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Prayer.

There are a number of things that I don’t agree with in the notes and in some of the teachings and practices in the Church in our modern era, relating to prayer and Spiritual warfare. I want to cover some of them, and as we are told in Scripture, I ask you to do what the Bereans did, and see whether they stand up to the scrutiny of God’s Word.

Acts 17:11.

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Was the victory over sin and Satan won on the cross or in hell? Pg 4,5

The Prayer of agreement. Pg 8

Is the doctrine of Eternal Security supported by Scripture? Pg 15

Is sickness, oppression and poverty God’s will for a Christian? Pg 18

There is a unity to be kept.

Our belief system can be illustrated in layers like an onion. In the middle are the absolutes which are vital, and for the true Christian there must be consensus.

Ephesians 4:3-6.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Our belief system.

From these absolutes we then make certain deductions. These form the second layer of our belief system.

2 Peter 3:15-16.

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Our belief system.

The outer layer of our belief system is shaped by our cultural settings, traditions, preferences, feelings and opinions. It is this area that is the cause of much division in the body of Christ.

Unity is so important that Jesus prayed for it.

John 17:11 & 20-23.

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one....

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

There is a unity to be attained.

Ephesians 4:11-16. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets,…. to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Our goal is not to see who is right or wrong, but to see what Scripture says.

Prayer (The Name & Bible prayers)

Certain things that have crept into the Church that have corrupted and mystified prayer and Spiritual Warfare and made our prayer lives ineffective.

Traditions

Vain repetitions

Formulas or Lucky charms

Christian superstitions

Prayer God’s will in God’s way.

Matthew 6:5-10.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,

who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13.

Hearing God.

Most Christians don’t have a problem talking to God, they neglect to do it at times and remember very quickly when challenging situations arise, but many Christians don’t listen to the Lord. Some don’t know how to, some don’t care to and still others hear him and choose to ignore him and in so doing silence him.

Jeremiah 6:10. To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The Word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Hearing God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

Hearing God.

On rare occasions God speaks with an audible voice.

God speaks to us through his Word and in the absence of all other directives this must be our guide.

God speaks to us in a still small inner voice in our heart and mind.

God speaks to us through people especially the more mature Christians who mentor us.

God speaks to us through circumstances.

He speaks to us through dreams and visions and even Angelic visitations. To sound a word of caution, this is not the usual way that the Lord communicates with us, and in fact in Scripture it is only occasional. Also, not every dream or vision is from God, we have to contend with our flesh.

Hearing God.

The use it or lose it principle.

Mark 4:23-25. He who has ears to hear let him hear.

Consider carefully what you hear, with the measure you use it will be given to you and even more. He who hears will be given more, he who does not hear even that which he has will be taken away.

When we stop listening, God stops speaking.

To hear from God, you must be heard by God.

Certain behaviour hinders your prayers.

1 Peter 3:7.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Hebrews 5:7.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears … and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

Next week we will look at reasons why our prayers are not answered in the way we want them answered. God says yes, no, wait, and sometimes God blocks His ears.

Prayer God’s will.

Prayer is about us hearing God, but it is also about God hearing us.

1 John 5:14-15. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.

The five fingers of Prayer. (For His Glory: Five finger prayer)

The five fingers of Prayer.

Thumb: Those Closest to You Your thumb is the nearest to you, so it represents those closest to you. For me, this is my family and closest friends.

Pointer finger: Those in Authority Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. These could be teachers, nurses, doctors and ministers.

Middle finger: Our Leaders The next finger, the middle finger, is the tallest finger and represents our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. The people who shape our nation and guide public opinion.

Ring finger: Those Who Are Weak The ring finger is the weakest finger, and can remind us to pray for those who are dealing with illness, those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.

Pinky finger: Me And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Pray for your Leaders.

1 Timothy 2:1-8.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.....

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

God’s will is for all to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:3-4.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

John 6:40:

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Prayer God’s will.

2 Peter 3:9.

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Jesus involvement in seeing this implemented, culminated in His going to the cross and suffering at the hands of those He was desiring to save.

What are you and I doing to see God’s will implemented.

