverygood.Genesis1:31GodcreatedafterHiskind,andeverythingHemadewasverygood.

Youmayask,“Whataboutsnakesandalligators?”Goddidn’tcreatetheanimalsastheyaretoday.Animalsdidn’teateachotheruntilafterNoahputthemoutoftheark.(SeeGen.1:30;9:1-5.)

Thingsweseeonearthtodayareperversionsofnature.Theycameaboutwhen

AdambowedhiskneetotheoutlawspiritandturnedhisauthorityovertoSatan.ThenSatanbecamegodoftheworldsystemandpervertedthethingsGodhadcreated.

Some say, “If there were a God, there wouldn’t be all the wars andfighting.Therewouldn’tbetroubleandturmoil.Littlekidswouldn’tbeborncrippled, and therewouldn’t be all the suffering that is in theworld today.’ButthereisaGod—aGodWhokeepsHisWord.

WhenAdamturnedhisauthorityovertoSatan,SatanbecametheGodofthe world system. Through his wickedness, he set out to destroy God’screation.HepervertedthenatureofthingsGodhadcreated.

When you hear of a tornado destroying a city, invariably newspaperheadlinesdescribeitas“anactofGod.”Don’tblameGod!ItwastheDevilwhovisitedthattown!

WhenlightningstruckanArkansasplant,giantheadlinesread,ActofGodKills 23, InjuredManyMore. No bigger lie has ever been told. This is aperversionofnature.

Because of deception, many people think these evil things come from

God.TheyreadaboutJobandthethingsthatcameuponhim,thencomeupwithideasforeigntotheBible.Forexample,Job1:16says,ThefireofGodisfallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants. Goddidn’t send it; the Devil sent it! The “fire” was lightning. The cattle wereprobablywateringinapondwhenlightningstruckandkilledthemall.Inthatday,mostpeople thoughteverything thathappenedcame fromGod.This iswhypeoplearestillconfusedinourdayaboutthingsintheOldTestament.

WeneedtofullyunderstandthatGodisourheavenlyFather.Heisnottheperpetrator of death, evil, or calamity. The perversion was caused by thesatanicforcesturnedlooseontheearth.

Some have the idea that God sent death on man. But God is not theperpetratorofdeath;death isof theDevil.WhenAdamsinned,deathcameintotheworld.FirstCorinthians15:21tellsusthatdeathcamebyman.

God toldAdamwhatwouldhappen ifheate the forbiddenfruit.God isnottheauthorofdeath,butoflife!

Forasmuchthenasthechildrenarepartakersoffleshandblood,healsohimself (Jesus) likewise tookpart of the same; that throughdeathhemightdestroyhimthathadthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil.

Hebrews2:14DeathisoftheDevil;it’sanenemyofGodandofman.SincausedAdam

todie.Sinbroughtdeath.Forthewagesofsinisdeath;butthegiftofGodiseternallife(Rom.6:23).

TheBodyWasDesignedToRecreateItselfAdam’sbodywasdesignedtoliveforever.Medicalsciencecan’ttellwhy

people die. They know some die from sickness and disease, but they don’tknowwhy the body ages. It was designed to recreate itself every seven toelevenyears.There isn’t one cell in your body today thatwas there elevenyearsago.

ThedayAdamateof the treewhichGod saidwouldproducedeath, hebecamemortal.HechosemortalityintheGarden.

AndtheLordGodtooktheman,andputhimintothegardenofEdentodressitandtokeepit.

Genesis2:15Adamhadallauthoritytosubdueandhavedominionovereverycreeping

thingonearth.GodputhimintheGardentokeepit.TheHebrewwordkeepmeans“tohedgeitabout,guard,andprotect.”Inotherwords,“topreserveit

fromallintruders.”

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of thegardenthoumayest freelyeat:butof the treeof theknowledgeofgoodandevil,thoushaltnoteatofit:forinthedaythatthoueatestthereofthoushaltsurelydie.

Genesis2:16,17Adamdiddie.Hediedspiritually the instanthesinned.Hedidn’tknow

howtodiephysicallybecausehisbodywasdesignedtoliveforever.IttookSatanover900yearstoteachhimhowtodie.

Butof the treeof the knowledgeofgoodandevil, thou shaltnot eat (v.17).

Goddidn’twantAdamtoeatofthetreeofknowledgewhichwasreallyknowing the difference between good and evil. The Hebrew says, “theknowledgeofblessingandcalamity.”

The fall of man was directly connected to his tongue. Adam gainedknowledge of how to produce blessing and calamity by the words of hismouth. Theword evil used heremeans “adversity, affliction, bad, calamity,grief,hurt,harm,andtrouble.”Adamateofthatfruit.Thatwasdumb!

Godhadtoldhim,“Don’tdoit.Ifyoudo,youaregoingtodie.Youwillbecomea spirituallydeadman.Yes,youaregoing togainknowledge—theknowledge of calamity!” Because Adam already knew how to speakblessings,heonlygainedtheknowledgeofcalamityandhowtoproduceit.

The serpentwasmore subtil than any beast of the fieldwhich theLordGodhadmade (Gen. 3:1).God created the earth and putman on it. Satancameonthesceneintheformofaserpent.Hehadtoenterabodysohecouldbemanifested on earth.He had to come through some form of creation toreachAdam,soheusedthebodyofaserpent.

Satancan’tcomedirectly toyourspirit;hehas toapproachyourbody—and you can shut himoffwith yourwill!Yourmindwasgiven to you as adoortokeepyourheart(spirit).Youarethekeeperofthatdoorandyoucanshutitanytime.

Andtheserpentsaiduntothewoman,Yeshallnotsurelydie:forGoddothknow that in thedayyeeat thereof, thenyoureyes shallbeopened,andyeshallbeasgods,knowinggoodandevil.

Genesis3:4,5NoticethatSatansaid,“You’llbeasgods.”Thereisthegreatdeception.

Wasall thatSatansaida lie?No. Itwasahalf-truth.Elohim is theHebrew

wordusedforgods.AdamandEveweresoexcitedoverSatansaying,“YouwillbecomeasElohim(gods),”thattheydidn’tpayattentiontotheotherpart—knowingcalamity.

AdamHadNoNeedForIntellectualKnowledgeIfallAdamandEvewere togainwasevil,Adamwouldhave turned it

down.

Until he gave his authority to Satan,Adamwas operating in revelationknowledge. Satan offered him an alternative to the tree of life. The tree ofcalamitywouldgivetheabilitytoproducecalamity.Thetreeoflifecontainedeverything Adam needed. He could eat freely of it. It would produce theknowledgeofhowtogeteverythinggood—bythewordsofhismouth.

Awholesometongueisatreeoflife:butperversenessthereinisabreachinthespirit.

Proverbs15:4Themouthofarighteousmanisawelloflife.Proverbs10:11Thefruitoftherighteousisatreeoflife.Proverbs11:30Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth

understanding. For themerchandise of it is better than themerchandise ofsilver,andthegainthereofthanfinegold.

Sheismorepreciousthanrubies:andallthethingsthoucanstdesirearenottobecompareduntoher.Lengthofdaysisinherrighthand;andinherlefthandrichesandhonour.

Herwaysarewaysofpleasantness,andallherpathsarepeace.Sheisatreeoflifetothemthatlayholduponher.

Proverbs3:13-18Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it

(desire)isatreeoflife.Proverbs13:12

FruitoftheLipsAdam had access to the tree of life which would give him wisdom, a

wholesome tongue, righteous fruit from his lips, and desire. (Desiremakesonespeakinordertobringforthfruitofthelips.)

HowpropheticarethewordsofProverbs13:2,3.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of thetransgressorsshalleatviolence.Hethatkeepethhismouthkeepethhislife.

Adam ate of the transgressor’s (forbidden) fruit. He ate of violence(calamity), lost his spiritual life, and eventually lost his physical life. Hegained knowledge of how to produce calamity by the words of his mouth.WhenhebowedhiskneetoSatan,helostcontrolofthegood.Adamlosttheabilitytocontrolhistongue.

The third chapter of James tells us the tongue is an unruly evil, full ofdeadlypoison,andissetonfireofhell.Adam’stonguewassetonfireofhellwhenheatethefruit.Itpoisonedhistongue,andhelosttheabilitytocontrolit.

How was Adam to control and subdue the earth? By the words of hismouth,usinghisfaith—byspeakingthingsintoexistence.

Adam was created a full-grown man with no need for intellectualknowledge. He was already operating in revelation knowledge. He wassubordinateonlytoGod.God’sSpiritwasincontactwithAdam’sspirit.

Andwhenthewomansawthatthetreewasgoodforfood,andthatitwaspleasanttotheeyes,andatreetobedesiredtomakeonewise,shetookofthefruit thereof,anddideat,andgavealsountoherhusbandwithher;andhedideat.

Genesis3:6SomeofyouthoughtAdamwasoffsomewhereinthebackoftheGarden

picking fruit or naming bugswhenEve got into trouble!But that’s not theway it happened. Adam was standing right there with her. In fact, Adamsinnedfirst.

GodtoldAdamtosubduetheearthandhavedominionovereverylivingthing.(Gen.1:28.)Wasn’tthatsnakealivingcreature?

Godsaid,“Youhavedominionoverhim;subduehim.GuardtheGarden;hedgeitabout.Protectitfromallintruders.”Thatwasacommand,notjustasuggestion.

Adamwasstandingright there, listening toeveryword theserpentsaid,andhedeliberatelydisobeyedGod.Hecouldhavesaid,“Serpent,inthenameofAlmightyGod,Idemandthatyouleavethisplanetandneverreturn.”InaninstantoftimeSatanwouldhavebeenbanishedfromtheearth.

ButAdamdidn’tdothat.HedeliberatelydisobeyedGod.TheBiblestatesthatEvewasdeceived,butAdamwasnot.(1Tim.2:14.)Evewasdeceived

becauseAdamdidn’tdowhatGodhadtoldhimtodo.IfhehadobeyedGodandusedhisauthority,Evewouldnothavebeendeceived.

AdamstoodtherewithalltheauthorityvestedinhimfromGodtheFathertoprotecttheGardenandallthatitcontained,buthedidn’tusehisauthority.He bowed his knee to an outlaw spirit and allowed the curse to come.Heinviteddeathanddestruction.

Disobedience—DeceptionThe first thing that happened was disobedience, then deception. It was

Adam’sdisobediencethatcausedEvetobedeceived.WefindinGenesis3:14-19thatacursecamebecauseofthedisobedience.

Inverse22weread,AndtheLordGodsaid,Behold, theman isbecomeasoneofus….AndAdamwasdrivenfromtheGarden,(v.24.)

You can see that Satan had told them a halftruth. God said, “Man hasbecome as one of us to know good and evil.” Adam had gained theknowledgeofhowtoproducebothblessingandcalamitybythewordsofhismouth.HewascreatedtooperateonthesameleveloffaithwithGod,thenhegainedtheknowledgeofhowtosetitinmotion.

Butingainingthatknowledge,hedisobeyedGodandbowedhiskneetoSatan.Helostcontrolofhistongueandhadtroubleusingitforgood.

Jamessaidofthetonguethatitissetonfireofhell…anunrulyevil,fullofdeadlypoison(James3:6,8).

Godsaid,Manisbecomeasoneofus toknowgoodandevil:andnow,lestheputforthhishand,andtakealsoofthetreeoflife,andeat,andliveforever(Gen.3:22).Noticethatthesentencestoppedthere.GodquittalkingandputAdamoutoftheGarden.

ThereforetheLordGodsenthimforthfromthegardenofEden,totillthegroundfromwhencehewastaken.Sohedroveouttheman;andheplacedattheeastofthegardenofEdenCherubims,andaflamingswordwhichturnedeveryway,tokeepthewayofthetreeoflife(v.23,24).

Adamcouldhaveeatenofthetreeoflifeandestablishedimmortality,butinsteadhe ate of the forbidden tree and becamemortal. SoGod said, “GethimoutoftheGardenbecauseifhegetsholdofthattreeoflife,hewillliveforeverinthatsinfulstate.”

You can see the wisdom and mercy of God in that.What would havehappened ifAdamhadpartakenof the treeof lifeafterhehadsinned?Thecurse was already there; so when sickness, disease, and the other horribleafflictions began to control man’s life, he would have lived throughout

eternitywith no hope of ever being delivered from the curse. Therewouldhavebeennohopeofdeliverance fromall thehorriblepains causedby thediabolicanddevilishdiseasesSatanhadbroughtaboutthroughthecurse.

Because Adam bowed his knee to Satan, he set in motion the curses:sickness,disease,calamity,anddisaster. Ifmanhadeatenof the treeof lifeafterhehadsinned,hewouldhavelivedforeverinthatsinfulstate.Everyevilperson,everycriminalwhoeverlivedonearth,wouldstillbealivetoday!Itwouldhaveproducedhellonearth!

Godcreatedmanwithawill.Manwasfreetochoose.Hehadthechoiceof immortalityormortality, andhechose tobecomemortal. ItwasAdam’schoice.Thewagesofsinisdeath.Withoutsin,therewouldbenodeath.

GodDroveAdamOutForMan’sOwnGoodGodputAdamoutof theGardenafterhehad sinned tokeephim from

tappingthetreeoflife.Otherwise,hewouldhavelivedforeverinthatsinfulstate.Ezekiel18:4says,Thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie.

Someone said that Adam couldn’t have lived forever after he sinned,becauseifhehad,Godwouldhavelied.No,therearetwodeaths.Adamdiedspirituallytheinstantheateofthetreeofknowledge.Butifhehadeatenofthetreeoflifeaftersinning,hewouldneverhavediedphysically.Hewouldhave been a spiritually dead man throughout eternity with no way to ridhimselfofthesicknessanddiseasethatcamebythecurse.Manwouldhavebeeninhellonearth!

SatanWasAftertheTreeofLifeTherewasareasonforGoddrivingAdamandEveoutoftheGarden.He

wantedtogetthemawayfromthetreeoflife.Satanhadhiseyeonthattreeandwantedtogethishandsonit.Hehadnoauthorityonearthuntilhetappedinto man’s power and authority. (Adam had given his own God-givenauthorityovertoSatan.)

Someonemightask,“Whydidn’tSatanjustgooverandpickthefruitandeatit?”

Hecouldn’tdothat.Satanisaspiritbeing,andspiritshavenoauthorityinearthwithoutabody. If theydid, evil spiritswould tear theearth topieces,destroyingitinamomentoftime.Buttheycan’tdothat.Theymustenterintoabodytodestroy.

Man’s body gives him authority on earth. Satan tapped into man’sauthority by using the body of the serpent. He tempted Eve through theserpentandcausedAdamtocommithightreason.TheonlywaySatancould

gettothetreeoflifewastogetAdamtosinandbecomesubordinatetohim,forAdamwasthegodofthisworld.

After Adam became subordinate to Satan, Satan became his lord.WhateverAdamcouldtapintonaturally,Satancouldhave.SatanwastryingtogetAdamtotapintothetreeoflife.Ifhehaddoneso,Satanwouldhavepartakenofitalso!

ButGodissmarterthanthat!HeputAdamoutoftheGardentostopthatfromcomingtopass!

CurseUpontheSerpentAndtheLordGodsaiduntotheserpent,Becausethouhastdonethis,thou

artcursedaboveallcattle,andaboveeverybeastofthefield;uponthybellyshaltthougo,anddustshaltthoueatallthedaysofthylife.

Genesis3:14Evidently, the serpent didn’t crawl on his belly until the curse. But

becauseheallowedhimself tobeusedby thatevil spirit,Satan, theserpentwascursed.

AProphecyFulfilledbyJesusAndIwillputenmitybetweentheeandthewoman,andbetweenthyseed

andherseed…(v.15).NoticeHedidn’tsay,“theseedoftheman,”but,“theseedofthewoman.”

Jesus became the seed of woman. He was born of a woman; He had noearthlyfather.

Godsayshere,…itshallbruisethyhead,andthoushaltbruisehisheel(v.15).Inotherwords,Satanwillonlybeabletoaffectthefeet,butJesuswillcrushSatan’shead.

Woman’sPartoftheCurseUnto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy

conception;insorrowthoushaltbringforthchildren;andthydesireshallbetothyhusband,andheshallruleoverthee(v.16).

Somepeople thinkthatpartof thecursewasthatwomenwouldhavetobear children, but God had already told Adam and Eve to multiply andreplenishtheearth.Thecursewasthattherewouldbesorrowinconception.

Adam’sPart

AnduntoAdamhe said,Because thouhasthearkenedunto thevoiceofthywife,andhasteatenofthetree,ofwhichIcommandedthee,saying,Thoushaltnoteatofit:cursedisthegroundforthysake;insorrowshaltthoueatofitallthedaysofthylife;thornsalsoandthistlesshallitbringforthtothee;andthoushalteattheherbofthefield(v.17,18).

Thornsandthistlesarepartofthecurse.ThosethatcrucifiedJesusmadeacrownof thorns andput it onHis head.The thorns are symbols of the fullcurseJesushadtobearforus.

AndAdamcalledhiswife’snameEve;becauseshewasthemotherofallliving(v.20).

Here is something you possibly had not seen: God did not name Eve.Adamnamedhiswife,“Eve.”

WereadinGenesis5:2,

Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called theirname

Adam,inthedaywhentheywerecreated.Godcalledthemboth“Adam”whenHecreatedthem.

Satantriedtotapintothetreeoflifeandfailed.GodputAdamoutofthatGardenafterhehandedhisauthorityovertoSatan.Satancouldnotgetatthetreeoflife.Godhadotherplans.

ThestoryistoldofalittleboyinSundayschoolwhoheardtheteachertellthemtodrawapictureofsomething theyhad learned inclass thatday.TheboydrewapictureofaredCadillacconvertiblewithanoldgray-hairedmaninthefrontseatandayoungcoupleinthebackseat.

The teacher looked at the picture and said, “Jimmy, we didn’t studyanythinglikethattoday.”

“Yes,we did,” said Jimmy. “Don’t you remember?That’sGod, drivingAdamandEveoutoftheGarden!”

5

Noah’sCovenantAsyoulookinGenesis,chapter6,youwillseethatGodmadeacovenant

with man after Adam committed high treason. God had given Adamdominionovertheearth.Hehadrulership—authorityanddominion—butheturneditovertoSatan.

Before the Fall, God came towalk and talkwithAdam in theGarden.Theyhadanintimatefellowship.AdamhadrevelationknowledgethatflowedfromGod,theFather.ButwhenAdambowedhiskneetoSatan,heshutGodout.GodfoundHimselfontheoutsidelookingin.Hisman,Adam,hadlosthisauthority.

Satan had come in illegally and was lording it over the earth. He hadbecomethegodoftheworldsystem,andtheworldwasbecomingdesperatelywicked.

GodEstablishesaCovenantGodneededalegalwaytogetbackintotheaffairsofearth,soHemadea

covenant with Noah.But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thoushaltcomeintotheark,thou,andthysons,andthywife,andthysons’wiveswiththee(Gen.6:18).

Youmayask,“WhydidGodhavetomakeacovenantwithNoah?”

Noahhadabody,anditgavehimacertainamountofauthorityonearth.Godhad limitedHimself inwhatHecoulddobecauseofwhatHehadsaidanddoneinGenesis1:26-28.

Nowdon’tgettheideathatGoddoesn’thavepowertodowhatHewantstodo.Hehasthepower;butbecauseofHisWord,Hecan’tdosomethings.Godcouldn’tcometoearthandsay,“Adam,I’mgoingtowipeoutyouandSatan.I’mgoingtogetthatauthorityback.I’mgoingtodothiswholethingoverandmakeanothermanoutofthedustoftheearth.”Hecouldn’tdothatbecausethedustoftheearthdidn’tbelongtoHim.Hisman,Adam,hadgivenittoSatan.

Satan had gained ascendancy in the earth by gainingAdam’s authority,andGodwasleftontheoutside.Godcouldn’tcomehereinHisdivinepower

andwipethemout.HehadtomoveinanareawhereitwouldberuledlegalbytheSupremeCourtoftheUniverse.Adamwastheonewithauthorityuntilhesinned;thenhebecamesubordinatetoSatan.

Godgained entranceback into the earth through the covenantHemadewithNoah.HewasstilllimitedinwhatHecoulddobecauseofHisWord.Hestartedputtingthingsintomotionthroughthecovenant.

CovenantwithMan,Beast,andEarthAnd God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I,

behold,Iestablishmycovenantwithyou,andwithyourseedafteryou;andwithevery livingcreature that iswithyou,of the fowl,of thecattle,andofevery beast of the earthwith you; from all that go out of the ark, to everybeastoftheearth.

AndIwillestablishmycovenantwithyou;neithershallallfleshbecutoffanymorebythewatersofaflood;neithershallthereanymorebeafloodtodestroytheearth.

AndGodsaid,ThisisthetokenofthecovenantwhichImakebetweenmeandyouandeverylivingcreaturethatiswithyou,forperpetualgenerations.

Genesis9:8-12Godputa rainbow in the skyasa tokenof thecovenantHemadewith

Noah. (v. 13.) He said, “It will not happen anymore. I’ll even make acovenantwiththeanimalsyoutakeoutoftheark,andtheywillbeperpetualgenerations.”

Godmadeacovenantandestablisheditintheearth.YouseeGodmovingagain to set things back in order. He made a covenant with a man, andmankind still had some authority by choice. Man was still able to operatehere.Hestillhadachoiceeventhoughhehadbecomespirituallydead.

ASinCoveringGodestablished awaywhereinHe could coverman’s sins by shedding

bloodandofferingsacrifices.Thisonlycoveredsins.Itdidn’tactuallyredeemman.

ThefirstthingNoahdidwhenhecameoutofthearkaftertheFloodwastobuildanaltarandplantavineyard.ThenextthingmentionedisthatNoahgotrip-roaringdrunk.(Gen.9:20,21.)

By this,youcansee therewasstillanevilholdon theearth.Satanwasstill at work after the Flood. Generation after generation, man degeneratedfromtherighteousstateinwhichGodhadcreatedhim.

Andthewholeearthwasofonelanguage,andofonespeech…Andtheysaid, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose topmay reach untoheaven;andletusmakeusaname,lestwebescatteredabroaduponthefaceof thewhole earth.And theLord camedown to see the city and the tower,whichthechildrenofmenbuilded(Gen.11:1,4,5).

Notice, they were not going to build a tower in order to get to God’sthrone!Theysaid,“Wearegoingtomakeanameforourselves.”Theywereafteraname.

Then God said something awesome about man whom He had created.Behold,thepeopleisone,andtheyhaveallonelanguage;andthistheybeginto do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they haveimaginedtodo(v.6).

Godwassaying that therewasnothing thepeoplecouldnotdobecausetheywereoneinspeechandunity.Thosepeopleweredevilworshipers.TheyhadgoneawayfromGod.

GodsaidofthemanHehadcreated,evenafterthemanhaddegeneratedtosuchalowestate,“Anythingmancanimagineorconceiveinhisheart,hecanperform!”

God confounded their language. They were scattered abroad upon theearth, and it stopped them temporarily.But theyhad already imagined theycoulddoit,anditcontinuedtogrowintheimaginationsofmen.

Sciencepickeditupinourgeneration,andwesawitcometopass!Wesatinourlivingrooms,inJulyof1969,andsawthewordsGodhadspokencometopass:“Nothingshallrestrainthem.”Manhadlandedonthemoon!Hehadimaginedit.Hehadmeditatedonit.Hehaddweltonit.Thenitcametopass.HesteppedoutofhisspaceshipandstuckanAmericanflaginthedust.

Godsaidmancoulddo it!Hesaid,“Anythingmancan imagine,hecanbring topass!”Godsaid,“Nothingwill restrainman,notevenconfoundinghislanguage.”Itslowedhimdowntemporarily,butitdidn’tstophim.

Youseeadifferentstoryemergingfromthecreationofman.Thisisquitedifferentfrommostofourreligiousideas.Manwasnotcreatedtobealittleworminthedust!HeiscapableofoperatingonthesameleveloffaithwithGod.

Sciencetellsusthatmanisnotusingevenonetenthofhiscapabilities—justaminutepart.Why?Becausemanisinhibitedbyforcesoftheevilone.Butwhenmanwasredeemedandbornagain,hebecameanewcreation!

TheApostlePaulsaid,IfanymanbeinChrist,heisanewcreation:old

thingsarepassedaway;behold,allthingsarebecomenew(2Cor.5:17).Satancan’thandlethenewcreation!ThankGod!

6

Abraham’sCovenantGodmadeapromisetoAbram:“I’llblessthosethatblessyou.”America

is blessed today because we have blessed Israel. Any nation that comesagainstIsraelwillbecursed.

NowtheLordhadsaiduntoAbram,Get theeoutof thycountry,and from thykindred,and from thy father’s

house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a greatnation,andIwillbless thee,andmake thynamegreat;and thoushaltbeablessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseththee:andintheeshallallfamiliesoftheearthbeblessed(Gen.12:1-3).

InGenesis14 isa storyof severalkingswhocameagainst thekingsofSodomandGomorrah,overthrewthem,andtookLot(Abram’snephew)andhisfamily,withalloftheirgoods.

OnepersonescapedandtoldAbramwhathadhappened.Abramgatheredthe people of his household together andwent after the five kings.He hadsufficient battalion to recapture all that had been taken and win the battleagainstthekings.

AndthekingofSodomsaiduntoAbram,Giveme thepersons,and takethegoodstothyself.AndAbramsaidtothekingofSodom,Ihaveliftupminehandunto theLord, themosthighGod, thepossessorofheavenandearth,thatIwillnottakefromathreadeventoashoelatchet,andthatIwillnottakeanythingthatisthine,lestthoushouldestsay,IhavemadeAbramrich(Gen.14:2123).

AbrammadethecommitmenttoGod,“Iwon’teventaketheshoelatchetoutofthatman’sshoes,lesthewouldsayhehasmademerich.”

Inchapter15,verses1-18,God talked toAbramagain. In thesamedaytheLordmadeacovenantwithAbram…(v.18).

TheninGenesis17:1-5:

Andwhen Abramwas ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared toAbram,andsaiduntohim, Iam theAlmightyGod;walkbeforeme,andbethou perfect. And I will make my covenant betweenme and thee, and will

multiplytheeexceedingly.

AndAbramfellonhisface:andGodtalkedwithhim,saying,Asforme,behold,mycovenantiswiththee,andthoushaltbeafatherofmanynations.Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall beAbraham;forafatherofmanynationshaveImadethee.

God established a blood covenant with Abram in chapter 15. Bloodcovenantsareestablishedineverynationintheworldtoday,eveninthemostremotepartsoftheearth.BloodcovenantsoriginallycamefromGod.Abloodcovenantisthestrongestcovenantgoing.

Ifsomeonemakesabloodcovenantwithyou,itliterallymeansthatwhattheyhaveisyoursandwhatyouhaveistheirs—eventoyourlifeiftheotheronehasneedofit.

ThisiswhatGodsaidtoAbraham:Asforme,behold,mycovenantiswiththee,andthoushaltbeafatherofmanynations.NeithershallthynameanymorebecalledAbram,butthynameshallbeAbraham;forafatherofmanynations have I made thee (v. 4,5). The nameAbraham means “father of agreatmultitude.”Godissaying,“I’vealreadydoneit.I’vealreadymadeyouafatherofmanynations.”

AndIwillestablishmycovenantbetweenmeandtheeandthyseedaftertheeintheirgenerationsforaneverlastingcovenant,tobeaGoduntothee,andtothyseedafterthee(v.7).

