Topic: Brad Mullins

  • Be Rich – 2022 – 6

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (11) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:11 MSG) (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way…

    Review from Last Week:

    • The tithe belongs to God.
    • The tithe is about your heart and not your money.
    • The tithe is about honoring God first!
    • Tithing is an act of faith. It is a corresponding action.

    (James 2:17 AMPC)  So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

    God is not an extortionist, like the mafia. We are not buying His protection when we tithe. We are honoring Him and tithing is an act of our faith to say I trust You and believe Your Word.

    We tithe because we love God, are thankful for what Jesus has done for us, and we trust Him. We do not tithe out of fear of punishment.

    We do not tithe to get God to do something for us. We cannot buy what Jesus has already paid for.

    Our faith and trust is what activates the blessing in our lives. The money is not what activates the blessing.

    (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

    As believers, we have a choice as to whether we live under the blessings or under the curse. Both are available to us.

    Obedience is what opens the door and positions us for the blessing of God and disobedience is what opens the door and positions us for the curse.

    (Malachi 3:8-9 NKJV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. (9) You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

    If we are stealing what belongs to God, wouldn’t that be considered disobedience?

    As of around 1998, Christians in the United States earned an estimated $5.2 trillion of income and the total amount given to all ministry related causes, including churches, missions, etc. was $92 billion. The amount given is 1.7 percent of the amount earned. The same statistic for the whole world was 1.8 percent. In the US, we gave less than the other nations of the world (including poor third world nations).

    Could you image what we could do if that number went to 10 percent?

    We are not teaching these things because God needs your money. We are teaching this for your sake.

    God doesn’t need you to give – you need to be blessed. Remember, God wants your heart! If you are not tithing, you are robbing God of your full heart.

    Benefits of Tithing

    (Malachi 3:10-12 NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. (11) “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; (12) And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

    1. “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My House…
      1. Bring all your tithes into the “storehouse.”
        1. “Depository”
        2. “Treasure house”
        3. “Magazine of weapons in God’s armory”
      1. “Food” is spiritual revelation of the Word.
        1. Your tithe goes where the Lord has stored up wisdom and revelation for you.
        2. Don’t dine and dash!
      1. God reinvests your tithe for your spiritual benefit.
        1. “You can never out-give God! He always gives back His 10 percent to see to it that you are perfected, equipped and edified.” —Kenneth Copeland, WOFSB

    “And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts,

    1. “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven…
      1. Windows (HEB) = Floodgates. “Floodgates” mean:
        1. Google online dictionary = “A last restraint holding back an outpouring of something powerful or substantial”
        2. Merriam-Webster = “Something serving to restrain an outburst”
      2. It is the same word used when the earth was flooded in Genesis 7:11.

    (Genesis 7:11 NKJV) …on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

    (Malachi 3:10b CEV) Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.

    (Malachi 3:10b NIV) …and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

        1. For the tither, it is a great flood of every kind of provision.
        2. Pour (HEB) = Empty out
    1. …And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

    (Malachi 3:10b ESV) …And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

    (Malachi 3:10b NASB) “…if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

    (Malachi 3:10b ISV) “…[I will] Pour out on you blessing without measure.”

    (Malachi 3:11 NKJV) “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts;

    1. “I will rebuke the devourer.”
      1. Rebuke (HEB) = Cripple, paralyze, stop
      2. Devourer (HEB) = To eat, seed eater, crop-destroying pest, consumed of fire, to burn up, to be wasted
        1. The tither has rights, and one of those rights is protection from the devourer and his attempts to devour any area of your life.
        2. One thing that is revealed in this scripture is that Satan is attracted to fruit.

    “Satan would like to destroy the increase God brings into your life. Look at the things in your life that are growing or increasing—your family, your ministry, your business, and your relationship with God. These are some of the fruits or increase that are in your life. God promised us that Satan will not destroy our fruit and that He would give us divine protection.”

    —Pastor Bill Winston, The Power of the Tithe

    1. “He shall not destroy the fruits of your ground…”

    (Malachi 3:11a NIV) I will prevent pests from devouring your crops…

    (Malachi 3:11a MSG) For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers.”

    1. “Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field.”

    (Malachi 3:11 NLT) Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

    (Malachi 3:11 TLB) Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord Almighty.

    (Malachi 3:12 NKJV) And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

    1. “And all the nations shall call you blessed…”

    (Genesis 12:3 GNB) I will bless those who bless you, But I will curse those who curse you. And through you I will bless all the nations.”

      1. One fifth of 1 percent of the world’s population is Jewish.
      2. Yet, the Jews have been at the center of most of the world’s creative, scientific, innovative and cultural achievements.
      3. They make up 23 percent of the Nobel Prize recipients.
      4. Israel has the third highest entrepreneurship rate in the world.
      5. Highest rated entrepreneurship among women in the world!
      6. Highest entrepreneurship among those 55 and above in the world!
  • Be Rich – 2022 – 5

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (11) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:11 MSG) (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way…

    God’s Economy vs. the World’s Economy

    • God has a way to bring us out of lack and into abundance!
    • Sometimes God’s ways do not make sense to the natural mind and seem like they are opposite of what seems “normal”.

    (1 Corinthians 1:27 AMPC) [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.

    (1 Corinthians 2:14 CEV) That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

    Introduction From The Blessed Life by Pastor Robert Morris:

    “I can say with absolute confidence that Satan does not want you to read this book. Without a doubt, the enemy of your soul would do anything to keep you from discovering God’s principles governing financial stewardship, giving, and blessing. Why? Because once you do, it will transform your life for the better. But it will do more than that: it will impact the Kingdom of God.

    If every believer understood and applied the simple principles we are about to present, it would literally bring revival to the world. Every needed church facility could be built. Every missionary with a divine call and a willing heart could be sent and abundantly supplied. The Gospel could saturate every culture on the planet. Yes, as God’s people prospered, money would come into the kingdom; but much more important, our hearts would be changed!”

    Tithing is the First Step!
    • The tithe belongs to God.

    (Leviticus 27:30 NLT) “One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to Him as holy.

    Tithing is an investment that God will use for our spiritual growth and development.

    • The tithe is not about your money! It is about your heart!

    (Malachi 3:6-8 GNB) “I am the LORD, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost. (7) You, like your ancestors before you, have turned away from my laws and have not kept them. Turn back to me, and I will turn to you. But you ask, ‘What must we do to turn back to you?’ (8) I ask you, is it right for a person to cheat God? Of course not, yet you are cheating me. ‘How?’ you ask. In the matter of tithes and offerings.

    (Matthew 6:21 NKJV) (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    • The tithe is about honoring God first!