Do we pray “Thy will be done”?

God’s will is for us to be sanctified.

Set apart for pure and holy living.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit..

God’s will is for us to bring Him glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Praying God’s will.

Matthew 5:44.

Pray for those who persecute you.

The example of Jesus.

Luke 23:33-34.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Praying God’s will.

The example of Stephen.

Acts7:59-60. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

When he had said this, he fell asleep.

God’s will.

Is it Biblical to state that sickness, poverty and oppression

are not His will for His Children? (Read Pg 18)

Hebrews 11:35-39. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.

Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated, the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith.

Trophimus and our Need for Resilient Faith Tony Cooke.

Ephesians 4:20. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.

Paul ascribed no fault or blame upon Trophimus. Such as:

“He must not have had enough faith.”

“There must have been sin in his life.”

“He must have missed it somewhere.”

Paul felt no need to defend the doctrine of healing or his own ministry. He didn’t express the idea that he had “failed” to get Trophimus healed.

Paul did not try to make this into a theological or philosophical issue at all.

Paul simply stated the fact of Trophimus’ illness as it existed at that moment.

Trophimus and our Need for Resilient Faith Tony Cooke.

I am addressing this topic because many believers have faced great anguish when someone they love has not recovered or even died in spite of much prayer. Some surviving loved ones have even been victims of judgmental attitudes and condescending remarks by rigid and insensitive believers.

Regardless of one’s theology about the role of faith in healing, I think that all believers will agree with Paul’s statement in

1 Corinthians 13:13.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Notice that Paul placed love, not faith, at the top of the list. If there are times when we don’t understand why something did not occur according to one’s faith, the least we can do is to make sure that we are walking in love toward those that are hurting, and release compassion, care, and concern – not speculative judgement – toward them.

God’s will and sickness and healing.

Years ago Sam Ennis told me of a breakaway from Roodepoort Assembly.

An Elder said that a lady who had cancer was going to be healed (The Lord had supposedly revealed this to him)

She subsequently died and the Elder left the church with a breakaway group stating that the death was because of a lack of faith.

I heard Brian Downwood relay a story while he was ministering.

A bible-study group in a church was told to go home and examine Paul’s thorn in the flesh and come back the next week to discus it.

The subsequent discussion led to the church splitting over the different views.

Praying God’s will and not ours.

God says not your will.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Illness guided Paul to Galatia.

Galatians 4:13-14.

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn.

Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

For my first 16 years of Full time Ministry, I had an elder who was a quadriplegic. Many people prayed for him to get out of his wheelchair, some even tried to pull him out, one even bought him a new pair of shoes for when he stood up and started to walk.

Paul’s description of himself.

2 Corinthians 11:23-24.

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. That sounds a lot like poverty to me!

Paul’s description of the Apostles.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13.

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world, right up to this moment.

The modern gospel offers people divine health and wealth, Jesus offered his disciples a cross.

Philippians 4:11-13.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

If we were preaching the same Gospel that Jesus preached, would our Churches be as full as what they are?

A recent report on the USA spending stated that the Christmas spending had dropped by 1%, but the figure was still close to 500 billion dollars.

The average spending per family in USA on Christmas day worked out to be $832.

3 billion people in the world, that means almost half of the world’s population live on an average of $2 per day, that is $730 a year, less than the average American family spends on Christmas day on decorations, presents and food!!

Do we really think that God cares about the silver Mercedes some are praying for?

God’s will and sickness and healing.

Yoido Full Gospel Church

A Pentecostal church affiliated with the

Assemblies of God on Yeouido (Yoi Island) in Seoul, South Korea. With about 480,000 members (2015), it is the largest Pentecostal Christian congregation in South Korea,

Founded by David Yonggi Cho in 1958, the church is presently led by Young Hoon Lee.

In May 1958, Cho held his first worship service in the home of his friend, Choi Ja-shil. Only Choi and her three children attended the service, but the church grew rapidly and soon had 50 members. Cho and church members began a campaign of knocking on doors and inviting people to come to church, and within three years, it had grown to four hundred members. In 1961, the church purchased its first plot of land at Seodaemun-gu.