NoticeGodsaid,“I’veestablishedMyCovenantbetweenMeandthee.”Inotherwords, “TheCovenant is standingbetweenMeandyou. If anyonegetstoMeortoyou,they’regoingtohavetodealwiththisCovenant.IfI’mgoingtogettoyou,Abraham,IwillhavetocomethroughthisCovenant.IfyouwanttogettoMe,youwillhavetocomethroughthisCovenant.Inotherwords,theCovenantwillregulatehowIdealwithyouandhowyoudealwithMe.”

In this, God is establishing some legal entry into the earth, and He isgiving Abraham access to Himself. Through that Covenant Abraham candrawhelp fromGod, drawwisdom fromGod, anddrawan anointing fromGodintheearthsothattheDevil’sworkscanbedestroyed.

God told Abraham to circumcise himself. This was a seal of therighteousness of the faith which he had. (Rom. 4:11.) This Covenant gaveGod legal entry into the earth throughAbraham.Each covenantGodmadebecamestronger.

UntilthattimeGodwas,toacertainextent,stillontheoutsidelookingin.Heneededa legalentry throughmanso thatHecoulddestroy theworksof

theDevilwhowasrunningrampantonearth.

AndtheLordappeareduntohimintheplainsofMamre:andhesatinthetentdoorin theheatof theday;andheliftuphiseyesandlooked,and, lo,threemenstoodbyhim:andwhenhesawthem,herantomeetthemfromthetentdoor,andbowedhimselftowardtheground(Gen.18:1,2).

Two of these men were angels; one, evidently”, was God Himself.AbrahamwasGod’s avenue of entry into the earth. God had come to talkaboutSodomandGomorrahwithAbraham.

And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: andAbrahamwentwiththemtobringthemontheway.AndtheLordsaid,ShallIhide fromAbrahamthat thingwhichIdo;seeing thatAbrahamshallsurelybecomeagreatandmightynation,andall thenationsof theearthshallbeblessedinhim?(Gen.18:16,18).

Abraham’s nephew Lot was in Sodom, a city that had becomeexceedinglysinfulandwicked.GodwantedtodestroySodomandGomorrah,butHetalkeditoverwithAbrahamsinceHehadmadeaCovenantwithhim.

AndtheLordsaid,BecausethecryofSodomandGomorrahisgreat,andbecausetheirsinisverygrievous;Iwillgodownnow,andseewhethertheyhavedonealtogetheraccordingtothecryofit,whichiscomeuntome;andifnot,Iwillknow.Andthementurnedtheirfacesfromthence,andwenttowardSodom:butAbrahamstoodyetbeforetheLord(v.20-22).

AbrahamknewLotwas in the city.AndAbraham drew near, and said,Wilt thoualsodestroy therighteouswith thewicked?Peradventure therebefiftyrighteouswithinthecity:wiltthoualsodestroyandnotsparetheplaceforthefiftyrighteousthataretherein?Thatbefarfromtheetodoafterthismanner,toslaytherighteouswiththewicked:andthattherighteousshouldbeasthewicked,thatbefarfromthee:ShallnottheJudgeofalltheearthdoright?(v.23-25).

Godsaid,“No,Iwouldn’tdestroyitifIfoundfiftyrighteous.”(v.26.)

AbrahamwassubordinatetoGodbutGodwascounselingwithAbraham.Hestartedwithfiftyrighteouspersonsthencamedowntoten.

Andhe(Abraham)said,OhletnottheLordbeangry,andIwillspeakyetbutthisonce:Peradventuretenshallbefoundthere.Andhesaid, Iwillnotdestroy it for ten’s sake.And theLordwenthisway,as soonashehad leftcommuningwithAbraham:andAbrahamreturneduntohisplace(v.32,33).

Godwouldnotdestroytherighteouswiththewicked.

Andtherecametwoangels toSodomateven;andLotsat inthegateof

Sodom:andLotseeingthemroseuptomeetthem;andhebowedhimselfwithhisfacetowardtheground;andhesaid,Beholdnow,mylordsturnin,Iprayyou…(Gen.19:1,2).

Godsenttheangelstheretocheckthingsout.Theyknewthepurposeofthemission.Lot immediatelyrecognized themasangels.He took themintohishouseandsaid,…tarryallnight,andwashyourfeet,andyeshallriseupearly,andgoonyourways.Andtheysaid,Nay;butwewillabideinthestreetallnight(v.2).

LotFindsFavorAnd it came topass,when theyhadbrought them forthabroad, that he

said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all theplain;escapetothemountain,lestthoubeconsumed.

AndLotsaiduntothem,Oh,notsomyLord:Beholdnow,thyservanthathfoundgraceinthysight,andthouhastmagnifiedthymercy,whichthouhastsheweduntomeinsavingmylife;andIcannotescapetothemountain,lestsomeeviltakeme,andIdie:

Beholdnow,thiscityisneartofleeunto,anditisalittleone:Oh,letmeescapethither(isitnotalittleone?)andmysoulshalllive.

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thingalso,thatIwillnotoverthrowthiscity,forthewhichthouhastspoken(v.17-21).

ArighteousmanhadpowerwithGodandtheangels.Lotwantedtogotoanothercity.Hedidn’twanttospendthenightinthemountains.WefindlaterthatLotdid leave thecityandgo into themountains todwell there.Buthedidn’twanttogothatnight.Hesaid,“It’sjustalittlecity.Don’tdestroyit.”Hisrequestwasgrantedbecauseheasked.

Yousee,authoritystilllieswithrighteousmen!Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing, till thou be come

thither.ThereforethenameofthecitywascalledZoar(v.22).The angel said, “I can’t do anything until you get out of here.”Why?

BecauseGodhadmadeaCovenantwithAbraham.

Abraham said, Thatbe far from thee… to slay the righteous with thewicked…ShallnottheJudgeofalltheearthdoright?(Gen.18:25).Youcansee the authority of the righteousnesswhich is by faith.Abraham believedGod,anditwasaccountedtohimforrighteousness(Gal.3:6).

TheCovenantProven

TheBloodCovenantmeantthatwhatwasGod’swasAbraham’sandwhatwas Abraham’s was God’s—even to their lives, if necessary, with noquestionsasked.

ThisCovenantwasofgreatbenefittoAbrahamandGod.ItwassostrongthatGodsworebyHimselftoperformit.IfeitherGodorAbrahambroketheCovenant,itmeantdeath.

ThisCovenantwassostrongthatGodhadtoproveittobevalid.HehadtoprovethatAbrahamwascapableofperforminghispart.GodknewSatanwouldchallengeitifitwerenotprovenbeforethewholeuniverse.CertainlyGodwas able and willing to performHis part, but all the universe had toknowthatAbrahamcouldandwouldperformhispart.IfAbrahamfailed,theCovenantwouldbevoid.

Thepromisedson,Isaac,hadbeenborntoAbrahamandSarah.Abrahamwasreceivingthebenefitsof theCovenant,andeverythingwasgoinggreat.ThenwefindastrangerequestfromGod.

And it came to pass after these things that God did tempt (prove)Abraham,andsaiduntohim,Abraham:andhesaidBehold,hereIam.

Andhe said,Takenow thy son, thineonly son Isaac,whom thou lovest,andgettheeintothelandofMoriah;andofferhimthereforaburntofferingupononeofthemountainswhichIwilltelltheeof.

AndAbrahamroseupearlyinthemorning,andsaddledhisass,andtooktwoofhisyoungmenwithhim,andIsaachisson,andclavethewoodfortheburntoffering,androseup,andwentuntotheplaceofwhichGodhadtoldhim.

Genesis22:1-3Asyoureadthis,youcan’thelpbutthinkhowAbrahammusthavefeltas

theymadetheirwayupthemountainHehadthewood,thefire,theknifethenIsaacasked,“Whereisthelambfortheburntoffering?”(v.7.)

AbrahamspokeoneofthemostpropheticstatementsevermadewhenheansweredIsaac.Myson,Godwillprovidehimselfalambforaburntoffering(v. 8). Thatwas exactlywhatGodwas about to do:provideHimself—Godmanifested in the flesh, Jesus— to be the sacrifice forever! In obedience,Abrahamboundhissonandlaidhimonthealtar.

AndAbrahamstretchedforthhishand,andtooktheknifetoslayhisson.And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said,

Abraham,Abraham:andhesaid,HereamI.Andhesaid,Laynotthinehandupon the lad,neitherdo thouany thinguntohim: fornowIknowthat thou

fearestGod,seeingthouhastnotwithheldthyson,thineonlysonfromme.AndAbrahamlifteduphiseyes,andlooked,andbeholdbehindhimaram

caught ina thicketbyhishorns:andAbrahamwentand took the ram,andofferedhimupforaburntofferinginthesteadofhisson(v.10-13).

Evidently, Abraham knew something of what the Blood Covenantrequiredofhimfor

hewasobedienttowhatseemedanunreasonablerequest.Notoncedidhehesitateinofferinghisonlyson.

Oh, how these immortalwords ringout!AbrahambelievedGod, and itwasaccountedtohimforrighteousness.

NoticeinRomans4:11,Andhereceivedthesignofcircumcision,asealoftherighteousnessofthefaithwhichhehadyetbeinguncircumcised:thathemightbethefatherofallthemthatbelieve.

First Corinthians 1:30 caps it off by telling us Jesus ismade unto uswisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.. Abraham’sobedienceaccomplishedmoreforusthanitdidforhim!

AndtheangeloftheLordcalleduntoAbrahamoutofheaventhesecondtime,andsaid,BymyselfhaveIsworn,saiththeLord,forbecausethouhastdonethisthing,andhastnotwithheldthyson,thineonlyson…(Gen.

God was saying to Abraham, “You have already done it.” BecauseAbrahamwaswillingtoraisetheknifeagainsthischild,Godsaidtohim,“Itisreceivedasdone.”

What was behind Abraham’s obedience to what seemed a mostunreasonable request? God Himself commanded, Thou shalt not kill (Ex.20:13);butHetoldAbrahamtoofferhisonlysonasasacrifice.Inthenaturalthatjustdoesn’tmakesense.

This thing is so far-reaching that fewpeople understand it.But a bloodcovenant had been made, and a covenant is a contract which binds bothparties.Godmadeitwithanearthlyman.

GodknewthatSatanwasgoingtochallengewhatHewasabouttodo,forGodwasgoingtobringeternalredemptiontoman.

Beforewegoany fartherwith this subject, I’d like to shareanexamplewithyouthattheLordsharedwithme.ItwillhelpyouunderstandwhyGodmadesucharequestofAbraham.

Let’ssaythatyourcityisacceptingbidsonaten-million-dollarbuildingat teno’clockMondaymorning.Amanwhohasbeensleepinginaboxcar

forseveraldaysreadsinthelocalpaperaboutthebidlettingandsays,“Iusedtobuildhouses.IbelieveI’llbidonthisjob!”

But instead of bidding the tenmillion dollars, he turns in a bid of twomillion.Forsure,he’sthelowbidder!Butbeforethebidisqualified,hemustprovehecanperformhispartofthecontract.Theywillfindthathesleptinaboxcar,thathe’snotbonded,thathehasnocreditandcan’tsupplymaterials.In short, he can’t performwhat he agreed to do. A contract with him is aworthlessdocument.Itcouldn’tbebindingbecausethemandoesn’thavetheabilitytoperformthecontract—tocarryouthisobligation.

GodknewSatanwasgoingtochallengehimaboutthelegalityofmakingsuchaCovenantwithamanonearth.Satanwasgoing to say, “Man isnotcapableoffulfillingthatcontract;it’saone-sideddeal.It’sinvalid.

Abrahamwon’tgothroughwithit.Hewon’tgivehislife.”

God,inHiswisdom,provedAbrahamtobecapableandwilling.WhatdidGod have in his mind when He said to Abraham, “Go offer your son”?Abraham prophesied about God’s sacrifice when he said to Isaac,My son,Godwillprovidehimselfalambforaburntoffering.

Godwas setting the stage for the greatestmanifestation of love theworldhadeverknown.Godwassaying,“I’mgoingtoprovetheCovenantImade with Abraham is legal. I’m going to prove, once and for all, thatAbrahamwillkeepMyCovenant.”

So, He demanded that Abraham sacrifice his only son. God didn’t askAbrahamforhisownlife;Heaskedforhisonlyson(theoneGodsaidwouldbeheirtoall,andthroughhimwouldHisSeedbe.Actually,theSeedGodistalkingaboutisJesus.)Godsaid,“IhaveswornbyMyselfbecauseyouhavedonethisthing.”

Abraham performed his part very well. God called it done; and in theSupremeCourtofthe

Universe, it iswrittenasdone: thatAbrahamgavehisson. (Heb.11:17-19.)ItwasalegaldocumentthatactuallystandsasawitnesstoSatanandallthedemonsofhellthatAbrahamgavehisson!

Godhasproventhatdocumenttobelegal.TheBloodCovenantGodmadewithAbrahamwasvalidandwillstandforever!

Now—God could giveHis Son for the world! Abraham’s obedience inoffering his son made it possible for God to offer His Son, Jesus, as theEternalSacrificeforeternalredemption.

The far-reaching effects of what could have happened staggers the

imagination.What ifAbrahamhadnotvalidated thatCovenant?What ifhehadsaid,“Iwillgiveanythingexceptmyonlyson”?

IfAbrahamhadnotgivenIsaac,GodcouldnothavegivenJesus!TheCovenant would have been void. It would have been illegal for God toprovideHimselfaLamb.

Abraham’sobediencetotheCovenantgaveGodthe legalentry intotheearthtoredeemmanwithHisSon,Jesus.

7

TheMiraculousConceptionWefind thatGodandmanareworking together inorder todestroy the

kingdom of darkness. Man’s earthly authority is needed to go along withGod’s ability to perform thework.All of the universemust have sighed inrelief thedayAbrahamraisedtheknifeagainstIsaac.Theredemptionofallmankind rested upon his obedience, and God swore an oath that shall beforever.

Bymyselfhave I sworn, saith theLord, forbecause thouhastdone thisthing, and hast notwithheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing Iwillbless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of theheaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shallpossessthegateofhisenemies(Gen.22:16,17).

YououghttounderlineinyourBible:Thyseedshallpossess thegateofhisenemies.Notseeds,butSeed,asone.He is talkingaboutJesus.Jesus istheSeed!

IfyouarebornofGod,youaretheseedofAbraham!Let’snoticeapassage inGenesis24:60.And theyblessedRebekah,and

saiduntoher,Thouartoursister,bethouthemotherofthousandsofmillions,and let thyseedpossess thegateof thosewhichhate them. In thosedays ifyoupossessed thegateofanycity, thatcitywasunderyourcontrol.This iswhatGodwassaying.

With that inmind, let’s look at Isaiah 7:14.Therefore the Lord himselfshall give youa sign;Behold, a virgin shall conceive, andbeara son, andshallcallhisnameImmanuel.

Remember whenGodwas telling of the curse? He said to the serpent,“Theseedofwomanshallbruiseyourhead.”(Gen.3:15.)

ThentheprophecycameforthoutofIsaiah:

Behold,avirgin shall conceive,andbeara son…. It couldnotbe theseed ofman, but the seed of awoman.Why didGod say this throughHisprophet?Whydidn’tGodjustdoit?Youwillfind,asyoustudyyourBible,thatGod never did anything without saying it first. This was hundreds ofyearsbeforetheprophecycametopass.ThisisthewayGod’sfaithworks!

Godframedtheworldswithwords.HewasframingthisandsettingitinmotionbysayingitthroughHisprophet:Avirginshallconceiveandbearason.

TheBibletellsusthatit isimpossibleforGodtolie.Why?BecauseHereleasessufficientfaithineverywordHespeakstobringittopass.There isfaithineverywordofGod!

MaryReceivedtheWordTherefore theLordhimself shall give youa sign;Behold, a virgin shall

conceive,andbearason,andshallcallhisnameImmanuel(Godwithus).TheWordbecameflesh.InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwas

withGod,and theWordwasGod.God spoke it throughHisprophet Isaiah750yearsbeforeitcametopass.

InthefirstchapterofLuke,GodsentanangeltotalktoZachariasabouthiswifeElisabethconceivingandbearingachild.Inverse18,Zachariassaiduntotheangel,WherebyshallIknowthis?forIamanoldman,andmywifewellstrickeninyears.

Theangelansweredandsaiduntohim,“IamGabriel,whostandsinthepresenceofGod,andyoushouldnothavesaidthat!”(v.19.)

Zachariaswantedasignthatitwasgoingtohappen.That’sjustlikeearthpeople!We’ll believe thepostmanor theguy at thegas station; but ifGodsayssomething,wesay,“Showmeasign!”

God, in His wisdom, knewHe had to get Zacharias’mouth shut or hewouldblowthewholedeal.WhenGoddealtwithAbraham,Hejustrenamedhimsothateverytimesomeonecalledhisname,itbuilthisfaith.(Abrahammeans“fatherofmanynations.”)ButwhataboutZacharias?Godhadtoshuthismouth.

And,behold,thoushaltbedumb,andnotabletospeak,untilthedaythatthesethingsshallbeperformed,becausethoubelievestnotmywords,whichshallbefulfilledintheirseason(v.20).

Whenitwasfulfilled,Zachariasgothisvoiceback.Someofuswouldbebetteroffifwelostourvoicesuntilthedealswe’reinvolvedwithareover!

AndinthesixthmonththesameangelGabrielwassentfromGoduntoacityofGalilee,namedNazareth, toavirginespousedtoamanwhosenamewasJoseph,ofthehouseofDavid;andthevirgin’snamewasMary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highlyfavoured,theLordiswiththee:blessedartthouamongwomen.Andwhenshe

sawhim,shewastroubledathissaying,andcastinhermindwhatmannerofsalutationthisshouldbe.

Andtheangelsaiduntoher,Fearnot,Mary:forthouhast foundfavourwithGod.And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thywomb,andbring forthason,andshaltcallhisnameJESUS.

Luke1:26-31Thewordbeholdmeans “look.”Look atwhat?Look at the picture I’m

goingtopaintwithwords:Behold,thoushaltconceiveinthywomb.Thewomanhasnoseed.Themalecarriestheseed….Thoushaltconceive

inthywomb…HeshallbegreatandshallbecalledtheSonoftheHighest:andtheLord

God shall give unto him the throne of his fatherDavid: and he shall reignover thehouseofJacobforever;andofhiskingdomthereshallbenoend.ThensaidMaryuntotheangel,Howshallthisbe,seeingIknownotaman?(Luke1:31-34).

Marydidn’tdoubtthat itwasgoingtohappen.Shejustwantedtoknowhow.

And the angel answered and said unto her, TheHolyGhost shall comeuponthee(v.35).TheGreekstates“asacloud,”orthePresenceofGod.

Remember,John1:1says,Inthebeginningwas theWord,and theWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.Verse14says,AndtheWordwasmadeflesh.TheWordwasmadeflesh—theWord!

Therearepeopletodaywhosayitcouldn’tpossiblyhavehappened.Theytrytogoatitstrictlybiologically,whenitwasbothspiritualandbiological.ItwastheWordwhichwasconceivedinherwomb.

It was an act of the God-kind of faith that caused the miraculousconception.

TheHolyGhostshallcomeuponthee,andthepoweroftheHighestshallovershadow thee: thereforealso thatholy thingwhichshallbebornof theeshall be called theSonofCod.And,behold, thy cousinElisabeth, shehathalsoconceivedasoninheroldage:andthisisthesixthmonthwithher,whowascalledbarren.

ForwithGodnothingshallbeimpossible(Luke1:35-37).The literal Greek states: “It is possible for God to perform His every

declaration.”

AndMarysaid,BeholdthehandmaidoftheLord;beituntomeaccordingtothyword(v.38).

JesustellsushowtheGod-kindoffaithworksinMark11:23.Whosoevershall say … and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that thosethingswhichhesaithshallcometopass;heshallhavewhatsoeverhesaith.

Godfoundawomanwhosaid,“Behold(look),Youhavefoundher.Youhavefoundtheone.Beitdoneuntomeaccordingtothyword.”Accordingtofeelings?No.Accordingtothyword.TheWordwasGod,andJesuswastheWordmadeflesh.

ItwastheWordthatwasmadeflesh.MaryconceivedtheWordofGodinherheart;thenshewenttoElisabeth’shouseandtoldher,“Hehathdonegreatthings.”(Luke1:49.)Howdidsheknow?BecausetheangeloftheLordhadtoldher,andshereceivedthatWord.

Do you think she felt any different? No. Do you think she looked anydifferent?No.Whatwasherevidence?Faithandherwords!“Hehathdonegreat things.” TheWord said she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and shebegantoprophesy.ShehadconceivedtheWordofGodinherspirit.

Here is what the Spirit of God said to me about that situation: “MaryconceivedtheWordsenttoherbytheangel(God’sWord)andconceiveditinthewombofherspirit.Onceitwasconceivedinherspirit,itmanifesteditselfin her physical body. She received and conceived the Word of God in herspirit.”

If shehad said, “Forget it, itwon’twork,”Godwouldhavehad to findanotherwoman.ButnoticeMary’swords,“Hehathdonegreatthings.”

SheacceptedGod’sWord.ShebelievedGod’sWord.

Theologianssayitcouldn’tpossiblyhavehappenedbecausetheywanttoplace it in the biological realm. TheBible didn’t say she conceived in anyother way. It said, The Word was made flesh (John 1:14). The embryo inMary’swombwasnothingbutthepureWordofGod—andittookfleshuponitself.

TheWordofGod,JesusChrist,wasbornintheearth.TheLivingWordofGod(Jesus)wastheWordpersonified—theWordofGodinfleshform!Andhowdidithappen?Awomandaredbelieveandsaythatshewasthewoman:“Yes,IbelieveYou.Behold,Youhavefoundher.”

TheLordsaidtome,“MyWordwillgetpeoplehealedandfilledwiththeHolyGhost the sameway that themiraculous conception took place!Anybeliever can conceive My Word concerning healing in their spirits, and

healingwillmanifest itself in their physical bodies!They can conceiveMyWordconcerningprosperityoffinances,andprosperitywillmanifestitselfintheirbusinessaffairs.IftheywillconceiveMyWordconcerningthebaptismoftheHolySpirit,itwillmanifestitselfintheirspirits.

“Askandyoushallreceive.Seekandyoushallfind.Knockanditshallbeopeneduntoyou.Everyonethatasks,receives.”

“HowmuchmoreshalltheheavenlyFathergivetheHolySpirittothemthat askHim.When the believers receiveMyWord in their spirits, it willmanifestitselfintheirphysicalbodies.AnybelievercanconceivetheWordofGodandsay,‘Behold!IamthemanthatHisstripeshealed!’

“The miraculous conception came through the God-kind of faith. ThefaithofGodroseinMary’sheart,andshereceivedtheWord.Sheconceiveditin her spirit, and it manifested itself in her physical body. The embryo inMary’swombwastheWordofGod.”

IsaidtotheLord,“IwantYoutogivemesomemorereferences to thatbecauseYour

Word says, In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may beestablished(Matt.18:16).

He brought to my attention 1 Peter 1:23: Being born again, not ofcorruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, that liveth andabidethforever.

TheIncorruptibleSeedTheWordisincorruptibleseed.Theseedthatthewomanconceivedwas

the incorruptible seed.When God prophesied about Eve in Genesis 3, shedidn’thavetheseed,butGodsaid“theseedofthewoman.”TheseedMaryreceived was the Word. The incorruptible Seed, which lives and abidesforever, took upon itself flesh and dwelt among us. God’s Word isincorruptibleseed.

JesusChristwas born of a virgin through themiraculous conception offaith—theGod-kindoffaith.HewasbornoftheeverlastingWord.TherewasnodeathinHim.

ThereasonHehadtobebornofavirginwasthat thebloodlinefollowsthefather. InOldTestamentdays, theentire inheritancefollowed thefather.Thelifeofthefleshisintheblood.(Lev.17:11.)Ifthelifeofthefleshisintheblood,thedeathofthefleshisinthebloodalso.

BecauseAdamsinned,everychildbornfromAdamuntilnowhaslifeanddeathinhisbloodstream.Heisgoingtodieiftimegoesonlongenough.But

Jesussaid,“NomantakesMylife.”

JesusChristwasamananointedwith theHolyGhost.Someonesaid,“Idon’t understandwhy Jesus had to be born on earth.Why didn’t God justcomedownhereanddestroytheDevil?”

Hecouldn’tdothat.ItwasillegalbecauseGodhadgivendominionovertheearthtoman.Jesushadtocomeintheformofaman:withthebodyofman,withthefeelingsandabilitiesofaman.HehadtoapproachtheDevilasaman.ThismadeitperfectlylegalforJesustodestroytheworksoftheDevil.

TheimmortalwordsofJesuswereheardthroughoutalltheuniverse:TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehathanointedme…(Luke4:18).

TheWordhadtrulybecomefleshthroughthemiraculousconception.

TheNecessityoftheVirginBirthEverypersonbornafterAdamsinnedisborninsin.Theyhavethenature

oftheirillegitimatestepfather,Satan.

Jesushadnoearthlyfather.Hewasbornofawoman.Thisiswhatmakesthevirginbirthamust—thebloodlinefollowsthefather.Medicalsciencehasfoundthatundernormalbirthconditionsnotonedropofbloodpassesfromthe mother to the child. They thought for years that the mother furnishedbloodforthechild;nowtheyknowthisisnotso.Thebloodisformedfromtheunionofthetwo.

TheembryoformedinMary’swombwastheWordofGod.Therefore,itproducedpureblood,filledwithlife.GodwastheFather.Jesuswasonearth,bornofavirgin,withthebloodofGodinHisveins.TheBiblecallsHim“thelast Adam.” If He had an earthly father, He would have had death in Hisblood.Manisbornwithbothlifeanddeathinhim.ButJesus’bloodwasnotpolluted.TherewasnodeathinHim.

ListentothestatementsofJesus.Nomantakethit(life)fromme,butIlayitdownofmyself(John10:18).Theprinceofthisworld(Satan)cometh,andhathnothinginme(John14:30).

PeopletriedtokillJesusseveraltimes,buttheycouldnot.TherewasnodeathinHim.TherewasnosininHim.Hewasfilledwithlove!

Jesuswasbornofawoman,butGod’sbloodflowedinHisveins.IthadtobesoorHecouldnothavebeenthesupremesacrifice.Thesacrificehadtobeamanwhowasperfect.HehadthelifeofGodflowinginHim,andHegaveitasasinofferingfortheworld.

IfJesushadnotbeenbornofavirgin,youwouldstillbeinyoursins.It

hadtobesoorredemptioncouldneverhavebecomeareality.

JesusCametoDestroytheWorksoftheDevil…ForthispurposetheSonofGodwasmanifested,thathemightdestroy

theworksofthedevil(1John3:8).The Amplified Bible states: “… The reason the Son of God was made

manifest (visible)was to undo (destroy, loosen and dissolve) theworks thedevil[hasdone].”Jesuswassenttorestoremantohisrightfulgodliness.

At twelve years of age, Jesus astounded religious leaders with HisknowledgeoftheLaw.HerewasactuallytheCovenant-makingGodWhohadbecomeasacrificeHimself!

In Luke, chapter 3, John was baptizing. And as the people were inexpectation,andallmenmusedintheirheartsofJohn,whetherheweretheChrist,ornot;Johnanswered,sayinguntothemall,Iindeedbaptizeyouwithwater;butonemightier than I cometh, the latchetofwhose shoes Iamnotworthytounloose:heshallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhostandwithfire(v.15,16).