    (Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV) Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

    Common arguments about Tithing:
    • Tithing is under the law.

    Tithing pre-dates the law by 500 years.

    Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. (19) And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; (20) And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

    • Tithing is under the law and as a believer I am not under the law but under grace.

    Under the Old Testament we are told, “Do not steal”. Because we are under grace, does that mean that we can now steal anytime we want? NO!

    Under the Old Testament, we are told, “Do not commit adultery”. Because we are under grace, does that mean that we can now commit adultery anytime we want? NO!

    New Testament – “Generosity” – Under grace we always do more than what was expected under the law.

    • I can’t afford to tithe.

    You will never be able to afford to tithe until you begin to tithe. Remember, this is God’s economic system. It is going to be counter intuitive to the world’s way.

    • If Jesus said to you, “You should tithe,” would you do it?

    Matthew 23:23 NLT “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law–justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

    How do we tithe?
    1. We present our tithes to Jesus, our High Priest.

    (Hebrews 3:1 NKJV) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

    (Deuteronomy 26:1-3 NKJV) (1) “And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, (2) that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. (3) And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’

    (Hebrews 7:8 NKJV) Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

    1. We give our tithes in faith believing God’s Word.

    Tithe believing that when you tithe, God rebukes the devourer for your sake, He will open the windows of Heaven, and pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

    1. We tithe our tithes with words.

    (Deuteronomy 26:3 NKJV) (3) And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him…

    1. Make tithing an act of worship!

    (Deuteronomy 26:1-4 NKJV) (1) “And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, (2) that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. (3) And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’ (4) “Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.

    We tithe because God is Good and we love Him and it becomes an expression of that love.

  • Be Rich – 2022 – 4

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (11) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:11 MSG) (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way…

    • Prosperity – is the ability to use the power and ability of God to meet the needs of mankind in every realm of life: spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially.

    Say this: My motivation for accumulation is distribution. I am a source of THE BLESSING to others, and I love to give.

    (Psalms 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity (peace, security, things to go well for) of His servant.”

    • Poverty – the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. (a lack of the common needs of life)

    From “God is My Source” by Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons:

    Many people are facing overwhelming financial and provisional challenges. Most often, they approach their problems from a purely natural standpoint.

    Here’s how it usually goes:

    They look at their paycheck.

    Then, they look at their need.

    Impossible.

    They look at their paycheck.

    And then, they look back at their need.

    Still impossible.

    The more people engage in that vicious cycle, the more discouraged they become. That exercise in futility is usually followed by a series of questions:

    “How are we ever going to pay for this?”

    “Where will the money come from?”

    “What are we going to do?”

    Then comes the “bright idea” phase of the cycle:

    “What family member will loan us the money?”

    “Where can we get another job?”

    “Have we maxed out our credit cards?”

    This madness must stop, right now! We must get our eyes off our limited resources and re-focus them on the real Source of our unlimited supply: ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS WORD!

    In 2010, the Lord gave a powerful word to Kenneth Copeland. Make this word personal as you hear it—as if it were spoken directly to you:

    “Don’t look to the government for your supply. Don’t look to other people for your supply. Pastors don’t look to your congregation for your supply. Jesus is our Source, and The WORD is our supply.”

    • We need to renew our minds and become fully convinced that God is our Source for everything we need.

    (Romans 4:21 NKJV) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

    The Goodness of God
    • The more we realize how good God is, the easier it will be to see Him as our ultimate Provider and Source.

    (Psalms 31:19 NLT) How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

    Great (HEB) = Abounding, abundant, exceedingly

    Goodness (HEB) = Prosperity, good things, goods, property, supply, provision; Good in the widest sense of the word; good to the furthest extreme

    Stored Up (HEB) = hoarded, reserved, protected

    (Psalms 31:19 TPT) Lord, how wonderful you are! You have stored up so many good things for us, like a treasure chest heaped up and spilling over with blessings—all for those who honor and worship you! Everybody knows what you can do for those who turn and hide themselves in you.

    (Psalms 31:19 CEV) You are wonderful, and while everyone watches, you store up blessings for all who honor and trust you.

    • God is good to the furthest extreme and the widest sense of the word.

    Remember in Genesis where God would create something and then remark that it was “good”. He had His man in mind when He was commenting on His creation and that what He had made for His man was “good to the farthest extreme.”

    (Psalms 145:5-9 NLT) I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. (6) Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. (7) Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. (8) The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. (9) The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

    (Psalms 34:8-10 NKJV) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (9) Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. (10) The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. (Italicized – added by translators)

    Lack (HEB) = what is needed because of deficiency or lack, or what is required to meet a need.

    (Psalms 16:2 NLT) I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”

    (Ephesians 3:20 AMPC) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–

    • Think about the greatest thing God could do in your life – and His goodness is greater still.

    (Psalms 23:6 NKJV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

    Follow (HEB) = to pursue, chase after with the full intention of overcoming someone.

    • God is pursuing and chasing after us with His goodness which is His provision and supply.

    (Psalms 119:68 CEV) You are kindhearted, and you do good things, so teach me your laws.

    (Matthew 7:11 NKJV) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

    (Romans 2:4 NKJV) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

    Can we now see why the devil has sought to keep men from finding out how good God really is? If mankind truly understood the goodness of God, repentance would be an easy thing.

    (Exodus 33:18-23 NKJV) (18) And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” (19) Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (20) But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (21) And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. (22) So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. (23) Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

    Glory (HEB) = weightiness in a good sense

    Gracious (HEB) = disposed to show favor, to stoop in kindness to an inferior

    (Exodus 34:6 NKJV) And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

    God invites Moses to come back up the mountain and inscribes the new tablets and then when Moses come down off the mountain, he had to veil his face because of the light of God’s glory and goodness.

    • If we would acknowledge and praise God for His goodness, perhaps we would see greater demonstrations of His power and provision!

    (2 Chronicles 5:13-14 NKJV) (13) indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, (14) so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

  • Be Rich – 2022 – 3

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (11) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

    NOT SHOWN – (2 Corinthians 9:11 MSG) (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way…

    • Prosperity – is the ability to use the power and ability of God to meet the needs of mankind in every realm of life: spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially.

    Say this: My motivation for accumulation is distribution. I am a source of THE BLESSING to others, and I love to give.

    (Psalms 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity (peace, security, things to go well for) of His servant.”

    From “God is My Source” by Gloria Copeland and Pastor George Pearsons:

    Many people are facing overwhelming financial and provisional challenges. Most often, they approach their problems from a purely natural standpoint.

    Here’s how it usually goes:

    They look at their paycheck.