God’s will and sickness and healing.

The church's expansion program suffered a setback in January 1961, when Cho was conscripted by the South Korean army for national service. He asked John Hurston, an American missionary, to pastor the church in his absence. Cho's service in the army was short-lived. He required surgery for a serious intestinal illness, and on the grounds of ill health, he was discharged from the army after just seven months of service

Following his military discharge, Cho once again began his pastoral work, despite continuing ill health. A 1500-seat auditorium was constructed on the plot of land at Seodaemun. It opened in November 1961. The church soon outgrew its premises: by 1964 it numbered three thousand.

Soon afterwards, Cho had married Kim Sung- hye the daughter of Choi Ja-shil, on 1 March 1965. In the meantime, Cho had been continuing to overwork, and suffered a collapse in 1965.

God’s will and sickness and healing.

Economic problems delayed the construction of a church on Yeouido (Yeoui Island), but in 1973, the new ten thousand-seat auditorium was completed.

Its first worship service was held on 23 September 1973.

In the same year, Prayer Mountain, a sanctuary where individuals can lock themselves away in small cubicles for prayer and fasting, was established. Expanded in 1982 to accommodate ten thousand people, Prayer Mountain is now visited by more than a million people each year, including some ten thousand foreign pilgrims.

The church continued to grow exponentially; its membership reached 400,000 in 1984

God’s will and healing.

(YWAM OLDIES FB) October 2016.

Prayer has been requested for Reinhard Bonnke. He was diagnosed with malignant throat cancer. Daniel Kolenda posted this on their official FB page: "Evangelist Bonnke has made it through surgery safely. The Dr. says it was successful. He is now resting and will need to undergo several weeks of therapy, recovery and rest. Thank you for praying for him and for all the loving concern

Health Report of Reinhard Bonnke, and more.. (17 February 2017) As you may know, the last 6 months I had to go through a dark valley of sickness and underwent the necessary treatment. In my weakness, but His strength, I kept up my ministry on FB with great joy. It is my pulpit.

Meanwhile Daniel Kolenda, my successor in CfaN, brought in hundreds of thousands of souls for Jesus in Africa.

His Plan for Me. (Martha Snell Nicholson)

When I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ And He shows me His plan for me, The plan of my life as it might have been, Had He had His way; and I see

How I blocked Him here, and I checked Him there And I would not yield my will, Will there be grief in my Saviour's eyes, Grief though He loves me still?

He would have me rich, and I stand here poor, Stripped of all but His grace, While memory runs like a hunted thing Down the paths I cannot retrace.

Then my desolate heart will well nigh break With tears that I cannot shed; I shall cover my face with my empty hands; I shall bow my uncrowned head.

Lord of the years that are left to me, I give them to Thy hand; Take me and break me, mould me to The pattern Thou hast planned.

Martha Snell Nicholson.

Martha was a woman who suffered from four incurable diseases. She struggled with pain more than thirty-five years, an invalid, bound to her bed.

Her spirit was so transcendently triumphant through those many weary years, that she wrote some of the finest Christian poetry that has ever been written.

Martha writing about her situation. I am looking back over more than twenty years of illness and thanking God for them. Does that sound strange?

Ah, but they have brought me gifts, those weary years. I do not enjoy sickness nor suffering, nor the nervous agony and exhaustion that are harder to bear than physical pain. And an invalid must bury so many dear dreams which have death struggles and refuse to die decently and quietly.

Martha Snell Nicholson.

But God has a way of taking away our toys, and after we have cried for awhile like disappointed children, He fills our hands with jewels which “cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.”

And what friends He has given me! Are there more loyal friends than those who stand by the sick through the years? My family and friends have prayed for me, encouraged me, quietly sacrificed for me, washed my dishes, rubbed my aching head, offered me everything from new books to their very life-blood for blood transfusions. I should like to speak of a very devoted and tender husband, but that is a matter too personal.

Poems began to appear in magazines. In 1938 she was overjoyed at the publication of her first book, Wings and Sky. Six others would follow. Eventually nearly two million of her tracts were distributed.