Nowwhenall thepeoplewerebaptized, itcame topass, thatJesusalsobeing baptized, and. praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghostdescended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came fromheaven,whichsaid,ThouartmybelovedSon;intheeIamwellpleased.AndJesushimselfbegantobeaboutthirtyyearsofage,being(aswassupposed)thesonofJoseph…(v.21-23).

Weknow Jesuswasn’t the sonof Joseph.Hewas theSonofGod.ThemajorityofreligiousteachingtodaytellsyouJesushealedthesickinordertoproveHewastheSonofGod.

DoyourealizethatJesuswasthirtyyearsofagewhenHewasbaptized?Untilthattime,Hehadnothealedoneperson.Hehadnotraisedanyonefromthedead;Hehadnotdoneonemiracle—notone!SurelyHewasasmuchtheSonofGodatagetwenty-nineasHewasatagethirty.

TherealreasonJesushealedthesick,raisedthedead,andcastoutdemonswasbecauseHewasanointedwiththeHolyGhosttodestroytheworksoftheDevil.

Jesusdidn’thealthesickbecauseofHisdivinepower.HewastheSonofGod.Hewasdeity.ButwhenHecametoearth,HestrippedHimselfofHisdivinepower.Hedidn’tuseanypowerinherentinHimasGod’sSontohealthesick,raisethedead,castoutdemons,ordestroyotherworksoftheDevil.

GodAnointedJesusNoticethatitwasaftertheHolyGhostdescendedonJesusinthebodily

formofadovethatHebegantohealthesick,castoutdemons,andperformmiracles.We find this account in Acts 10:38:HowGod anointed Jesus ofNazarethwiththeHolyGhostandwithpower:whowentaboutdoinggood,andhealingallthatwereoppressedofthedevil:forGodwaswithhim.

JesuswasanointedwiththeHolyGhostandhealingpower.Thisscripturesaysoppression,sickness,anddiseaseareoftheevilone,theDevil.

ThepowerJesususedinHisministrywasnotsomethingHebroughtfromheavenwithHim. Itwasn’t inherent inHim as being the Son ofGod.TheBiblesaysGodanointedHim.

IfJesushealedthesickbecauseofHisdivinepower,whydidGodanointHim? He was God manifested in the flesh.Where would you go to get ahigheranointingthanGod?ItwasbecauseoftheanointingofGodthatJesushealedthesick.

Jesuscametoearthasaman.HedidnottakethenatureofangelsnorthenatureofGodinHisdivinepower.HetookonHimthenatureofman.Jesusbecameaman.Jesuscontinuallyaffirmed,“IamtheSonofMan.”

Therewere severaloccasionswhenHe referred toHimself asbeing the“SonofGod,”butHesimplyreferredbacktotheplacewhereHesaid,“IandMyFatherareone,”and,“AreyougoingtostoneMe,becauseIsaidIamtheSonofGod?”

Jesus was here with legal authority on earth as a man. He had to beanointedwith theHolyGhost toheal thesick.Hewasonearthwithoutsin.He could operate perfectly under the Old Covenant—the AbrahamicCovenant.Infact,thepromisewasnotjusttoAbrahambuttoAbrahamandhisSeed.AbrahamwascapableofoperatinginitwhilehewasonearthuntiltheSeedcame.Notseeds(asmany),butSeed(asone)andthatSeedisChrist.

AbrahamsimplyheldthatpromiseuntiltheSeedcame.Jesuswasbornofavirgin.Hecameinto theearthwith thebloodofGodflowingthroughHisveins.Jesuswasaperfectspecimenofhumanity,andHecalledHimself theSonofMan.

TheLastAdamAndsoitiswritten,ThefirstmanAdamwasmadealivingsoul;thelast

Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which isspiritual,butthatwhichisnatural;andafterwardthatwhichisspiritual.Thefirstmanisof theearth,earthy:thesecondmanistheLordfromheaven(1

Cor.15:45-47).Jesuswascalled thelastAdam.Hewasmadeaquickeningspirit.Many

timeswhenJesushealedthesick,Hewouldsay,“Go,andseethatyoutellnoman.”IfHeweretryingtoproveHewastheSonofGodbyhealingthesick,Hewouldhavesaid,“GotelleverybodyIamtheSonofGod.”

JesuswascalledtheSonofMan.TheBiblesaysyouwillseetheSonofMancominginthecloudsofheaven.HewillstillbetheSonofManwhenHecomesback.Jesusidentifieswithman.Hecametoearthtooperateasaman,anointed with the Holy Ghost. Because He was in the earth as aman, HecouldlegallydestroytheworksoftheDevil.

Satandidn’tknowwhoJesuswasuntil thedaytheHolyGhostcameonHim. In fact, you’ll find that John the Baptist began to have doubts also.WhenJohnwasputintoprison,hesenttwopeopletoaskJesusifHewastheOnetocomeorshouldtheylookforanother?Jesusdidn’tevenanswerJohn’squestion.He simply said, “Go back and tell Johnwhat you saw.The blindreceived their sight; the poor had theGospel preached to them….” (Luke7:19,22.)

TheTemptationofJesusJesusmetSatanon theMountofTemptation in thepowerof theSpirit.

HereistheSonofManinHisauthority.AfterHehadfastedfortydays,thedevilsaiduntohim,IfthoubetheSonofGod,commandthisstonethatitbemadebread.AndJesusansweredhim,saying,It iswritten,Thatmanshallnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordofGod(Luke4:3,4).

Jesus simplyquotedwhatGodsaid.Hewouldnotget involved inwhatseemedtobeorwhatmightbe.HejustquotedGod’sWord.

Andthedevil,takinghimupintoanhighmountain,sheweduntohimallthekingdomsoftheworldinamomentoftime.Andthedevilsaiduntohim,AllthispowerwillIgivethee,andthegloryofthem:forthatisdelivereduntome;andtowhomsoeverIwillgiveit(v.5,6).

Evidently,Satanknew that Jesushad come to restoreman.Satandidn’tunderstand itallbecausehe isspirituallydead;buthehadageneral ideaofwhatJesuswasgoingtodotohim.Hesaid,“I’llgiveitbacktoYouifYouwillworshipme.”

AndJesusansweredandsaiduntohim,Gettheebehindme,Satan:foritis written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thouserve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of thetemple,andsaiduntohim,IfthoubetheSonofGod,castthyselfdownfrom

hence(v.8,9).HerewasJesus’chancetoproveHewastheSonofGod,butthatwasnot

whatHecametodo.Jesuscameto“undo(destroy,loosenanddissolve)theworksofthedevil.”Hedidn’tgetcaughtupinprovingthatHewastheSonofGod.Jesusdidn’tneedtoproveanything:timewouldprovethat.

SatandidchallengeJesus:“IfYoube theSonofGod….”NoticeSatanhimselfstartedquotingScripture.(TheDevilknowsafewscriptures,buthequotesthemoutofcontext.)Foritiswritten,Heshallgivehisangelschargeoverthee,tokeepthee:andintheirhandstheyshallbeartheeup,lestatanytimethoudashthyfootagainstastone(v.10).(Hequoteditwell,buttookitoutofcontext.)

AndJesusansweringsaiduntohim,Itissaid,ThoushaltnottempttheLordthyGod.Andwhenthedevilhad

endedallthetemptation,hedepartedfromhimforaseason(Luke4:12,13).JesusspokethreewordsthatshookSatan’skingdombeyondrepair—Itis

written!

8

TheAuthorityoftheBodyAnd he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his

customwas,hewentintothesynagogueonthesabbathday,andstoodupfortoread.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. Andwhenhehadopenedthebook,hefoundtheplacewhereitwaswritten,

TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehathanointedmetopreachthegospeltothepoor;hehathsentmetohealthebrokenhearted,topreachdeliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set atlibertythemthatarebruised,topreachtheacceptableyearoftheLord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and satdown.Andtheeyesofallthemthatwereinthesynagoguewerefastenedonhim.

Andhebegantosayuntothem,Thisdayisthisscripturefulfilledinyourears…

Andall they in thesynagogue,when theyheard these things,were filledwithwrath,androseup,andthrusthimoutofthecity,andledhimuntothebrowof thehillwhereon theircitywasbuilt, that theymightcasthimdownheadlong.

Buthepassingthroughthemidstofthemwenthisway,andcamedowntoCapernaum,acityofGalilee,andtaughtthemonthesabbathdays.

Luke4:16-21;28-31Jesuswalked into thesynagogue thatday inHisownhometown. Itwas

thefirstsermonHeeverpreached,andtheJewstriedtokillHim.Theyweresoangrybecause Jesus said,TheSpirit of theLord is uponme, becausehehathanointedmetopreachthegospel.

Theydidn’t believe Jesuswas anointed to preach theGospel (theGoodNews).Goodnews to thepoor is:Youdon’t have to bepoor anymore!Hesaid that theblinddidn’thave tobeblindanymore, that thebroken-hearteddidn’t need to be broken-hearted anymore! The bruised didn’t have to bebruised!JesuscamepreachingGoodNews!

I am convinced that if Jesus had said, “Well, everybody has to be sicksometime.Youwillneverhaveanythingontheearth;you’llhavetowaituntilyou get to heaven.Youwill have to suffer trials and tribulations that comeyour way. There’s nothing you can do about it…,” they would have said,“Amen,Brother!We’regoingtovoteyouinaspastor!”

ButJesuscamepreaching the truth—theGoodNews!HesaidHewasanointed. If Jesus was there in His divine power, why did He have to beanointed?

JesusenteredtheearthlegallybecauseHewasbornhere.Hewasbornofavirgin;thebloodofGodflowedthroughHisveins.HewastheSonofMan;yetHewasGodmanifestedintheflesh.

A literal translation of Philippians 2:7,8 says that when Jesus came toearth,HestrippedHimselfofthatdivinepowerandbecameaman.

Acts 10:38 tells us thatHewas anointedwith theHolyGhost andwithpower, andwent about doing good, healing allwhowere oppressed by theDevil;forGodwaswithHim.

FirstJohn3:8says,…For thispurpose theSonofGodwasmanifested,thathemightdestroytheworksofthedevil.JesuscametoearthtogetbackeverythingSatanhadstolenfromAdam.

Yes,JesuswastheSonofGod.Yes,Hewasdeityinthisearth.ButHedidnotoperate indivinepower.Heperformedmiraclesby theanointingof theHolyGhost—thesameHolyGhostthatisavailabletoyouandmetoday!

ALegalBodyLet’slookatthelegalaspectofbeingbornintheearth.Understandingthe

authorityGodhasgivenmanisofutmostimportance.

Verily, verily, I say unto you,He that entereth not by the door into thesheepfold,butclimbethupsomeotherway,thesameisathiefandarobber.

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep (John10:1,2).

IstoppedonedayasIwasreadingthisscripturalpassageandsaid,“Now,Lord,I’dlikeforYoutorevealwhatthatmeans.I’velookedatitforyears.Idon’tunderstandit.Whatisthesheepfold?”

He answered, “The sheepfold is the earth. MyWord says you are thesheepofMypasture.You’renotinheavenyet,areyou?Thedoorrepresentsthelegalentry.Anybeingcomingintotheearthanyotherwaythanthroughthelegalentry(door)isathiefandarobber.”

Iasked,“Butwhatisthedoor,orthelegalentry,intotheearth?”

Hesaid,“Thelegalentryisbeingbornintheearthofawoman.Hethatentersnot into theearthbybeingbornhere,butbyattainingentrancesomeother way, the same is a thief and a robber and he does not have legalauthorityonearth.

“Satanistheonewho’shereillegally.Heclimbedupsomeotherway—hewasn’tbornhereandhasnorighttobehere.Heisthethiefandtherobber.”

A thief robbing the First National Bank may have power when he’sholding a gun on people, demanding theirmoney, but he has no authority.Satanhasbeenstealingfromyou,andhehasnoauthoritytodoso!Butifyouarebornhere, youhave legal authority.That isGoodNews to everyone onearth!

Tohimtheporteropeneth;and thesheephearhisvoice:andhecallethhisownsheepbyname,and leadeth themout (v. 3).This is thepurposeofJesus coming to earth: to lead us out of the darkness into the light, andeventuallyoutofthisworldintoanewheavenandanewearth.

OutofHisownmouth,Jesusrevealedsomeof thegreatest truthsof theBible.

Thethiefcomethnot,butfortosteal,andtokill,andtodestroy(v.10).Verily, verily, I say unto you,He that entereth not by the door into the

sheepfold,butclimbethupsomeotherway,thesameisathiefandarobber(v. 1). The thief was not born here. He entered this earth illegally for thepurposeofstealing,killing,anddestroying.

LegalAuthorityJesus said toNicodemus,That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that

whichisbornoftheSpiritisspirit(John3:6).Thatought to tellussomething.Weareborn,first,of theflesh; then,of

theSpirit.Beingswhoarebornherehaveauthorityintheearth.

Jesussaid,… I am come that theymight have life, and that theymighthave it more abundantly (v. 10). He that entereth in by the door is theshepherdofthesheep(v.2).Jesushascomethatwemighthavelifeandhaveitmoreabundantly.ItisJesusWhoenteredbythedoorandistheShepherdofthesheep!

He didn’t say, “I am come that yemight have tribulations, and that yemighthavethemmoreoften!”No!Hecamethatwemighthaveabundantlife.Jesuscametoundo,destroy,anddissolvetheworksoftheDevil.

Weseeagreattruth:Onlypeoplebornonearthhaveauthorityhere.GoddelegatedthefirstauthoritytoAdam,butAdamturneditovertoSatan.Satanenteredthisearthillegally.ButJesushascomethatwemayhavelife.HehascometodestroyandtakeawaythosethingsSatanperpetrateduponman.Hecametorestoremantohisrightfulauthority.

JesusIstheDoorWhen Adam became subordinate to Satan, he was born from life unto

death. Jesus came to reverse that process and cause man to be born fromdeathuntolife!JesuswasthelastAdam;therewon’tbeanother.Heobtainedeternalredemptionforus!

Andastrangerwilltheynotfollow,butwillfleefromhim:fortheyknownot the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but theyunderstoodnotwhat things theywerewhichhe spakeunto them.ThensaidJesusuntothemagain,Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Iamthedoor…(John10:5-7).

FromthetimeJesussays,Hethatenterethinbythedooristheshepherdofthesheep,Hetalksaboutgoingbeforeustoleadusout.AllthatJesusdidforus,thecrossandall,isbetweenthoseScriptureversesjustbeforeyougettothestatement,Iamthedoor.

Icouldn’tunderstandit.Ikepttryingtosaythetwodoorswerethesame,buttheywerenot.Thefirstdoorisalegalentrythroughphysicalbirth,beingbornofawoman.Itgivesusauthorityhere.Theseconddooristhespiritualbirth,beingbornoftheSpirit.

Jesus toldNicodemus, “Youmust be born again.Thatwhich is born offleshisflesh;thatwhichisbornoftheSpiritisspirit.”(John3:3-6.)

Eventhoughmanislegallybornintheearth,heisachildoftheDevilandmustbebornagainfromspiritualdeathtospirituallife.

Jesus,TheWayJesus said He was the door and all that ever came before Him were

thievesandrobbers.Manyreligioussystemsclaimtobe“theway,”buttheyarenot.Thereisonlyonewaytoheaven.It’snotthroughachurchdoor.It’sthroughJesus—thedoor!Jesusistheway!

YoumaygotochurchinordertogettoJesus,butHe’snottalkingaboutachurchdoor.He’ssayingtheonlywayiscomingthroughHim, JesusChrist.He is the door, and if you don’t go through that door, you’re not going tomakeit.Youcan’tclimbupthebackstairs!

Demonsandevilspiritscame into theearth illegallybyclimbingup theback way, but you’re not going to get into heaven any other way exceptthroughthedoor,whichisJesus.Heisthedoorofthesheep.

WhileJesuswasonearth,Hekeptsaying

Hewasgoingtodieandriseagain.Thepeopledidn’tunderstand,butHekepttellingthem.

…theprinceofthisworldcometh,andhathnothinginme(John14:30).TherewasnothinginJesusthatSatancouldgetholdof.JesuscalledSatantheprinceofthisworld,thensaid,buthehathnothinginme.Satancouldn’tgetholdofHiswordsbecauseJesusquotedtheWordofGod.

InJohn10:15Jesussaid,AstheFatherknowethme,evensoknowI theFather:andIlaydownmylifeforthesheep.(Notice,Ilaydownmylifeforthesheep.)

Thereforedothmyfatherloveme,becauseIlaydownmylife,thatImighttakeitagain.Nomantakethitfromme(v.17,18).

I emphasizeHiswords:Noman taketh it fromme. Noman could takeJesus’life.TheytriedtoseveraltimeswhileHewasonearth;butHesimplywalkedoutfromtheirmidst.TheanointingofGodwasonJesussostrongthatnonecouldlayholdonHim.

Nomantakethitfromme,butIlayitdownofmyself.Ihavepowertolayitdown,andIhavepowertotakeitagain.ThiscommandmenthaveIreceivedofmyFather(v.18).

JesusmadethedecisiontogiveHislifewhilestillonearth,whileintheGardenofGethsemane. Jesusprayedaprayer in theGarden thatwillmakeyourhairstandonendifyoureaditwiththethoughtofeternalredemptionatstake.

Heprayed,Abba,Father,allthingsarepossibleuntothee;takeawaythiscup from me … (Mark 14:36). Take away this cup from me! Jesus neverprayed a prayer that was not answered. Here, the humanity of Jesus isshowingthrough.

“Allthingsarepossiblewiththee,sotakeawaythiscupfromme.”WhatifJesushadstoppedthereandwalkedoff?ButHedidn’t,thankGod!

NeverthelessnotwhatIwill,butwhatthouwilt.Oh,whatadifferencethewordneverthelessmakesinHisprayer!Thiswasaprayerofdedication.Jesushaddecided togowithGod’splan!Hemade the choice. “I’mgoing to laydownMylife.”JesusgaveHislife;noonetookitfromHim.

ListentothewordsofJesus:WhenIwasdailywithyouinthetemple,ye

stretchedforthnohandsagainstme:butthisisyourhour,andthepowerofdarkness(Luke22:53).

Thesearethewordsofaman—theman,Jesus,theSonofGod—onHiswaytosuchahorribledeath.Thisisyourhour,andthepowerofdarkness.HehasgivenHimselftobethesinofferingforallmen;thentobecomesin thatwemighthaveeternalredemption.

9

TheAuthorityofJesusTheauthorityofJesusandHisunitywiththeFatherisclearlyestablished

inJohn10:30.

IandmyFatherareone.ThentheJewstookupstonesagaintostonehim.Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my

Father;forwhichofthoseworksdoyestoneme?TheJewsansweredhim,saying,Foragoodworkwestonetheenot;but

forblasphemy;andbecausethatthou,beingaman,makestthyselfGod.Jesusanswered them, Is it notwritten in your law, I said,Yearegods?

(John10:31-34).TheAmplifiedBiblesaysofverse33,…becauseYou,amereman,make

Yourself[outtobe]God.”

ContinuingfromtheKingJamesVersion:Jesusansweredthem,Isitnotwritteninyourlaw,Isaid,Yearegods?If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the

scripturecannotbebroken;Sayyeofhim,whomtheFatherhathsanctified,andsentintotheworld,

Thoublasphemest;becauseIsaid,IamtheSonofGod?(v.34-36).WhenJesusmentioned thatmanwascreated tobeagodover theearth,

Hewas quoting fromPsalm 82:1.God standeth in the congregation of themighty;hejudgethamongthegods.

The translators, for fear of getting themselves in trouble, translated this“congregationofthemighty”whilethecorrectwordiselohim,thepluralforgod. “God standeth in the congregation of the elohim,” and, “He judgethamongthegods(ortheelohim).”Theydidn’tknowwhattodowiththewordelohim,sotheytranslatedit“mighty.”Theydidn’tknowwhatHewasreallysaying,thatmanwascreatedtobegodoverthisearth.

Someonemightsay,“Well,HeistalkingabouttheTrinity—Father,Son,andHolyGhost.”

Thatmightsoundgooduntilyoureadverses2and3.How longwill yejudgeunjustly,andacceptthepersonsofthewicked?…Defendthepoorandfatherless:dojusticetotheafflictedandneedy.

If He is talking about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, He would beaccusing theHolyGhost andGod of being unjust.ButHe is talking aboutman.He calls him elohim, created in the image and likeness of God. GodduplicatedHimselfinkind.Manwascreatedtohavedominionandauthorityintheearth.ItwasElohimamongtheelohim.

Paul says inEphesians3:14,15, Ibowmy knees unto theFather of ourLordJesusChrist,ofwhomthewholefamilyinheavenandearthisnamed.

Notice,itisn’tonefamilyinheavenandanotheroneinearth.WearethefamilyofGod—Elohimamongtheelohim.ManneedstoreturntohisrightfulplaceandseehimselfastheCreatorcreatedhim!

Theyknownot,neitherwilltheyunderstand;theywalkonindarkness:allthefoundationsoftheearthareoutofcourse.Ihavesaid,Yearegods;andallofyouarechildrenofthemostHigh(Ps.82:5,6).

The foundations of the earth are out of course. Satan has perverted thecourseofnature.

Yearegods;andallofyouarechildrenofthemostHigh.Butyeshalldielikemen,andfalllikeoneoftheprinces.Arise,OGod,judgetheearth:forthoushaltinheritallnations(Ps.82:6-8).

DemonsChallengeTheAuthorityofJesusWefind that theauthorityof Jesuscame fromHisbeing legallyborn in

theearth.Then,atagethirty,HewasanointedwiththeHolyGhostsothatHecould undo, loosen, and dissolve the works of the Devil. He was the lastAdam. Jesus had the authority of amanwhileGod furnished the anointingandpower.

We read Luke 4:33,34where Jesus’ authority is challenged.And in thesynagoguetherewasaman,whichhadaspiritofanuncleandevil,andcriedoutwithaloudvoice,saying,Letusalone;whathavewetodowiththee,thouJesusofNazareth?artthoucometodestroyus?Iknowtheewhothouart;theHolyOneofGod.

The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus, but the demons recognizedHim:“Weknowwhoyouare:theHolyOneofGod.”

ItshockedtheregionsofthedamnedwhentheysawJesusdestroyingtheworks of the Devil. The demons challenged Jesus’ authority in the earth.DemonsknewitwasillegalforGodtocometoearthinHisdivinepowerand

destroytheworksoftheDevil.

Satanhadbecomethegodoftheworldsystem.DemonschallengedJesusbecause they thought they had authority here. They came against Jesus bysaying,“WeknowWhoYouare,soletusalone!Youdon’thaveauthoritytodothis,becauseYouareGod.WeknowWhoYouare,andYoucan’tdothis.”

Jesussaid,“Shutyourmouthandcomeoutofhim.”Andtheydid!Nowiftherewasanydoubtaboutwhohasgreaterauthorityhere,thatshouldsettleit!Jesuswasoperatingasaman,anointedwiththeHolyGhost.

And when he was come to the other side into the country of theGergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of thetombs,exceedingfierce,sothatnomanmightpassbythatway.And,behold,theycriedout,saying,Whathavewetodowiththee,Jesus,thouSonofGod?artthoucomehithertotormentusbeforethetime?(Matt.8:28,29).

Noticethatdemonsknowatimeiscomingwhentheywillbedestroyed.They said, “It’s not time yet, and You can’t do that.” Jesus said only oneword,“Go!”andtheywent.

Adam’sLeaseontheEarthThereisadaycomingthatSatanwillbeboundfor1,000years.Butuntil

man’sleaseontheearthrunsout,GodislimitedinwhatHecandoabouttheDevil.

Evidently,GodgaveAdama6,000-yearleaseonearth.Attheendofthattime,thereistobe1,000yearsofrest.

Petersaid,Benotignorantofthisonething,thatonedayiswiththeLordasathousandyears,andathousandyearsasoneday(2Pet.3:8).Now,don’ttrytousethateverytimetheworddayisused,becauseitwon’tfit!

Buthere issomethingyouneedtosee.With theLord,adayisas1,000yearsand1,000yearsisasaday.ThecontextisfoundinthefirstchapterofGenesis. Ibelieve thewholeplanof redemption is there, frombeginning toend.Forexample,onthesixthdayGodcreatedmaninHisownimageandinHis own likeness. I don’t believe a day of creation was 1,000 years. TheScripturesprovethatwrong.

Yet,thereisaparallelhere.Manwascreatedthesixthday.HecameintothelikenessofGodonthelastdayofcreation.It is in the6,000thyear thatmanwillcomeintothelikenessofwhathewascreatedtobe.I’mnotsayingallmenaregettingbetter.No!Wickedmenwillgetworse,but theBodyofChristwillcomeintoperfectiononthislastday.

Theseventhday,orthe7,000thyear,shallbeginthe1,000yearsofrest,

forSatanwillbebound1,000years.This is therest for thepeopleofGod.(Heb.4:3-9.)

TheLeaseontheVineyardAndhebegan to speakunto thembyparables.Acertainmanplanteda

vineyard,andsetanhedgeaboutit,anddiggedaplaceforthewinefat,andbuiltatower,andletitouttohusbandmen,andwentintoafarcountry(Mark12:1).

Jesusisportrayingaleaseontheearth.GodcreatedtheearthforAdam.Hehedged it about andgaveAdamcomplete authority in thathewouldbetotalrulerofthisearth.Adamcoulddowhathewantedwithit.ItwastotallydeliveredtoAdam.

And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he mightreceive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caughthim,andbeathim,andsenthimawayempty.

Andagainhesentuntothemanotherservant;andathimtheycaststones,andwoundedhim in thehead,and senthimaway shamefullyhandled.Andagainhe sentanother;andhim theykilled,andmanyothers;beating someandkillingsome.

Havingyetthereforeoneson,hiswellbeloved,hesenthimalsolastuntothem,saying,Theywillreverencemyson.Butthosehusbandmensaidamongthemselves,Thisistheheir;come,letuskillhim,andtheinheritanceshallbeours.

Andtheytookhim,andkilledhim,andcasthimoutofthevineyard.Whatshallthereforethelordofthevineyarddo?hewillcomeanddestroy

thehusbandmen,andwillgivethevineyarduntoothers(v.2-9).The husbandmen are the people of the earth inspired of the evil one,

Satan. It is reallyareflectionofwhatSatanwassayingaboutJesus.“Look.He is the heir. If we can kill this Son and get Him out of the way, theinheritanceisours!”

ThatiswhySatanrejoicedwhenJesusdied.Hesaid,“WewillannihilatetheSonofGod,andallwillbeours!He is the lastAdam; therewillbenomoreafterHim.Thewholeearthisours!”ButGodhadotherplans!

There is a time set. Satan and his demons know there is a day ofreckoningcoming.SotheychallengedJesus.“HaveYoucometodestroyusbeforeourtime?”Inotherwords,“Youcan’tdothatyet.It’snottime!”

TheychallengedJesus’authoritybecausetheydidn’tunderstandthevirgin

birth. They didn’t knowwhat God had done tomake Jesus’ entry into theearth legal. ItwasHisappearanceasaman thatgaveJesus theauthority todestroytheworksoftheDevillegally!

YourBodyIstheTempleofGodThereasonSatanhatesyourbodyisbecause it’s the templeof theHoly

Ghost. Your body is the only templeGod has on earth today. It gives youauthority.Satandoesnothaveaphysicalbodyandhasnolegalrighthere.Heisacreatedbeingandspirituallydead.Jesushadthebodyofamanandtheauthorityofaman.TheabilitytodestroytheworksoftheDevilcamethroughtheanointingoftheHolyGhost.

