Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"Eye Of God"

"Eye Of God"


"Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." (Psalm 33:18-19)  Nobody escapes; nobody is alone in their sin; nobody suffers, thinking no one knows; there is continually an all-seeing "Eye of God."

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears
are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil."
(I Peter 3:12)

A Holy, sinless God has no habitation with sin and evil, but "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  You say, "Does that mean He does not hear me if I repent?"  He hears "all" who sincerely repent of their sins.  He is nigh unto those who have a broken heart and such as have a contrite spirit.  The God who watches, knows all; He knows if we are sincere, and He knows when we play games.  He sees; He knows; He watches; the depth of our souls are open to His EYE.  

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath
of all mankind."
(Job 12:10)

How infinite is our God!  When we think we have nowhere to turn, that we're all alone with no help, that there is no way out, that we're going under and we will be utterly destroyed; look up!  The "eye" that sees all knows your pain; call out to Him; He's as close as the whisper of His name.  You say, "But, I haven't lived for God; I have sinned; what if He won't hear me?"  Anyone in the world who sincerely reaches up to his/her Creator, who is willing to turn around and walk in the light of His love, grace and mercy  ...  He hears them  ...  He will run to you, take you in His arms, comfort you, heal you, provide for you, sustain you, and care for you.  He's not a Santa Claus in the sky; we don't get everything we want, but He will provide for our needs.  "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."  (Psalm 37:25)


"When you hide your face, they are terrified; whey you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.  When you send your Spirit, they are
created, and you renew the face of the earth."
(Psalm 104:29-30)

When God sends His Spirit, we are created, and He renews the face of the earth!  Beautiful!  That's what it's all about, my friends  ... being created, then "Re" created, or born again.  The word "renew" means to begin again.  When we are filled with the Spirit of God, His eyes look upon earth as it was in the beginning.  Astounding, isn't it?  When He pours His Spirit upon "all" flesh, the face of the earth will be renewed!  That's from "HIS" perspective; our perspective is that we return to innocence when we repent deeply, when we are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and when we are filled with His spirit and speak in tongues as His Spirit gives the utterance.  We are a new creation. It is the most exciting thing that can happen to a human being! 

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, 
to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is 
perfect toward him ..."
(2 Chronicles 16:9)

One commentary says it this way about the 'perfect heart,' "whose heart is devoted to him."  Job 31:4 says, "Does he not see my ways and count my every step."  God is the camera in the sky, the eternal video recorder, the live streaming lens from the other side.  That could be a comforting thought, or a very panicky thought, depending on how we conduct our lives.  The unseen Eye sees  ...

"For who hath despised the day of small things?  For they
shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet is in the hand of
Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord,
which run to and fro through the whole earth."
(Zechariah 4:10)

What about you?  Maybe you've worked for God for many years and you wonder if you've done any good.  Maybe you've witnessed and witnessed, but not many have come to God.  God sees the little things and He sees the grandios.  You say, What difference do I make; I'm a nobody?"  Zerubbabel was the master builder under God, the grand architect, and this scripture was referring to his building of the second temple.  The non-Jews succeeded in having a ban placed on the rebuilding of the temple, but two years later, Zerubbabel resumed construction and finished the temple.  Don't give up!  Don't be thwarted in your "offering" to God; you don't know how He views it; everything has a beginning; God gives the increase  ...  The "day of small things;" Barnes Notes says it so beautifully:

   "The day of small things - is especially God's day, whose 'strength is made perfect in weakness; who raised Joseph from the prison, David from the sheepfold, Daniel from slavery, and converted the world by the fishermen and the tentmaker, having Himself first become the Carpenter.'  "Wouldest thou be great?  Become little."  "Whenever," said Theresa, "I am to receive some singular grace, I first innihilate myself, sink into my own nothingness, so as to seem to myself to be nothing, be capable of nothing."