    Then, they look at their need.

    Impossible.

    They look at their paycheck.

    And then, they look back at their need.

    Still impossible.

    The more people engage in that vicious cycle, the more discouraged they become. That exercise in futility is usually followed by a series of questions:

    “How are we ever going to pay for this?”

    “Where will the money come from?”

    “What are we going to do?”

    Then comes the “bright idea” phase of the cycle:

    “What family member will loan us the money?”

    “Where can we get another job?”

    “Have we maxed out our credit cards?”

    This madness must stop, right now! We must get our eyes off our limited resources and re-focus them on the real Source of our unlimited supply: ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS WORD!

    In 2010, the Lord gave a powerful word to Kenneth Copeland. Make this word personal as you hear it—as if it were spoken directly to you:

    “Don’t look to the government for your supply. Don’t look to other people for your supply. Pastors don’t look to your congregation for your supply. Jesus is our Source, and The WORD is our supply.”

    • We need to renew our minds and become fully convinced that God is our Source for everything we need.

    (Romans 4:21 NKJV) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

    (1 Corinthians 8:6 TPT) yet for us there is only one God—the Father. He is the source of all things, and our lives are lived for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus, the Anointed One, through whom we and all things exist.

    (Philippians 4:19 NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to (in proportion to) His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

    (Philippians 4:19 GNB) And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs.

    (Philippians 4:19 JBP) My God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus. And may glory be to our God and our Father for ever and ever, amen!

    (James 1:17 AMPC) Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

    (James 1:17 JBP) But every good endowment that we possess and every complete gift that we have received must come from above, from the Father of all lights, with whom there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency.

    (Deuteronomy 28:12 AMPC) The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

    (Deuteronomy 28:12 BBE) Opening his store-house in heaven, the Lord will send rain on your land at the right time, blessing all the work of your hands: other nations will make use of your wealth, and you will have no need of theirs.

    (Psalms 50:10-11 NLT) For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. (11) I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.

    (Haggai 2:6-9 NKJV) “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; (7) and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. (8) ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. (9) ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

    (Psalms 121:1-2 NLT) I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? (2) My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

    1. As our Source, God will use established channels to bring provision into our lives.

    Money flows through pipelines. An example of this is your job is a channel through which money can flow to you. Your electricity, water, gas all come to you through pipes and established channels.

    1. God does not give us money directly but gives us the ability to obtain it.

    (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV) (17) You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” (18) But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

    1. Channels are not equal to the Source. They are simply a means whereby God can bring provision into our lives.

    (1 Kings 17:1-7 NKJV) And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” (2) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, (3) “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. (4) And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (5) So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. (6) The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. (7) And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

    1. Channels can change over time and with changes in the circumstances of life.

    (1 Kings 17:8-16 NKJV) Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, (9) “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” (10) So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” (11) And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” (12) So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” (13) And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. (14) For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’ ” (15) So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. (16) The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

    1. Our eyes must look to the Source and not the channel.

    Get your eyes off of your lack and need, and get them on to God, Who is our source and our supply.

    Say this over your life and household:

    Father, Your Word is alive and active and full of power. I believe the Word of God is renewing my mind and feeding my faith. I see You as THE Source of my supply.

    I believe that every need I have completely met, every outstanding bill is paid in full, every debt is totally paid and re­moved, and I am financially liberated. I have so much left over that I am able to bless others.

    Thank You for demonstrating pro­visional miracles in my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen, so be it!

  • Be Rich – 2022 – 2

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NLT) For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (11) Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 MSG) (10) This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

    Why teach a series on Biblical Prosperity?

    (Philippians 4:17 TPT) I mention this not because I’m requesting a gift, but so that the fruit of your generosity may bring you an abundant reward.

    • There is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.

    (Matthew 6:21 TPT) For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.

    • Prosperity – is the ability to use the power and ability of God to meet the needs of mankind in every realm of life: spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially.

    Say this: My motivation for accumulation is distribution. I am a source of THE BLESSING to others, and I love to give.

    (Psalms 25:12-13 TPT) Who are they that live in the holy fear of God? You will show them the right path to take. (13) Then prosperity and favor will be their portion, and their descendants will inherit all that is good.

    (Psalms 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity (peace, secure, things go well for) of His servant.”

    • Poverty – the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. (a lack of the common needs of life)
    • Materialism – Trying to solve spiritual needs or problems with material things.

    God has no problem with us having things. He just doesn’t want things having us!

    God’s Economy vs. the World’s Economy

    Economy – the wealth and resources of a country or region, including production and distribution

    (John 17:14-17 NKJV) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

    • We are in this world, but we are not of this world.

    World – (Gk) “Kosmos” – the order or arrangement

    (Galatians 1:4 AMPC) Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—

    • There are three kingdoms at work in the earth today.

    (John 18:36 NKJV) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

    (Colossians 1:11-14 NLT) We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, (12) always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. (13) For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, (14) who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

    • We belong to the Kingdom of God, of which Jesus is Lord because we belong to Him.
    • We have the choice to function in God’s economy or in the world’s economy.

    (Matthew 6:33 AMPC) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

    • When we choose to function in God’s Kingdom, we can receive the protections that God provides in His Kingdom.

    (Psalms 27:1,5 NKJV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (5) For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

    (Psalms 32:7 NKJV) You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

    Money is like a brick.

    A brick is absolutely and completely neutral.

    The brick has no ability to hurt or help anyone on its own.

    In the hands of a person, it can build a church, school, or hospital or it can destroy, hurt, and bring ruin, or even death.

    The brick did not do it, it is the individual that had the brick.

    • Money is absolutely and completely neutral.

    The brick is a revealer of the heart of the one whose hands it is in.

    • Money is a revealer of the heart of the one whose hands it is in.

    (Matthew 6:21 CEV) Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

    Religion would tell us that God does not want you to have a lot of bricks because those bricks will corrupt you and lead you to sin.

    Religion also says that “bricks are the root of all evil.”

    The brick does not generate the corruption, the man that has the bricks generates the corruption which leads to his downfall.

    It is only when I fall in love with bricks and begin to lust after them that they become the root of all kinds of evil.

    • It is only when I fall in love with money and begin to lust after it that it becomes the root of all kinds of evil.

    (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,  and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

    We must know and understand that God does not have any problem with you and me having plenty of money just like He has no problem with me having a lot of bricks.

    We have all made a series of decisions in our lives that have positioned us where we don’t have any bricks. We are up to our ears in debt in that we owe a lot of bricks to a lot of people.

    (Proverbs 22:7 NKJV) The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.

    God never intended for us to become servants to bricks.