There isadifferencebetweendelegatedauthorityandability.Menhaveauthorityintheearthbutdon’thavetheabilitytodotheworksthatJesusdid.It is through the anointing of theHolyGhost that the ability ofGod flowsthroughman.

God uses His ability and power to destroy the Devil’s works, but Hechannelsitthroughthosethatarebornhere.

Jesus faced a challenge of His authority. Demons thought He wasdestroying Satan’s work on earth because He was God. But His authoritycamefrombeingamanbornonearth;HisabilitycamefromtheanointingoftheHolyGhost.

ForastheFatherhathlifeinhimself;sohathhegiventotheSontohavelife in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also,becauseheistheSonofman(John5:26,27).Jesushadauthority,notbecauseHewasGod’sSon,butbecauseHewastheSonofMan.

Thewordauthoritymeans“lawfulpermissiontoexecutepower,orabilitytobringjudgmentorjusticefororagainst.”JesushadfullpowerasamanandtheabilityofGodtoexecutejudgmentforuseandagainsttheDevil.

SatanWasBaffledWhen Jesuswasborn inBethlehem,Satan couldn’t understand the “big

to-do.”Angelswererunningthroughtheskyproclaiming,“There’saSaviorbornwhichisChristtheLord!”

Satanprobablythought,Bigdeal!I’llcutHimdowntosize!Butheforgotonething:Godnowhad,forHimself,aman-childonearth—theSonofGodstrippedofHis divine power; but soon to be anointedwith theHolyGhostandpower.SatansoonfoundhewasnomatchforJesusortheCovenant.

JesusIsChallengedAgain

AndtheycomeagaintoJerusalem:andashewaswalkinginthetemple,therecometohimthechiefpriests,andthescribes,andtheelders,andsayuntohim,Bywhatauthoritydoestthouthesethings?andwhogavetheethisauthoritytodothesethings?(Mark11:27,28):

Not only did demons challenge Jesus, but also the religious leaders.“WheredidYougetthisauthority?”Thatquestionwasdemoninspired.Thosemendidn’tknowthatlegalauthoritybelongedtothosebornonearth.

Noticethetwoquestionstheyasked:

1.Bywhatauthoritydoestthouthesethings?2.Whogavetheethisauthority?TheDevilwantedtheanswers,sohemovedthereligiousleaderstofind

outforhim.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you onequestion, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do thesethings.ThebaptismofJohnwasitfromheaven,orofmen?answerme.

Andtheyreasonedwiththemselves,saying,Ifweshallsay,Fromheaven;hewillsay,Whythendidyenotbelievehim?Butifweshallsay,Ofmen;theyfearedthepeople:forallmencountedJohn,thathewasaprophetindeed.

And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesusansweringsaithuntothem,NeitherdoItellyoubywhatauthorityIdothesethings.

Mark11:29-33I wasmeditating on this one day and knew therewas something I had

missed.TheLordsaidtome,“Iwasgoingtousetheirownwordstoanswertheir questions. They asked Me two questions. If they had answered Myquestion,itwouldhaveansweredbothoftheirs.”

RememberwhentheyaskedJesus,“IsitlawfultopaytributetoCaesar?”JesustoldthemtobringHimapenny.WhenHeasked,Whoseis this imageandsuperscription?(Mark12:16),theyanswered,Caesar’s.ThenHesaidtothem,Render toCaesar the things thatareCaesar’s,and toGod the thingsthatareGod’s(v.17).

ThisisexactlywhatJesuswasabouttodointhissituation.Buttheleadersbecame fearful anddecided itwas a trick to turn the Jewsagainst them, sotheysaid,“Wecannottell.”

ThetrueanswerwasthatJohn’sbaptismwasofbothmanandGod.John’sbaptism was of man, but John was sent from God. The baptism was the

baptismofrepentance,butwasnotfromheaven.

Johnhimselfsaid,“TherecomesoneaftermethatshallbaptizeyouwiththeHolyGhostandwithfire.”(Luke3:16.)

TheHolyGhostbaptismisthebaptismfromheaven.Johnwasnotaborn-againman,andthepeoplehebaptizedwerenotbornagain.Itwasabaptismofrepentance; itwasman’sbaptism.Itwasastep in therightdirectionandwasthebestaffordedundertheOldcovenant,butitwasofmen.

ThereforeJesuswouldhaveanswered,“Idothesethingsbytheauthoritygainedbybeingamanbornonearth,andGodgaveMethepowerthroughtheanointingoftheHolyGhost!”

The authority of Jesus came frombeing born as aman.His power andanointingcamefromGod.

10

JudgmentofthisWorldWhenheputtethforthhisownsheep,hegoethbeforethemandthesheep

followhim:fortheyknowhisvoice(John10:4).Jesus’ primary purpose in corning to earth was to destroy the Devil’s

works.Hewaswillingtousewhatevermeansittooktodothat.

IwantyoutoseewhatJesusdidtoredeemmankind:howHewentbeforeyoutothecross;howHesufferedthefullcurseoftheLawwhichispoverty,sickness,andspiritualdeath,foryou;howHebecamesinandsufferedinyourplace—oneofthemostawesometruthsoftheBible.

In the Garden, Jesus said,My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death(Mark14:34).Hereyou realize there’s something in Jesus’mindother thanphysicaldeath.Hecertainlywasnotafraidtodiephysically.

Hewassuffering the thoughtsof theseparationfromHisFather thatHeknewwassoontocome.Hewasabouttotakewhatshouldhavebeencomingtomankind,andthiswouldseparateHimfromHisFather.Thiswasthepartthat was so horrible: the separation from God. He was to become sin. Hewrestled with it until blood came through His pores and dropped to theground.

AndhetakethwithhimPeterandJamesandJohn,andbegantobesoreamazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them,My soul is exceedingsorrowfuluntodeath:tarryyehere,andwatch.

Andhewentforwardalittle,andfellontheground,and.prayedthat,ifitwerepossible,thehourmightpassfromhim.

Andhe said,Abba,Father, all thingsarepossible unto thee; takeawaythiscupfromme:neverthelessnotwhatIwill,butwhatthouwilt.

Andhecometh,and findeth them sleeping, and saithuntoPeter, Simon,sleepestthou?couldestnotthouwatchonehour?Watchyeandpray,lestyeenterintotemptation.Thespirittrulyisready,butthefleshisweak.

And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. Andwhenhe returned, he found themasleepagain, (for their eyeswereheavy,)neitherwisttheywhattoanswerhim.

Andhecomeththethirdtime,andsaithuntothem,Sleeponnow,andtakeyourrest:itisenough,thehouriscome;behold,theSonofmanisbetrayedintothehandsofsinners.

Mark14:33-41JesusGaveHimselfTherewasnowaySatancouldgetaholdonJesus.Therewasnosin in

Him.SatancouldnotlayanykindofclaimtoHim.ThebloodofGodflowedinHisveins.JesuswasaunionoftheWordofGodandhumanflesh.

When the time came for Jesus to be betrayed, He said, Now is thejudgmentofthisworld:nowshalltheprinceofthisworldbecastout(John12:31).

The Greek word for judgment is krisis, meaning “turning point.” TheEnglish word closest in meaning is crisis. So Jesus was saying, “Now thecrisis, or turning point, has come, and I’m going to cast the prince of thisworldout!”

…My kingdom is not of thisworld: ifmy kingdomwere of thisworld,thenwouldmyservantsfight,thatIshouldnotbedeliveredtotheJews(John18:36).

JesusknewHewasonHiswaytothecrossasHesaid,“SatancomethbuthehathnothinginMe,”and“NomantakesMylife;IlayitdownofMyself.”

HearthepropheticwordsofPilate,Ihavefoundnocauseofdeathinhim(Luke23:22).IamsurePilatedidnotunderstandthetwofoldmeaningofhispropheticutterance.Jesushadtobewithoutspot.TherecouldbenosacrificeofferedthatwasblemishedorhadanycauseofdeathinHim.

ThesatanicforceswererejoicingthatJesushadbeendeliveredup.Afteramock trial, theSonofGodwas sentenced illegallyandcrucified. JesushadgivenHimselfuptotheFather’splan.Hewasnailedtothecross.AsHehungthere, suspended between heaven and earth, darkness covered the land forthreehours.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lordrevealed?

Forheshallgrowupbeforehimasatenderplant,andasarootoutofadry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him,thereisnobeautythatweshoulddesirehim.Heisdespisedandrejectedofmen;amanofsorrows,andacquaintedwithgrief:…andweesteemedhimnot.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we didesteemhimstricken, smittenofGod,andafflicted.Buthewaswounded for

ourtransgressions,hewasbruisedforouriniquities:thechastisementofourpeacewasuponhim;andwithhisstripeswearehealed.

Isaiah53:1-5TheHebrewword translatedgriefmeans “sickness.” TheHebrew says,

“Heboreoursicknessandcarriedourpains.”

In The Amplified Bible verse 5 reads, “But he was wounded for ourtransgressions,Hewasbruised forourguilt and iniquities; thechastisementneedful to obtain peace andwellbeing for us was uponHim, andwith thestripesthatwoundedHimwearehealedandmadewhole.”

Iwantyoutonoticeverse5.Hewaswoundedforourtransgressions,hewasbruisedforouriniquities.Thewordbruisedistheverysamewordthatistranslated “stripes,” found later in the verse. When these two words weretranslated,onewastranslated“bruised,”theother,“stripes.”Thiswasdoneinordertokeepfromrepeating.

Here is thekey tounderstandinghealing in theAtonement.ThebruisesthatwereplaceduponJesustodeliveryoufromyoursinsandiniquitiesarethesamebruisesthattookcareofyoursicknessesanddiseases.Thereweren’tbruisesforoneandstripesfortheother.Theywerethesamebruises,andyoucan’tseparatethem.

Todaysomepeoplesay,“Youcanbesavedandhaveyoursinsforgiven,butGoddoesn’thealanymore.”

Butwaitaminute!Thesamebruisesthatsetyoufreefromyouriniquitiesalsohealedyouandbroughtdeliverancetoyourbody.

So let’s read it that way: He was bruised for our iniquities: thechastisementofourpeacewasuponhim;andwithhisbruiseswearehealed.Wearehealedwiththesamebruises.

Nowlet’s read it inTheAmplifiedBible. “ButHewaswounded forourtransgressions,Hewasbruised forourguilt and iniquities; thechastisementneedful to obtain peace andwellbeing for us was uponHim, andwith thestripesthatwoundedHimwearehealedandmadewhole.”Wecanalsosay,“WiththebruisesthatwoundedHimwearehealedandmadewhole.”

Thebruisesthattookyouriniquitiesawayarethesamebruisesthathealedyourbody.AsfarasGodisconcerned,itwasalldoneatthesametimenearly2,000yearsago.

DualDeathInIsaiah53:9,wefindtheseawesomewords:Andhemadehisgravewith

thewicked,andwiththerichinhisdeath;becausehehaddonenoviolence,neitherwasanydeceitinhismouth.

TheHebrewwordfordeathisplural—notonedeath,buttwo.“Hemadehisgravewiththewickedinhisdeaths.”

Forhehathmadehimtobesinforus,whoknewnosin;thatwemightbemadetherighteousnessofGodinhim(2Cor.5:21).

No!Jesusdidnotbecomeasinner!Hebecamesin!HetookoursinuponHimselfandborethosesinsaway.

Hebrews9:12tellsusbyhisownbloodhe(Jesus)enteredinonceintotheholyplace,havingobtainedeternalredemptionforus.Jesusbecamesinthatwemightberighteous—thatwewouldnomorebeseparatedfromGod—thatwemighthaveeternalredemption!

The spirits of men are eternal. (Your spirit is eternal.) There wassomething eternal at stake when mankind was spiritually dead. You mustrealizethatforJesustogobeforeusandpreparetheway,Hehadtoredeemmanfromspiritualdeath.

Therewasonlyonewaytodothis:Hehadtosufferthepenaltyofsin(thesoulthatsinneth,itshalldie).ButJesusdidnotsin!Jesuswasholy.Hewentbeforeustoreceivethatwhichwewereabouttoreceive,thatwhichwasdueus.Jesusdidnotsin,butHereceivedsin.Thereisadifference.

Jesusdidnotsin.Hewasholy.Hewentbeforeusandreceivedthatwhichwe should have suffered. He became sin, so that we could receive eternalredemption!

NowyoucanunderstandwhyHesweatdropsofbloodintheGarden.AsHe hung suspended between heaven and earth on the cross, He releasedHimself.“NomantakesMylife;IlayitdownofMyself.”

JesusopenedHimselfandreceiveddeath.TheHolyOneofGod,theSonof God, became your substitute! Most of the Church has never seen whatJesussufferedinordertobringlifetothelost.

Andat the ninth hour Jesus criedwith a loud voice, saying,Eloi, Eloi,lamasabachthani?which is,being interpreted,MyGod,myGod,whyhastthouforsakenme?(Mark15:34).

Therewas no help fromGodWho chose not to look upon Jesus asHecriedout.Jesuscouldhavecalledmorethantwelvelegionsofangels,butHedidn’t.Instead,Hebecamethesinoffering.ThenHebecameacurse.

ThetrapwassetforSatantomoveinonJesus.NodoubtSatanthoughtHemust have sinned asmen cursedHim, slappedHim, crownedHis head

withthorns,andlashedHisbackuntilitbecameasapieceofrawmeat.Satanthought,Hehassurelysinnednow.

No!Jesusneversinnedatanytime!But,Hewasabouttobecomesinforyou!

IsaiahProphesiedJesus’DeathThe prophet Isaiah saw eventswhich prompted him to say,Behold,my

servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be veryhigh.Asmanywereastonishedatthee;hisvisagewassomarredmorethananyman,andhisformmorethanthesonsofmen(Is.52:13,14).

Isaiahsawitthroughspiritualrevelation.

Hewasn’t therewhenithappened.NotevenpeoplestandingaroundthecrosscouldseeallofJesus’suffering.Itwasdarkforthreehours.Jesus’bodywasdrawnineverycontortionofpainthatdiseaseandsicknesscouldcause.

Therewasnolight.Theydidnotbringtheirlanternsinthemiddleoftheday. I amconvinced every diabolical disease known toman ravaged Jesus’bodyasHehungonthecross. Ibelieve thiswasonereasonitwasdarkforthree hours: Men could not have stood to look upon humanity in suchsuffering.Hehadtosufferthefullcurse.ItwasbeyondhumanconceptionthethingsJesussufferedonthecross.

JesusneversufferedsicknessonearthuntilHereceivedeverydiseasethataffectsmankind asHe hung on the cross. Isaiah saidHis countenancewasmarred beyond human imagination,worse than anyman. Imagine themosttwisted,torn,pain-filledmanyouhaveeverseen.Jesuswasworsethanthat.

YetitpleasedtheLordtobruisehim;hehathputhimtogrief(Is.53:10).“… although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His

mouth.YetitwasthewilloftheLordtobruiseHim;HehasputHimtogriefandmadehimsick…”(v.9,10AMP).

God made Jesus sick. Why? It was because the chastisement orpunishmentneedfultoobtainpeaceandwell-beingforyouandmewasuponJesus.Hesufferedsicknessandpunishmentsowewouldnothaveto!

WhendidGodmakeJesussick?WhenHemadeJesusanofferingforsin.Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses (Matt. 8:17). Hereceivedeverydiabolicaldiseaseknowntoman.

YetitpleasedtheLordtobruisehim;hehathputhimtogrief:whenthoushaltmakehissoulanofferingforsin,heshallseehisseed,heshallprolonghisdays,andthepleasureoftheLordshallprosperinhishand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by hisknowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear theiriniquities.Thereforewill Idividehimaportionwith thegreat,andheshalldividethespoilwiththestrong…(Is.53:10-12).

He’scallingusstrong!Hehasdividedthespoilwithus!TheBiblesaysHespoiledprincipalitiesandpowers.Hemadeashowofthemopenly.

…becausehehathpouredouthissouluntodeath:andhewasnumberedwiththetransgressors;andhebarethesinsofmany,andmadeintercessionforthetransgressors.Yes!ThankGod!Hemadeintercessionforus!

WithHisStripesWeAreHealedLet’srecapjustalittle.InIsaiah53:4weread,Surelyhehathborneour

griefsandcarriedoursorrows.(Thisliterallyreads,“SurelyHehasborneoursicknesses and carried our pain.”) Jesus of Nazareth did that for us. Hesufferedeverydiseaseandsicknessknowntomankind.Heborebothsicknessandgriefforus.

You need to know this andact on it! TheDevil has been putting it onpeoplealltheseyears.He’sbeengivingpeoplefluandothersicknessandhasconnedChristiansintobelievingit’sbeenGodteachingthemsomething!

Jesusboreour sicknesses so thatwewouldn’thave tobe sick!Heboreourdiseasesso thatwedon’thave to!Getarevelationof that!Thisdoesn’tmean you’ll never have diseases just because you read, hear, or have theknowledge that Jesus bore them for you. If you don’t act uponwhat youknow,you’lljustgoaheadandbesick.

Every individual must exercise his authority and apply himself to theWordofGod. Justknowingorhearingaboutwhat Jesus freedyou, from isnotenough!YouhavetowalkinGod’sWordandapplyitinyourlife.

JesusChristofNazarethdiedforyou.Hediedtwodeathsthere—physicalandspiritual.HeopenedHimselfandreceivedsin.

GodmadeJesustobesin.No,Hedidn’tjustpay thepenaltyforsin.Heliterallybecame sin.HeopenedHimselfbyHiswords.BeforeHedied,Hesaid,…Father,intothyhandsIcommendmyspirit(Luke23:46).

It was the spiritual part, the human spirit, of Jesuswhich bore that sinawayintoanuninhabitableplace.Jesuswenttohell.Hesufferedhellforussothatwewon’thaveto!

Andhemadehisgravewiththewicked,andwiththerichinhisdeath(Is.53:9).Thewordfordeathhereisplural:two,notonedeath.Butfirst,thesinoffering was made. The sin offering came first. Jesus—holy, sinless, and

perfect—wasthesinoffering.

DavidProphesiedItThe Psalmist David also tapped into what would happen, through

prophecy, hundreds of years before Jesus died for humanity.My God, myGod,whyhast thouforsakenme?whyart thouso far fromhelpingme,andfromthewordsofmyroaring?(Ps.22:1).

Notmanypeoplehaveseen this.Somedeny it,but thatdoesn’tmake itanylesstrue.ThereisnodoubtthatthesearethewordsofJesus.

But I amaworm,andnoman;a reproachofmen,anddespisedof thepeople.All they that seeme laughme to scorn: they shootout the lip, theyshakethehead,saying,HetrustedontheLordthathewoulddeliverhim:lethimdeliverhim,seeinghedelightedinhim(v.6-8).

Theygapeduponmewiththeirmouths,asaraveningandaroaringlion.Iampouredoutlikewater,andallmybonesareoutofjoint(v.13,14).

Nodoubt arthritishad swollenevery jointofHisbodyuntil everybonewasoutof joint!Jesuswasreceivingthechastisement forourpeace. ItwasuponHim.Thephysicalpunishmentneedfultosatisfydivinejustice,tobringpeace,andwell-beingtouswasplaceduponJesus,andHeboreitallforus.

Jesussufferedsoyoumightbehealedandwalkfreefromthecurse.

… My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. Mystrengthisdrieduplikeapotsherd;andmytonguecleavethtomyjaws;andthouhastbroughtmeintothedustofdeath.

Fordogshavecompassedme: theassemblyof thewickedhave inclosedme:theypiercedmyhandsandmyfeet.Imaytellallmybones(Heb.:“Icanseeallmybones”),theylookandstareuponme(v.14-17).

He is saying, “I can see all My bones.” The bones were protrudingoutward,pushingthefleshout.Hisboneswerealloutofjoint.Noeyewitnessverified this in the New Testament since darkness covered earth for threehours.OnlyrevelationofGodthroughprophecybroughtitforth.

Theypartmygarmentsamongthem,andcastlotsuponmyvesture(v.18).Iwilldeclarethynameuntomybrethren:inthemidstofthecongregation

willIpraisethee(v.22).All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go

downtothedustshallbowbeforehim:andnonecankeepalivehisownsoul.A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to theLord for a generation.Theyshallcome,andshalldeclarehisrighteousnessuntoapeoplethatshall

beborn,thathehathdonethis(v.29-31).(Theliteraltranslationis“thatitisfinished.”)

As Jesus hung on the cross,He said, It is finished (John 19:30).ManyBible scholars believe Jesus quoted thewhole Twenty-second Psalm asHehungonthecross.WhenHesaid,“Itisfinished,”Hedidn’tmeanGod’splanfor redemption was finished. He was saying that the last sacrifice to beofferedundertheOldCovenantwasfinished.TheLawwasfulfilled.

There will never be another sacrifice accepted by God; works or gooddeedswon’tbereceived.Jesuswastheonlysacrificeforredemption!

JesusMadeHisGraveWiththeWickedIsaiahprophesied,Andhemadehisgravewith thewicked,andwith the

richinhisdeath(s)(Is.53:9).Man has looked at this scripture through religious eyeglasses and said,

“Yes, Jesus was buried in the tomb of the rich man.” But that’s not whatIsaiahsaid.JesusmadethedecisiontomakeHisgravewiththewickedinHisdeaths.(Hehungonthecrosswiththewicked,thenwenttohell.)

In thatdaywhenlostpeopledied, theywent to theabodeof thewickeddead.Aftertheatonementforsin(sinoffering)wasmade,Jesuswasmadetobesinandwent to theplaceof thewickeddead.HemadeHisgraveinhellwiththewickedandrichinHisdeaths.

IaskedtheLord,“WhatrichwasIsaiahtalkingabout?”Hesaid,“Therichmaninthe16thchapterofLuke.”

In that day the abode of the righteous was in a separate compartmentacross from thewickeddead. In the16th chapter ofLuke,we find that thebeggarwas inAbraham’sbosom.The richman inhellcould lookoverandsee him, but therewas a great gulf fixed between the two, andhe couldn’tpassover.

Andinhellheliftuphiseyes…(Luke16:23).Thatreallymeanstheplaceofdepartedspiritsofthewickeddead.Thesewereintorment.

JesusmadeHisgravethere.NobodymadeHimgo.Hewentbychoicetoreceivethewagesofsinonyourbehalf.

Ifthere’sanypartofhellJesusdidnotsuffer,you’llhavetosufferit.But,thankGod,Jesussuffereditall,foryou!

Intheplaceofthewickeddead,allthedemonsofhellandSatanrejoicedovertheprize.Thecorridorsofhellwerefilledwithjoy.

“We’vedoneit!We’vecapturedtheSonofGod!We’llnolongerbeinthepitofthedamned!Theearthandallthatisthereinisours!Foreveritwillbeours!”Rejoicinginhellhadneverbeensogreatasitwasthatday.Butitwasshortlived.

JesusCrossedtheGulfJesusstayedinhelllongenoughtosatisfyjustice.ThenHewasraisedfor

ourjustification.

WhenJesuswas in thepitofhell, in that terrible torment,nodoubt theDevilandhisemissariesgatheredaroundtoseetheannihilationofGod’sSon.But in the corridors of hell, there came a great voice from heaven: “TurnHimloose!He’sthereillegally!”Andallofhellbecameparalyzed.

I imagine the footsteps of Jesus were heard echoing through thosecorridors.“Shutthegates!”theevilonescried.

“Don’tletHimoutorHewillascendtothethrone!”

But Jesus, the Son ofGod, arose—born again of the Spirit ofGod.Hewalkedover toSatanandstrippedfromhimthekeysofdeath,hell,andthegrave,andtorethegatesofftheirhinges!

ThenHecrossedthegulftotheplaceoftherighteousdeadandpreachedtothem,saying,“There’snoneedforyoutostayhere.Yourresurrectionhascome!”Heledcaptivitycaptive.

SomeofthoserighteousdeadwereseeninthestreetsofJerusalem.Don’tyouknowthat jerkedtheslackoutof thoseSadducees!Theyhadsaid therewas no resurrection of the dead. (Someone suggested that’swhy theyweresad-you-see!) But it was hard to perpetrate their doctrine with Uncle Jackwalkingdownthestreetwhenhehadbeendeadfortwenty-nineyears!

Paul said in Colossians 2:15, And having spoiled principalities andpowers,hemadeashewofthemopenly,triumphingovertheminit.Thewordspoiledliterallymeans“strippedofforunclothed.”

Satandoesn’thaveathingtowear.Hisauthorityisgone.

JesusStrippedSatanofHisAuthorityTheApostlePaulsaid,ThereisnopowerbutofGod:thepowersthatbe

areordainedofGod(Rom.13:1).ThereasontheeviloneshavenopowerisbecauseJesusstrippedthem.Theynolongerhaveanyauthorityintheearth,unlessyougivethemyourauthority.

Allowme to paraphrasewhat Isaiah, the prophet, said: “Theywill look

upon Satan in the Millennium and say, ‘You mean that is the thing thatdeceivedtheworld?Thatlittlething?YoumeanIletthatthingrunoverme?’“

The judgment of this world has already come. The crisis is past. Theprinceofthisworldhasbeencastout!

11

Jesus,TheSinOfferingIrealizethatmanyofthestatementsIhavemadeinthisbookcouldonly

be called theorywithoutOldTestament types to bear themout. SowewillbeginwiththeBookofLeviticus,chapter6.

…TheLordspakeuntoMoses,saying,SpeakuntoAaronandtohissons,saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burntoffering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it ismostholy.

Thepriestthatofferethitforsinshalleatit:intheholyplaceshallitbeeaten,inthecourtofthetabernacleofthecongregation(Lev.6:24-26).

Atfirstglance,itsoundslikethehighpriestisgoingtoeatthesacrifice.Butnoticeverse30:Andnosinoffering,whereofanyofthebloodisbroughtintothetabernacleofthecongregationtoreconcilewithalintheholyplace,shallbeeaten:itshallbeburntinthefire.

SinOfferingBurntJesuswastheSinOffering.TheSinOfferingshallbeburntinthefire.The

PsalmistDavidtappedintoit:…Thouhastdeliveredmysoulfromthelowesthell (Ps. 86:13).These propheticwords refer to Jesus being delivered fromhell.

ListentothewordsofJesus.ForasJonaswasthreedaysandthreenightsinthewhale’sbellysoshalltheSonofmanbethreedaysandthreenightsintheheartoftheearth(Matt.12:40).

Intheheartoftheearth.Inthecenteroftheearth,notinthegrave.That’swhere hell is—in the center of the earth. There are several places in theScripturesthatindicatethis.

Whatsoevershalltouchthefleshthereofshallbeholy:andwhenthereissprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash thatwhereonitwassprinkledintheholyplace.

But theearthenvesselwherein it is soddenshallbebroken:and if itbesoddeninabrasenpot,itshallbebothscoured,andrinsedinwater.Allthemalesamongthepriestsshalleatthereof:itismostholy.

And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into thetabernacleofthecongregationtoreconcilewithalintheholyplace,shallbeeaten:itshallbeburntinthefire.

Leviticus6:27-30Inotherwords,theSinOffering(thatrepresentsJesus)couldnotbeeaten.Ithadtobeburned.

I want you to notice verse 28.The earthen vessel wherein it is soddenshall be broken. Listen to the prophetic words concerning Jesus. I amforgottenasadeadmanoutofmind:Iamlikeabrokenvessel(Ps.31:12).