What is this about?  Was Mother Theresa saying we should think little of ourselves?  It's about bits of wisdom seen through the eyes of God.  Humility exalts a man; bowing low lifts us high; we lose to gain; we give to get  ...  Little is much in the hands of God.  The bottom line is: "Seeing things through the eyes of God."  How does He view the dust He formed into man?  What does my last penny in the offering mean to Him?  I sinned last night, but  I'm ok; nothing happened to me?  I see people getting by with evil and nothing happens to them?  I'm doing everything I can for the Lord, but it's so small; does it really matter?  God will answer our questions with His question?  

     "Where were you when I laid the foundation
of the earth?"

In other words, He IS God; it is not in man to direct his own path.  We all need our Creator; prayer and studying His Word is our key to seeing through His eyes.  Sometimes, we do not get an answer to all of our issues, because we will know by and by when we get to the other side. 



If we knew it all, we wouldn't need faith; if we were omnipotent, we wouldn't need trust; if we were more than dust, we wouldn't need a Creator.  What is Life about anyway?

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths
we take, but by the moments that take our
breath away."

The only ONE who can give breath and take it away is Jesus Christ our Lord.  He created all things; our temporal existence in earth is heightened, blessed, glorified, beautified, and full of grace when we view it through the "Eye Of God."


(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

(Photo:  Netlore Archive: NASA photo of the Helix Nebula taken by the 
Hubble Space Telescope has been labeled the "Eye of God" by 
frequent forwarders.  Image: NASA, WIYN, NOAO, ESA, Hubble 
Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), T. A. Rector, (NRAO) 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"A Lot of People Riding"

"A Lot of People Riding"

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." (Rev. 17:3)  John's vision depicts the punishment of the great prostitute, with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery.  She was an image of great wealth with a name written on her forehead, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."  Her adulteries are compared to wine, with which the inhabitants of earth were drunk.  She was also drunk, but not with wine and adulteries, but with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus Christ.  The vision's target is the deception of planet earth, and her evil against the people of Almighty God.  This vision was indicative of the Nations who will make war with the Lamb, Jesus Christ, but the Lamb will overcome them.  Nobody "rides" against the Lamb and succeeds!

There were "riders" throughout the Bible, mounting horses and donkeys, and some heading to where they were going with good news and some not so good.  Some were "riders" in visions, some were reality, but for most of them, it wasn't the broncos that knocked them out of their saddles; it was God!

                                            
"And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way,
and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside
out of the way and went into the field: and Balaam smote
the ass to turn her into the way.  But the angel of the Lord
stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side,
and a wall on that side."
(Numbers 22:23-24)

Balaam was "riding" with an evil intent.  The angel of the Lord continued to block the way of Balaam and his donkey, and finally the donkey fell down under Balaam, and he smote her with his staff for the third time.  Balaam loved money, prostitution and worldly fame.  He spoke with the power of God at times, and other times spoke with demonic influence; he was a corrrupt prophet.  He was on his way to pronounce curses upon Israel for money or honors.  He ends up blessing Israel three times.  But, the Lord stopped his original intentions with an angel, and Balaam was told to speak only what the Lord wanted him to speak.  This was another "rider" bucked out of the saddle by God. 

"And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:
and suddenly there shined round about him a light 
from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice 
saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
(Acts 9:3-4)

Paul, at this time was Saul, and he was "riding" to Damascus to bring more evil against the disciples of the Lord.  He was known for his threatenings and slaughter of God's people.  But, this time, God blinded him with a bright light and knocked him off his horse.  Paul was converted, but it took a throw to the ground, profound illumination and the voice of God.  One more "rider" bites the dust! 

If you're gonna' ride, you best be ridin' with the Lord, rather than against Him; otherwise, be prepared to hit the ground!  Nobody's ever battled with the God of the universe and won.  It's like the song says, "Your arms are too short to box with God." 

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
"And I saw, and behold a white horse  ..."  "And 
there went out another horse that was red ..."  And I 
beheld, and lo a black horse  ..."  "And I looked, and 
behold a pale horse  ..."
(Revelation 6:2-8)

When the "Lord" sends "riders," it's time to fall on your face.  The four horses represent conquest, war, famine and death.  This is the opening of the seals in the Book of Revelation; the beginning of judgment in the earth.  We already see a lot of this, but not like it will be then!  It will be a time such as the earth has never seen.  What should we do?  Escape!  The way of escape is to be ready when the Rapture of the Church occurs. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)  The Lord Jesus Christ will "remove" the saved from the earth before the great and terrible tribulation period begins.  This is the "hope" for the Christian. 