    • God never intended for us to become servants to money.

    It has always been the plan of God for bricks to serve us.

    • It has always been the plan of God for money to serve us and His purposes.

    So, we need to learn to make the right decisions that can begin to change the course of our lives and start causing our bricks to serve us instead of us serving our bricks.

  • Be Rich – 2022 – 1

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV) (10) Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (11) You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:11 ERV) (11) God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will make people give thanks to God.

    (2 Corinthians 9:11 BBE) (11) Your wealth being increased in everything, with a simple mind, causing praise to God through us.

    Notice this verse says that God wants you to be enriched in every area of your life – not just money.

    Money is such an important topic in the Bible that it is the main subject of nearly half of the parables Jesus told. In addition, one in every seven verses in the New Testament deals with this topic. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses on money. Ok, so the Bible is full of verses about money. This begs the question “why?” The answer:

    Why teach a series on Biblical Prosperity?

    (Philippians 4:17 AMPC) Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

    (Philippians 4:17 CEV) I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving.

    (Philippians 4:17 GNB) It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see profit added to your account.

    (Philippians 4:17 TPT) I mention this not because I’m requesting a gift, but so that the fruit of your generosity may bring you an abundant reward.

    • There is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.

    (Matthew 6:21 NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    (Matthew 6:21 TPT) For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.

    • Prosperity – is the ability to use the power and ability of God to meet the needs of mankind in every realm of life: spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially.

    Say this: My motivation for accumulation is distribution. I am a source of THE BLESSING to others, and I love to give.

    (Psalms 25:12-13 TPT) Who are they that live in the holy fear of God? You will show them the right path to take. (13) Then prosperity and favor will be their portion, and their descendants will inherit all that is good.

    (Psalms 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

    (Psalms 35:27 CEV) Let all who want me to win be happy and joyful. From now on let them say, “The LORD is wonderful! God is glad when all goes well for his servant.”

    (Psalms 35:27 GNB) May those who want to see me acquitted shout for joy and say again and again, “How great is the LORD! He is pleased with the success of his servant.”

    (3 John 1:2 NKJV) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

    (2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

    Poor – (Greek) – to be poor and helpless and therefore to beg

    Rich – (Greek) – to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively): – be increased with goods, (be made) rich.

    • Poverty – the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. (a lack of the common needs of life)

    (Proverbs 6:10-11 NKJV) A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep– (11) So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

        • Whatever you tolerate, God cannot set you free from it!

    (Proverbs 13:18 NKJV) Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

    • Materialism – Trying to solve spiritual needs or problems with material things.

    God has no problem with us having things. He just doesn’t want things having us!

    Things I want you to know about Biblical Prosperity:
    1. Prosperity is not a bad word!
    2. Poverty is not a blessing!
    3. To choose poverty is actually selfish.
    4. Your level of prosperity has more to do with purpose than anything else.
    5. Prosperity in the Kingdom of God works God’s way and not the world’s way.
    6. Heaven has never had a down day or been affected by worldly economics.
    7. These principles will work everywhere and for anyone who will believe God and stand on His Word.
    8. Prosperity is more about minimizing you and making God bigger!

    (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 MSG) (10) This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, (11) wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

  • The Name of Jesus – Part 3

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    A large portion of the material in these sermons came from the following books:

    • The Name of Jesus by Kenneth E. Hagin (Denoted by “KEH”)
    • The Wonderful Name of Jesus by E. W. Kenyon (Denoted by “EWK”)

    Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  (19)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  (20)  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  (21)  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”  (22)  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  (23)  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “God with us.”  (24)  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,  (25)  and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

    Luke 1:26-33 NKJV  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  (27)  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  (28)  And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  (29)  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  (30)  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  (31)  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  (32)  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  (33)  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 

    We need to make a careful study of the Name of Jesus.

    Is that Name something we just throw into our prayers because of tradition or religion?

    The Name of Jesus cannot be like a “lucky charm” that we use, like a lucky rabbit’s foot. We must understand all that is in the Name and behind the Name of Jesus.

    All of the Authority that we have rests in the power of the Name of Jesus. It would serve us well to take some time to study that wonderful Name.

    EWK – The Measure of His ability is the measure of the value of that Name, and all that is invested in that Name belongs to us, for Jesus gave us the unqualified use of His Name. (POA)

    (John 14:12-14 NKJV) “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. (13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 

    Ask (Greek “aiteo”) demand, this is in reference to what already belongs to you in Christ. We do not make demands on God, but rather we make demands or commands in this life in Jesus’ Name.  

    (The Father is not mentioned here in the sense of prayer being made to the Father.) 

    Acts 3:1-8,16 NKJV  Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  (2)  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;  (3)  who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  (4)  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  (5)  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  (7)  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  (8)  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. (16)  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

    Acts 4:5-12 NKJV  And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,  (6)  as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  (7)  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”  (8)  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:  (9)  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,  (10)  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  (11)  This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’  (12)  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”   

    The Name of Jesus in prayer:

    John 16:23-24 NKJV “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

    EWK – We know that the Father always hears Jesus, and when we pray in Jesus’ Name, it is as though Jesus Himself were doing the praying – He takes our place. When we pray, we take Jesus’ place here to carry out His will, and He takes our place before the Father. 

    Here Jesus is teaching about Prayer to the Father in His Name. That is when we make requests known to Him. 

    Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

    If we take either one of these verses out of context and read them alone, while they may be true, they were meant to be received together. The power to cause what we are praying for to come to pass, comes about because He is in our midst through and by the Name of Jesus.

    E. W. Kenyon states that men obtain great names in three ways: 

    • Birth (Inherited) – They are born to a great name
    • Honored – Others have a great name because it was conferred upon them
    • Achievements – The make a great name by their achievements

    The more excellent Name of Jesus came by all three means:

    • Begotten (Inherited) – Jesus’ Name is great because He inherited a great Name
    • Honored – His Name is great because it was conferred upon Him
    • Achievements – His Name is great because of His achievements

    By Inheritance:

    Hebrews 1:1-6 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (5) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again: “I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON”? (6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

    When did He inherit it? He did not inherit anything in Heaven before He came to earth, because He already had everything.

    He did not inherit it when he was born as a baby in the earth because Philippians says that He laid aside all honor and glory He had in Heaven.

    “Today, I have begotten you…” What day was that? When He was born as a baby?

    Acts 13:32-33 NKJV And we declare to you glad tidings–that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

    Jesus experienced spiritual death for us because He took upon Himself our sin and experienced separation from God.

    Acts 2:23-27 NKJV Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.