Bradley Walker. (Joey and Rory)

Bradley Walker

Bradley was born with muscular dystrophy, and has been in a wheelchair all his life.

Walker started singing when he was two or three years old, and began performing in public when he was four. When he was ten, he was invited on stage to perform with The Oak Ridge Boys, and when he was eleven, he sang with The Oak Ridge Boys on The Nashville Network's Nashville Now as well as on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Walker's second album, Call Me Old-Fashioned, was produced by Rory Feek and recorded at the Joey + Rory studio out on their farm. Walker had known Joey and Rory Feek since 2007, and he was asked by Rory Feek to sing the hymn "Leave It There" at the funeral of Joey Feek in accordance with her wishes. Bill Gaither of the Gaither Music Group, who was also at the funeral service, heard Walker's performance and signed Walker to his label. The album includes a posthumous duet with Joey Feek, "In The Time That You Gave Me", using vocals she recorded before her death.

But Jesus never got sick.

Jesus never got sick because sickness is as a result of sin and Jesus never sinned. Hebrews 4:15. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin.

Unlike us, Jesus did not have a human father who contributed DNA and passed on man’s sinful blood. Leviticus 17:11.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

All men are related by the blood of Adam, polluted blood.

Life is in the blood.

Leviticus 17:11-14.

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Therefore I say to the Israelites, None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.

Acts 17:26a

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

We all carry Adam’s sinful blood, that is why we are prone to sin.

The life is in the blood.

In the human body there are many different kinds of tissues.

We define them as muscle, nerve, fat, gland, bone connective tissues, etc.

All these tissues have one thing in common, they are fixed cells, microscopically small and having a specific and limited function.

Unlike these fixed tissues, the blood is fluid and mobile, that is, it is not limited to one part of the body but is free to move throughout the entire body and touch every other fixed cell as it supplies it with nourishment and carries off waste products and the ashes of cell activity which we call metabolism.

The life is in the blood.

In the normal human body there are about five pints of this fluid, and this blood pumped by the heart circulates through the system about every twenty-three seconds, so that every cell in the body is constantly supplied and cleansed and at the same time is in constant communication and touch with every other cell in that body. This blood is the most mysterious of all tissues, being composed of scores of elements and compounds and strange chemical bodies, whose function is not yet fully understood, but all of which have to do with the mystery of life for the "life is in the blood."

Once the blood fails to reach the cells and members of the body, they promptly die and no man ever dies until his blood ceases to circulate. The life is in the blood.

Healing is still for today.

James 5:13-16.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

God’s will is not always our will.

What we want is not always what God wants.

I was thinking about how we as a nation not to long ago prayed for rain and how God graciously answered, but imagine been in Elijah’s position and been required by God to pray that it would not rain for 3 and 1/ 2 years, not something that would make you popular with the rest of the country!

James 5:15-18.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

God’s will is not always our will.

Matthew 26:38-44.

Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

God’s will is not always our will.

Matthew 26:38-44 (continued)

He went away a second time and prayed,

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Lucky charms.

Now I would like to touch on some of the spiritual lucky charms that people use.

The name of Jesus.

Now you might be surprised that I classify the name of Jesus as a lucky charm, but many people use the name of Jesus in this manner. Jesus did not give us his name; he gave us authority in his name, and there is a big difference between the two.

The name of Jesus.

People say: Resist the devil and he will flee from you but Scripture says:

James 4:7.

Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

You can resist the devil as much as you like, but if you are not in submission to God he will not flee from you.

In Matthew 8, a Centurion comes to Jesus and asks Jesus to heal his servant. In this account we can quite clearly see the Biblical principle.

If you are not under authority, you have no authority.

The name of Jesus.

When the centurion asked Jesus for his servant’s healing, he said:

Matt 8:9.

I am a man under authority.

He did not say,

I am a man with authority, but:

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, Go, and he goes; and that one, Come, and he comes. I say to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

You see to have authority you have to be under authority, and so to be able to have authority over Satan, we have to be under authority.

There are many Christians who are not under authority.

They are not under the spiritual authority of a local Assembly; they are not under authority in their home situation.