TheFirstDeathIsaiahsaid,“HemadeHisgravewith thewicked…inHisdeaths.”As

Hehungon the cross, Jesus—theLamb, the unblemishedSinOffering, theSonofGod—remainedholyuntilthelastbreathleftHisbody.

WhenHebreathedHislastbreath,Hesaid,Itisfinished.HegaveHimselfuptophysicaldeathandthenreceivedspiritualdeath,after theSinOfferingwasmade.

Iwantyou tosee theOldTestament type:howHedeliveredHimself todeath and received sin. Notice Leviticus 16:5: And he shall take of thecongregationofthechildrenofIsraeltwokidsofthegoatsforasinoffering,andoneramforaburntoffering.NowtheburntofferingwasforAaron,thepriestwhoofferedit.

Andheshalltakethetwogoats,andpresentthembeforetheLordatthedoorofthetabernacleofthecongregation.AndAaronshallcastlotsuponthetwogoats;onelotfortheLord,andtheotherlotforthescapegoat.

AndAaronshallbring thegoatuponwhich theLord’s lot fell,andofferhimforasinoffering.Butthegoatonwhichthelotfelltobethescapegoat,shallbepresentedalivebeforetheLord(v.7-10).

These two goats represent Jesus.You can’t use just one; theremust betwo. One was for the sin offering; the other was to receive the judgment(punishment) or the just recompense due sin. The two goats made onecompletesacrifice.

TheSecondDeathNow theSinOffering is killed. Jesus, on the cross, gaveHimself up to

physicaldeathforaSinOffering.TherewasnosininHim.That’sthereasonHequalifies.Heisunblemished,andthatOfferingismostholy.

ButoncetheSinOfferingwasaccomplished,HisSpiritmustbepresentedbeforeGodtoreceivethejustrecompenseofreward.Thesoulthatsinneth,it

shalldie.No!Jesusdidn’tsin,butmandid!Thewagesofsinisdeath(Rom.6:23).

Anddeathandhellwerecastintothelakeoffire.Thisistheseconddeath.Andwhosoeverwasnotfoundwritteninthebookoflifewascastintothelakeoffire(Rev.20:14,15).

TheBible is plain:Thewagemust be received. Justicemust be carriedout.Toobtaineternalredemption,aneternalpricemustbepaid.Physicallifeisnoteternal.

Remember Jesus’words,Father, into thy hands I commendmy Spirit…(Luke24:46). IfGod’sgoing to redeemus fromtheseconddeath, someonemustpaythatpenalty.Theseconddeathisspiritual.ItisseparationfromGod.

This is something that is awesome, yet I am convinced the Scripturesreveal that Jesusbecamespirituallydead inorder toobtain spiritual life forus!YoucanmakeupyourownmindaswelookattheseOldTestamenttypes.

TheSinOfferingNowfollowthisclosely:

Thenshallhekill thegoatof thesinoffering that is for thepeople,andbring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with theblood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before themercyseat:

And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of theuncleannessof thechildrenof Israel,andbecauseof their transgressions inalltheirsins.

Leviticus16:15,16ThisisatypeorforeshadowingofthebloodofJesusmakingatonement

forthesinsoftheworld.

… and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, thatremainethamongtheminthemidstoftheiruncleanness…Andwhenhehathmade an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of thecongregation,andthealtar,heshallbringthelivegoat(v.16,20).

Noticeitistheholyplaceatonedforafteranofferingforthesinsofthepeoplehasbeenmade.Thentheybringtheothergoat.Thesecondgoat isatypeofJesusafterHeexpired,havingalreadymadethedecisiontoopenHisSpirittoGodtodowhatwasnecessarytosatisfytheclaimsofjusticeandtoredeemtheworld.Eternalredemptionwasatstake.

Jesus,TheScapegoatAndAaron shall laybothhishandsupon theheadof the livegoat,and

confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all theirtransgressionsinalltheirsins,puttingthemupontheheadofthegoat(v.21).

Someone has suggested that sin is personal disobedience and that sincouldnotbeputonanyone.ButwereadinIsaiahthatGodputouriniquitiesonJesus.WefindithereintheOldTestamenttypethatthehighpriestwhoofferedthesacrificelaidhishands—notone,butboth—upontheheadofthegoat.

Jesus is theHead of theChurch.Who offered Jesus as sacrifice for theworld?God.Abrahamprophesied,“GodwillprovideHimselfaLamb.”Godis theOneWhooffered the sacrifice.Hewas theHighPriestWho laidHishandsontheHeadofthegoat.

Then,according to this type, itwouldbeGodWho laidhishandsuponthe eternal Spirit of Jesus and confessed on Him the iniquities of all thepeople.

…andalltheirtransgressionsinalltheirsins,puttingthemupontheheadof the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into thewilderness:andthegoatshallbearuponhimalltheiriniquitiesuntoa landnotinhabited(v.21,22).

(Webster’s New 20th Century Dictionary says death in theology meansseparation of the soul fromGod; also, a being under the dominion of sin,destituteofgraceordivinelife,calledspiritualdeath.)

Ifyouhaveacentercolumnreference,thereisanotethatsaystheHebrewwordsnotinhabitedinverse22mean“separation.”Sothegoatwassenttoalandofseparation.SpiritualdeathmeansseparationfromGod.

Thefirstgoatisalreadydead.Thephysicaldeathhasalreadytakenplace.Butthisistheseconddeath.ThisisthepluraldeaththatIsaiahprophesied.

The second goat did not cease to exist. He was sent to a land ofseparation.Thisisthetypeofspiritualdeath.WhenAdamdiedspiritually,hisspiritdidnotceasetoexist.

Satan is a spirit. He is spiritually dead, but he still exists. Spirits areeternal.Theyneverceasetoexist.Forthesecondgoattobeatruetype,ithadtoexisttoreceivethejudgmentofjustice.

AfterthebloodofJesuswasspilledtoatonetheHolyPlace,theveilwasrent from top to bottom.TheSinOfferinghadbeenmade.TheHolyPlacewasatoned.ThewaytotheHolyofHolieswasopened,butjudgmenthadto

bedone.Thesinsandiniquitieshadtobecarriedaway.ThenJesusbecamesinandcarrieditawaytoanuninhabitableplace,aplaceofseparation.

Onetranslationsays,“...aplacenotfitforhumanhabitation.”HellwascreatedfortheDevilandhisangels,notforman.Godneverintendedformantogothere.Jesusboresinintothepitofhell.Hecarrieditintotheregionofthedamnedtodoawaywithsin!

The goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land notinhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. And Aaron shallcome into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linengarments,whichheputonwhenhewentintotheholyplace,andshallleavethemthere.

Andheshallwashhis fleshwithwater in theholyplace,andputonhisgarments,andcomeforth,andofferhisburntoffering,andtheburntofferingofthepeople,andmakeanatonementforhimself,andforthepeople.

Andthefatofthesinofferingshallheburnuponthealtar.Andhethatletgo thegoat for the scapegoat shallwashhis clothes,andbathehis flesh inwater,andafterwardcomeintothecamp(v.22-26).

HolySinOfferingSome have stated that Jesus did not really become sin because the Sin

Offeringremainedholy.Butnoticethatonegoatwasholy(SinOffering);theothergoatwascontaminatedwiththesinsofothers—notthesinsofHisown,butthesinsofothers.

TheSinOfferingremainedholy.Itcouldnotbecontaminated.Everythingthat touched itwasmade holy.TheSinOffering being already offered, thescapegoatisbroughtbeforethe

HighPriest(God).Helaidbothhandsuponthescapegoatandconfessedallthesinsofthepeopleuponthesecondgoat.

Now let’s look again at the type. The human spirit of Jesus is as thescapegoat.Thespiritof Jesus iseternal.He is toobtaineternal redemption.Thehighpriestwhoofferedthesacrifice laidhishandupontheheadof thegoat.GodistheHighPriestWhoofferedJesus.

The lastwords Jesus saidbeforeHediedwere,Father, into thyhands Icommend my spirit (Luke 23:46). Type: God (High Priest) laid His handsuponHisSonJesusandconfessed the sins, iniquities,and transgressionsofthepeople,puttingthemuponHim(Jesus).

The goat was so contaminated that the person who let it go into thewilderness isconsideredcontaminatedandmustbatheandwashhisclothes

beforegettingbackintotheholyplace.

The first goatwas holy. The secondwas contaminatedwith the sins ofothers.

But anyonewhowas touched by the flesh or blood of theSinOfferingwascalledholy.TheChurchhasneverseenwhatGoddidtoredeemman.HemadethespiritofHisSontobesin.Heborethatsinburdenoftheworld.

Nodoubt, that’swhat brought thedropsof blood fromHisveins asHekneltintheGardenofGethsemane.Hewasn’tafraidofphysicaldeath.ItwastheseparationofthatseconddeaththatHedreaded.

And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering,whosebloodwasbrought in tomakeatonement in theholyplace,shallonecarryforthwithoutthecamp;andtheyshallburninthefiretheirskins,andtheirflesh,andtheirdung.

Andhe thatburneth them shallwashhis clothes, andbathehis flesh inwater,andafterwardheshallcomeintothecamp(v.27,28).

PropheticWordsofRevelationThepropheticwordofIsaiahandothersrevealhiddentruthsthatmandid

not see. Job tapped intoprophecyconcerning Jesus’ suffering thathasgonepractically unnoticed. Many of the prophets would drift in and out ofprophecyasDaviddidonmanyoccasions.

The whole 29 th chapter of Job is no doubt Jesus speaking in Hissuffering;itwon’tfitanyonebutJesus.

Noticeverses12-18:

BecauseIdeliveredthepoorthatcried,andthefatherless,andhimthathadnonetohelphim.Theblessingofhimthatwasreadytoperishcameuponme:andIcausedthewidow’shearttosingforjoy.

Iputonrighteousness,anditclothedme:myjudgmentwasasarobeandadiadem.Iwaseyestotheblind,andfeetwasItothelame.Iwasafathertothepoor:andthecausewhichIknewnotIsearchedout.

AndIbrakethejawsofthewicked,andpluckedthespoiloutofhisteeth.ThenIsaid,Ishalldieinmynest,andIshallmultiplymydaysasthesand.

TheninJob,chapter30,thereisprophecy:

Theyabhorme,theyfleefarfromme,andsparenottospitinmyface…Terrors are turned uponme: they pursuemy soul as thewind: andmy

welfarepassethawayasacloud.

Andnowmysoulispouredoutuponme;thedaysofafflictionhavetakenholduponme.Mybonesarepiercedinmeinthenightseason:andmysinewstake no rest. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: itbindethmeaboutasthecollarofmycoat.

Hehathcastmeintothemire,andIambecomelikedustandashes.Icryuntothee,andthoudostnothearme:Istandup,andthouregardestmenot.Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyselfagainstme.

Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, anddissolvestmysubstance.ForIknowthatthouwiltbringmetodeath,andtothehouseappointedforallliving.

Howbeithewillnotstretchouthishandtothegrave,thoughtheycryinhisdestruction.DidnotIweepforhimthatwasintrouble?wasnotmysoulgrievedfor thepoor?WhenI lookedforgood, thenevilcameuntome:andwhenIwaitedforlight,therecamedarkness.

Mybowelsboiled,and restednot: thedaysofafflictionpreventedme. Iwentmourningwithoutthesun:Istoodup,andIcriedinthecongregation.Iamabrothertodragons,andacompaniontoowls.Myskinisblackuponme,andmybonesareburnedwithheat(v.10,15-30).

Formysoulisfulloftroubles:andmylifedrawethnighuntothegrave.Iamcountedwiththemthatgodownintothepit:Iamasamanthathathnostrength:Freeamongthedead,liketheslainthatlieinthegrave,whomthourememberestnomore:andtheyarecutofffromthyhand.

Thouhastlaidmeinthelowestpit,indarkness,inthedeeps.Thywrathliethharduponme,andthouhastafflictedmewithallthywaves.Selah.Thouhast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me anabominationuntothem:Iamshutup,andIcannotcomeforth.

Iamafflictedandreadytodiefrommyyouthup:whileIsufferthyterrorsIamdistracted.Thyfiercewrathgoethoverme;thyterrorshavecutmeoff.

Psalm88:3-8,15,16Then the prophet Isaiah said, He was taken from prison and from

judgment:andwhoshalldeclarehisgeneration?forhewascutoffoutoftheland of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken (Is.53:8).

EternalRedemptionEternal redemptionwasat stake.For it isnotpossible that thebloodof

bullsandofgoatsshouldtakeawaysins.Whereforewhenhecomethintothe

world,hesaithSacrificeandofferingthouwouldestnot,butabodyhastthouprepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had nopleasure(Heb.10:4-6).

Jesus became the Sin Offering, but it tookmore than that to givemaneternalredemption!

ThensaidI,Lo,Icome(inthevolumeofthebookitiswrittenofme,)todo thy will O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burntofferings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasuretherein;whichareofferedbythelaw;

Thensaidhe,Lo,Icometodothywill,OGod.Hetakethawaythefirst,thathemayestablishthesecond.BythewhichwillwearesanctifiedthroughtheofferingofthebodyofJesusChristonceforall(v.7-10).

Butthisman,afterhehadofferedonesacrificeforsinsforever,satdownontherighthandofGod;fromhenceforthexpectingtillhisenemieshemadehisfootstool(v.12,13).

OneCompleteSacrificeThe two goats are considered one complete sacrifice. Without the

scapegoat, it couldn’t be complete because it wouldn’t have been carriedaway.JudgmentwillfallwhereJesuscarriedthosesins(hell).

The Old Testament offering just simply swept the sins under the rug,coveredthemupwheretheycouldn’tseethem.Thiswasnotgoingtocover,butbringeternalredemption.Manwouldhavenomoreconsciousnessofsin.

JesusborethatsinuponHimself.Paulsawit.Forhehathmadehimtobesin for us… (2 Cor. 5:21). GodmadeHim to be sin. Jesus didn’t sin. Hebecame sin.He gladly swallowedup sin and carried it to the uninhabitableplace.

Thesinproblemiscured!JesusChristofNazarethboreitaway!Westillhaveasinnerproblem,butJesusisalsothecureforthesinnerproblem.

Forbyoneofferinghehathperfectedforeverthemthataresanctified…This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith theLord,Iwillputmylawsintotheirhearts,andintheirmindswillIwritethem(v.14,16).(ItisaspirituallawHe’stalkingaboutwritingintheirhearts.)

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now whereremission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore,brethren,boldnesstoenterintotheholiestbythebloodofJesus,byanewandlivingway,whichhehathconsecratedforus,throughtheveil,thatistosay,hisflesh(theSinOffering)…

(v.17-20).Let’sgobacktoHebrews9:8.TheHolyGhostthissignifying,thattheway

intotheholiestofallwasnotyetmademanifest,whileasthefirsttabernaclewasyetstanding.

Neitherbythebloodofgoatsandcalves,butbyhisownbloodheenteredinonceintotheholyplace,havingobtainedeternalredemptionforus(v.12).Eternal redemption is ours! He didn’t enter in there until He had obtainedeternalredemptionforus!

YourememberwhenHeappearedtoMaryat thetomb?Hesaid,“Don’ttouchMe, for I have not yet ascended toMyFather.”He had to ascend toheavenandsprinkleHisbloodupon

ThenexttimeHeappearedtothedisciplesHetoldThomas,“TouchMe,handleMe.”Hehadalready entered inandobtainedeternal redemption forus.

EternalSacrificeForifthebloodofbullsandofgoats,andtheashesofanheifersprinkling

theunclean,sanctifiethtothepurifyingoftheflesh:howmuchmoreshallthebloodofChrist,whothroughtheeternalSpiritofferedhimselfwithoutspottoGod…(Heb.9:13,14).

Howwas it done?Through the eternal spiritwithinHim.HeopenedHiseternalspirit toGodonceHeexpired.His lastwordswere,Father, intothyhandsIcommendmyspirit(Luke23:46).

In theOldTestament types, the priest that offered the sacrifices (whichcouldbenoonebutGod,foronlyGodcouldtouchHisSpirit)laidhishandsupontheheadofthegoat(orupontheeternalspirit).Notice,thefirstgoatisdead;theSinOfferinghasalreadybeenmade.Thenitwassentawayintoanuninhabitedplacesojudgmentwouldfalloutthereuponitandnotcomeonthepeople.

HowmuchmoreshallthebloodofChrist,whothroughtheeternalSpiritofferedhimselfwithoutspottoGod,purgeyourconsciencefromdeadworksto serve the livingGod? And for this cause he is the mediator of the newtestament, that bymeans of death, for the redemption of the transgressionsthatwereunder the first testament, theywhichare calledmight receive thepromiseofeternalinheritance(Heb.9:14,15).

Eternal redemption requires an eternal sacrifice. It had tobe acompletesacrifice. Ithad tobea total commitment.That’swhyJesus sweatdropsofbloodintheGarden,forwherethetestamentis,theremustbeofnecessitythe

deathofthetestator.

DeathofTestatorToobtaineternalredemption,theeternalspirithadtobearawaysintoa

placeof judgment.Thiswastheseconddeath.Jesusdiedspiritually,notforany of His own sin! He became the serpent on the pole, the snake on theground,intheOldTestamenttype.HedidthissothatHemightswallowupevilandcarryitawaywherejudgmentwouldfallthereinhellandnotuponthosewhoreceived theredemption.Thatought toget thewholeworldbornagain!AndI’mconvinceditwould,iftheworldknewaboutit!

Atestamentisaforceaftermenaredead;itisofnostrengthatallwhilethetestatorlives.Thereisnodoubtaboutit:Toobtaineternalredemption,aneternal spirit had to be sacrificed.There is one point Iwant tomake clear.Jesus’ spirit did not cease to exist. Spiritsnever cease to exist. Jesus’ spiritbecamespirituallydead.

Adamdiedspirituallywhenheateofthefruit.JesusdiedspirituallywhenHeopened

Himself tosin.Heallowed it to come.Godput it uponHim.TheHolySon of God didn’t sin! He became sin for you and me. He became aspiritually dead man. He was separated from His Father God—a spiritualseparation—andtheprophetIsaiahsawit.Hesawtwodeaths:physical,thenspiritual.

“The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo(destroy, loosen and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]” (1 John 3:8AMP).

JesuscametoundowhatSatanhaddone.Adamcommittedsinanddiedspiritually.Adam’sspiritualdeathproducedphysicaldeath.Forthewagesofsinisdeath.

See this contrast: Jesus becameobedient to a physical deathwhichwasnotdueHim.HemadethedecisionbeforeHediedtobeartheiniquitiesoftheworld.Also,Heborethefullpenaltyforthosesins,whichwasspiritualdeathorseparationfromGod,torestoremantofellowshipwithGod.

JesusmadethedecisiontodiewhileHewasalive.

Mentodaymustmakethedecisiontolivebeforetheydie!

Jesus reversed theprocess:Adamdied spiritually, then physically. Jesusdiedphysically,thenspiritually.Asthewageofsinisdeath,soisthegiftofrighteousness,eternallife.

Let’stakealookatthewaytheSpiritofGodspokethroughtheApostlePaulinRomans5:12,14-19:

Wherefore,asbyoneman sin entered into theworld, anddeathby sin;and sodeathpasseduponallmen, for thatallhave sinned…NeverthelessdeathreignedfromAdamtoMoses,evenoverthemthathadnotsinnedafterthe similitudeofAdam’s transgression,who is the figureofhim thatwas tocome.

Butnotastheoffence,soalsoisthefreegift.Forifthroughtheoffenceofonemanybedead,muchmorethegraceofGod,andthegiftbygrace,whichisbyoneman,JesusChrist,hathaboundeduntomany.

Andnotasitwasbyonethatsinned,soisthegift:forthejudgmentwasby one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences untojustification.

Forifbyoneman’soffencedeathreignedbyone;muchmoretheywhichreceiveabundanceofgraceandofthegiftofrighteousnessshallreigninlifebyone,JesusChrist.

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men tocondemnation;evensobytherighteousnessofonethefreegiftcameuponallmenuntojustificationoflife.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by theobedienceofoneshallmanybemaderighteous.

Yes,Jesusobtainedeternalredemptionforus!

12

Jesus,ATypeoftheRodTherearemanytruthshiddenintheScriptures.Butwedon’twanttobuild

athoughtonjustonescripture.In themouthof twoor threewitnessesshalleverywordbeestablished(2Cor.13:1).

YoucanfindatypeofJesusineverybookintheBible.EvenbeginningwithGenesis,wegetsomepreviewsofwhatGodisabouttodointheearthtoredeemmankindfromalifeofdestruction.SomeofthegreatesttruthsintheBiblearefoundintheOldTestamenttypes.

TherehavebeenmanyOldTestamenttypesthatyou’vewondered,”Howcoulditbe?WhydidGodsetforththesetypes?”AswelookintotheWord,wewillseewhatGodhadinmindasHebegantoshapethedestinyofmanbytheseOldTestamenttypes.

Andthereshallcomefortharodoutof thestemofJesse,andaBranchshallgrowoutofhisroots:

And the spirit of theLord shall restuponhim, the spirit ofwisdomandunderstanding,thespiritofcounselandmight,thespiritofknowledgeandofthefearoftheLord;

AndshallmakehimofquickunderstandinginthefearoftheLord:andheshallnotjudgeafterthesightofhiseyes,neitherreproveafterthehearingofhisears:

Butwithrighteousnessshallhejudgethepoor,andreprovewithequityforthemeekoftheearth:andheshallsmitetheearthwiththerodofhismouth,andwiththebreathofhislipsshallheslaythewicked.

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness thegirdleofhisreins.

Isaiah11:1-5ThethingIwantyoutonoticeisthewordrod.JesusiscalledtheRodout

ofthestemofJesse.HetalksaboutGodsmiting theearthwith theRodofHismouth.

JesuswastheWordofGod;theWordspokenoutofHismouthiswhatHeistalking about.Jesus and theWord are one and theRod is representative of

Jesus.

With this in mind, let’s go to Exodus, chapter 7, and look at an OldTestament type of Jesus taking sin and doing away with it. You know thestoryofPharaoh.MosesandAaronhavegonebeforehimandsaid,“Letourpeopleg°.”

Inverse9,Godisspeaking:WhenPharaohshallspeakuntoyou,saying,Shewamiracle for you: then thou shalt say untoAaron,Take thy rod, andcastitbeforePharaoh,anditshallbecomeaserpent.

AndMosesandAaronwentinuntoPharaoh,andtheydidsoastheLordhadcommanded:andAaroncastdownhisrodbeforePharaoh(v.10).

Nowremember,therodisatypeofJesus.WhenAaroncastdowntherodbeforePharaoh,itturnedintoaserpent,whichisrepresentativeofsinorevil.GodhasgivenPharaoh,andtheDevil,apreviewofwhat’sabouttohappenintheearth.ButSatanisn’tsmartenoughtofigureitout;neitherisPharaoh.

Pharaohsaid,“That’snothing.Callmymagicians!”

WhenPharoah’smagicianscastdowntheirrods,theyturnedintoserpentsalso.ButAaron’srodswalloweduptheirserpents.Aaron’srodturnedintoakingsnake,andkingsnakeseatothersnakes.

Now,here’satypeofJesusbecomingsin.HebecamesinthatHemightswallowupsin!

This is one of the Old Testament types of Jesus dying spiritually andbecomingsinforthepurposeofdoingawaywithsin!

Thisbegins toshowtheplanofGodbeforePharaoh, theDevil,and theworld.Itwasapreviewofwhatwasabouttotakeplace.

But they can’t figure outwhat in theworld is going on.What’s all thissnakebusiness,anyway?Therod(the typeofJesus)becomesaserpent.HebecamesinsothatHemightswallowupsinanddoawaywithsin!Becausetherodswallowedupalltheotherserpents,sinisdefeated!

Let’sgotoanotherOldTestamenttypeintheBookofNumbers,chapter14. You find the children of Israel complaining. God said to Moses andAaron,Sayuntothem,AstrulyasIlive,saiththeLord,asyehavespokeninmineears,sowillIdotoyou(v.28).

WereadinNumbers21:5,afterGodtoldthepeopletheywouldhavewhattheysaid,ThepeoplespakeagainstGod,andagainstMoses,WhereforehaveyebroughtusupoutofEgypttodieinthewilderness?

AndGodhadjusttoldMosestotellthem,“I’mgoingtodoexactlywhat

theysay,”andtheysaid,“Wearegoingtodieinthewilderness.”

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit thepeople;andmuchpeopleofIsraeldied(v.6).

God told thepeoplewhatwasgoing tohappen.HisWordwasout, andGodcannotlie.Itwasanallowingsense.Godhadtoallowittocome;ifHehadstoppedit,HewouldhaveviolatedHisWord.

Therefore the people came toMoses, and said,We have sinned, for wehavespokenagainst theLord,andagainst thee;prayuntotheLord, thathetakeawaytheserpentsfromus.AndMosesprayedforthepeople.

AndtheLordsaiduntoMoses,Maketheeafieryserpent,andsetituponapole:anditshallcometopassthateveryonethatisbitten,whenhelookethuponit,shalllive(v.7,8).

Who is that serpent He put upon the pole? Jesus, the Healer! Todaymedicaldoctorsusethesymbolofaserpentonapoleasasymbolofhealing.Thatoughttotellussomething.Jesusboreyoursicknessestobringhealingtoyou.

ForyearsIcouldn’tunderstandwhyintheworldGodtoldMosestoputaserpentonthatpole.IthoughtHehadmadeamistake;Heshouldhaveputalittlelambonthepole.JesuswastheLambofGod,slainfromthefoundationoftheworld.

Thepole issymbolicof thecross—aplaceofexecution.TheserpentonthepoleissymbolicofJesusbecomingsinaftertheSinOfferingwasmade.Itisalsosymbolicofdivinejudgmentuponthatoldserpent,Satan.

AsMoseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness,evensomusttheSonofManbeliftedup.AsJesussaidtoHisdisciples,AndI,ifIbeliftedupfromtheearth,willdrawallmenuntome(John12:32).

JesuswillinglygaveHimselftothecrossandtodeath.HebecametheSinOffering. Once the Sin Offering was received, God made Him (Jesus) tobecomesinforus.He,Whoknewnosin,becamesin.ThesinlesssonofGodbecameasaserpentthatHemightswallowupallevil.

JesusdealtadeathblowtoSatanonthecross.Theybothdiedinthesamebattle.Divine judgment renderedSatanharmless and ineffective against thenewcreationthatwastocomebyJesus’victoriousresurrection.

IfyouwillbeholdwhathappenedwhenthesinofferingwasmadeandthefactthatJesusbecameaserpentuponthepole,itwillchangeyourlife.Satan, thatoldserpent,cannotafflictyou inanymanner. Ifyouwillbeholdwhathappenedonthecross,youwilllivealso!ThelawoftheSpiritoflifein

ChristJesushasmadeyoufreefromthelawofsinanddeath.

ASymbolofDivineJudgmentBrass is symbolic of divine judgment. A brass serpent can’t hurt you

becauseithasnolife.ThatiswhatJesuscametodo:…ForthispurposewastheSonofGodmanifestedthathemightdestroytheworksofthedevil.

Thereitisagain:theOldTestamenttypeofJesusonthecross.Hebecameaserpentofbrassonapole.

anditcametopassthatifaserpenthadbittenanyman,whenhebeheldtheserpentofbrass,helived(Num.21:9).Jesussaid,AsMoseslifteduptheserpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (John3:14).

