Are you sure?
This action might not be possible to undo. Are you sure you want to continue?
The Anointed
Ratings:
822 pages15 hours
Summary
When we say that we are Christians, we should know that we are actually saying that we are the anointed people. It is true that the name – Christians refers to followers of Christ or those who are like Christ. But if we know that the Christ is a Greek word for the Messiah (Hebrew), and that both the Christ and the Messiah mean the Anointed One, then nobody is qualified to be called a Christian without any level of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit in or on him. The anointed is someone who has the Power and Ability of the Holy Spirit on him, because the Holy Spirit has come upon him. God anoints us with His Holy Spirit – the Oil. The Holy Spirit is not an oil, but oil is one of the things used to represent the Holy Spirit, because of His Nature and Work.
Publisher: Godsword Godswill OnuReleased: Jan 15, 2015ISBN: 9781507038352Format: book
Book Preview
The Anointed - Godsword Godswill Onu
godswordgodswill@yahoo.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedications
Acknowledgments/Appreciation
Preface
Introduction
Staying in Your Area of Calling
Discretion and Wisdom in the Ministry
Ministerial Training and Ordination
From Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected
Spiritual Authority
Levels of Spiritual Authority
Days of Little Beginnings
Till God Clears the Way for You
Be Strong and of Good Courage
When Expertise and Ability Are Not the Solution
You Are God’s Battleaxe
I Know Your Works
You Can Pay the Price!
The Importance of Obedience to Divine Instructions
Dancing to the Tone of Distractions
Opening Yourself Up to Familiar/Evil Spirits
Diversities of Anointing and Operations
Watch and Pray!
According to the Pattern
Be Full of the Word of God
Being Full of the Holy Ghost
Confronting Your Confrontations
Evangelism by Power
The Spiritual and Untouchable Christian
Secrets to Successful Ministry
Pleasing God
Being Fruitful and Productive
The Power of Faith
A Heaven to Gain and a Hell to Avoid
The God-approved Minister
Being Strong in the Lord
Signs of Believers
Becoming a Prayer-warrior
Obedience, Holiness, and Righteousness
Being Led by God
Operating in the Supernatural
Tests, Trials, Temptations, and Wilderness Experiences
Secrets to God’s Miracle-working Power
Vessels and Instruments of Honour and Dishonour
The Ministry Gifts and Helps
Biblical Christianity
Being Successful in Life
Fasting, Discipline, and Self-control
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
Faithfulness and Diligence in Stewardship
The Anointing and Power of the Holy Spirit
Making Your Calling and Election Sure
Demonstration of the Spirit and Power
Agents of Satan in Churches and in the World
My Father’s Business
Watchfulness, Vigilance, and Sobriety
From Glory to Glory
A Friend of God
The Immutability of God’s Word and Standard
Have You Applied What You Know?
Always and Without Ceasing
The Power of the Tongue
Where Is Your Heart?
The Power and Authority of the Believer
God’s Unchanging Standard in a Changing World
Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding
Psalms Concerning the Plans and Works of the Lord God Almighty
Demonic and Satanic Activities Today
Divine Revelations and Near Death Experiences (NDE’s)
Dressing and Outward Appearance (Special Edition)
Appendices
DEDICATIONS
I dedicate this work to the Almighty God the Father, Who loves us so dearly; to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is my Lord and Saviour; to the Holy Spirit of the Living God, Who is my Great Helper and Comforter; and to all those, who love the Lord Jesus Christ sincerely, and want to know and practice the Truth.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/APPRECIATION
I appreciate my Heavenly Father, Who gave me Jesus Christ − my Lord and Saviour. I thank my Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave me the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Wisdom and of Power. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for making the writing of this book possible; when I consider the strength of the teaching anointing, and when I feel it, I marvel how awesome the Anointing of the Holy Spirit is!
I acknowledge the efforts, prayers, contributions, and encouragements, in one way or the other, of my Christian brothers and sisters, who equip and are being equipped, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the Truth in love, grow up in all things into Him Who is the Head: Christ.
I appreciate all those who contributed positively, in one way or the other, to my Christian life, my ministry, and the writing and publication of this book. As we look forward to the Rapture of the Saints and Second Coming of our Saviour, Lord, and Master: Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, don’t lose your focus. Look unto Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the Joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the Shame, and has sat down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.
God did not call us to serve Him in vain, but He will reward us abundantly for the labour we have laboured in His Name. He shall also give us the Crown of Life. Remember that there is a Heaven to gain, and there is a Hell Fire to avoid. Live in total obedience to the Word of God; live in righteousness and holiness, without which no eye shall see the Lord. God bless you!