The Lord Jesus Christ knows how to knock us off our horse; it's all about getting our attention.  The signs of the times "should be" getting our attention.  The Angel is tuning up his trumpet  ...  can't you hear the sound?  Don't you feel the ground vibrating with the pawing of Apocalypse hooves?  There's an impatient whinny that can be heard echoing through the galaxies, and the horses for the Saints are anxiously pacing heaven's corral. 

Be sure you're following the right horse, because we've entered the dispensation when there are "A Lot of People Riding." 


(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Monday, October 24, 2011

"No More Tears"

"No More Tears"

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."  (Revelation 21:4)  This, my dear friends, is a good reason to want to go to heaven  ...  No More Tears!

Now, if You don't ever, have never, won't ever, Cry; then, this doesn't mean much to you.  But, for all of us who have endured pain, sufffered hardship, been terrified through abuse, lived to see our children and families pass away, watched as our homes were foreclosed, received pink slips, battled disease, bore the scars of war, and skinned our very flesh in the gravel pits of life  ...  well, we look forward to waterless eyes, smooth dry faces, painless limbs, hearts of everlasting Joy, and those "days that doubled us over in horrific anguish" as a thing of the past that we will remember no more  ... it's called a tearless Heaven.


"The ransomed of the LORD will return.  They
will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will 
crown their hearts.  Gladness and joy will overtake
them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
(Isaiah 51:11)

 Heaven is more real than earth, and it lasts for all eternity; we are "justa' passin' through," as the songs says.  If you were to question people on the streets anywhere in the world; they would tell you that they believe they are going to heaven.  That sounds wonderful, on the surface, but, we must remember that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father, but by me."  (John 14:6) 




"We know also that the Son of God has come and has
given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.
And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is 
the true God and eternal life."
(I John  5:20)

The color chart shows the religions all over our globe.  If there are so many religions, how does one know which one is right?  I asked that question once; and finally, I said, "God, if You are there; show me the truth."  He did!  The "Truth" sets us free!  There "are" many beliefs, many religious postures in the world today, but Jesus Christ IS the Way, the Truth and the Life; He is the only ONE who came to earth to save mankind; the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; He was born of a virgin, nailed to and died on a cross, shed His blood for the sins of the world, rose again the third day, and is coming again! 

Jesus Christ said HE is the Way to heaven.  How do we know?  The Holy Bible said so.  You say, "I don't adhere to the Bible."  I hear you; however, you can read it here on this blog.  Just click on the chapters, stop it, and continue as you wish.  You say, "Why?"  To get another perspective.  All honest-hearted, sincere, people will find and embrace "truth." 


Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection
and the life.  He who believes in me will live,
even though he dies."
(John 11:25)

There is a hope beyond this life, and it is in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do we think about the hereafter?  Do we consider what will happen when we die?  Do we wonder where we will go?  Are we sure of where we are going?  We "can" be sure, if we obey His Word.  After Peter preached, the people were stirred in their hearts and asked, essentially, "What must we do (to be saved)?"  Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39)  In other words, the "promise" is to everyone who will hear and obey.  

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!"
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

People who are "born again," of the water and of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, enter a new door, a door to eternal life.  This time in earth is short, 70 or 80 years, compared to all of eternity with our Creator.  "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17)  "Separate from what?" you ask.  Separate from Sin, separate from anything ungodly, separate from evil, separate from worshiping any other God.  "I've been taught so many other things; how can I believe this?" you ask.  Read the Holy Bible, and decide for yourself.  Start with the New Testament, Matthew, and read what Jesus Christ did for You, because He loves You!  Every person in earth must work out his/her own soul's salvation, and they must do it with fear and trembling; we must search for it, pray that truth will be illuminated in our hearts, and obey His Word.  (Philippians 2:12)  When Jesus Christ is Lord of Your life, You can feel Him in Your heart, Your hands, Your feet, Your spirit and Your soul  ...  He IS Real and You will never doubt it!