    Acts 2:29-31 NKJV “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

    KEH – “You will not be able to understand the authority in the Name of Jesus until you understand that Jesus tasted spiritual death and satisfied the claims of justice on behalf of each of us when He died as our Substitute.”

    The Day He inherited a more excellent Name was the day that He was resurrected!

    By Honor:

    Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV (9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Ephesians 1:17-23 AMP [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, (18) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), (19) And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, (20) Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. (22) And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], [Ps. 8:6.] (23) Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

    EWK – “ God has made this investment for the benefit of the Church; He has made this deposit on which the Church has a right to draw for Her every need.

    He has given to Him the Name that has within it the fullness of the Godhead, the wealth of the Eternities, and love of the heart of the Father-God; and that Name is given to us.

      • We have the right to use that Name against our enemies.
      • We have the right to use it in our petitions.
      • We have the right to use it in our praises and worship.
      • That Name has been given unto us.”

    KEH – “Heaven, earth, and hell recognize what Jesus did. All that Jesus did, all the authority, all the power, all of HIs achievements are in His Name. And the Name on our lips will work the same now as it did then.”

    That Name will work in all three realms with which we have to do: In Heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. We must get the revelation of that!

    By Conquest or Achievements:

    Colossians 2:15 AMP [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

    Colossians 2:15 CEV There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

    Hebrews 2:14 NKJV  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

    Hebrews 2:14 AMP Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death–that is, the devil–

    Colossians 1:13 NKJV He has delivered us from the power (exousia – Authority) of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

    EWK – The right to use His Name is a conferred blessing to the Church: it is a Right that belongs to every child of God.

    We have a four-fold right to use the Name of Jesus:

    1. We are born into the family of God and the Name of Jesus belongs to the family.

    Acts 4:12 NKJV  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    1. We are baptized into the Name and being baptized into the Name of Jesus, we are baptized into Christ Himself.

    Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    1. The Name of Jesus was conferred upon us by Jesus Who gave us the Power of Attorney.

    John 16:23-24 NKJV  “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  (24)  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

    1. We are commissioned as Ambassadors to go and preach and act in the Name of Jesus among the nations.

    Mark 16:17-18 NKJV  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  (18)  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.”

    Faith in the Name of Jesus

    EWK – I cannot see where we need to have any special faith to use the Name of Jesus, because it is legally ours. If I had a thousand dollars in the bank, it would not require any conscious act of faith on my part to write a check for a hundred dollars. 

    EWK – I believe the hour will come when large companies of believers will live this simple life of faith; live it unconsciously, live it daily – they will live in this upper realm where they will see in the Name of Jesus the full authority and power that was in Christ when He walked the earth.

    Perhaps one reason we struggle with faith in the Name is that we thought it was our power that caused the Name to work. 

    If we use our car key to open the car door, or to start the car, it is not us that causes the car to unlock and the engine to crank. It is the key that does the unlocking and the cranking. We just simply take what belongs to us and use it and it works.

    EWK – The greatest need of the hour is not more faith but more knowledge that will produce an unconscious faith in our great, loving Father-God.

    The Name of Jesus in the Book of Acts

    Acts 2:38 NKJV  Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Acts 3:1-10 NKJV  Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  (2)  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;  (3)  who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  (4)  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  (5)  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  (7)  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  (8)  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.  (9)  And all the people saw him walking and praising God.  (10)  Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

    Acts 3:16 NKJV  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

    Acts 4:10-12 NKJV  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  (11)  This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’  (12)  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    Acts 4:17-18 NKJV  But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”  (18)  So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

    (It seems that they were more afraid of the power of the Name of Jesus than they were the teaching of the resurrection of Jesus.)

    Acts 4:29-31 NKJV  Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,  (30)  by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”  (31)  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

    (Their prayers were answered.)

    Acts 5:12-16 NKJV  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.  (13)  Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.  (14)  And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,  (15)  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.  (16)  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.

    Acts 5:27-28 NKJV  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,  (28)  saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

    Acts 5:40-42 NKJV  And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  (41)  So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  (42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

    Acts 8:4-8 NKJV  Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.  (5)  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.  (6)  And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.  (7)  For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.  (8)  And there was great joy in that city.

    Acts 8:12 NKJV  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.

    (The Apostles operated with an understanding that they had a legal Right to use the Name of Jesus.)

    EWK – The Name of Jesus was the battle axe in the ministry of Paul. 

    That Name was in the hands of Paul what the rod was in the hand of Moses. If the Egyptians could have stolen that rod, they would have stripped Moses of his weapon. Now, if the Gentiles and Jews could stop the Church from using the Name of Jesus, they would rob the Church of its supernatural power, and like Sampson when his hair was cut, they would be common men. The Modern Church, having lost the power of the Name of Jesus, is reduced to the position of the shorn Sampson.

    The Gentile Church is a people taken out of the world unto the Name of Jesus, and we are a people who are gathered about the Name – when we meet as an assembly or a church, we are gather in and about the Name of Jesus. It is a supernatural body, clothed with supernatural power, gathered about a supernatural Name.

    The Lord have mercy upon us! How we have fallen from our high estate.

    One can go into the average church or assembly and hear men and women please with God for faith, bemoaning their weakness, confessing their inability to meet the crisis of the hour, when if they only knew the truth, they would gather about the Name of Jesus – this mighty Name that has enwrapped within it the Omnipotence of God, the power of Him Who bore it, and they know it not!

    Of if they only knew how to turn on the switch and receive the light, and glory, and might of Omnipotence which is at their disposal.

    The Name of Jesus meant more to the Early Church than it does to us; it had a place in their ministry that we do not give it in these days.

    One mighty miracle today in the Name of Jesus Christ is worth more than a hundred modernistic sermons that are being preached in many churches.

    The Sons of Sceva Had No Legal Right To Use the Name:

    Acts 19:11-20 NKJV  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,  (12)  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.  (13)  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”  (14)  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.  (15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”  (16)  Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  (17)  This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.  (18)  And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.  (19)  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.  (20)  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

    EWK – The Name of Jesus actually took the place of the Ascended Lord; wherever Jesus would have been glorified by His personal presence, that Name took His place.

    The Name of Jesus belongs to us NOW!

    It is our legal right; that Name belongs to us.

    How rich would the church be today in power, and experience, and grace, if She knew her privileges and arose in that Name and dared take them!

  • The Name of Jesus – Part 2

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    A large portion of the material in these sermons came from the following books:

    • The Name of Jesus by Kenneth E. Hagin (Denoted by “KEH”)
    • The Wonderful Name of Jesus by E. W. Kenyon (Denoted by “EWK”)

    Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  (19)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  (20)  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  (21)  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”  (22)  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  (23)  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “God with us.”  (24)  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,  (25)  and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

    Luke 1:26-33 NKJV  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  (27)  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  (28)  And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  (29)  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  (30)  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  (31)  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  (32)  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  (33)  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 

    We need to make a careful study of the Name of Jesus.

