"The Spirit Himself bears witness
with our spirit
that we are children of God."
Romans 8:16
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To The Church Who is Praying for Revival:
Once again, we’re dealing with the traditions of men that make the Word of God of no effect. If you haven't read the previous lesson, please scroll down before continuing.
The Body is to proclaim what He has done…
in word and in deed.
We are the branches…one with the vine. We can’t do anything without Him but He is limited if we don’t allow Him to flow through us, for the fruit comes through the branches.
“It’s not about me!” Really?
Well, don’t tell that to the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher or they could be out of a job! No, they have been called by Jesus to equip the people of God for the work of ministry to edify the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12) … not to demean their value.
"Scripture says we are to be partakers of the divine nature'' (2 Peter 1:4).
Traditions of Men: Aimless Conduct -- 1 Peter 1:18
“It’s not about me” and other similar statements seem to have permeated some teachings that are on Christian TV lately. Someone who is teaching error you can turn off, but when it seeps into worship songs they can influence one church after another and spread like a virus through the Body.
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:3-4).
It’s not about me? Who then would Christ work through?
No, we are His body, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23).
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." Ephesians 5:1
What about these lyrics…“There’s no one like You.” Really?
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness …’” (Genesis 1:26). How often have we seen a young man and thought, he’s just like his father. That doesn’t mean the boy IS his father, but like him.
Or, imagine a family gathering around the table to celebrate Thanksgiving and all the children say to their father, “We’re not like you.”
The spirit of error
When songs are sung that are intertwined with truth and error, there can actually be a decrease of power in our church services. Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and He cannot bless that which is of error. Sadly, the supply of the Spirit is then hindered.
Some think that in keeping the New Creation Man “lowly” they are keeping him humble. Jesus was meek and humble, but bold concerning His identity. He did not allow the traditions of men to convert Him to weakness and bondage to their control.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
If the laborers think themselves insignificant and powerless, how can they accomplish the “greater works?” How often are we begging God for something He has already given us in the new birth as “heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus?” See Romans 8:17.
Now, I am not saying that we should be prideful and boastful and have no need for God. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. But we are NOT without Him for we are in Him! “… in Him we live and move and have our being … (Acts 17:28).
True humility will not take away confidence but make one bold in their dependence upon Him. “I can do all things through Christ…”
Remember what Jesus said about true worship?
“You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” See John 4:22-24.
Let’s imagine this scene in Heaven…
It’s Sunday morning on earth and the Saints are gathering together everywhere. The Father is seeking, looking for true worshipers.
Ah, He has found what He was looking for!
This church family is so excited to see one another and to gather together for a great celebration! Joy and expectation fill the room. These Believers have been trained in the Word and “baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). They know who they are in Christ.
They begin to praise and celebrate God with joyful exuberance and the glory, the manifested Presence of God, fills the atmosphere. This group’s songs are based on the scriptures as they praise and worship in spirit and truth. They do not come from the position of beggars trying to touch God. They worship their Father from the place of truth, being one in God, made in His likeness.
They know they are one with Christ, for scripture says He “… raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” See Ephesians 2:6-7.
When the Body assembles to unite in true worship it can lay track for the preaching and hearing of The Word to produce life and restoration.
So what does true worship look like?
Let’s go to the Book for our template:
“And they sang a new song, saying:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.’” Revelation 5:9-10
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13
The Edifying of the Body of Christ: To a Perfect Man…Really?
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
‘When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.’
(Now this, ‘He ascended’—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of 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 fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:7-13).
When you were born of the incorruptible seed of the word of God (1 Peter 1:23), your spirit went from death to life, made perfect, without any birth defects. The soul on the other hand, must be brought under the breath of God — your spirit — where He dwells.
The soul (the mind-will-emotions-intellect-memories) must be dominated, transformed, and re-trained. Re-trained to what, the tradition of men? God forbid! That was nailed to His cross (Colossians 2:14).
What should we line up with?
We must line up with truth and truth is the Word of God…who is Jesus Christ!
This is the same substance (seed) we were born again with and should be partaking of daily. Some Christian books are very good but they cannot take the place of reading/studying the Bible for the author is man and not God.
If you don’t know the Bible, how can you discern error?
Put on the New Man! Ephesians 4:24
The “in Him” scriptures declare your new identity in Christ.
They need to be planted into your spirit to bring regeneration to your soul and to your body. The truth you know…shall make you free. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Read John 8:31-36 and John 6:63.
Put Off the Old Man! Ephesians 4:22
If your spirit cannot control your soul and body you will remain like the two-year old who periodically throws a tantrum at the store when he doesn’t get his way. Jesus said in your patience, (endurance and perseverance), possess your soul. See Luke 21:19.
Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue — Proverbs 18:21
What we sing in worship can get rooted in you and affect your life, good or bad.
Remember, what you believe in your heart and say with your mouth can make its way into your life. “You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2).
Monitor the words of the song as you’re singing.
Don’t speak out words that don’t agree with what is written in the epistles.
In other words, whatever Jesus took on the cross doesn’t belong to you now… sin, sickness, disease, poverty, and grief (Galatians 3:13-14).
Our freedom and His blessing are what true praise is all about. “… rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). See Power Praise
Getting Unstuck for Advancement in the Spirit
Religious traditions of men bind and dilute the anointing. They bring dependence on the wrong tree which hinders growth and progress.
The glory rests in and on the tree of life and its fruit. “ — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Read Ephesians 4:15-16.
Suggested Assignment: Know Your Heritage
Join me in reading John Chapter 17 every day for the next two weeks.
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE
Guard your heart and your soul so that your mind, will, and emotions won’t divert the flow of the river… for “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This He spoke concerning the Holy Spirit who is in you. See John 7:38-39.
Watch, Hear, and Pray
Watching in the spirit is getting into your quiet place so you can hear from God in your inner man.
The soul has to be quieted from all busyness, from cares, from problems. Praying in the spirit (tongues) for 15 minutes should quiet the mind and bring you into the REST of God, into His Presence. Live…stay in the moment. Put everything else on the shelf for later. Hear His voice. He may want you to be quiet in your prayer time so that He can refresh and strengthen your inner man. When we rest in Him we are not wasting time doing nothing… we are making connection with the Lord of the Sabbath.
He may then guide you into intercession. Either way, we are to be led by His Spirit who dwells within us because Father knows best.
And if we deal with cares, grief, and problems in our prayer closet, we won’t carry that baggage into our assemblies as we go before the LORD to celebrate HIM in spirit and truth!
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
With tongues — with understanding: 1 Corinthians 14:15
The Holy Spirit will direct us and lead us into effective prayer so that when you say “NO!” ... it is “NO!” in heaven for “whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). Christ needs His body on earth to speak things out.
The Circle
What is intercession?
Jesus sends the call to His Spirit on earth -- in you.
You hear.
You pray it out…back to Christ.
The circle is complete.
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” See 1 Corinthians 14:2 and also John 16:13-14.
PRAY FOR YOUR STATE:
The Church to Arise
The Lost: hear and receive Jesus
Elected Leaders: do the will of God
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