Never Say That God Said What He Did Not Say!
Jesus Christ Is Coming Very Soon: Heaven And Hell Are Real!
Let No One Deceive You: Without Holiness, No One Will See The Lord
This hymn will help keep us focused:
IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS
1. It pays to serve Jesus; I speak from my heart,
He’ll always be with us, if we do our part,
There is nothing in this wide-world can pleasure afford,
There is peace and contentment in serving the Lord.
Chorus:
I’ll love Him far better than in days gone by,
I’ll serve Him more truly than ever before,
I’ll do as He bids me whatever the cost,
I’ll be a true soldier; I’ll die at my post.
2. And often when I am tempted to turn from the track,
I think of my Saviour, my mind wanders back,
To the place where they nailed Him on Calvary’s Tree,
I hear a Voice saying, I suffered for thee.
3. There is no one like Jesus can share me today,
His Love and Kindness can never fade away,
In winter, in summer, in sunshine and rain,
His Love and Affection is always the same.
APOSTLE GODSWORD
PREFACE
Speaking of Jesus Christ, the Bible says, "Then Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit to Galilee, and News of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His Custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
"And He was handed the Book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord.’
"Then He closed the Book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
"...So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His Way.
"Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His Teaching, for His Word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know Who You are − the Holy One of God!’
"But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.’ And the Report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
"Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
"When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His Hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, ‘I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’ And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee
(Lk. 4:14-21,28-44).
GODSWORD GODSWILL ONU,
2014.
INTRODUCTION
To anoint is to put oil on someone’s head or body. The anointed is someone who has the Power and Ability of the Holy Spirit on him, because the Holy Spirit has come upon him. God anoints us with His Holy Spirit – the Oil. The Holy Spirit is not an oil, but oil is one of the things used to represent the Holy Spirit, because of His Nature and Work.
When we say that we are Christians, we should know that we are actually saying that we are the anointed people. It is true that the name – Christians refers to followers of Christ or those who are like Christ.
But if we know that the Christ is a Greek word for the Messiah (Hebrew), and that both the Christ and the Messiah mean the Anointed One, then nobody is qualified to be called a Christian without any level of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit in or on him.
By simply accepting and receiving Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour, someone is born again by the Regenerative Work of the Holy Spirit. That means that the Holy Spirit quickens and makes alive his spirit, who was dead spiritually.
And suddenly, the person has the internal conviction that God is his Father and he is God’s child; the person is made a complete new creature and creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
The Bible says, "Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which Born of the Spirit [Spirit of God] is spirit [spirit of man].
‘Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is Born of the Spirit’ (Jn 3:5-8).
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God
(Jn 1:12-13).
Those who receive Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit of God; and hence they become the Offsprings of God and have God’s Nature in them. And the Word says, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the Things of the Spirit.
"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is Life because of righteousness.
"But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors − not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption by Whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
And if children, then heirs − heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together
(Rom. 8:5-17). Notice what the ninth verse says, Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Therefore if you have truly been born again by the Spirit of God (the Spirit of Christ), then you have the Spirit of Christ in you. But the level of Indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in you is not enough for you to do the work and assignment that God will want to accomplish through you.
This is why you need the level of being filled with the Spirit of God and maintaining that fulness of His Presence in and upon you, and not just in (inside) you. When He is on (upon) you, you catch God’s Fire upon you to empower and energize you to do exploits for God.
To this end, the Word says, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witness to Me...to the end of the earth
(Acts 1:8).
Having risen from the dead, Jesus Christ spoke to His Disciples, saying, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on High
(Lk. 24:44-49.
It is not what you say of yourself that confirms you and gives witness of you; it is the Grace and Power of God upon you that gives witness of you to people. Jesus Christ said, But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish – the very works that I do – bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me
(Jn 5:36).
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples, who were at the upper room; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in new tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Under the Anointing and Power of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached to those who had gathered together to see what was happening. And because he preached under the anointing, about three thousand souls were added to them that day.
And they continued to increase in might, strength, and number. The Bible says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen (Mk 16:20).
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ Doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
"Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47). And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
"Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
"Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
"Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said... (Acts 5:12-19).
"Then the Word of God spread, and the number of the Disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the Faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:7-8).
"Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
"For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the Great Power of God.’ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
"But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done (Acts 8:4-13).
"Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
"So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
"Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man.
"This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the Faith.
"Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the Straight Ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the Hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’
"And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the Teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:1-12).
"And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.
"But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the Disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them
(Acts 19:6-12).