    Is that Name something we just throw into our prayers because of tradition or religion?

    The Name of Jesus cannot be like a “lucky charm” that we use, like a lucky rabbit’s foot. We must understand all that is in the Name and behind the Name of Jesus.

    All of the Authority that we have rests in the power of the Name of Jesus. It would serve us well to take some time to study that wonderful Name.

    EWK – The Measure of His ability is the measure of the value of that Name, and all that is invested in that Name belongs to us, for Jesus gave us the unqualified use of His Name. (POA)

    (John 14:12-14 NKJV) “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. (13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 

    Ask (Greek “aiteo”) demand, this is in reference to what already belongs to you in Christ. We do not make demands on God, but rather we make demands or commands in this life in Jesus’ Name.  

    (The Father is not mentioned here in the sense of prayer being made to the Father.) 

    Acts 3:1-8,16 NKJV  Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  (2)  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;  (3)  who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  (4)  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  (5)  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  (7)  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  (8)  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. (16)  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

    Acts 4:5-12 NKJV  And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,  (6)  as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  (7)  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”  (8)  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:  (9)  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,  (10)  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  (11)  This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’  (12)  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”   

    The Name of Jesus in prayer:

    John 16:23-24 NKJV “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

    EWK – We know that the Father always hears Jesus, and when we pray in Jesus’ Name, it is as though Jesus Himself were doing the praying – He takes our place. When we pray, we take Jesus’ place here to carry out His will, and He takes our place before the Father. 

    Here Jesus is teaching about Prayer to the Father in His Name. That is when we make requests known to Him. 

    Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

    If we take either one of these verses out of context and read them alone, while they may be true, they were meant to be received together. The power to cause what we are praying for to come to pass, comes about because He is in our midst through and by the Name of Jesus.

    E. W. Kenyon states that men obtain great names in three ways: 

    • Birth (Inherited) – They are born to a great name
    • Honored – Others have a great name because it was conferred upon them
    • Achievements – The make a great name by their achievements

    The more excellent Name of Jesus came by all three means:

    • Begotten (Inherited) – Jesus’ Name is great because He inherited a great Name
    • Honored – His Name is great because it was conferred upon Him
    • Achievements – His Name is great because of His achievements

    By Inheritance:

    Hebrews 1:1-6 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (5) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again: “I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON”? (6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

    When did He inherit it? He did not inherit anything in Heaven before He came to earth, because He already had everything.

    He did not inherit it when he was born as a baby in the earth because Philippians says that He laid aside all honor and glory He had in Heaven.

    “Today, I have begotten you…” What day was that? When He was born as a baby?

    Acts 13:32-33 NKJV And we declare to you glad tidings–that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

    Jesus experienced spiritual death for us because He took upon Himself our sin and experienced separation from God.

    Acts 2:23-27 NKJV Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.

    Acts 2:29-31 NKJV “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

    KEH – “You will not be able to understand the authority in the Name of Jesus until you understand that Jesus tasted spiritual death and satisfied the claims of justice on behalf of each of us when He died as our Substitute.”

    The Day He inherited a more excellent Name was the day that He was resurrected!

    By Honor:

    Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV (9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Ephesians 1:17-23 AMP [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, (18) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), (19) And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, (20) Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. (22) And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], [Ps. 8:6.] (23) Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

    EWK – “ God has made this investment for the benefit of the Church; He has made this deposit on which the Church has a right to draw for Her every need.

    He has given to Him the Name that has within it the fullness of the Godhead, the wealth of the Eternities, and love of the heart of the Father-God; and that Name is given to us.

      • We have the right to use that Name against our enemies.
      • We have the right to use it in our petitions.
      • We have the right to use it in our praises and worship.
      • That Name has been given unto us.”

    KEH – “Heaven, earth, and hell recognize what Jesus did. All that Jesus did, all the authority, all the power, all of HIs achievements are in His Name. And the Name on our lips will work the same now as it did then.”

    That Name will work in all three realms with which we have to do: In Heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. We must get the revelation of that!

    By Conquest or Achievements:

    Colossians 2:15 AMP [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

    Colossians 2:15 CEV There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

    Hebrews 2:14 NKJV  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

    Hebrews 2:14 AMP Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death–that is, the devil–

    Colossians 1:13 NKJV He has delivered us from the power (exousia – Authority) of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

    EWK – The right to use His Name is a conferred blessing to the Church: it is a Right that belongs to every child of God.

    We have a four-fold right to use the Name of Jesus:

    1. We are born into the family of God and the Name of Jesus belongs to the family.

    Acts 4:12 NKJV  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

    1. We are baptized into the Name and being baptized into the Name of Jesus, we are baptized into Christ Himself.

    Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    1. The Name of Jesus was conferred upon us by Jesus Who gave us the Power of Attorney.

    John 16:23-24 NKJV  “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  (24)  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

    1. We are commissioned as Ambassadors to go and preach and act in the Name of Jesus among the nations.

    Mark 16:17-18 NKJV  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  (18)  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.”

    Faith in the Name of Jesus

    EWK – I cannot see where we need to have any special faith to use the Name of Jesus, because it is legally ours. If I had a thousand dollars in the bank, it would not require any conscious act of faith on my part to write a check for a hundred dollars. 

    EWK – I believe the hour will come when large companies of believers will live this simple life of faith; live it unconsciously, live it daily – they will live in this upper realm where they will see in the Name of Jesus the full authority and power that was in Christ when He walked the earth.

    Perhaps one reason we struggle with faith in the Name is that we thought it was our power that caused the Name to work. 

    If we use our car key to open the car door, or to start the car, it is not us that causes the car to unlock and the engine to crank. It is the key that does the unlocking and the cranking. We just simply take what belongs to us and use it and it works.

  • The Name of Jesus – Part 1

    Topic: Wednesday Evening Bible Study
    Time: Dec 9, 2020 03:42 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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    A large portion of the material in these sermons came from the following books:

    • The Name of Jesus by Kenneth E. Hagin (Denoted by “KEH”)
    • The Wonderful Name of Jesus by E. W. Kenyon (Denoted by “EWK”)

    Luke 1:26-33 NKJV  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,  (27)  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  (28)  And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”  (29)  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.  (30)  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  (31)  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  (32)  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  (33)  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 

    Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  (19)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  (20)  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  (21)  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”  (22)  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  (23)  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “God with us.”  (24)  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,  (25)  and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

    Three theological terms we need to understand: 

    1. Incarnation – God becoming man through the Lord Jesus

    (John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

    (John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 

    1. Substitution – Jesus became our substitute to pay the price of our sin thus taking upon Himself all we had to offer. But in our substitution in the Resurrection, we can receive on us all He has to offer.

