Filled With The Spirit

John 3:34. How filled (influenced, controlled, led) we are by the Spirit is directly measured by what comes out of our tongue.

Death of Herod

Death of Herod

The death of Herod in the book of Acts was widely believed to be attributed to God. Unlike Ananias & Sapphira’s incident, this is a tough passage to handle.

Having said that, it takes much more to argue that God killed Herod, than to say that He didn’t. There are way too many Scriptures to show that God (in His nature and character represented by Christ) wasn’t the One.

I have heard many interpretations, even from the New Covenant teachings. But none seems to explain the consistent nature of God who changes not. Some even said that God had to kill him (soul and body, but not spirit) in order to save more lives, i.e. to protect the Gospel and the Church. Well, if God does it to one, He has no reason not to do it to another. If Jesus is not the true exegesis of who God is, then we are no different from any non-believer.

And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. - Acts 12:23

The word ‘angel’ in Greek can refer to ‘a superhuman being’, which is an angel. Or it can also refer to a ‘human messenger.’ There are many cross-references for these.

Hence, it is possible that a human messenger struck Herod. But in Josephus’ account, there was severe stomach pain from Herod’s internal, which seemed to point to something beyond natural. Furthermore, Luke wrote that Herod was eaten by worms, although he didn’t specify the timeline when it took place. It could have taken several days (in Josephus’ account) for the worms to eat him up.

Another possible reason is that an angel of God indeed struck Herod. Since angels have freewill (Jude 6; nowhere in the Bible says that angels don’t have freewill), they could have done something that God didn’t necessarily approve (just as Peter did in the case of Ananias & Sapphira).

A third reason could be that Luke didn’t have a full understanding of the New Covenant and thus, simply attributed everything supernatural to God. Just like Peter and the OT saints didn’t have complete understanding in their days. Don’t forget that Acts is a historical book and the Temple had yet to be desecrated. In Josephus’ account, Herod himself believed that he would certainly die if he saw the sign of an owl for a second time, which he did after he was publicly glorified by men. Negative faith is still faith that works according to your belief. The devil can easily steal, kill and destroy, and push the blame to God. This is the same today when believers attributed disasters and deaths to God. 

I’m more inclined to believe in the second reason where the angel acted on its own accord. Ultimately, it is not as vital to know who killed Herod, as long as we know that it is not God. Yes, there is a judgment that is to come, but it is not now and I have many Scriptures spoken from Christ Himself regarding judgment.

If God were to take away one’s life to save another, then Christ died in vain and He didn’t do a complete and perfect work on the Cross.

P.S: Since this is a radical view in the eyes of mainstream believers, I’ll like to suggest that you dig deeper before commenting, as I won’t be replying if the intention is simply to argue.

Medical Skeptics

It took several years of unchanging conviction in the face of trials before my wife began to agree more and more with me, when it comes to divine health and healing.

As a woman and a mother, she naturally inclined towards what the doctors say, for they are supposed to be professionals. However, after seeing, encountering and witnessing how consistent conviction brought about health, healing and results, she is now skeptical towards doctors (just as I am).

Disclaimer: I’m not here to put down any doctor. For those doctors who genuinely desire to serve, we are all in the same healing department. But there are also many who simply want your $$$ without good conscience, and often doing much guesswork. My trust cannot be in medical researches and medical science. It has to be in Jesus. If you know how I went through so many different medical departments in the past, you will know why my trust can never be in doctors.

I realised something very important as husbands (head of the household). Our beliefs will shape the beliefs of the whole household. As long as we stand firm, and remain unwavering and consistent in what we believe, we will convince the whole family to walk in complete alignment.

As head of the household, we need to be unshaken by shakeable circumstances and opinions (even from the same household).

Difficult Passages On Death

There are a few deaths and an incident of blindness in the historical book of Acts that most believers have credited to God.