The name of Jesus.

You see to have authority you have to be under authority.

If a traffic officer is suspended from duty, he has no authority to go out and hand out fines and direct traffic etc.

He can put on his uniform and go through all the correct procedures, but he has no authority.

Satan knows when you have no authority.

Pleading the blood.

Another “lucky charm” though not as prevalent as it used to be, is still encountered, and that is “Pleading the Blood”. People have gone around pleading the blood over their homes, cars and all over the garden - as if it is some kind of lucky charm.

The blood is to protect us against the wrath of God, not against Satan. When the angel of the Lord passed over the land of Egypt, killing the firstborn of the Egyptians, the firstborn amongst the Israelites were protected by the blood. The Lord says:

Ex 12:13.

When I (the Lord) see the blood I will pass over you.

Pleading the blood.

Applying the blood of Jesus protects us from the wrath of God.

Those who have not applied the blood of Jesus to the door of their hearts will one day experience the wrath of God. People take one particular Scripture which they don’t understand and misapply it.

Revelation 12:10-11.

For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…

Pleading the blood.

How do you overcome Satan’s accusations? By the blood of the Lamb.

When he tells us how sinful we are, we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus has washed our sins away. It’s not a charm to save you from harm because it goes on to say:

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

So these people were prepared to die for their faith and that’s how they overcame.

Bible prayers. Pg 8 (The Prayer of agreement)

Matthew 18:15-20.

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Bible prayers. (The Prayer of agreement)

Matthew 18:19.

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

This is spoken in the context of Church discipline, it is not talking about prayer.

The Lord is reminding the disciples of what he told them in Matthew 16, and that is that He is giving them authority (The Keys of the Kingdom) They are not acting on their own, He is in their midst.

This is not about agreeing for a promotion or a new car, it about agreeing on discipline needed in the case of someone who refuses to repent after the correct procedures have been followed.

Bible prayers. (The sinner’s prayer)

The Sinner's Prayer is not in the Bible.

Can you also try and imagine this scene where Jesus is leading some new "disciples" in the "sinner's prayer"? "Wow! There are so many that came forward for salvation tonight!" (The multitude applauds.) "Now, it is very simple. You just repeat this little prayer after Me, and then you're a Christian! Now it doesn't really matter whether you fully understand the prayer . . . it works just the same. Now ready? Repeat after Me... 'Dear Jesus... Come into my heart...'"and so on ... When we try to picture Jesus Himself using our modern methods of evangelism, it seems completely foolish. I think this is a very good test for any method. "Could I see Jesus doing this?"

I John 2:6. "Walk in the manner that He walked"

Bible prayers. (The sinner’s prayer)

It is obvious that there is no "set" sinner's prayer.

There are many variations, with different lengths, different wordings, different endings, etc., but the contents are usually the same.

The prayer usually includes phrases like, "Dear Jesus," "Come into my heart," "I admit I have sinned" (at least the better ones contain this last statement - there are some who do not even like to mention sin in their "sinner's prayer"), "Fill me with Your Spirit," "In Jesus' name. Amen."

Extremely harmless, nothing wrong with a prayer like that, right?

Wrong! It isn't the wording that's important, it's the state of heart of the one saying it.

Bible prayers. (The sinner’s prayer)

I believe that a true "sinner's prayer" will gush out of anyone who is truly seeking God and is tired of being enslaved to sin. (Matt. 5:6) The very act of "leading someone in a prayer" is utterly ridiculous. You will find nothing even remotely like it in the Bible, or among the writings and biographies of those in Church history.

It completely savors of crowd and peer pressure tactics, and (please forgive me) brainwashing techniques. I do not believe that Jesus wants to have His disciples "repeat after Me," I believe He wants them to follow after Him!

What's Wrong With the Gospel?

Part 2: The added parts.

https://www.lastdaysministries.org/ Articles/ 1000008643/ Last_Days_Ministries/ LDM/ Discipleship_Teachings/ Keith_Green/ Whats_Wrong_With.aspx

Let me say this: God works and saves often not because of what we do and how we pray, but in spite of it, but we need to mature.

Binding and loosing, another form of lucky charm.