Apostle Paul wrote: "For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power (1 Cor. 4:20). And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the Testimony of God.
"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the Power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
"Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
"And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with Joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
"For from you the Word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith towards God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the Living and True God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus Who delivers us from the wrath to come
(1 Thes. 1:4-10).
Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says, "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterwards, when they had ended, He was hungry.
"...Then Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit to Galilee, and News of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
"So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His Custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the Book of the prophet Isaiah.
"And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor;
‘He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the Acceptable Year of the Lord.’
"Then He closed the Book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’ (Lk. 4:1-2,14-21).
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him
(Acts 10:38).
And He says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
"And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it (Jn 14:12-14).
"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
"They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mk 16:17-18). And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (Matt. 10:7-8). Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you
(Lk. 10:19).
We require the Anointing and Power of the Holy Spirit to break the yokes of the devil, crush the enemy’s fetters and shackles, and lift/remove the bondage and burdens of satan.
The Word of God says, It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil (the anointing, the KJV)
(Isa. 10:27).
And we do not have to depend on the anointing of the past one year. Yes, the anointing increases and is renewed. The psalmist said, But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil
(Psa. 92:10).
The King James Version says, But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
We need fresh anointing. And fresh anointing is received as we stay long in the Presence of God − in prayer, praise/worship, fellowship, waiting on God, fasting, and spending time in the Word of God (the Bible).
Praying with the spirit and in the Holy Spirits builds, energizes, and fires up your spirit. Jude wrote: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit
(Jude 1:20).
And Paul said, For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding
(1 Cor. 14:14-15).
God listens to the voice and word of his anointed. In the Old Testament, when King Ahaziah sent a captain and his fifty men to bring Prophet Elijah, the captain spoke to Elijah saying, Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’
So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from Heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from Heaven and consumed him and his fifty (2 Kgs 1:9-10).
As Prophet Elisha went up to Bethel, going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!
So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the Name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths (2 Kgs 2:23-24).
Even though we have been told to bless and not curse in this New Testament, yet know that God honours what the person He has anointed says. For instance, a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.
Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?
She said, Yes, for so much.
Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things (Acts 5:1-11).
This judgment was necessary to prevent pollution and corruption of the Church. It was not just a matter of Peter fighting those who are fighting his finances, marriage, business, or profession.
In that case, we are to pray in the Name of Jesus Christ to destroy any work of satan, his devils, and his human agents and witches against us. And when we give the command in the Name of Jesus, their plans and works are destroyed.
And if any of them continues, God knows when his or her time will be up; and then He Himself will kill him/her or judge him/her accordingly. But we do not have to go around commanding all witches to die.
Many times, bitterness, hatred, and unforgiveness are present in that kind of prayer. But if we are obedient to God and maintain red-hot spiritual life, no witch, wizard, or agent of satan can overcome us.
How can they overcome us when God is for us, Jesus Christ is with us, the Holy Spirit is in us and upon us, angels of God are on our side, the Blood of Jesus Christ speaks good things for us, the Name of Jesus Christ is within our heart and mouth, and we have great authority and promises in the Word of God?
But God will surely punish and judge the hardened and unrepentant sinner. The Word of God says, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).
"Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My Servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
"And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He Who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works
(Rev. 2:20-23).
If anything, if I believe that God will do what I tell Him to do about someone who counts himself/herself as an enemy, I will rather want God (an angel of God) to strike the person with a sickness or harsh condition, which he or she will not recover from until he/she either repents or bows to my advantage.
But if he or she dies at a time not appointed by God, he/she will go to Hell; and Heaven will lose the soul. If the person’s appointed time by God comes, God can judge the person; and because he refused the Call of God, he will be condemned forever!
STAYING IN YOUR AREA OF CALLING
It is necessary for you to stay in your area of calling and not operate in another man’s area of calling. I mean, don’t do what God did not call you to do or what He does not want you to do. Of course, the Word of God is one, and the Spirit of God is One; therefore, in a sense, God may want you or permit you to do something(s) that is (are) not your major area(s) of calling. But don’t stay there when the permission is over.
Also, it is better to operate and dwell in God’s Perfect Will for your life and ministry instead of His Permissive Will; for His Perfect Will carry greater blessings. Operating in what is against the Will of God for you is disobedience. And know that God can permit you to do what is not His Perfect Will for you if you ask for it; but there are the good, the better, and the best in someone’s life and ministry.