Theserpentonthepolehasatwofoldmeaning.Itiswhatwewouldcallthe law of double reference. Jesus became the serpent, but the brass issymbolicofdivinejudgment.DivinejudgmentwaspouredoutuponJesustodestroy the power of the serpent. Since that has taken place, the serpent ispowerless. Jesus destroyed his ability; his power is gone. Jesus spoiledprincipalitiesandpowers;Hemadeashowofthemopenly,triumphingovertheminit.(Col.2:15.)

Jesus,theSonofGod,paralyzedSatan!

Nooneisafraidofabrassserpentbecauseit isharmless.Abrasssnakecan’t bite anyone. Satan has been paralyzed by the death-dealing blow ofJesus. The seed of thewoman bruised his head.Divine judgment renderedthatoldserpentharmlessand ineffective. IfyouwillbeholdwhatJesusdid,youwillseethatoldserpent,theDevil,asabrassserpent,renderedharmlessbydivinejudgment.

The Bible said Jesus paralyzed him. We find in Hebrews 2:14 thesewords:Forasmuch thenas thechildrenarepartakersof fleshandblood,healso himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he mightdestroyhimthathadthepowerofdeath,thatis,thedevil.

Thewordtranslateddestroyshouldbeparalyzed.Heparalyzedhimwhohadthepowerofdeath,thatis,theDevil.

Anddeliverthemwhothroughfearofdeathwerealltheirlifetimesubjecttobondage(v.15).

Jesusdeliveredus from the fearof thedeath-dealingblowofSatan.Wedon’t have to fear that brass serpent. He has been rendered harmless andineffectivebydivinejudgment.

Joseph,ATypeofJesusJoseph is anOldTestament type of Jesus. Even though his own family

didn’tbelieveinhim,intheendtheybowedtohim.

God gave Joseph revelation of things to come, but his family didn’treceiveit.HisbrotherscasthiminawellandsoldhimintoslaveryinEgypt.(Gen.37:28.)JesuscametoearthsayingwhatHisFathersaid,butHisownpeoplecastHim.out.GodputouriniquitiesonHim.(Is.53:6.)

Josephascendedfromthebottomofawelltoaplaceofauthoritybecauseof God’s Word to him. His name was known through all Egypt. JesusascendedfromthepitofthedamnedtotherighthandoftheFather,faraboveallprincipalitiesandpowers.“Hisnameisaboveeveryname.”(Phil.2:9.)

Joseph bought all the land in time of famine. (Gen. 47:20.) JesuspurchasedalltheworldwithHisblood.(John3:16.)

The brothers of Joseph delivered himup for evil, butGod turned it forgoodtosaveallwhowouldcometoHim.(Gen.50:20.)Jesuswasdelivereduptodeathbyevilmen,butGodusedittosaveallwhowouldcometohim.(1Cor.2:7,8;Rom.5:17.)

Josephwas punished for things he did not do. (Gen. 39:20.) Jesus tookpunishmentthatbelongedtous.(Is.53:5,6.)

JosephbecameaslavethathemightmakeIsraelrich.(Gen.37:28.)Jesusbecamepoorsothatyoumightberich.(2Cor.8:9.)

AllofEgyptbowedbeforeJoseph.Egyptisatypeoftheworldandsin.AllsinbowedtoJesus.

13

First-BegottenoftheDeadWhydotheheathenrage,andthepeopleimagineavainthing?Thekings

oftheearthset themselves,andtherulerstakecounsel together,against theLord,andagainsthisanointed,saying,

Letusbreaktheirbandsasunder,andcastawaytheircordsfromus.Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore

displeasure.YethaveIsetmykinguponmyholyhillofZion.Iwilldeclarethedecree:theLordhathsaiduntome,ThouartmySon;thisdayhaveIbegottenthee.

Psalm2:1-3,5-7WhatisHetalkingaboutwhenHesays,…ThisdayhaveIbegottenthee?

IsHetalkingaboutwhenJesuswasborninamanger?WefindtheanswerinActs13:30-34:

ButGodraisedhimfromthedead;andhewasseenmanydaysof themwhich came upwith him fromGalilee to Jerusalem,who are hiswitnessesuntothepeople.

Andwe declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promisewhichwasmadeuntothefathers,Godhathfulfilledthesameuntoustheirchildren, inthathehathraisedupJesusagain;asitisalsowritteninthesecondpsalm,ThouartmySon, this dayhave I begotten thee.Andas concerning that heraisedhimupfromthedead,nownomoretoreturntocorruption,hesaidonthiswise,IwillgiveyouthesuremerciesofDavid.

ThatiswhenGodsaidit—whenHeraisedJesusfromthedead….thisdayhaveIbegottenthee.

WhatisHetalkingabout?Tofindtheanswer,let’sgotoHebrews1:4,5.Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritanceobtainedamoreexcellentnamethanthey.Foruntowhichoftheangelssaidheatanytime,ThouartmySon,thisdayhaveIbegottenthee….YouwillnoticethatGoddidn’tsaythattoanyoftheangels.GodsaidthattoJesusthedayHeraisedHimfromthedead….Andagain,IwillbetohimaFather,andheshallbetomeaSon.

HebeginstounfoldahiddenmysteryofGod’sredemptiveplan,whichisalmost unknown to the Church today. Because Jesus became sin andseparatedHimselffromGod,GodmustbeaFathertoHimonceagain.

But one in a certain place testified, saying,What isman, that thou artmindfulofhim?ortheSonofmanthatthouvisitesthim?Thoumadesthimalittle lowerthantheangels; thencrownedsthimwithgloryandhonour,anddidstsethimovertheworksofthyhands:

Thouhastputallthingsinsubjectionunderhisfeet.Forinthatheputallinsubjectionunderhim,heleftnothingthatisnotputunderhim.

Butnowweseenotyetall thingsputunderhim.ButweseeJesus,whowasmadea little lower than theangels for the sufferingofdeath, crownedwith glory and honour; that he by the grace ofGod should taste death foreveryman.

Hebrews2:6-9Notice Jesus tasted death for every man. What kind of death is Paul

talking about? Itmust be spiritual death. If Paulwere speaking ofphysicaldeath,thennoonewouldeverhavetodiephysically.

Because of Jesus’ suffering spiritual separation, the sinner can beredeemedfromspiritualdeath.(YourealizePaul isnotspeakingofphysicaldeath here.)Never againwill therehave to be spiritual death.You can diespiritually,butyoudon’thaveto.Itwillbeanactofyourwillifyoudo.Jesusdiedforthesinner.Hetasteddeathsothatthesinnercouldberedeemed.

ThesinnerisnotgoingtoheavenjustbecauseJesusdiedforhim.Hehastobebornagain.HeisachildoftheDevil.ButJesushasalreadyswallowedupthatpunishmentandman’ssinsareforgiven.IfthesinnerwillbelieveandconfessJesusashisLord,hewillhaveanewleaseonlife!

Forbothhethatsanctifiethandtheywhoaresanctifiedareallofone:forwhichcauseheisnotashamedtocallthembrethren,saying,Iwilldeclarethynameuntomybrethren,inthemidstofthechurchwillIsingpraiseuntothee.

Andagain,Iwillputmytrustinhim.Andagain,BeholdIandthechildrenwhichGodhathgivenme.Forasmuch thenas thechildrenarepartakersoffleshandblood,healsohimselflikewisetookpartofthesame;thatthroughdeath hemight destroy him (or paralyze him) that had the power of death,thatis,thedevil.

Hebrews2:11-14SoalsoChristglorifiednothimselftobemadeanhighpriest;buthethat

saiduntohim,ThouartmySon,todayhaveIbegottenthee.

Hebrews5:5As we look at the scriptural reference concerning Jesus’ dying for us

spiritually,Iwantyoutonoticeitisn’tsomethingsomebodyhasjustthoughtup.ItisBibletruth,nottheory.ItwillreleaseyouintoagreaterareaoffaithandunderstandingasyouknowwhatJesusdidtobringaboutyoursalvation.

To fullyappreciatewhat Jesusdid for us,weneed to knowHewent tohell, receivedpunishment for our sins, and obtained eternalredemption forus.

Youcannot receiveeternal redemptionbyphysical sacrifices.That’s thereason the old lawwouldn’t work, why the old lawwouldn’t redeemmanfromsinconsciousness.

FirstbornAmongManyForwhomhedid foreknow,healsodidpredestinate tobeconformed to

theimageofhisSon,thathemightbethefirstbornamongmanybrethren.Romans8:29Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren. Paul can’t be referring to

Jesus being the first to be raised from the dead; Lazarus and others wereraisedtolifeagain.Heistalkingaboutthefirsttobebornfromspiritualdeathtospirituallife.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate… .He foreknewJesus.JesuswaswithHimfromthebeginning.

Nowdon’treadsomethingintothisthatHedidn’tsay.Thereisatwofoldmeaninghere.Heisn’tsayingthatpeoplearepredestinedeithertobesavedornotsaved.He issaying thateveryonewhoreceivesJesus isbornagainandwill be poured out of the samemold that Jesus was when He became thefirstbornamongmanybrethren.

WhenJesuswasraisedfromthedead,HewasbornagainoftheSpiritofGod.Jesussaid toNicodemus,Thatwhich isbornof the flesh is flesh;andthatwhichisbornoftheSpiritisspirit.

WejustreadinRomans8:29whereJesuswascalledthefirstbornamongmanybrethren.Inotherwords,thereisn’tgoingtobeonebornfromspiritualdeathtolife,butmanybornjustasHewas!

ThatwasbadnewstoSatan.SatanhadhishandsfullwithJesushereonthis earth.Satanwasmaking folks sick, and Jesuswashealing them.SatankilledLazaruswithsickness;Jesuscamealong,raisedhimfromthedead,andhealedhim.

Satanthought,IfIcanjustgetridofJesus,Iwillhaveitmade.Hethoughthehad succeeded ingetting ridof Jesus,buthe foundouthecouldn’tholdHiminhell. Jesuswasbornagainbeforehiseyes!Hebecame the firstbornamong many brethren! In other words, there are going to be millions andmillionsofthemexactlylikeJesus!

OnthedayofPentecostintheupperroom,120werebornagain,justlikeJesus.Then,beforethedaywasover,3,000morewerebornagain.That’sbadnewsforSatan:3,120bornagain—justlikeJesus.

WefindintheBiblethatJesusiscalled“theonlybegottenSon”untilthedayHewasraisedfromthedead.ThenineveryreferencetoJesusafterthat,aspertainingtothetimeafterHis resurrection,He isnevercalled“theonlybegotten.”OnoccasionstheyreferbacktoHimas“theonlybegotten,”beforeHewasraisedfromthedead,butthey’renotreferringtothepresenttime.

InGenesis22:16,17God said toAbraham,Because thouhast done thisthing… thy seed shall possess thegateof his enemies.Letme remindyouthatJesussaid toPeter,“IwillbuildMyChurch,andthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit.”

Jesussaid,“I’mgoingtobuildMyChurch!”Manhastriedtobuilditalltheseyears,buthasfailed.Jesussaid,“I’llbuildMyChurch.”

God is in theprocess, through JesusChrist ofNazareth, ofbuilding theChurch today!You’re going to see thegreatest Church theworld has everknown.

APropheticUtteranceAsIwas teachingon this inoneofmymeetings, thespiritofprophecy

cameonmeandthispropheticwordcameforth:

“ForthedayisathandwhentheministryoftheWordofGodshallcomealiveintheChurch.ThosewhohavebeendeadtothethingsofGodshallrisetotheirfeetandwalkinthewisdomandinthepowerofGod!

“ThestrengthofAlmightyGodshall flow in themidstof them!Soshalltheywalk in the avenue of life until thewisdom that flows from their lipsshallastoundtheworld.

“For they’ll speakof theSpiritofGod.TheanointingofGodwill arisewithin them. The angels and ministering spirits shall become very muchinvolvedinthelivesof thebelieverswhowillstandtotheirfeet inthisdayandwalkintheprinciplesoftheWord.

“SoshalltheanointingofGodflowintheearth.AndsoshalltheChurchofAlmightyGod be built! Itwill come as an explosion, as itwere, by the

poweroftheSpiritofGod.

“And so shall they rise here and rise there. They’ll rise fromobscurity.Youwillseechurchesrisingfromonetothreethousandinthreemonths’time.

“YouwillseethemightyanointingofGodworkintheearth.YoushallseetherestorationofthechildrenofGod.Theyshallberestoredtotheirrightfulplace,andthepoweroftheLivingChristshallbeshedabroadthroughouttheland.You’llseeitinyourgeneration.

“Because,yousee,therearepeoplewhohaveturnedthemselvesfromtheWordandarepreachingasocialgospel. It’llbeso that thesechurchesshalldryup;theywillwitherandfadeaway.Somewilldeclinefromthousandsandinmonthswillbegoneandthepropertysold,becausethey’redead.They’llnotexistindaystocome.

“Oh,theyhaveexistedinthedayspast,becauseit’snotbeenso,whatwillbe so in the latter end. The anointing of God shall flow in the earth, anddarkness shall prevail over those who are in darkness. The gross darknessshallcoverthosewhoareindarkness,butthelightshallgrowlightertothosewhowalkinthelight.

“MyChurchshallbebuilt,anditwillbeasthoughitwereinaday.ForI’llmakeashortworkofrighteousnessintheearth.”

JesusRestoresManJohn to the seven churcheswhich are in Asia:Grace be unto you, and

peace,fromhimwhichis,andwhichwas,andwhichistocome;andfromthesevenSpiritswhicharebeforehis throne;andfromJesusChrist,whois thefaithfulwitness,andthefirstbegottenofthedead,andtheprinceofthekingsoftheearth(Rev.1:4,5).

JesusisthePrinceofthekingsoftheearth.Didyoueverwonderwhothekings are? I’ll remind you. Paul said inRomans 5:17,For if by oneman’soffence death reigned by one;muchmore theywhich receive abundance ofgraceandofthegiftofrighteousnessshallreigninlifebyone,JesusChrist.

JesusisthePrinceandwearethekings—restoredtoourrightfulplace.Ourauthorityisrestored.TheAmplifiedBiblesaysweshall”…reignaskingsinlifethroughtheOne,JesusChrist.”

GodsaidinGenesis22:16,17,BymyselfhaveIsworn,saiththeLord,forbecause thouhastdone this thing,andhastnotwithheld thyson, thineonlyson:That inblessingIwillbless thee,andinmultiplyingIwillmultiply thyseedasthestarsoftheheaven,andasthesandwhichisupontheseashore;andthyseedshallpossessthegateofhisenemies.

TheSeedwasJesus.Galatians3:13-16says:

Christhathredeemedusfromthecurseofthelaw,beingmadeacurseforus:foritiswritten,Cursediseveryonethathangethonatree:

That theblessingofAbrahammightcomeontheGentiles throughJesusChrist;thatwemightreceivethepromiseoftheSpiritthroughfaith.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’scovenant,yetifitbeconfirmed,nomandisannulled,oraddeththereto.

NowtoAbrahamandhisseedwerethepromisesmade.Hesaithnot,Andtoseeds,asofmany;butasofone,andtothyseed,whichisChrist.

PaulisreferringtoChrist,WhoistheSeed,WhoshallpossessthegateofHisenemies.

Verse14says,…receivethepromiseoftheSpiritthroughfaith.Contrary towhatmostpeoplebelieve,he isn’t talking about theHoly

Spiritbaptism.HeistalkingaboutthepromisetheHolySpiritmadetoAbrahamconcerninghisSeed,JesusChrist.

ForyeareallthechildrenofGodbyfaithinChristJesus.ForasmanyofyouashavebeenbaptizedintoChristhaveputonChrist.ThereisneitherJewnorGreek,thereisneitherbondnorfree,thereisneithermalenorfemale:foryeareallone inChrist Jesus.And if yebeChrist’s, thenareyeAbraham’sseed (seed, not seeds: He is calling us, the Body of Christ, the seed ofAbraham;weareonewithHim)andheirsaccording to thepromise (v.26-29).

Weareheirsaccordingtothepromise,restoredtoourrightfulgodliness,with authority in this earth. We are born of the Spirit of God, quickenedaccording to theWordofGod—menunderauthorityonearth—andwewillpossessthegateofourenemies.

PaulsaidinEphesians1:16-20:

Iceasenottogivethanksforyou,makingmentionofyouinmyprayers;thatthegodofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofglory,maygiveuntoyouthespiritofwisdomandrevelationintheknowledgeofhim:theeyesofyourunderstandingbeingenlightened; that yemayknowwhat is thehopeofhiscalling,andwhattherichesofthegloryofhisinheritanceinthesaints,andwhat is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,according to theworking of hismighty power,which hewrought inChrist,whenheraisedhimfromthedead.

Paul said, “I don’t want you ignorant of the mighty power that waswroughtinChristwhenHeraisedHimfromthedead,becauseit’s thesame

powerthat’sgoingtoraisepeoplefromspiritualdeathtospirituallife today,justlikeitdidinthatday.”

Evenwhenweweredeadinsins,hathquickenedustogetherwithChrist,(bygraceyearesaved;)andhathraisedusuptogether,andmadeussit

togetherinheavenlyplacesinChristJesus(Eph.2:5,6).The reason He wants you to get hold of that mighty power which He

wrought inChristwhenHe raisedHim from the dead is becausewhenHeraisedyoufromspiritualdeathtospirituallife,Heexaltedyou.AsfarasGod is concerned,He seesyou seatedon the righthandof theFather,withJesus, in authority and power forever—above all principalities and powersandmightanddominion.Now,yourealizewe’renotthereinbody,butwearethereinspiritualauthorityandpower.

WhereforeGodalsohathhighlyexaltedhim,andgivenhimanamewhichis above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ofthings in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth (Phil.2:9,10).

Jesus defeated Satan in mortal combat. He received that name byinheritance. It was bestowed upon Him. And that name is above everyname.IwanttoremindyouthatJesusgaveusHisnametouse!

HestoodonthemountainbeforeHeascendedtotheFatherandsaid,“AllpowerisgivenuntoMebothinheavenandinearth.”(Matt.28:18.)ThenHeturned to the believer and said, “Now, you go in My name. You cast outdemons.You heal the sick.You raise the dead. “(Mark 16:15-18.) In otherwords,“WhileIamgone,youdoit.YoustripSatanofhisfalseauthority.”

Jesushad all the power in heaven and earth, andHe gave it to thebeliever!HegaveyouHisname,andthenameofJesusisaboveeveryname.The name of Jesus is above cancer, arthritis, and emphysema. It’s aboveanythingyou canname.Everydiseaseknown tomankindhas some sort ofname,andthenameofJesusisabovethemall!

SometimespeoplereadtheScripturesandsay,“GlorytoGod!EverykneewillbowtoJesus!”but that’snotwhat it says.Everykneeshallbowto thenameofJesus,andHegaveyouthatnametouse.

DavidsaidinPsalm138:2,…thouhastmagnifiedthywordaboveallthyname.ThenameofJesusisaboveeveryname,andeverykneeshallbowtothat Name. The name of Jesus gives you authority in three worlds: overbeings inheaven,beings inearth, andbeingsunder theearth.Hehasgivenbelieversauthorityinthreeworlds!Andnotonlythat,butGodhasmagnifiedHisWordaboveHisname!

Godhasgivenyouauthorityintheearth.Hehasrestoredyourauthoritythroughtherebirthofthehumanspirit.HehasgiventoyouthatwhichSatanstole from Adam. God expects the believer to occupy the earth until Hecomes.

No,Hedidn’tsay,“Storeuppotatoesandhideinthemountains.”Hesaid,OccupytillIcome!(Luke19:13).

TheUnitedStatesoccupiedGermanyafterWorldWarII.Doyouthinkwewentoverandasked,“Well,whatdoyouallwanttodo?”No!Weoccupiedandcontrolledtheplace!

JesussaidforustooccupyandcontrolthisearthuntilHecomes.Wehavetheauthoritytodoit.ItwillbedonethroughHisnameandHisWord.

PropheticWordAgain, I share a prophetic utterance that came forth as I taught on this

subjectinoneofmymeetings.TheSpiritoftheLordsaid:

“Standtoyourfeetinthisdayandhour.ForthisisthedayforMywisdomandMypowertobemanifestedintheearth.Inthedaystocome,you’llseemightymanifestations,forthewealthofthesinnerislaidupforthejust.

“So begin to establish yourself uponMyWord, for I’vemagnifiedMyWordaboveMyname.AndasMynameisaboveeverynameintheearth,sois My Word above every prophet of doom who would prophesy yourdestructionorthedefeatoftheChurch.

“Sorisetoyourfeetandstretchyourselftoyourtrueheight.ForthesearethedaysthatMypeopleshallwalkinvictoryandshallenforcethedefeatofthepowersofdarknessbyMyWordflowingfromtheirlips.

“MenfilledwiththeSpiritofGodshallwalkinthewaysofMywisdom.Nationsof theworldwill call to this nation and say, ‘Sendus a prophet ofGodsothatwemayseethethingsthatweheararehappeningthere.’Forthethingsthathaveworkedindayspastdon’tworkinthistime.

“AstheprophetofGodgoestominister,hewillhavethefreedomtogobehind the iron curtain. He will go behind the bamboo curtain. TheknowledgeoftheLordshallspreadthroughouttheearth.Youwillseeagreatworkinyourday,forthewealthofthesinnerwilleventuallyfinditswayintoyourhandsasyouwalk in thepreceptsofMyWord.EstablishyourselfandstandtoyourtrueheightinMy

Word,andwatchMeperforminyourday.”

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KeysoftheKingdomInMatthew16:16Petermadethisgreatconfession:ThouarttheChrist,

theSonofthelivingGod.Jesusanswered,Fleshandbloodhathnot revealed it unto thee, butmy

Fatherwhichisinheaven.AndIsayalsountothee,ThatthouartPeter,anduponthisrockIwillbuildmychurch;andthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit(v.17,18).

NoticewhoJesussaidwouldbuildtheChurch.Foryears,manhastriedtobuild itandhas failed.Religious leaders thought theyhadbuilt itwith theirsynagoguesandplacesoflearning.ButJesussaid,Iwillbuildmychurch;andthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit.

ThenHesaid,Iwillgiveuntotheethekeysofthekingdomofheaven:andwhatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: andwhatsoeverthoushaltlooseonearthshallbeloosedinheaven(v.19).

What does Jesus mean by “the keys of the Kingdom”? He didn’t say,“keys to theKingdom.” Ifyouhad thekey to a hotel, you couldget in thelobby,butnotintoasingleroom.Ifyouhavethekeysofthehotel,youcouldunlockeveryroominthebuilding.

VerilyIsayuntoyou,Therebesomestandinghere,whichshallnottasteofdeath,tilltheyseetheSonofmancominginhiskingdom(v.28).

WhenIfirstreadthisverse,IwonderedhowJesuscouldsaytheChurchwasgoingtoberapturedbeforesomeofthosepeopledied.

Doyouseehowyoucandraw“religious thinking”outof that?But thatwasn’twhatJesuswassaying.Hesaid,“Someofyoustandinghereshallnottaste death until you see the Son ofMan coming in His Kingdom.” Jesuscameforthfromthegrave,thefirstbornamongmanybrethren,andHecameintoHisKingdom.

Jesussaid,…The kingdom ofGod cometh not with observation… thekingdomofGodiswithinyou(Luke17:20,21).Hewassayingsomethingverydifferent from what most of us have thought. Even His closest disciplesasked,“WhenwillYourestorethekingdomofIsrael?”

Jesus said, “My Kingdom doesn’t come with observation. It is withinmen.”Theborn-againmaniscapableofoperatingonthesameleveloffaithwithGod.Heisajoint-heirwithJesus.

AndifyebeChrist’sthenareyeAbraham’sseed,andheirsaccordingtothe promise (Gal. 3:29).What promise? The promise that the Holy SpiritmadetoAbraham:thathisseedwouldpossessthegateofhisenemies.

The Amplified Bible states Jesus’ words inMatthew 16:19 this way: “Iwillgiveyou thekeysof thekingdomofheaven,andwhateveryoubind—thatis,declaretobeimproperandunlawful—onearthmustbealreadyboundinheaven;andwhateveryoulooseonearth—declarelawful—mustbewhatisalreadyloosedinheaven.”

Someonemightask,“Whatgoodwouldthatdoifitisalreadyboundupthere?”

Jesusissaying,“Iwillgivebelieversauthorityandpowertoloosethingsonearth thatareallowed inheavenand tobind thingsonearth thatarenotallowedinheaven.”

Justaskyourself,“What thingsarenotallowed inheaven?”There isnosicknessordiseaseinheaven,noristherepoverty.Thereisnoevil,nolackofanykind.Heavenisahealthy,happyplace.

Jesussaid,“Youhaveauthority tobindevilforcesuponearththatcausesickness,disease,poverty,andsin.”

What is loosed in heaven? Life, health, abundance, happiness, joy, andpeace.Nowyoucanunderstandwhy Jesuscalled thepowerofbindingandloosingthekeysoftheKingdom!

TheKingdomIsComeWhenJesuswasteachingHisdisciplessomeprinciplesofprayer,Hesaid,

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,Hallowedbethyname.Thykingdomcome…(Matt.6:9,10).

This is a prayer under the Old Covenant. Jesus said, “Pray that theKingdomwillcome.”Well,ithasalreadycome.TheKingdomiswithborn-againmen.It’snotgoingtocomewhenwegettoheaven;it’salreadyhere.

Again, Luke 17:20,21 says, The kingdom of God cometh not withobservation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, thekingdom of God is within you. We should reign as kings in life by JesusChrist.

Jesus toldHisdisciples topray,Thykingdomcome.Thywillbedone in

earth,asitisinheaven.Whosewillbedone?God’swillbedone.It’sGod’swillthatistobedoneinearthasitisinheaven.Weneedtoask

ourselves:How is it inheaven?There’sno sickness inheaven—nodisease,poverty,pain,orsorrow—sothat isGod’swillfor thisearth.ItmustbeHiswillforHetoldthedisciplestopraythatway.

You,asabeliever,havetheGod-givenrightandabilitytobindthingsthatarebound inheaven.Youhaveauthority to come against these things.Youhavedelegatedauthoritytolooseonearthallthingsthatareloosedinheaven.Whatsoeveryoucanbindonearthiswhatisboundinheaven.Itissomethingyoudo.

LetmeremindyouofwhatPaulsaidinGalatians3:29.IfyebeChrist’s,thenareyeAbraham’s seed,andheirsaccording to thepromise (which theHolySpiritmadetoAbraham).

God presents the blessings of obedience to the children of Israel inDeuteronomy28:1-7.

Anditshallcometopass,ifthoushalthearkendiligentlyuntothevoiceofthe Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which Icommandtheethisday,thattheLordthyGodwillsettheeonhighaboveallnationsoftheearth:Andalltheseblessingsshallcomeonthee,andovertakethee,ifthoushalthearkenuntothevoiceoftheLordthyGod(v.1,2).

In other words, you can’t run fast enough to get away from all theblessingsifyou’llhearkendiligentlytothevoiceoftheLordthyGod.Theywillcomebehindyouandovertakeyou.

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.Blessedshallbethefruitofthybody,andthefruitofthyground,andthefruitofthycattle,theincreaseofthykine,andflocksofthysheep.

Blessedshallbethybasketandthystore.Blessedshaltthoubewhenthoucomest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shallcause thine enemies that riseupagainst thee tobe smittenbefore thy face:they shall come out against thee oneway, and shall flee before thee sevenways(v.3-7).

Peoplereadthisandsay,“Yes,butthatwastoIsrael.”Yes,itwas.ItwastothechildrenofIsrael.ButifyebeChrist’s,thenareyeAbraham’sseed,andheirs according to the promise. You have been restored to your rightfulgodliness.