Matthew 16:18-19.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Firstly: “You are Peter” i.e. “You are Petros” – a little stone. “…and on this Petra” - this rock - the rock of your confession – “I will build my church”. Peter is not the foundation of the church; Peter’s confession is the foundation on which Jesus built His church.

Rom 10:9.

If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Upon that confession, Jesus Christ builds His church.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

“I will build my church and the gates of hell” The original in the Greek is “the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” Hades is not a place where Satan is. Hades is a place where the righteous dead used to go before Jesus died and where the wicked dead still go. You’ll find that when Jesus spoke about Hades, he said that the rich man died and went to Hades, while Lazarus died and he was carried to Abraham’s bosom. Abraham’s bosom was part of Hades because the rich man could see Lazarus and begged Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and to put it on the tip of his tongue. Both of these people were in Hades but there was a great gulf, the Bible says, that separated the two of them.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

The people of the Old Covenant had to go to Hades because Jesus had not yet died for their sins. Before Jesus died on the cross and paid for our sins, when the righteous died they also went down to Hades. So when Jesus said that the gates of Hades would not prevail against his Church, he was speaking about the “New Covenant church” that he was going to build who would not pass through the gates of Hades.

Revelation 1:18.

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Hell, Hades and Paradise. Pg 4

When Jesus died, he descended to the lower regions. Jesus went to Hades (Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise) and not to hell.

Demons aren’t in Hades or Hell yet anyway, and were scared that Jesus was going to cast them into the Abyss.

Jesus was not beaten up and tortured by demons and spat upon and all the rest.

That is another unbiblical, doctrine that went around a number of years ago, initiated by EW Kenyon and made popular by Kenneth Hagin.

Jesus told the thief on the cross.

Luke 23:43.

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

But Jesus was going down into the heart of the earth, not up to heaven.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Ephesians 4:8-10.

But to each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” This is why it says: “when he ascended on high he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.

What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

So when Jesus ascended on high, it says that he led captives in his train - in his procession.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven….. whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows, was caught up to paradise.

Stephen when being stoned looked up and said

Acts 7:59. “Lord Jesus receive my spirit”

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Jesus said on the cross:

John 19:29. “It is finished.”

Matt 27:51. “the veil in the temple was torn in two” This showed that the way into the Holy of Holies was made open. The redemptive work was complete, our sins were paid for. There was no need for Jesus to go down and be tortured in hell as some teach. Jesus went down to Hades, and when he ascended, he led captives in his train. So now Abraham’s bosom (or paradise) is no longer in the heart of the earth.

When Jesus died, the First Fruits of the resurrection took place as the veil in the Temple was torn. Saints from the Old Testament resurrected as God’s stamp of approval on the atonement of sin by Jesus.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Matt 27:50-51. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Jesus was sinless but became our substitute, and the separation from the Father was on the cross.

He prayed Father, then My God my God and then again finally Father as His relationship had been restored.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

My God my God why have you forsaken me.

Father into your hands I commend my Spirit.

Apostles Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Matthew 12:38-40.

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

It is these three days that are at the centre of theological debate and speculation.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Did Jesus go to hell between His death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday? The Apostles' Creed states that Jesus, "was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead." The Athanasian Creed, speaking of Jesus, asserts, "Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead." Therefore, two of the three great ancient creeds affirm that Jesus "descended into hell" sometime between His crucifixion and resurrection. But is that what the Bible teaches? The short answer to this question is: "No." The biblical authors were more accurate in their use of words than some of our Bible translators or creed writers. There are two Greek words for the abode of the dead. Hell (Geenna in Greek, also called the lake of fire and the eternal fire) was made for the Devil and his minions (Matthew 25:41) and will be occupied by all the unrighteous after the last judgement (Revelation 19:20-21 and 20:10-15). www.allaboutjesuschrist.org

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

The other Greek word is Hadas (from which we get the English word Hades).