Our earthly tears are bottled up in heaven (Psalm 56:8); they are precious to the Lord.  Every tear drop that falls reminds our Lord Jesus Christ of every drop of blood He shed for every living soul.  Our tears mingle with His, as He observes the world He created and the dust He formed into man, become war-torn and battle-weary.  It was not the way He wanted it; man sinned in the Garden of Eden and started the downhill fall.  So, He died on the cross to redeem us, to set us free, to prepare for us Golden streets, Gates of Pearl, a River of Life, a place where there is no night, and forever and ever, there will be   ...  "No More Tears!" 


(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238,com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

"Chess Master"

"Chess Master"

"When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel."  (Deuteronomy 32:8)  God moves kings, queens, cardinals, and pawns; He sets boundaries and when He says the land is His, it IS; He rules by His own will.  The world is in His hand; He is THE ultimate "Chess Master."

"It may be that hard times lie ahead of us, but however
hard they may be, I know that the courage and determination
of all ranks will not falter, and that with God's help we will
maintain the security of this fortress.  I therefore call upon
all officers and other ranks humbly to seek God's help, and
then, in reliance upon Him, to do their duty unflinchingly,"
(Quote from William Dobbie's book "A Very Present Help,"
referring to his time as Governor of Malta in the 1940's)


Our "Chess Master" has assigned us to fall into Ranks and Regions.  He has called us to be Ministers, and we have an obligation to our Lord to "do our duty unflinchingly" and to secure our fortress!  You say, "What in the world are you talking about?"  The Lord Jesus Christ is extremely detailed, as you may have noticed from His Word, the Holy Bible.  He is organizing the last day Revival and the outpouring of His Spirit like a General; He moves Nations into place to accomplish His will and His prophetic Word.  The world is a chess board and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, is orchestrating the moves.

"The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were
loud voices in heaven, which said, 'The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he
will reign for ever and ever."
(Revelation 11:15)

In case someone hasn't noticed, our world is a "pawn" on God's chess board of destiny.  Nothing just happens; Nation's leaders don't just fall; headlines don't just appear for notoriety; people are not set up and torn down by their own fortunate or ill fates  ...  NO, there's an unseen Hand moving the mighty Bishops, stationing the Queens, forming ranks of Knights, and the world itself is a "pawn" in the hands of God. 

You say, "Well, does that mean I can't do what I want to do?"  Important question.  God will not override one's own will.  If we are bound and determined to do something; He will let us do it, even if it hurts us; that's why it is essential that we pray and seek Him for His will.  The world today is in huge turmoil, because few are seeking His will, and because we all dwell in this world, it hurts all of us.  But, those who are seeking His will are receiving orders, direction, anointing, power, vision and they are being moved by His Spirit to accomplish His will in the earth.  What is His ultimate will?  He is NOT willing that "any" be lost or perish!  He loves us more than we love ourselves.  His goal is salvation of planet earth.

"A Bishop may be differentiated by which
wing they begin on (ie King's or Queen's) and
they are equal in strength to Knights.

God set it up for us to have a Church and a Bishop.  In the game of chess, it is noted that "less experienced players tend to underrate the Bishop compared to the Knight, but more experienced players understand the power of the Bishop."  (wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)   How interesting this game called Chess and "God's" Chess game.  " ...And how will they hear without a preacher?"  (Romans 10:14)  Our preacher watches for our souls  ...  not just any preacher; He must be anointed, called, chosen, sent, and a holy one of God.  It's time for the stray sheep to come home; sheep can get lost in their own pastures; they can drown without a shepherd; they are easily confused; they know the voice of their shepherd and will follow only him; but when sheep are sick, they will follow "anyone."  Sheep need a shepherd  ...  He lays anointed hands upon your head for healing, deliverance, peace, strength, power and Joy  ...  A sheep is flounderingly incomplete and out of order  ...  without a shepherd  ...  