When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and brought them out of the house of bondage, He led them through Moses, and later through Joshua. And afterwards, God led them through different judges who had different kinds of anointing. The judges of Israel included: Ehud, Jephthah, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, and others. But a time came when the Bible says, "Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
"The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’
"But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
‘According to all the works which they have done since the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day – with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods – so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them.’
"So Samuel told all the Words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, ‘This will be the behaviour of the king who will rule over you. He will take your sons and daughters....’ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’
"And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the Hearing of the Lord. So the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed their voice, and make them a king.’ And Samuel said to the men of Israel, ‘Every man go to his city’ (1 Sam. 8). The point here is that although God did not want them to have a king, they themselves desired and wanted a king, to be like other nations; and God gave them what they wanted.
Even in the ministry, if you do not stay in your area of calling, and you want to do this or that, because someone else did it, the anointing on you can still work to do it to a level, though under God’s Silence (not His Commission, or even His Permission). And He may even permit you to do what you want to do, like in the case of the Israelites.
For instance, if God calls you to be an evangelist without establishing a church, if you decide to establish a church, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gifts of healings and the working of miracles will still operate through you, and people will be attracted to that your church.
But if God does not want you to open the church, though people will be there, and still be blessed by God the much He can, yet it will not be to your advantage, because you may be running in vain. Remember that God rewards you for being faithful to what He called you to do, and not for doing what you want to do.
Also, you may run the church for some time, and suddenly, the church may start dropping in number and close up within a short period of time. Even if the church does not close up, since you are not walking in God’s Will, demons may easily deceive you with satanic, demonic, and unbiblical doctrines, teachings, and practices.
The danger of not staying in your area of calling can be seen in what happened in the life of King Saul. In the Old Testament, only the priests, the prophets, and the kings had the Spirit of God upon them – they were anointed by the Spirit of God. Sometimes, when God chose someone for any other special task or assignment, He would anoint the person for that purpose. But the kings, though anointed by the Spirit of God, did not have the duty or permission to offer burnt offerings; but King Saul offered a burnt offering and lost the kingdom.
The Bible says, "Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and the people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
"And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering.
"Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
‘Then I said, The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.
Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the Commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue.
‘The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His Own Heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.’ Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men" (1 Sam. 13:5-15).
Notice that King Saul ‘did not have’ bad motive for what he did! But what is good in any motive that will consciously violate the Word and Commandment of God? Notice also that Samuel had an appointment with him that he would come to Gilgal by a time which Samuel himself did not keep (honour). Notice that King Saul was in a great distress – many people had fled from him. Only about six hundred men were with him; and the Philistines were numerous like the sand on the seashore.
Yet, upon all these ‘excuses’, God removed the kingdom from him, because he disobeyed God and did what his office (the kingship office and position) was not given to do. And if keep on reading the story of that particular war and into the fourteenth chapter, you will observe that God still did a great miracle in the battle.
For though in the day of battle there was found neither sword nor spear in the hand of any of the six hundred men who were with Saul in Gibeah except King Saul and his son Jonathan (for there was no blacksmith in Israel, but the Israelites depended on the Philistines for their working tools; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.
), yet God used only Jonathan and his armour bearer to put the Philistines to flight.
And the rest of the Israelites joined and pursued the Philistines, such that even those that had left Saul to hide in the mountains of Ephraim, because of fear, also joined in the battle when they heard that the Philistines had fled; and Israel defeated the Philistines in that battle. God even made the earth to quake in order to terrify the Philistines. Miracles and prophecies are not the signs that God has marked you right!
Notice also that even though God said that King Saul’s kingdom would not continue, he still reigned for many years over Israel. Even David, whom He had commanded to be commander over His people, did not rule over Israel until many years of maybe more than twenty years after Samuel had made the statement.
A surprising account of how God can still give prophecies and work great miracles in the ministry of someone who is doing the wrong thing, or is even teaching and practicing the wrong things, is seen in the war between the wicked and evil King Ahab and the Syrians. 1 Kgs 20:1-30.
That you are still in the ministry is not a proof that you are doing the right thing, and that God is happy with you. That God still uses you does not guarantee that you are at peace with Him. He created all beings and all things; and He can use whomever and whatever He wants to use, to the extent of making a dumb ass to speak with a human voice to a prophet. And He is able to make the stones to start singing praises to Him!
Check yourself to see if you are still doing the right thing. The Bible says, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12). Examine yourself as to whether you are in the Faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified
(2 Cor. 13:5). Even though we are in the period of grace, and God can withhold His Judgment for long, know that He will certainly judge the disobedient if he fails to repent.
Furthermore, our rewards for what we do for God are of different qualities and values. To this end the Word says, ...But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it...