This is the region of the dead. Before Jesus' ascension, the spirits of all people went to Hades. After His ascension, only the spirits of unbelievers go to Hades, while the spirits of believers go directly to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

It is into this region that Jesus entered after His crucifixion (Acts 2:25-31 in which Peter quotes from Psalm 16:9-10). Ephesians 4:8-10 says that Jesus, "had descended into the lower parts of the earth." This may also speak of Jesus' visit to Hades before His ascension. Finally, Romans 10:7 refers to Jesus in "the abyss" while He was among the dead. After the final judgment, Hades will be cast into Hell (Revelation 20:14). Therefore, the longer answer is: "Yes, Jesus descended into Hades but not into Hell." www.allaboutjesuschrist.org

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

What is the activity in which Christ was engaged these three days?

There are three notable perspectives:

Christ spent his three days suffering the wrath of God.

Christ spent his three days proclaiming his victory over the Satanic kingdom.

Christ spent his three days preaching the Gospel to the Old Testament believers who dwelt in a separated portion of the netherworld.

I myself believe the third, and we will see that there is strong Scriptural support for this view

Did Jesus Go to Hell? (Hank Hanegraaff)

Millions have been caught up in the notion that their redemption was secured in an epic battle between Satan and the Saviour in the cauldron of hell.

In the words of popular

prosperity preacher, Joel Osteen:

The Bible indicates that for three days, Jesus went into the very depths of hell. Right into the enemy’s own territory. And He did battle with Satan face to face. Can you imagine what a show down that was?

It was good vs. evil. Right vs. wrong. Holiness vs. filth.

Here the two most powerful forces in the universe have come together to do battle for the first time in history.

But thank God. The Bible says Satan was no match for our Champion. This was no contest. Jesus crushed Satan’s head with His foot. He bruised his head. And He once and for all, forever defeated and

dethroned and demoralized our enemy.

Jesus victory was on the cross, not in Hell.

1 Corinthians 1:18-23.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 2:14-15.

Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

Matt 12:40.

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Paradise was down, but in

2 Corinthians 12:4. (Paul)

“was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.”

Paradise is no longer down in Hades it is up in Heaven. The price of sin had been paid for those who believe and those who were in Hades have been set free.

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

People talk about hell as if it’s some place where the devil is, but the devil is not in hell. People have this idea of the devil poking people with a fork in hell. You get that out of the comics; you won’t find one scripture that support this notion. And yes I know that people have come back from the dead supposedly and they’ve had all these wonderful revelations of what happened, but we don’t build our doctrine on anyone’s experience or visions which are not supported by the Word of God.

Satan’s domain

The Bible says this about Satan.

John 12:31. & Eph 2:2.

He is “the prince of this world, the ruler of the kingdom of the air”

In Revelation 12 it says that in the time of the tribulation he’s going to be cast out of heaven where he now accuses the brethren before the throne of God day and night. So if Satan has got access in heaven to God’s ear, he has got better things to do than go around pricking people with a fork in hell.

The time will come when he will be cast down to the earth (Rev 12) and then chained in the Abyss for a thousand years (Rev 20).

Hades and Paradise. www.desiringgod.org

In the New Testament, the most extended depiction of the afterlife is found in Luke 16:19–31. There we learn that, like the Hades of Greek mythology, the biblical Sheol has two compartments:

Hades proper (where the rich man is sent, Luke 16:23) and “Abraham’s bosom” (where the angels carry Lazarus, Luke 16:22). Hades proper is a place of torment, where fire causes anguish to the souls imprisoned there. Abraham’s bosom, on the other hand, while within shouting distance of Hades, is separated from it by “a great chasm” (Luke 16:26) and is, like the Greek Elysium, a place of comfort and rest.

Following his death for sin, then, Jesus journeys to Hades...

He liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful, ransoming them from the power of Sheol (Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:48). They had waited there for so long, not having received what was promised, so that their spirits would be made perfect along with the saints of the new covenant (Hebrews 11:39–40; 12:23).

Hell, Hades and Paradise.

So Jesus is in effect saying in Matt 16:18-19.

I will build my church on the foundation of the confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - and this church will not have to go to Hades. The gates of Hades will not prevail against this church. The gates of Hades prevailed against the Old Covenant people, but it will not prevail against the New Covenant people.

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