BlessingsAreForOurUse,NowAnd the Lord thyGod will make thee plenteous in every work of thine

hand,inthefruitofthybody,andinthefruitofthycattle,andinthefruitofthyland, forgood:for theLordwillagainrejoiceovertheeforgood,asherejoicedoverthyfathers:

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep hiscommandmentsandhisstatuteswhicharewritteninthisbookofthelaw,andifthouturnuntotheLordthyGodwithallthineheart,andwithallthysoul.

For this commandmentwhich I command thee this day, it is not hiddenfromthee,neitherisitfaroff.

Deuteronomy30:9-11Remember,Jesussaid,“Iwillgiveyouthekeysof theKingdom.”Most

people are putting off all the blessings until they get to heaven. They say,“Whenwegettoheaven,we’llhaveallthispowerandauthority.”

What would you do with it then? There will be no demons there, nobattles,noevil,nosickness.Youwon’tneeditthen.Youneeditnow!ThoseblessingsHewas talkingaboutarenotyourswhenyouget toheaven; theybelongtoyounow.

It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say,Who shall go up for us toheaven, and bring it unto us, that wemay hear it, and do it?Neither is itbeyondthesea,thatthoushouldestsay,Whoshallgoovertheseaforus,andbringituntous,thatwemayhearit,anddoit?Butthewordisverynighuntothee,inthymouth,andinthyheart,thatthoumayestdoit(v.12-14).

Notice,theWordgetsinyourmouthfirst,thenitgetsintoyourheart.TheApostlePaulsaid:

Theword is nigh thee, even in thymouth, and in thy heart: that is, thewordoffaith,whichwepreach;thatifthoushaltconfesswiththymouththeLordJesus,andshaltbelieveinthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thoushaltbesaved(Rom.10:8,9).

BlessingsofGodAreNotforAllThisblessingGodhaspromisedisforthosewhohaveGod’sWordintheir

mouth. Peoplewho are born on earth have the right to choose theirwords.Angelsarecreatedbeingsanddon’thavethatright.

Jesussaid,“IgiveyouthekeysoftheKingdom,andwhatsoeveryoubindonearthshallbeboundinheaven.”Man,restoredtohisrightfulgodlikeness,hastheauthoritytodominatetheearth.

Letmereiterate:

1.Genesis22:17:…thyseedshallpossessthegateofhisenemies.

2.Matthew16:18:Iwillbuildmychurchand thegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit.

3.Colossians1:17,18:Andhe isbeforeall things,andbyhimall thingsconsist.Andheistheheadofthebody,thechurch:whoisthebeginning,thefirstbornfromthedead….

JesuswasthebeginningoftheChurch.HeistheHeadoftheChurch.HestartedHisChurchinthegatesofhelltoprovethatthegatesofhellwouldn’tprevailagainstit.

He entered into thegatesofhell (Hades)— theplace, but not the finalabode, of thewicked dead. They are going to be cast into the lake of fire,whichburns forever.TheplaceJesuswent intowasnot literally the lakeoffire;itwasthegatetotheplace.

Jesus was born again in the pit of hell. Hewas the firstborn, the first-begotten,fromthedead.HestartedtheChurchofthefirstborninthegatesofhell.

ImarvelatGod’swisdomwhenIstepbackandlookatthewholepicture.Hedidn’twaituntil later todestroythepowerofhell.HewentdowntothegatesandstartedHisChurchthere.JesusistheHeadoftheChurch.Heisitsbeginning.TheChurchstartedwhenJesuswasbornagaininthegatesofhell.Heisthefirstbornamongmanybrethren.

IfSatancouldstoppeoplefrombeingbornagain,hewouldhavestoppedJesusfirstwhenJesuswas inhell.ButSatanwasnomatchfor theWordofGod.

The Devil isn’t too smart. He doesn’t even have the keys to his ownhouse;Jesushasthem!JesusstrippedSatanofthekeysofdeath,hell,andthegrave;thenHetorethegatesoffthatplacewhenHeleft!

Paulsaid,If thoushaltconfesswith thymouth theLordJesus,andshaltbelieveinthineheartthatGodhathraisedhimfromthedead,thoushaltbesaved(Rom.10:9).TherearenotenoughdemonsinhelltostoppeoplefrombeingbornagainiftheywillconfessfromtheirheartsJesusasLordoftheirlives.

BeStrongintheLordFinally,mybrethren,bestrongintheLord,andinthepowerofhismight

(Eph.6:10).Pauldidn’tsayanythingaboutbeingstronginyourself.

Someonemay say, “I’m trying to be strong.”Well, he said for us tobestrongintheLord,andinthepowerofhismight—nottrytobe.

PutonthewholearmourofGod,thatyemaybeabletostandagainstthewiles of the devil (v. 11). The wordwhole means “complete.” Put on thecompletearmorofGodthatyoumaybeabletostandagainstthewilesoftheDevil.

What is Paul talking about? Isaiah 59:17 refers to being clothed withrighteousness.PaulbeginstonameGod’sclothes(God’sarmor).

Thisarmorisspiritualclothing.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, againstspiritualwickednessinhighplaces.

WhereforetakeuntoyouthewholearmourofGod,thatyemaybeabletowithstandintheevilday,andhavingdoneall,tostand.

Standtherefore,havingyourloinsgirtaboutwithtruth,andhavingonthebreastplateofrighteousness;

Andyourfeetshodwiththepreparationofthegospelofpeace;Aboveall,takingtheshieldoffaith,wherewithyeshallbeabletoquench

allthefierydartsofthewicked.Andtakethehelmetofsalvation,andtheswordoftheSpirit,whichisthe

wordofGod.Ephesians6:12-17God’sWord is theswordof thehuman spirit,not theswordof theHoly

Spirit.GetGod’sWordintoyourspiritandspeakit.Thenitbecomesaswordinyourmouth.TheBibleitself isnot theswordof theSpirit;butwhenyougetthisWordinyourspiritandspeakitoutyourmouth,itbecomestheswordofthehumanspirit.

TheApostleJohnwrotein1John4:4,YeareofGod,littlechildren,andhaveovercomethem:becausegreater ishe that is inyou, thanhe that is intheworld. It says,…and have overcome them. You’re not going to do itsometime.Youarerestoredtoyourrightfulplace.YouhaveGod’sclotheson.

Wouldn’t it be something if we put on the helmet of salvation and thebreastplateofrighteousness,girtourloinsaboutwithtruth,shodourfeetwiththepreparationoftheGospelofpeace,tooktheswordoftheSpirit(theWordofGod),andranawaytohideinthemountains?

No,we’renotgoingtohideinthemountains!We’regoingto“occupytillHecomes.”Thenwe’regoingtobewithJesus,forwearethefamilyofGod.HeiscomingafteraChurchwithoutspot,orwrinkle,oranysuchthing.Heis

seated at the right hand of the Father until His enemies are made Hisfootstool.

15

DominionInThreeWorldsTo have dominion in the earth requires a physical body. We have

previouslydiscussedthewordsofJesusinJohn,chapter10;but,becauseofthat scripture’s importance, Iwish to emphasize it again. Jesus said,…Hethatenterethnotby thedoor into thesheepfold,butclimbethupsomeotherway,thesameisathiefandarobber.Buthethatenterethinbythedooristheshepherdofthesheep(John10:1,2).

Satanistheonewhoenteredinsomeotherway.Hewasnotbornintheearth.Theonly legalway toget into this earthwith authority is tobebornhere.Evenangelscan’tpreachtheGospelintheearth.Theydon’thavethatauthority.

Wecan’t send theHolyGhost toAfrica topreach theGospel; theHolyGhostdoesn’thaveabody.Youaretheonewiththebody,andyouhavetheauthority!Whenyourauthorityand

God’sabilitygettogether,allthingsarepossible.

Satanisthethiefandrobber.JesusistheGoodShepherd.Jesuswasbornhere;Heenteredinbythedoorofhumanbirth.Jesushadtheauthorityofaman.

LegalEntryintoEarthThedoorinverse1isnotthesamedoorinverse7.Thisisaprogressive

story.Jesuscamebythelegalentry,throughbirth.Hehadalltheauthorityofaman.He lived as amanandwas anointedwith theHolyGhost.HewentbeforeusanddestroyedtheDevil’sworks.Hewenttothecross,gaveupHislife,andbecamethesupremesacrifice,whichleadstotheprogressivepartinverse7:Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Iamthedoorofthesheep.

BecauseHe sufferedanddied spiritually forus,Hewasbornagainandcalled the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18); the firstborn among manybrethren (Rom.8:29);and the firstbegotten fromthedead (Rev.1:5).Jesuswasbornagain,andHehasbecomethedoor.

Thefleshlybirthisthelegalentryintotheearth.ButbecauseJesusistheHeadoftheChurchandthefirstbornfromthedead,Hebecamethedoor,or

legalentry, into theKingdomofGod.There isnootherway.Youcan’tgettherebyachurchdoor.Youcan’tgettherebybeingbaptized.Youcan’tgettherebypayingyour tithesorbybeinggood.Youmustbebornagain, andJesusisthedoorofthatnewbirth!

Just as physical birth is the legal entry into earth, the spiritual birththroughJesusChrististheonlylegalwayintoheaven.

AfterJesusrosefromthedead,HewentbackbythetombtogetHisbody.HewasnowtheRisenChrist,thefirstbornfromthedead,thefirstbornamongmanybrethren.HetalkedtoMaryMagdaleneearlythethirdday.

She, supposinghim tobe thegardener, saithuntohim,Sir, if thouhavebornehimhence,tellmewherethouhastlaidhim,andIwilltakehimaway.Jesussaithuntoher,Mary.Sheturnedherself,andsaithuntohim,Rabboni;whichistosay,Master.Jesussaithuntoher,Touchmenot;forIamnotyetascendedtomyFather:butgotomybrethren…(John20:15-17).

Tounderstandthis,wemustgotoHebrews,chapter9:

ButChristbeingcomeanhighpriestofgoodthingstocome,byagreaterandmoreperfecttabernacle,notmadewithhands,thatistosay,notofthisbuilding;neitherby thebloodofgoatsandcalves,butbyhisownbloodheenteredinonceintotheholyplace,havingobtainedeternalredemptionforus(v.11,12).

Forifthebloodofbullsandofgoats,andtheashesofanheifersprinklingtheunclean,sanctifiethtothepurifyingoftheflesh:howmuchmoreshallthebloodofChrist,whothroughtheeternalSpiritofferedhimselfwithoutspottoGod, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (v.13,14).

ForChristisnotenteredintotheholyplacesmadewithhands,whicharethefiguresofthetrue;butintoheavenitself,nowtoappearinthepresenceofGodforus(v.24).

WearebeingwellrepresentedatthethroneofGod.Hedidn’tdoanythingfor Himself;He did all of it for us. Jesus is appearing right now, in thepresenceofGod,forus.

Let’s read now from Hebrews, chapter 9:Nor yet that he should offerhimselfoften,as thehighpriestenterethinto theholyplaceeveryyearwithbloodofothers;forthenmustheoftenhavesufferedsincethefoundationoftheworld:butnowonceintheendoftheworldhathheappearedtoputawaysinbythesacrificeofhimself(v.25,26).

JesusputawaysinbythesacrificeofHimself.Sinhasnodominationover

you.Andasitisappointeduntomenoncetodie,butafterthisthejudgment:soChristwasonceofferedtobearthesinsofmany;anduntothemthatlookforhimshallheappearthesecondtimewithoutsinuntosalvation(v.27,28).

WhatdoesitmeanthatHewouldappearwithoutsin?Jesusneversinned.ButHedidbecomesinafterHediedphysicallyonthecross.Hewillappearthesecondtimewithoutsin.

Inchapter20ofJohn,Jesussaid,Iamnotyetascended…(v.17).Afterthat,HedidascendtotheFather.HecarriedHisownbloodintotheHolyofHoliesandsprinkledthatbloodonthemercyseat.Godacceptedthatbloodasthefinalatonement,andJesusobtainedeternalredemptionforus.

PeaceBeUntoYouSomewhere between the time Jesus appeared toMary and the timeHe

appearedto

Thomas,Jesusascendedtotheheavens.

Isaiah53:5inTheAmplifiedBiblesays,“…Thechastisementneedfultoobtainpeaceandwell-beingforus,wasuponhim.”

Thefirst thingJesussaidwhenHecame toHisdiscipleswas,Peacebeuntoyou (John20:19).He showed themHishandsandHis side.ThensaidJesustothemagain,Peacebeuntoyou:asmyFatherhathsentme,evensosendIyou(v.21).

JesuswasdelegatingauthoritytoHisbodyofbelievers.

Andwhen he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them,ReceiveyetheHolyGhost…

ButThomas,oneofthetwelve,calledDidymus,wasnotwiththemwhenJesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him,We have seen theLord.Buthesaiduntothem,ExceptIshallsee inhishands theprintof thenails,andputmyfingerintotheprintofthenails,andthrustmyhandintohisside,Iwillnotbelieve.

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas withthem:thencameJesus,thedoorsbeingshut,andstoodinthemidst,andsaid,Peacebeuntoyou.

ThensaithhetoThomas,Reachhitherthyfinger,andbeholdmyhands;andreachhitherthyhand,andthrustitintomyside:andbenotfaithless,butbelieving.

AndThomasansweredandsaiduntohim,MyLordandmyGod(v.2228).

WhenJesuscame toearth,HegaveupHisdivinepower.HecameasamanandtookuponHimselfthebodyofaman.Hewasdeityhere,butHedidnotoperate indivinepower.Heoperated in theauthorityofamananointedwiththeHolyGhost.

AfterJesuswasresurrected,Hehadaglorifiedbody.Hesatdownandatewiththedisciples,thengotupandwalkedthroughthewall.

Buthereissomethingwehaven’tseen.WehavetheideathatwhenJesusrose from thedead,Hewasperfectlywhole.But theholeswerestill inHisside.HecouldholdHishandsup,andyoucouldseedaylightthroughthem.ThoseholesarestillinHishands.Hehasthebodyofamanandwillhavethebodyofamanthroughalleternity.

Jesus became as wewere that we might be as He is now. He took onHimself the body of aman, and the Bible says you’ll see the Son of mancomingintheclouds(Mark13:26).

Hebecameamanthatwemightbejoint-heirswithHim.ScarsarestillonHis back from the terrible lashing He received. He said to His disciples,Handleme,andsee;foraspirithathnotfleshandbones,asyeseemehave(Luke24:39).

He toldMary,“Don’t touchMe; I havenotyet ascended.”ButnowHehasascended.Hehasobtainedeternalredemptionforus!HecamebackandbreathedonHisdisciplesandsaid,ReceiveyetheHolyGhost.Why?

Jesussaid,… theworks that I do, shall he do also; and greater worksthantheseshallhedo;becauseIgountomyFather(John14:12).

WhatdoesJesus’goingtotheFatherhavetodowithit?Hesaid,IfIgonotaway, theComforterwillnotcomeuntoyou;but if Idepart, Iwill sendhimuntoyou(John16:7).

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:27,Now ye are the body of Christ, andmembers in particular. Jesus has ascended to the Father. The only physicalbodyHe has on earth is’ yours.Your body is the authorityGod has in theearthtoday.Youaretheonewiththebody!Youaretheonewithauthorityintheearth,andHeistheOnewiththepower!

Jesus said, “I’m going to send the Holy Ghost (the ability of God) toresideinyou.ThenyouwillhavetheauthorityandtheabilitytodestroytheworksoftheDevil.”Inotherwords,“Ifyou’llletMeuseyourbody,I’llletyouuseMyability.”That’sbadnewsforSatananywayyoulookatit!

Jesussaid,“Ifyouloveme,you’llkeepmycommandments,andwewillcomeandmakeourabodewithyou.”(John14:21,23.)TheFather,Son,and

HolyGhostwillsetupcampinsideyou.

AnypersonwhoisbornoftheSpiritofGodandrecreatedintheimageofGodiscapableofoperatingonthesameleveloffaithwithGod.HehasthepowersourceoftheFather,Son,andHolyGhostresidinginhisspirit.

That still was not enough to satisfy Him. Jesus said, I have yet manythingstosayuntoyou,butyoucannotbearthemnow.Howbeitwhenhe,theSpiritof truth, iscome,hewillguideyou intoall truth…andhewillshewyouthingstocome…AllthingsthattheFatherhatharemine:thereforesaidI,thatheshalltakeofmine,andshallshewituntoyou(John16:1215).

Jesus was the glorified Christ. He couldwalk through doors; He couldappear wherever He wished; and there was something else different aboutJesus: The disciples could see the holes inHis hands and inHis side. ButJesushadsaid,“AspirithathnotfleshandboneasIhave.”

Jesus’bodyiscomposedoffleshandbone—notfleshandblood.Hehasa glorified body that does not operate on the blood system. It is flesh andbone.Christ,inHisglorifiedbodyanddivinepower,lostHisrighttoministerintheearth.

There is something strange about it all.After Jesus rose from the dead,and until He ascended to the Father,He did not do a single miracle! Hehealednoone,castoutnodemons,andraisednoonefromthedead.Why?BecauseHehadbecometheglorifiedChrist.HehadHisglorifiedbodyandHisdivinepower.Hehad lostHis right tominister anymore on earth as aman.HewasrestoredtoHisGodheadpowers.Henolongerhadthebodyofanaturalman;Hehadaglorifiedbody.

SatanHasNoAuthority—HeHasNoBodyHereIt’s timefor theChurch togeta revelationof this:Satandoesn’thavea

bodyandthereforehasnoauthorityonearth!

Jesus is speaking in John12:31 (beforeHewent to thecross) and says,Nowisthejudgmentofthisworld:nowshalltheprinceofthisworldbecastout.ThewordforjudgmentistheGreekwordkrisisandistranslatedintotheEnglish language as “crisis.” Crisis means “a turning point.” Jesus wassaying,“Nowistheturningpointofthisworld.Nowshalltheprinceofthisworldsystembecastout.”

Andtherewaswarinheaven:Michaelandhisangelsfoughtagainstthedragon;andthedragonfoughtandhisangels,andprevailednot;neitherwastheirplacefoundanymoreinheaven.

Andthegreatdragonwascastout,thatoldserpent,calledtheDevil,and

Satan,whichdeceiveththewholeworld:hewascastoutintotheearth,andhisangelswerecastoutwithhim.

And Ihearda loudvoice saying inheaven,Now iscomesalvation,andstrength,and the kingdomofourGod,and thepowerofhisChrist: for theaccuserofourbrethreniscastdown,whichaccusedthembeforeourGoddayandnight.

Revelation12:7-10Ialwaysthoughtthiswasafutureevent,butevidentlyittookplacewhen

Jesusascendedtothethrone.There’snodoubtWhoascendedtothethroneorwho the dragon was that was cast out. What Jesus didn’t do in hell, Hefinishedinheaven!

AndtheyovercamehimbythebloodoftheLamb,andbythewordoftheirtestimony;andtheylovednottheirlivesuntothedeath.Thereforerejoice,yeheavens,andyethatdwellinthem.Woetotheinhabitersoftheearthandofthesea!forthedeviliscomedownuntoyou,havinggreatwrath,becauseheknoweththathehathbutashorttime(v.11,12).

At this point, Satan was cast out of heaven. He no longer accuses usbefore theFather.Therewasnoplace inheaven for him.The reasonSatanwasn’tcastdowntotheearthbeforewasbecausemenofearthdidn’thavetheability to handle him.Theyweren’t born again.Theywere operatingundertheOldCovenant.

TheonlypeoplereallyabletohandleSataninthefourGospelswerethemenJesushadanointed.RememberthatHecalledseventyof themtogetherandanointedthem,thensentthemouttohealthesick,raisethedead,andcastoutdemons.(SeeLuke10:1-9.)

Those men were legally born in earth, and their bodies gave themauthority.Godgave them theability.TheanointingofGodworked throughthemtobringhealingtothesick,tocastoutdemons,andtoraisethedead.

AFootstoolUnderHisFeetButthisman,afterhehadofferedonesacrificeforsinsforever,satdown

ontherighthandofGod;fromhenceforthexpectingtillhisenemiesbemadehisfootstool(Heb.10:12,13).

TheGreekstates,“…waitinguntilHeplacesHisenemiesasafootstoolunderHisfeet.”Don’tgettooexcitedaboutgoingtoheavenrightnow.Therearea few things thatmust takeplace first.Theenemymustbeputunderourfeet!

TheScripturesplainlystate,“HeisseatedattherighthandoftheFather

untilHisenemiesbemadeHisfootstool.”Jesuswillleavethereoneday,andwe are going tomeetHim in the air.ButHe is seated there nowuntil HisenemiesareputunderHisfeet.

JesusistheHead,andyou(theChurch)aretheBody.Afootstoolisusedtoputyourfeeton.We’regoingtoputourfeetonSatan!It’sgoingtobethatwaybeforeJesusremoves

HimselffromtherighthandoftheFather.

Inchapter28ofMatthew,weseeJesusasHestoodonthemountain.HewasabouttoascendtotheFather.Let’spaycloseattentiontowhatHesaid.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. AndJesuscameandspakeuntothem,saying,

Allpowerisgivenuntomeinheavenandinearth(v.17,18).

Notice,Jesussaidallpower.IfHehasallpower,thentherejustain‘tnomore! That isn’t goodEnglish, but it puts the point over. Jesus had all thepower!

ThenHe said,Goye therefore, and teachall nations, baptizing them inthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolyGhost:teachingthemtoobserveall thingswhatsoeverIhavecommandedyou:and, lo, Iamwithyoualway,evenuntotheendoftheworld(v.19,20).

Chapter16ofMarkrecordsthesameincident:

Andhesaiduntothem,Goyeintoalltheworld,andpreachthegospeltoeverycreature.Hethatbelievethandisbaptizedshallbesaved;buthe thatbelievethnotshallbedamned.Andthesesignsshallfollowthemthatbelieve;inmynameshalltheycastoutdevils;theyshallspeakwithnewtongues;theyshall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurtthem; theyshall layhandson thesick,and theyshallrecover(Mark16:15-18).

Jesus is not talking about handling a snake. He is saying, “If that oldserpent,Satan,invadesyourhome,youcasthimout!”Heisn’ttalkingaboutgoingondemonhuntsordevilchases.HemeansyouaretheonetocastoutSatan.You have the authority to do so. Satan is an outlawhere.He has noauthority in theearth.Theonlyplacehecandominateandcontrol iswherepeopleallowhimtodoso.(Lackofknowledgeisthemainreason.)

If youwant to knowwhat Jesus taught in theGreat Commission, readchapters 9 and 10 ofMatthew’sGospel and seewhatHe commanded.TheChurch,asawhole,hasneverseenitandhasneversetouttodoit.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their

synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing everysicknessandeverydiseaseamongthepeople.

Butwhenhesawthemultitudes,hewasmovedwithcompassiononthem,because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having noshepherd.

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but thelabourersarefew;prayyethereforetheLordoftheharvest,thathewillsendforthlabourersintohisharvest(Matt.9:35-38).

Whenmostpeoplereadthisscripturalpassage,theythinkaboutgoingoutpreachingtogetpeoplesaved.That’snotwhatJesusistalkingabouthere.Heissaying,“Therearemanysick,manylame,manypossessedwithdemons.”YouwillnoticethatJesuswasdoingthesethings:healingthesick,raisingthedead, and casting out demons. Now, of course, the saving of the lost isinvolvedhere,butthatistheresultofobeyingthefirstpart.

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave thempower against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner ofsicknessandallmannerofdisease(Matt.10:1).

Hesentsomelaborersintotheharvestfield.Andasyego,preach,saying,Thekingdomofheavenisathand.Healthesick,cleansethelepers,raisethedead,castoutdevils:freelyyehavereceived,freelygive(v.7,8).

WeNeedtoObeyTheGreatCommissionTheGreatCommissionis“toteachallnationstoobeywhatsoeverIhave

commandedyou.”

WhentheChurchbeginstoobeytheGreatCommission,wewillteachallnationstohealthesick,raisethedead,andcastoutdemons.Therevivalwillbe on! Raise a few dead and you won’t have to advertise your meetings.Sinnerswillcomefromfarandneartobebornagain.

Youwon’thavetopreachthreehourstogetitdone.Justgetafewpeoplehealed,afewcrippleswalking,afewofthedeadraised,andmultitudeswillcome.Then,whileyouare trying toeataquietmealathome, therewillbethousandsoutsidetryingtogetintohearwhatyouhavetosay.

Jesusneverhadtoadvertiseameeting.Hetried,at times, togointo themountains for rest, and five thousand people showed up out there to hearHim.HisWordwaswithpower.

WhenwebegintodowhatJesussaidforustodo,itwillbethesameinthisday.

Notice, thewhole tenth chapter ofMatthew is the commandment Jesuswastalkingabout:“Go…teachallnations….”

And it came topass,when Jesushadmadeanend of commandinghistwelve disciples,he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities(Matt.11:1).

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty workswere done, because they repented not:Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe untothee,Bethsaida! for if themightyworks,whichweredone inyou,hadbeendoneinTyreandSidon,theywouldhaverepentedlongagoinsackclothandashes.ButIsayuntoyou,ItshallbemoretolerableforTyreandSidonatthedayofjudgment,thanforyou(v.2022).

ListentothewordsofJesus,“IfIhadhealedthesickandraisedthedeadinTyreandSidon,asIdidinotherplaces,thosepeoplewouldhaverepentedlongago.”Inotherwords,JesusissayingthatthereasonpeopleinTyreandSidonwerenotsavedwasbecausethereweren’tenoughlaborerstohealtheirsickandraisetheirdead.IfthemightyworksofGodhadbeendoneinthosecities,theywouldhaverepentedandturnedtoGod.

OnereasonmorepeoplearenotturningtoGodtodayisbecausetheyseethereligiousmessthisworldisin.Theyseethefalsefront.Theyseetheclubhouseswecall“churches”thathaveaformofgodlinessbutdenythepower,deny the virgin birth, deny the blood of Jesus. They don’t see their needsbeingmet.

WhenyoubegintomeettheneedsofthepeoplethroughtheWord,prayer,andministry,theywillcomebythethousandstobesaved.

JesusmeteveryneedofhumanitywhileHewashereonearth.Shouldwedoanyless?HehasgivenusHisname.

TheNameofJesusGod,whoatsundrytimesandindiversmannersspakeintimepastunto

thefathersbytheprophets,hathintheselastdaysspokenuntousbyhisSon,whomhehathappointedheirofallthings,bywhomalsohemadetheworlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of hisperson,andupholdingall thingsby thewordofhispower,whenhehadbyhimselfpurgedoursins,satdownontherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh;being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritanceobtainedamoreexcellentnamethanthey(Heb.1:1-4).

JesusobtainedHisname in threeways:He inherited it;Heearned itbyconquest;anditwasbestoweduponHim.

HeinheriteditfromGod,theFather.Letthismindbeinyou,whichwasalsoinChristJesus:whobeingintheformofGod,thoughtitnotrobberytobe equal with God (Phil. 2:5,6). Even though Jesus was a man, He didn’tconsideritrobberytodothesameworksasGod.

InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod(John1:1).Jesussaid,“IandMyFatherareone.”

Butmadehimselfofnoreputation(theGreeksaysHeemptiedHimselfofthatdivinepowerwhenHecametothisearth),andtookuponhim,theformofaservant,andwasmadeinthelikenessofmen:andbeingfoundinfashionas a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even thedeathofthecross.