(1 Cor. 3:10-13).
Apostle Paul said, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified
(1 Cor. 9:24-27).
The ministry is a Divine call; and God Who calls people is wiser and stronger than all. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor. 1:25). For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My Ways,
says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts
(Isa. 55:8-9).
Let us trust in the Knowledge and Wisdom of our God, and do what He tells us to do (the assignment He has given to us). Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones (Prov. 3:5-8).
Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ said, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your Face, who will prepare Your Way before you.’
"Assuredly I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but He Who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
...For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children
(Matt. 11:7-19). John the Baptist’s ministry was in the wilderness; yet the people went into the wilderness to see him. Wherever God appoints for your ministry, it will prosper there if you obey God.
And though John the Baptist performed no written miracle of power demonstration, yet the miracle-working Moses and Elisha did not rise above him. They were all Servants of God who did their God-given assignments. Notice that Jesus Christ did not say that John the Baptist was greater than all the people born before him, but that they did not rise above him.
John the Baptist might have been in the same level with many of them. Yet He Who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist. Jesus Christ was talking about Himself; because in Heaven, He appears both as the King Who sits on the Throne (the Greatest with the Father) and as the Lamb Which was slain (the Least in the Heaven).
Whereas John the Baptist was in the wilderness, eating locust and wild honey, Jesus Christ was going to towns and villages, preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out demons; and He also ate what people set before Him as He ministered among them. Follow your own calling. Even in the same ministry-office, people still operate differently many times.
Because you are an evangelist, and when another evangelist waves his hand, people fall to the ground, it does not mean that you must also wave your hand for people to fall down. Your own may even be to just speak a word, and they will be falling down; but you may be busy imitating the one who waves hand before they fall, because you want to be like others; and the gift in you may be suppressed.
And it is possible for both the people who fell down and those who waved hand or spoke a word, which made them to fall, to end in the fire of Hell! If our hope in Christ is only in this world, we are of all men the most miserable. Let us do all we can do to please God instead of pleasing ourselves.
DISCRETION AND WISDOM IN THE MINISTRY
Ministers should be discreet in their lives and ministries. Discretion is the ability and right to decide exactly what should be done in a particular situation. It is the ability to deal with situations in a way that does not offend or embarrass people, especially by keeping other people’s secrets.
To be discreet is to do or say things in a careful way so that you do not offend, upset, or embarrass people. It is to be careful not to talk about things that other people want to keep secret. Wisdom is good sense and judgment, based on knowledge or/and experience in life. It is knowledge gained over a long period of time trough learning or/and experience. Wisdom comes from the Spirit of God.
Apostle Paul said, "For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the Gospel, I may present the Gospel of Christ without charge that I may not abuse my authority in the Gospel.
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without Law, as without Law (not being without Law towards God, but under Law towards Christ), that I might win those who are without Law;
"To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the Gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified
(1 Cor. 9:16-27). This is wisdom and discretion in operation!
Nehemiah acted wisely when he was working for God at Jerusalem. Concerning his wisdom and discretion in his service to God, the Bible says, "Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.’ But they thought to do me harm.
"So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’ But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.
"In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together.
"Then I sent to him, saying, ‘No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.’ For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, ‘Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.’ Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
"Afterwards I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, ‘Let us meet together in the House of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.’ And I said, ‘Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!’
"Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.
"So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
Also in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. Also they reported his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to frighten me
(Neh. 6).
If not because of the wisdom and commitment of Elisha, he could have lost the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Of course, Elijah had already anointed him a prophet in his place, according to the Word of God. But wisdom and understanding made Elisha to get a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He neither left Elijah nor allowed the sons of the prophets to distract him.
The prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, as he followed Elijah, and said to him, Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?
And he said, Yes, I know; keep silent!
Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to him, when they reached Jericho, and said to him, Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?
But he answered, Yes, I know; keep silent!
(2 Kgs 2:3,5).
Jesus Christ, in His Earthly Ministry, acted wisely. He knew what to do in the course of His Ministry. Even when He spoke to and taught different people, He knew what to tell the different people that He spoke to. The Bible says, "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I will open My Mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world’ (Matt. 13:34-35).
But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, ‘To you it has been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that
Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them’
(Mk 4:10-12).
God instructed Jeremiah to write down His Words to the nations through him. It is wisdom to record some things. And Jeremiah was wise enough to obey God. Concerning this, the Word says, "Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this Word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the Words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.
‘It may be that the house of Judah will
You've reached the end of this preview. Sign up to read more!
Page 1 of 1