    2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NKJV (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

    Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  (5)  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  (6)  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  (7)  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

    Romans 6:5-11 NKJV  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,  (6)  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  (7)  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  (8)  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  (9)  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.  (10)  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  (11)  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    1. Identification – Our identification with what Jesus did for us on the Cross and in His glorious resurrection. 

    We need to make a careful study of the Name of Jesus.

    Not many have taught or are teaching about the Name of Jesus.

    Is that Name something we just throw into our prayers because of tradition or religion?

    All of the Authority that we have rests in the power of the Name of Jesus. It would serve us well to take some time to study that wonderful Name.

    EWK – The Measure of His ability is the measure of the value of that Name, and all that is invested in that Name belongs to us, for Jesus gave us the unqualified use of His Name. (POA)

    (John 14:12-14 NKJV) “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. (13) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 

    Ask (Greek “aiteo”) demand, this is in reference to what already belongs to you in Christ. We do not make demands on God, but rather we make demands or commands in this life in Jesus’ Name.  

    (The Father is not mentioned here in the sense of prayer being made to the Father.) 

    Acts 3:1-16 NKJV  Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  (2)  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;  (3)  who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.  (4)  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  (5)  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  (7)  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  (8)  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.  (9)  And all the people saw him walking and praising God.  (10)  Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  (11)  Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.  (12)  So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  (13)  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.  (14)  But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,  (15)  and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.  (16)  And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

    Acts 4:5-14 NKJV  And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,  (6)  as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  (7)  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”  (8)  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:  (9)  If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,  (10)  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  (11)  This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’  (12)  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  (13)  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.  (14)  And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 

    (John 16:23-24 NKJV) “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. (24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

    EWK – We know that the Father always hears Jesus, and when we pray in Jesus’ Name, it is as though Jesus Himself were doing the praying – He takes our place. When we pray, we take Jesus’ place here to carry out His will, and He takes our place before the Father. 

    Here Jesus is teaching about Prayer to the Father in His Name. That is when we make requests known to Him. 

    Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

    If we take either one of these verses out of context and read them alone, while they may be true, they were meant to be received together. The power to cause what we are praying for to come to pass, comes about because He is in our midst through and by the Name of Jesus.

    E. W. Kenyon states that men obtain great names in three ways: 

    • Birth – They are born to a great name
    • Honored – Others have a great name because it was conferred upon them
    • Achievements – The make a great name by their achievements

    The more excellent Name of Jesus came by all three means:

    • Begotten (Inheritance)  – Jesus’ Name is great because He inherited a great Name
    • Honored – His Name is great because it was conferred upon Him
    • Achievements – His Name is great because of His achievements

    By Inheritance:

    Hebrews 1:1-6 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (5) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again: “I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON”? (6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

    When did He inherit it? He did not inherit anything in Heaven before He came to earth, because He already had everything.

    He did not inherit it when he was born as a baby in the earth because Philippians says that He laid aside all honor and glory He had in Heaven.

    “Today, I have begotten you…” What days was that?

    Acts 13:32-33 NKJV And we declare to you glad tidings–that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’

    Jesus experienced spiritual death for us because He took upon Himself our sin and experienced separation from God.

    Acts 2:23-27 NKJV Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (25) For David says concerning Him: ‘I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. (26) THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. (27) FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.

    Acts 2:29-31 NKJV “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. (30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, (31) he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

    KEH – “You will not be able to understand the authority in the Name of Jesus until you understand that Jesus tasted spiritual death and satisfied the claims of justice on behalf of each of us when He died as our Substitute.”

    The Day He inherited a more excellent Name was the day that He was resurrected!

    By Honor:

    Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV (9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Ephesians 1:17-23 AMP [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, (18) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), (19) And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, (20) Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. (22) And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], [Ps. 8:6.] (23) Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

    EWK – “ God has made this investment for the benefit of the Church; He has made this deposit on which the Church has a right to draw for Her every need.

    He has given to Him the Name that has within it the fullness of the Godhead, the wealth of the Eternities, and love of the heart of the Father-God; and that Name is given to us.

      • We have the right to use that Name against our enemies.
      • We have the right to use it in our petitions.
      • We have the right to use it in our praises and worship.
      • That Name has been given unto us.”

    KEH – “Heaven, earth, and hell recognize what Jesus did. All that Jesus did, all the authority, all the power, all of HIs achievements are in His Name. And the Name on our lips will work the same now as it did then.”

    That Name will work in all three realms with which we have to do: In Heaven, in the earth, and under the earth. We must get the revelation of that!

    By Conquest or Achievements:

    Colossians 2:15 AMP [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

    Colossians 2:15 CEV There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

    Hebrews 2:14 AMP Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death–that is, the devil–

    Colossians 1:13 NKJV He has delivered us from the power (exousia – Authority) of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

  • The Authority of the Believer – 7

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    When the believer prays, he needs to pray from a position of victory because he is seated with Christ in heavenly places, looking down on a defeated foe.

    We are in the army of the Lord but we are an occupying force not a conquering force. 

    That is why we should not magnify the battle; we should magnify the triumph!

    Praying for those in Authority

    1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV  Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  (2)  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  (4)  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    God wants us to pray for those in authority in our nation so that there will be peace in our nation. Then we can preach the gospel undisturbed.

    As we direct our prayers to the Lord of the Harvest, we take our position on the earth as the triumphant Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Satan’s dominion over the lives of the lost begins to be weakened. That’s how we deliver people out of the bondage of the enemy. When we pray for those in authority in the cities and nations of the world, we weaken the effectiveness of Satan’s Kingdom in those cities and nations. When we pray, God can have His way in those countries instead of Satan.

    As Christians, we have authority in Jesus’ Name to bind the power of the devil over the political scene of a nation. We have the right to demand that Satan take his hands off the government and the economic and social scene of a nation. We can bind every foul spirit that is affecting those areas and command them to stop in their maneuvers and cease and desist in their actions against us.

    Satan’s strategies against on the earth can be stopped in every encounter, and God’s purposes can be fulfilled, as Christians stand in their place of authority in Christ on behalf of the nations of the world by praying for those in authority.

    Matthew 18:18 CEV (18)  I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don’t allow.

    Matthew 18:18 AMPC  Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.