WhereforeGodalsohathhighlyexaltedhim,andgivenhimanamewhichis above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ofthings in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and thateverytongueshouldconfessthatJesusChristisLord,tothegloryofGodtheFather(Phil.2:7-11).

Thewordthingsshouldreallybetranslated“beings.”IntheBible,thingsisitalicizedwhichmeansthatitwasaddedbytranslators.Thingsdonothaveknees.

Let’sreaditlikethis:“ThatatthenameofJesuseverykneeshouldbow,ofbeings in heaven, beings in earth, and beings under the earth; and thateverytongueshouldconfessthatJesusChristisLord,tothegloryofGod,theFather.”

Someonesaid,“Yes,thatwillhappenwhenwegettoheaven.Thenwe’regoingtohavethenameofJesusandallthatauthority.”

Well, thatmight sound good, but let’s read verses 14-16:Do all thingswithoutmurmuringsanddisputings:thatyemaybeblamelessandharmless,the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perversenation,amongwhomyeshineaslights

intheworld;holdingforththewordoflife….

There won’t be a crooked and perverse nation in heaven. He is sayingman has authority to operate with legal authority in three worlds from theearth.Wehave read this scriptureand said, “Glory toGod, everykneewillbowtoJesussomeday,inthesweetby-and-by.”

Itdoesn’tsaythat!Itsays,“EverykneewillbowtothenameofJesus.”AndHegaveusHisnametouse!Thesesignsshallfollowthemthatbelieve;inmynameshall theycastoutdevils; theyshallspeakwithnewtongues…

theyshalllayhandsonthesick,andtheyshallrecover(Mark16:17,18).

YouHaveAuthorityThe name of Jesus has authority, not only in this earth, but in all three

worlds.TheBodyofChriststandsinauniquepositioninthisdispensationofhavingauthorityinallthreeworlds.

Delegated authority was given to us by Jesus Himself, so that we canfulfilltheGreatCommission.Wehaveauthorityforthreereasons:

1.Wehavebeenbornofflesh.Thathasgivenusabodywhichmakesuslegalonearth.

2.We have been born of the Spirit, which gives us the anointing fromGod.

3. Jesus has bestowedHis name upon us.We have authority to use thenameofJesusasifitwereourveryown!

AndtheglorywhichthougavestmeIhavegiventhem;thattheymaybeone,evenasweareone(John17:22).

He said that everyknee shouldbow:ofbeings inheaven, beings in theearth,andbeingsundertheearthincludingprincipalities,powers,andrulersofdarkness.

WestandinauniquepositionthroughthatName.Wecansummontheaidofallheaven towork inourbehalf.Hesaid in thatdaywewouldaskHimnothing,butwhatsoeverwewouldasktheFather,Hewouldgiveittous.

NowHeabidesonearthinthePersonoftheHolySpirit.Allheavenisatyourdisposal.Whatsoeveryoubindonearthshallbeboundinheaven.

BelieversonearthhaveauthoritytousethemightynameofJesustobindcertainthingsfromearth.Wecanbindtheprincipalities,thepowers,andtherulersofdarkness.Wecan loose thingson thisearth thathavealreadybeenloosedinheavenbecausewehavetheauthorityandtheNamethat isaboveeveryname—Jesus.

16

OneWithGodToday the born-again believer stands in the unique position of having

dominioninthreeworldsbybeingonewithChrist.

Thattheyallmaybeone;asthou,Father,artinme,andIthee,thattheyalsomaybeoneinus:thattheworldmaybelievethatthouhastsentme.

AndtheglorywhichthougavestmeIhavegiven them; that theymaybeone,evenasweareone: I in them,and thou inme, that theymaybemadeperfectinone;andthattheworldmayknowthatthouhastsentme,andhastlovedthem,asthouhastlovedme.

John17:21-23Youhavetherighttocomeboldlybeforethethroneofgracethatyoumay

obtain.You have authority to bind forces of evil that come against you onearth.Thepowersofdarkness,demons,andoutlawspiritshavenoauthorityintheearthunlessyougivethemauthority.

There’s a parallel of Adam and the believer. As Adam stood in thebeginning, so the Church stands today. Adam had authority to say, “In thenameofAlmightyGod,Satan,departthisplanetforever!”Buthedidn’t.Hefailedtousehisauthority,sohelostit.

TheChurchstandstodayinaparallelposition.WecanuseourauthorityorturnitovertoSatanandallowhimtooperateonit.ThedifferenceisthatwhenAdamlosthisauthority,everypersonbornonearthlostit.Ithadtoberestored.But, today, if I fail tousemyauthority,youdon’t loseyours.Anyborn-again man who desires to use the name of Jesus and proclaim theauthorityGodhasinvestedinhimcandosowithresults!

But thepersonwho refuses to act onhis authoritypermitsSatan to runroughshodoverhim.Hehasdeniedhis authority, andSatanuses that as anopportunitytokill,steal,anddestroy.

SatanCheatsChristiansWhenTheyPermitItRecently Iheardacertain individual testifyhowshehadprayed toGod

foracloserwalkwithHim.Shewaswilling togiveupanything in life forthatcloserwalk,exceptherhusband.Afteraperiodoftime,shebecamemore

desperate. She finally prayed, “Lord, I’ll even be willing to give up myhusbandtobeclosertoYou.”(Matthew19:6says,WhatthereforeCodhathjoined together, let no man put asunder.) In a short time her husband wasdead.

She turned her authority over to Satan. She had authority to bind evilforcesthatwouldsteal;butwiththewordsofhermouthsheprayedfoolishlyandloosedSatan’sability.Thatwasatotallyunscripturaldedication;itwasalackofknowledgethatallowedSatantostealhermate.Youarenotrequiredto think that way. There was no way she could use her faith, because shethoughtGoddidit.Nobiggerliehaseverbeentold.

ChristiansareallowingSatantorunroughshodoverthem!Mypeoplearedestroyed for lackof knowledge (Hos. 4:6).Learn thatyour body gives youauthority in this earth, and the name of Jesus gives you authority tomoveheaveninyourbehalf!

Satancandoverylittleunlesshecanfindabodytouse.Hewouldtearuptheearthinaminuteifhecould.Butspiritscan’tdothat;theymustgetintoabody.Thatiswhytheworldisinsuchamess.Satanhasenteredwickedmen,andwickedmenaredestroyingtheearth.Don’tblameitonGod!

As a born-again believer, your body and the name of Jesus give youauthority in threeworlds.Amanwithauthority touse thenameof Jesus isoneofthemostpowerfulindividualsonearthtoday—farmorepowerfulthanevil spirits, demons, principalities, powers, or rulers of darkness. Man isGod’spowertoolifhewillbeobedientandletGodworkthroughhim.Godmusthaveabodytoworkthrough.

Paulsaid,“KnowyenotthatyourbodyisthetempleoftheHolyGhost?”(1Cor.3:16.)ItisthedwellingplaceoftheHolyGhost.WehaveprayedforGodtosendtheHolyGhosttogetsomeonesaved,buttheHolyGhostwon’tgounlesswego.

God dwells in you. Jesus said,… If a man love me, he will keep mywords:andmyFatherwill lovehim,andwewillcomeuntohim,andmakeourabodewithhim(John14:23).

God is in every believer, and with God all things are possible (Matt.19:26).TheBiblesaystheHolySpiritisa“Helper,”a“Comforter,”and“theOnecalledalongsidetohelp.”

Iamremindedofacarpenterwhohiredahelper.Thecarpenter told thehelper,“Bringthatladderoverhere,andlet’sputupsomesheetrock.”

“I’mnotgonnadoit,”thehelperreplied.

“Whynot?”askedthecarpenter.“You’remyhelper.”

“Yes,”hesaid.“I’myourhelper,andI’llhelpyoudoit.ButI’mnotgoingtodoitbymyself.”

We have tried tomake an errand boy out of theHolyGhost.He is thepowersource,butHewon’tgowithoutabody.

WhatdidPaulmeanwhenhesaid,Wewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood,butagainstprincipalities,againstpowers,againsttherulersofthedarknessofthisworld?

He is telling us thatwhenwe come againstwickedmendoing evil,weshouldn’t get mad at those men, but recognize that the Devil is operatingthroughthem.Ifwetrytofightthewickedmen,therewillbeonlytrouble.

Thisisaspiritualbattle.MenhaveauthoritytousethenameofJesusinordertobreakpowersthatinfluencethem.WehaveauthorityinthenameofJesustobreakpowersofdarknessthatrulementoday.

We find theborn-againman in auniqueposition today.He is the agentGodanointsandusestobringforthmanifestationsofHispower.

JesusIsHeadoftheBodyWereadofthisinEphesians1:16-23:

(I)ceasenottogivethanksforyou,makingmentionofyouinmyprayers;thattheGodofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofglory,maygiveuntoyouthespiritofwisdomandrevelationintheknowledgeofhim:

Theeyesofyourunderstandingbeingenlightened;thatyemayknowwhatisthehopeofhiscalling,andwhattherichesofthegloryofhisinheritanceinthesaints,

Andwhatistheexceedinggreatnessofhispowertous-wardwhobelieve,according to theworking of hismighty power,which hewrought inChrist,whenheraisedhimfromthedead,andsethimathisownrighthandintheheavenlyplaces,

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, andeverynamethatisnamed,notonlyinthisworld,butalsointhatwhichistocome:

Andhathputallthingsunderhisfeet,andgavehimtobetheheadoverallthingstothechurch,whichishisbody,thefulnessofhimthatfillethallinall.

Notice,JesusistheHeadoftheChurch.TheChurchisHisBody.Hehas

putallthingsunderHisfeet.ThefeetareintheBody,andyouaretheBodyofChrist.NowyearethebodyofChrist,andmembersinparticular(1Cor.12:27).AstheBody,youhaveauthority.

Andyouhathhequickened,whoweredeadintrespassesandsins…Evenwhenweweredeadinsins,hathquickenedustogetherwithChrist,(bygraceye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, andmade us sit together inheavenlyplacesinChristJesus(Eph.2:1,5,6).

Paulissaying,“Hehasquickenedus(madeusalive)togetherwithHim.WearemadeonewithHim.Hehasraisedusuptogetherwith

Him.WhenJesuswasseatedattherighthandoftheFather—faraboveallprincipality,andpower,andmight,anddominion—thatwaswhenyouwereraisedupandseatedthere,inpowerandinauthoritywithJesus.WeareonewithHim.”

We’renotseatedtherephysically.Ourbodiesarenotthereyet.ButJesusistheretoappearinthepresenceofGodforus.Heisthere,representingusinheaven,aswerepresentHimhereonearth.

We (theBody) are representing Jesuson earth. In somanywords Jesussaid, “If youwill representMe there on earth, Iwill represent you here inheaven.”Youarewellrepresentedthere.AsfarasGodisconcerned,youareseatedattherighthandoftheFatherinspiritualpowerwithChristJesus.

ThatintheagestocomehemightshewtheexceedingrichesofhisgraceinhiskindnesstowardusthroughChristJesus(v.7).

Somebody said, “‘In the ages to come’ iswhenweget to heaven.”No.Whenyouget toheaven, therewon’tbeanyagesor time.Timeshallbenomore.He is talking about this dispensation of grace.He is showing us theexceedingrichesofHisgracenow.

Aswereadverse10,ourheartscanhardlygraspsuchawesometruth.Forwearehisworkmanship,createdinChristJesusuntogoodworks(notmade,created),whichGodhathbeforeordainedthatweshouldwalkinthem.

You can understandwhy John said in 1 John 4:4,Ye are of God, littlechildren,andhaveovercomethem….

Overcome who? The principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, theAntichrist,andallotherdemonpowers.AsfarasGodisconcerned,youhavebeenraisedupandmadetositinheavenlyplacesinChristJesus.

Hehasraisedusupandweareseatedthereinauthority.Jesusisfaraboveallpowers,andsoareyou,ifyouareinChrist,throughthemightynameofJesus,becausegreaterishethatisinyou,thanhethatisintheworld(v.4).

The

Greater One is in you! The one in the world is not so great—he isdefeated.

Hereinisourlovemadeperfect,thatwemayhaveboldnessinthedayofjudgment:becauseasheis,soareweinthisworld(v.17).

Paul said Jesuswas seated at the right hand of the Father far above allprincipalities,power,might,anddominion.ThatiswhereJesusistoday.Andas Jesus is, so arewenow in this world. Evenwhile we are living in thisworld,weare faraboveall evil forces through thenameof Jesus.There ispowerinthatName!

ThisManCalledPeterIfyouhavedoubts,studythebookofActs.Peterwasamanwhocoulddo

nothingright.The firstpartofhis lifehewasa failuregoingsomewhere tohappen.Hewentfishingandfishedonthewrongsideoftheboat.Jesustoldhimtothrowhisnetontheotherside.Then,hecaughtsomanyfishthathisnetbroke!

He ran a race to Jesus’ tomb and lost. Peter seemed to be an almosthopeless case.Whenheopenedhismouth, heput his foot in it. “I’ll neverdenyYou!”hesaid.“I’lldieforYou!”Then,hedeniedJesusthreetimes.Heevencursedaboutit.

ButthismanwasintheupperroomwhentheHolyGhostcame.HewasfilledwiththeHolyGhostandspokewithtongues.TheHolyGhostchargedthespiritmaninsidehim,andhereceivedtheabilityandpowerofGod.

HeandJohnwenttothetempletopray,andtothefirstcrippledmantheymetPetersaid,“Man,Idon’thaveanymoney,butI’lltellyouonething,whatIdohave,I’llgivetoyou:InthenameofJesus,riseupandwalk!”(Acts3:6.)

Whatdid Peter have?He had the name of Jesus.He had the body thatgavehimauthoritytousethatName.InthenameofJesusChristofNazareth,riseupandwalk.

ThatoldboymisunderstoodPeter.Hejumpedupandstartedleapingandpraising

God.That’s not bad for a starter. Peter could do nothing right until hefound out he had authority to use the name of Jesus. Peter exercised hisauthorityovertheworldofdarkness.There’snodoubtthatSatanhadboundthismanforfortyyears,butthenameofJesuspenetratedthatdarknessandloosedhim.

TheNameUsedatLyddaIn the ninth chapter of Acts you can see where Peter went to visit the

saints that dwelt at Lydda. There he found a crippledman kept to this bedeightyears,sickofthepalsy.(Youwouldhavebeensickofthepalsy,too,ifyou’dhaditforeightyears!)

NoticethatthesewerethesaintswhodweltatLydda.Themansickwiththepalsywasaborn-again, tongue-talkingChristian,buthewassick. IcanimaginePetersayingsomethinglikethis:“Letmeremindyouofsomething,Aeneas.JesusChristismakingyouwhole.”

IcanimagineAeneassaying,“Youknow,Ibelieveyouareright!”Thenhejustgathereduphisbedandwenthome.AllPeterdidwasremindhimthatJesusChristhadmadehimwhole.

ThenameofJesuswilldevastatetheworldofdarknessbyexposingittolight.

TabithaRaisedIt wasn’t long until a lady named Tabitha died. Instead of calling the

undertaker, they called for Peter. He went there and prayed. I don’t knowwhatheprayed,butIbelieveIknowhowheprayed.Iimagineheprayedintongues.IknowIwouldhaveinasimilarsituation!ThenPeterturnedaroundandsaid,Tabitha,arise(Acts9:40).

Peterspokeintoanotherworldandsaid,“Youcomeback.”Tabitha’sspiritobeyedhimandcameback.AmanwithauthorityinmorethanoneworldhadexercisedhisauthorityandGod’sability.

Amanwithauthoritycancallintotheheavensforheavenlyintervention!Hecancalltotheregionofthedamnedandtellthemtolooseandletgo!HecancallintothespiritworldandbringbackthespiritintothebodybecauseofwhatJesusdidforus!

JesusGaveHisNametoBeUsedJesushasneverusedthatNameforHisownbenefit.Itisalwaysusedfor

others.

Beloved,nowarewethesonsofGod,anditdothnotyetappearwhatweshallbe:butweknowthat,whenheshallappear,weshallbelikehim;forweshallseehimasheis(1John3:2).

Ithinkwehaveputonourreligiouseyeglasseseverytimewehavereadthisandsaid,“Yes,whenJesusappears,weshallbechangedandmadelike

Him.”ThatisreligiousthinkingandnotwhattheWordsays.Whenheshallappear, we shall (already) be like him (1 John 3:2).We are going to haveSatanunderourfeet.JesusisseatedattherighthandoftheFatheruntilHisenemiesaremadeHisfootstool!

TheBodyofChristmustrecognizetheyhaveauthorityinallthreeworlds.JesusisgoingtostayseatedattherighthandoftheFatheruntilwegetbusyandexerciseour authorityandHis ability todestroy theworkof theDevil.WemustactonthewordsofJesus,“Healthesick,raisethedead,andcastoutdemons,”untilHecomes!

Remember, Jesus said toHisdisciples,Occupy till I come.That doesn’tmean,“Storeupfoodandhideawayinthemountains.”No,thankGod!Johnsaid,Whenheshallappear,weshallbelikehim;forweshallseehimasheis.

Howis Jesus?Jesus isvictorious.He ismore thanaconqueror.DoyouseeHimasHe is?He isseatedat therighthandof theFather faraboveallprincipalitiesandpowersandmightanddominion.HehasgivenusHisnametouse.Therefore,weareexaltedwithHim.Whenweunderstandthat,wewillbegintobelikeHim!

RevivaloftheWordWearecomingintoatimeunlikeanythingtheworldhasknown:atimein

whichGodisgoingtomanifestHispowerandHisabilitythroughmenwhorecognizeauthority.Jesusisgoingtousethebodiesofmen.Hewilltransportmenthroughspaceinaninstantoftimetoappearinothercities.

Youwill see these things in this generation! Jesus saidHewouldmakeshortworkofrighteousnessontheearth.Wearethegenerationthatwillseeit.The greatest revival the world has ever known is already on the horizon.There are thousands of churches gathered in their little groups praying forGodtosendarevival.Thelast-dayrevivalistherevivalofGod’sWord.Itisalready here, but many have managed to avoid it through their religioustradition.

ListentoJesusasHeisprayinginJohn17:14:

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,Father,thehouriscome;glorifythySon,thatthySonalsomayglorifythee:asthouhastgivenhimpoweroverallflesh,thatheshouldgiveeternallifetoasmanyasthouhastgivenhim.

Andthisislifeeternal,thattheymightknowtheetheonlytrueGod,andJesusChrist,whomthouhastsent.Ihaveglorifiedtheeontheearth:Ihavefinishedtheworkwhichthougavestmetodo.

NoticethatwhenJesussaid,“Ihavefinishedthework,”weknowthatHehadnotfinishedthework.ButIwantyoutocatchsomethinginthewayHeprayed and thewayHe talked—He spoke the end results. He never spokewhatwas.Heneveradmitteddeathordefeat.

WhenJesusraisedJairus‘daughter,Heput themalloutandsaid,“Whyareyoubawling?She’snotdead;she’ssleeping.”(Mark6:39.)

Jesus was speaking the end results in His prayer to the Father: “It’salreadyfinished.I’vealreadyfinishedthatwhichYoucalledMetodo.”

And now, O Father, glorify thoume with thine own self with the glorywhichIhadwiththeebeforetheworldwas(v.5).

Youcan see that Jesuswasnot theglorifiedChrist at this time.HewasoperatingasamananointedwiththeHolyGhost;Hewasdeity,butHewasnotoperatingindivinepower.

God’sNameIhavemanifestedthynameuntothemenwhichthougavestmeoutofthe

world (v. 6).There are sevennames forGod.One of them is Jehovah-God—“thecovenant-makingGod.”ThereisElShaddai—“theAlmightyOne,theAll-Sufficient One.” Then there is Jehovah-Rapha—“the God that healeththee.”

Jesussaid,“IhavemanifestedYourname.I’vemanifestedtheGodWhoisthecovenant-makingGod.”

For I have given unto them thewordswhich thou gavestme; and theyhave received them, and have known surely that I cameout from thee, andtheyhavebelievedthatthoudidstsendme.Iprayforthem:Ipraynotfortheworld,butforthemwhichthouhastgivenme;fortheyarethine.Andallminearethine,andthinearemine;andIamglorifiedinthem.AndnowIamnomoreintheworld…(v.8-11).

HereisanotherofJesus’statements:“Iamnolongerintheworld.”WhenJesus said that,Hewas standing right there, and theywere lookingatHim.Theydidn’tunderstandthatkindoftalk.

When He said, “I am no more in the world,” He was talking the endresults.HewasusingHisfaithandspeakingHisconfession.AndnowIamnomoreintheworld,buttheseareintheworld,andIcometothee.HolyFather,keepthroughthineownname. . .(v.11). (What isHisownname?Jehovah-Rapha—theGodthathealeththee.)…thosewhomthouhastgivenme, thattheymaybeone,asweare.

GothroughthiswholechapterinyourBibleandunderlineeveryplaceit

saysasweare.WhileIwaswiththemintheworld,Ikepttheminthyname(Notice,He

keptthemintheName:Jehovah-Rapha;ElShaddai.) those that thougavestme I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that thescripturemightbefulfilled.AndnowcomeItothee;andthesethingsIspeakintheworld,thattheymighthavemyjoyfulfilledinthemselves.Ihavegiventhemthyword;andtheworldhathhated them,because theyarenotof theworld,evenasIamnotoftheworld(v.12-14).

DoyouseewhatJesusissaying?“Thereareuniquepeople.Theyarenotof this world, even as I am not of this world. They are people who haveauthority in the earth. Yes, they were born here legally; they have legalauthority here.But they are going to be born again; theywill be recreated.Theywillbesupernaturalmen,menfilledwiththepowerofGodandwiththeauthorityofaman,abletodestroytheworksoftheDevil.”

I praynot that thou shouldest take themoutof theworld, but that thoushouldestkeepthemfromtheevil.Theyarenotoftheworld,evenasIamnotoftheworld.Sanctifythemthroughthytruth:thywordistruth.Asthouhastsentmeintotheworld,evensohaveIalsosentthemintotheworld(v.15-18).

WhatdidGodsendJesus into theworld todo?…For thispurpose theSonofGodwasmanifested, thathemightdestroy theworksof thedevil (1John3:8).

And for their sakes I sanctifymyself, that they alsomight be sanctifiedthroughthetruth(John17:19).SomeonesuggestedthatHewasjusttalkingtothedisciplesandapostles.But thenHesaid,Neitherpray I for thesealone,butforthemalsowhichshallbelieveonmethroughtheirword(v.20).

Thatincludesyouandme.Everyborn-againChristianbelievesbecauseofthewordsthosemenspoke.Heprayedthisprayerforus:Thattheyallmaybeone;asthou,Father,artinme,andIinthee,thattheyalsomaybeoneinus:thattheworldmaybelievethatthouhastsentme.AndtheglorywhichthougavestmeIhavegiventhem(v.21,22).

Hearwhat Jesus is saying: “Father, the sameglory thatYouhavegivenMe,Ihavegiventhem.”ThosethatbelieveonHisnamearegiventhesameglory.

…that theyalsomaybeoneinus: that theworldmaybelievethat thouhastsentme.AndtheglorywhichthougavestmeIhavegiventhem;thattheymaybeone,evenasweareone:Iinthem,andthouinme,thattheymaybemadeperfectinone;andthattheworldmayknowthatthouhastsentme,andhastlovedthem,asthouhastlovedme(v.21-23).

Jesuswas theSonofGod, butHeoperated as theSonofMan.Hehasgivenyouthesameauthority,thesamepower,thesameability,andthesameHolyGhost.

Father,Iwillthattheyalso,whomthouhastgivenme,bewithmewhereIam… (v. 24).Where was He? He was standing in spiritual law above allprincipalities,power,might,anddominion.Hewasabovetheworldsystem.TheywillbewithmewhereIam;thattheymaybeholdmyglory,whichthouhastgivenme(v.24).

AndIhavedeclareduntothemthyname,andwilldeclareit:thatthelovewherewiththouhastlovedmemaybeinthem,andIinthem(v.26).Inotherwords,“IhavedeclaredthyNameJehovah-Rapha—theLordthathealeththee—andIwillcontinuetodeclareit.”

HeWillDeclareThatNameThroughBelieversJesus is seatedat the righthandof theFather.HowwillHedeclare that

Name?HeisgoingtodeclareitthroughbelieverswhoareusingthenameofJesus—menanointedwiththeHolyGhostusingthatName.

Doyoubegin tosee thepicture?JesuswilldeclareGod’sname throughmenanointedwiththeHolyGhost.TheybecomeonewithHim.

TheprayerPaulprayedinEphesians3:1421bringsgreaterrevelation:

ForthiscauseIbowmykneesuntotheFatherofourLordJesusChrist,ofwhomthewholefamilyinheavenandearthisnamed.(Notice,notonefamilyinheavenandoneinearth;butweareallonefamily.)

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to bestrengthenedwithmightbyhisspiritintheinnerman;thatChristmaydwellinyourheartsby faith; thatye,beingrootedandgrounded in love,maybeabletocomprehendwithallsaintswhatisthebreadth,andlength,anddepth,andheight;andtoknowtheloveofChrist,whichpassethknowledge,thatyemightbefilledwithallthefulnessofGod.

Nowuntohimthat isabletodoexceedingabundantlyaboveall thatweaskorthink,accordingtothepowerthatworkethinus,untohimbegloryinthechurchbyChristJesusthroughoutallages,worldwithoutend.

Man stands in the position of having authority in all three worlds,authority delegated by the Son of God. The glorified Christ delegated thatauthoritytomeninthisearth.Yes,wecantaptheheavens.WecangobeforethethroneofGod—comeboldlyuntothethroneofgrace,thatwemayobtain…(Heb.4:16).

GodhasgivenJesusanamewhichisaboveeveryname:thatatthename

of Jesus every knee should bow—of beings in heaven, beings in earth, andbeingsundertheearth!

Everykneewillbowtothename,Jesus.Nonameisgreater.

HegaveusHisname.Christinyouisthehopeofglory(Col.2:27).Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,

worldwithoutend.

Charles Capps is a former farmer and land developer who travelsthroughout the United States, teaching and preaching the truths of God’sWord. He shares from practical, first-hand experience how Christians canapplytheWordtothecircumstancesoflifeandlivevictoriously.

He has authored several books, including the best-selling, The Tongue, ACreativeForce.Charlesalsohasanationwideradioministrycalled“ConceptsofFaith.”

CharlesandhiswifePeggymaketheirhomeinEngland,Arkansas.Boththeirdaughters,AnnetteandBeverly,areinvolvedintheministry.

BELIEVERSHAVEAUTHORITYINTHREEWORLDS!

ThenameofJesusgivesyouauthority in threeworlds—beings inearth,beingsundertheearth,andbeingsinheaven.

God has restored your authority in the earth through the rebirth of thehumanspirit.HehasgivenyoubackthatwhichsatanstolefromAdam.

PROPHECYGIVENCHARLESCAPPSWHILETEACHINGTHISMESSAGE:

Forthedayisathand,whentheministryoftheWordofGodshallcomealiveintheChurch.ThosewhohavebeendeadtothethingsofGod,shallrisetotheirfeetandwalkinthewisdomandinthepowerofGod!

ThestrengthofAlmightyGodshallflowinthemidstofthem!Soshalltheywalk in the avenue of life until the wisdom that flows from their lips shallastoundtheworld.

…SoshalltheanointingofGodflowintheearth.AndsoshalltheChurchofAlmightyGodbebuilt!It’llcomeasanexplosion,.…bythepoweroftheSpiritofGod….