"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual 
wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand."
(Ephesians 6:11-13)

Come on, Knights of the Lord God of heaven and earth, take up your armour and Stand!  Times are hard; our minds are stretched to the limits with stresses and burdens; winds of adversity are blowing from every direction; families are hurting; children are in danger; marriages are struggling  ...  but, we must Stand!  God Almighty is our King; we have an anointed powerful Bishop guiding us; we have the armour of God to protect us; the Church of God is our haven of Glory ... we will make it, if we Stand!

It's not over until the King says it's over; His army is in place; His Regions are designated; His warriors are battling in the Spirit; His Word is unfolding; the world is His and He's gathering all the children His mighty hands can reach.  Jesus Christ has control of the board  ...  He is coming again, and He's quite a "Chess Master!"


(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin"

"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin"


The King, Belshazzar, brought the holy vessels from the temple to his banquet, and he and his lords, wives, and concubines drank wine from them and praised the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood and stone.  In the midst of this blasphemy, a Hand appeared and began writing on the wall of the banquet room, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin."

Daniel was brought in to interpret this message written by the hand of God.  Daniel said, "This is the interpretation of the thing:  Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.  Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.  Peres (Upharsin); Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."  (Daniel 5:26-28)  "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." (Daniel 5:30

"Numbered, Numbered, Weighed and Divided"


"But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."  (Psalm 75:7)  Do worldly Kings and Presidents think they are in charge?  Do Rulers of Nations and magistrates really believe they are calling the shots?  Can Presidents actually stick their noses in the air and accept people calling "them" Messiah, without so much as a Nay to such a comment?  I didn't name any names, but we've all witnessed these types of "pride" offered by rulers all over the world.  We are admonished, as Christians, to pray for those who have the rule over us, and they absolutely require respect for the positions they hold, but they are NOT God!  There is only ONE God; His name is the Lord Jesus Christ!  If anyone in the world forgets that  ...  there is ONE who is ever mindful of it  ...  and He "can" get our attention.

"He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings
and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning."
(Daniel 2:21)

King Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's father, was reduced to eating grass in the field like an animal, because he set himself up as God, "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him." (Daniel 5:20)  Belshazzar didn't learn anything from his father's ordeal.   Nobody, Nobody, gets away with assuming the position of Almighty God.  The world's Kings, Rulers, Presidents, and ordinary people like you and me, all, must bow before the One and only Creator, THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, the righteous.  If we do not  ... 

 "The king will do as he pleases.  he will exalt and magnify
himself above every god and will say unheard-of things
against the God of gods.  He will be successful until the
time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined
   must take place." 
(Daniel 11:36)

"Why do evil people get by?" you ask.  There "is" a time of reckoning.  There will be a "payday."  What we sow, we will also reap.  There is coming a "time of wrath."  We serve a loving longsuffering, patient God, but He says, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man..." (Genesis 6:3)  The Lord is giving people time NOW to repent, turn from their wicked ways, receive His Spirit, speak in a Godly language we never learned, and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins  ...
 
God is patient, but time is running out; the four horses' hooves are pawing the ground; Israel is surrounded and being threatened more and more every day; ungodly rulers are rising up as a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God; immorality is parading and flaunting sinful flesh in our streets  ...  but the Ark is being built; it's the worldwide Church of the living God; it's the New Church Order; Regions are being designated for Spiritual power by God; it is the salvation message marching into every Nation, kindred and tongue  ...  the gangplank has thundered to the ground and it's time for all who are willing to get aboard  ...  Can't you hear the call  ...  Acts 2:38?  Acts 19?  Romans to Jude?  Ezekiel 38 and 39? Revelation? Trumpets?

The kingdoms of this world are about to fall; Sin has reached its time of wrath; the fights for Heaven and Hell have come to an impasse; the reign of Jesus Christ our Lord is at the door; there's a rustling in the treetops; the deep is calling to deep; the Bride is pressing her wedding garment; the Angel has the trumpet to his lips; and   ...  the Writing is on the Wall  ...
       

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

"Submissive Snakes"

"Submissive Snakes"



"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  (Luke 10:19)  Evil is real; satan is real; demonic spirits are real; possession is real  ...  But, the "asps" are subject to the authority of The Blood, The Word, and The Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, and that makes them "Submissive Snakes!"