    We can’t dispel the devil and his demons from the earth or cast them into the abyss before the time of the final judgment (Rev. 20:3). But through scriptural prayer, we can keep the forces of darkness at bay so that the gospel can have free course and people’s hearts will be receptive to the Word of God.

    How Are We to Pray for Revival?

    It is the Word of God that grows and prevails in people’s lives enabling them to overcome in any circumstance, or over any force of the devil in one’s life or even nation if it is planted in the ground and watered by the Word and the Holy Spirit in prayer.

    A harvest doesn’t just happen for no reason and it doesn’t happen overnight.

    The same principles for sowing and reaping a crop apply in both the natural and the spiritual realms.

    The farmer prepares the ground and then plants the seed in the ground, and rain causes the seed to grow. Finally, the crops are ready to harvest.

    The Bible calls people who are ready to receive the gospel a spiritual harvest.

    Matthew 9:36-38 NKJV  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  (37)  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  (38)  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

    The Bible gives us instructions on how to pull people out of the kingdom of darkness and get a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of Light.

    In the natural realm, a harvest is produced from seed. 

    But before the seed can be planted, the ground has to be prepared. Then in order to produce a harvest, after the seed is planted, it also has to be watered. The same is true in the spiritual realm.

    A person can pray for a crop all year long, but if he doesn’t get out and plant some seed in the ground, he will come up empty handed at harvest time.

    There are four parts to this:

      1. Ground preparation
      2. Sowing Seed
      3. Watering the seed (Word and the Holy Spirit)
      4. Harvest the crop

    James 5:7 NKJV  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

    The early rain is what softened the soil so that seed could be sown and then the latter rain helped the plant to grow and produce a harvest.

    Zechariah 10:1 NKJV  Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.

    Scripturally, we prepare the ground of people’s hearts through scriptural prayer and sowing the incorruptible seed of God’s Word.

    1 Peter 1:23 NKJV  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

    The Word has to be sown in people’s hearts through the preaching of the Word because it is the Word that brings light and illuminations to men’s hearts to set them from from the dominion of the devil.

    The task of sowing the incorruptible Word of God and telling people about Jesus’ victory over the devil is the responsibility of every believer; not just preachers.

    Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

    Jesus did not say, “Go therefore and pray to pull down demonic strongholds in all nations…”

    You are not going to be able to deal with the devil in nations any other way than by praying according to God’s Word and sowing the seed of God’s Word in the hearts of people.

    When we do these things, then God brings forth the increase.

    1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT  I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

    Preparing the Ground Through Prayer

    The great revivalist Charles Finney gives us a great insight into these very principles.

    Everywhere Finney went, there were great revivals in those cities. Sometimes, almost the entire city would get saved when he came and preached. It is a historical fact that 80% of Finney’s converts remained faithful to God in their Christian walk. The average among other revivals of the time was around 50%. Why the tremendous success? PRAYER.

    Finney would plead his case before the Lord and refuse to not have revival in that city.

    Father Nash, a man of great prayer, would go before Finney into a city and pray in the Spirit in intercession for the city. There is no record of him pulling down strongholds or fighting demons over those cities. He prayed in the authority of Jesus’ Name and claimed revival and souls.

    Prayer that is in line with the Word of God prepares the ground of people’s hearts so that the Word can be planted and bear eternal fruit.

    Note: Do not pray based on what the devil is or is not doing. Base your prayer on the Word of God.

    The way we possess our cities and nation is through intercessory prayer and travail for the people of the city or nation.

    The Holy Spirit will help us pray as we pray.

    1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV  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.

    1 Corinthians 14:14 NKJV  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

    Romans 8:26-27 NKJV  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27)  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

    Winning a city does not mean that every person in the city will be saved because people still have free will. But prayers and intercession make it easier for people to yield to God and to desire to be saved.

    God can only move in the earth as His people ask Him to move. God is longing for someone who will stand in the gap before Him and intercede for souls in every nation.

    Ezekiel 22:30 NLT  “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

    God did not say we had to go out and fight Satan, a defeated foe. The verse says that if God’s covenant children would ask Him to move on the earth, He would hear and answer their prayers.

    Once we pray like that, then it is our responsibility to preach the Word of God so people can be saved and hear the Word on how they are delivered and free from Satan’s dominion and authority over them in Christ.

    Mightily Grew the Word and Prevailed

    Acts 19:1-2 NKJV  And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples  (2)  he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

    Acts 19:5-7 NKJV  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.  (7)  Now the men were about twelve in all.

    Acts 19:10-12 NKJV  And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.  (11)  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,  (12)  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 19:20 NKJV  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

    Acts 19:20 NIV  In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

    Acts 19:20 NLT  So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.

    If you want to see miracles happen, including people being set free from demonic influence and oppression, PREACH THE WORD!

    Limitations to Our Authority

    We have the authority to break the power of the devil over people’s lives in the Name of Jesus and make it easier for them to receive Christ. But they still have free choice and choose to accept Jesus or reject Him. Breaking the power of the devil over a person’s life then that person is unhindered from Satan’s influence so he can make a free decision for Christ.

    We DO NOT have the Scripture for breaking the power of the devil over an entire city once and for all time, because a city is composed of people. People have free choice and they can choose who they will serve. But we can push back the influence of the devil in prayer so that the Word has an opportunity to prevail.

    I can deal with the devil in my own life. I cannot deal with the devil in someone else’s life unless that person gives me permission and authority to do so. For example, I can handle my own finances, but I can’t handle your finances unless you give me that authority.

    As long as a person’s own mentality and will are at work and he can control himself, he has a lot to do with his own deliverance.

    If a person’s mentality is such that you can communicate with him, and he gives you permission, you can deal with evil spirits in his life. But if not, you cannot.

    If a person’s mind is not functioning properly and he can’t give you permission, then you can help him if the Lord gives you a supernatural operation of a gift of the Spirit to deal with the evil spirit that is harassing him.

    The same thing was true in Jesus’ ministry:

    Mark 5:21-24 NKJV  Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  (22)  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet  (23)  and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”  (24)  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

    Mark 5:35-43 NKJV  While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”  (36)  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”  (37)  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  (38)  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  (39)  When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”  (40)  And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  (41)  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”  (42)  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.  (43)  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

    Believers Can Yield to the World, the Flesh, or the Devil
    • The World:

    1 John 5:4-5 NKJV  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  (5)  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

    John 16:33 NKJV  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

    1 John 4:4 NKJV  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

    • The Flesh

    Romans 8:1-4 NKJV  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,  (4)  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

    Galatians 5:16 NKJV  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

    • The Devil

    Colossians 2:15 NKJV  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

    Hebrews 2:14 AMPC  Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death–that is, the devil–