"They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick
and they shall recover."  
(Mark 16:18)

The words "take up" in the Greek is "afro" meaning "to kill," or "remove."  They shall "KILL" snakes!  The authority given to the Holy Ghost filled Christian is to subdue the enemy with our sword of the Spirit, the written Word, even as the Angels of God conquer fallen angels and demonic spirits.  YOU don't know there's a devil until you become a Chrisitian!  Then, the war begins  ...  And, the closer we get to the Rapture of the Church, the more demonic forces will attack, come forth, and thwart our every effort, unless and until we "attack" back, and "remove or kill" their influence  ...  then, we dance in demon blood!  You say, "That's sounds a little crude."  Oh Yeah, it's crude, because if you've ever battled demons  ...  that's what I'm talkin' about  ...  

"Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as
he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the
heat, fastened itself on his hand  ...  But Paul
shook the snake off into the fire and suffered
    no ill effects." 
(Acts 28:3,5)

The Lord was with Paul, and the scriptures proved true; the people around him kept their eyes on him; they were expecting him to fall dead; he didn't  ... it was a submissive snake  ... submissive to the power of God!  Notice, the viper was driven out by the "heat."  Ah, HEAT, FIRE; the Holy Ghost and fire is being poured out in every Nation, and people are speaking in tongues all over the world as the Spirit of God gives the utterance, and demonic spirits are running rampant  ... driven out by the "heat."  The hatred and venomous evil abounding in our world today speak of antichrist spirits and ungodly actions permeating our globe.  What do we do?  Take authority over them, by the Blood of Jesus, the Name of Jesus and the Word of Jesus!  But, hey we have to be filled with the Spirit of Almighty God, (Acts 2:38), prayed up, fasted up, powered up, and consecrated up, to attempt to pronounce power over the enemy.  Otherwise, he'll say, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"  


"... they will place their hands on sick people,
and they will get well."
(Mark 16:18)

The Lord Jesus Christ has given us authority to lay hands on sick people to heal them.  I have laid hands on people I've worked with, neighbors, friends; I've prayed for people on the phone and they were healed.  It was not me; it was the power and authority of the Name of Jesus Christ spoken over them, that brought the healings. 

This is the same authority that is applied in baptism.  No person in the Bible was ever baptized any other way, than in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not the water or the preacher that washes away our sins, but it is "what is spoken over us" that has the power to wash away sins.  In Matthew 28:19 when Jesus said, "Go ye  ...teach  ... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;" the key to this scripture is the "NAME."  Many churches today baptize their people by just "repeating" the words, but Father is not a Name; Son is not a Name; Holy Ghost is not a Name.  The Name of the Father IS Jesus Christ (Jesus said "I am come in my Father's name." (John 5:43); the name of the Son is Jesus; the Holy Ghost is the "Spirit" of Jesus Christ (a ghost is a spirit of a departed one). 

The Apostles understood what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 and did not just "repeat" it, but they obeyed it.  The Church began in the Book of Acts, and every single person was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; Acts 8; Acts 10, and Acts 19)  Preachers everywhere are rebaptizing their congregations in obedience to the Word of God.  Why is this so important?  The authority is in the "Name of Jesus Christ!"  Jesus said it, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus ..."  (Colossians 3:17

The mighty ones of the old testament exercised authority in God; they didn't know it, but it was Jesus Christ then too, because He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM!"  (John 8:58)  Since the casting out of satan from heaven, there have been "snakes," demons, and evil spirits; the people of God have stood up to them and conquered them.  We must move in the authority of God  ... over elements, spirits, and every evil thing that rises against God!  

                                What does Authority in God look like?
Moses
Deborah


Paul

 The Authority of Jesus Christ our Lord flies on the wings of eagles, soars in winds of the Spirit, lurks over sandled feet walking on water, saturates the mud for the blinded eyes, forces squealing pigs into oceans, turns harlots into saints, washes away the sins of men, and sends the dust to its knees  ...  It turns faces of evil into "Submissive Snakes."

                                   What does Authority look like?  


(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)