Ananias and Sapphira - Death (Acts 5)

Elymas - Blindness (Acts 13)

Herod - Death (Acts 12)

I think we shouldn't avoid the difficult passages, but rather, go deeper with them. Out of these three passages, only Herod's one is more challenging, because Luke attributed it to God; whereas the other two passages were NOT attributed to God. Nowhere in Acts 5 and Acts 13 said that God did it or approved it. It was simply men who used the authority and the power they had been given to do it.

A policeman represents the local government. He has been given authority (police badge) and power (weapon). He can use them whether the government approves his action or not.

Next, we come to Herod.

And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. - Acts 12:23

This is pretty difficult, and it's one that I'm still learning.

According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, who wrote an account of Herod's death in Antiquities 19.8.2 343-361, he said, 

"But he shortly afterward looked up and saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, just as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain arose in his belly, striking with a most violent intensity. He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, "I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he had said this, his pain became violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad everywhere that he would certainly die soon."

While this seems to give us more clue that God isn't the one who brought the death, it doesn't give us an explicit understanding either.

If you happen to have more resources, please share with us.

Fear Is An Indicator

Fear shows you where you are at. Love leads you where you should be.

Fear is learnt. A baby is born into this world without fear, unless he learns it in the womb and the circumstances around him. When the child interacts with his world, he begins to learn fear from his experiences and his associations.

Love, on the other hand, is created, since we are created in the image of God who is Love (1 John 4:8). We are born by love and to love.

Love gives us boldness (1 John 4:17) and faith (Gal 5:6) that frees us from fear. Since perfect love [imparts boldness] to cast out fear [except the fear of God] (1 John 4:18), anytime when we are fearful in an area, it is an indicator of where we are at.

When we are fearful in that area, it reveals that love is not perfected in that area. In other words, we need to know the love of God for us in that area more, until fear is cast out.

For example, if you are fearful of lack when your bank account balance is reaching zero, what you really lack is not money; what you really lack is knowing the love of God for you in the area of providence. 

Perfect love will empower us to see beyond the visible into the invisible so that we can appropriate the inheritance we have in Christ. Grace has already provided for us everything we need in this world. We just need to receive by faith through His love.

When we know His love, we position ourselves to be led to where we should be ----- maturity as the manifested sons of God.

The Power of The Word

The Power of The Word

The mind is in the soul realm. The brain & the body cells are in the body realm. The spirit is in the spirit realm.

Mind renewal (Rom 12:2) based on the Word of His power takes place in the soul realm, thus allowing the Spirit of Life to flow into our body realm (Rom 8:11).

The soul realm (mind) is the doorway for the Life to flow into the body realm. This is why mind renewal is the only way to true, lasting freedom (John 8:32).

The proof of mind renewal doesn’t lie with what you say; it lies with your body and your actions. When your body and your actions are in line with the will of God, it proves that your mind is renewed.

Since our brain controls our body and our actions, our brain must be healthy and functioning correctly. If our mind can re-wire our brain, then we need to be serious and diligent in renewing our mind according to the Word (2 Cor 10:4-5)

When I think about how God has already provided His Word for us to renew our mind, it drives me to worship Him. Every tool that is necessary for life transformation (including freedom from sin and sickness) has been GIVEN to us. 

The problem doesn’t lie with God. It lies with men not taking the tools seriously and use them for His glory. They blame God (whether directly or indirectly) for what happened to them. They get disappointed with God for appearing passive towards them.

We need to cut all these out and start taking responsibility for the privilege and the power that God has already provided for us.

Tenacity

Tenacity

The whole book of Revelation taught us one central theme: Patience Endurance.

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Rev 2:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. - Rev 3:10

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. - Rev 14:12

The enemy will find opportune time to wear you down. It is either you wear him down, or allow him to wear you down.

Grace doesn't mean that you can simply rest and do nothing. Grace means that you are empowered with Christ to overcome every fiery dart that the enemy throws at you. And it takes tenacity in us to win the war, even though the battle is already won by Christ.

The only way to grow in tenacity is by the renewing of mind (Rom 12:2) to the truths in God's Word (Jn 8:32). You cannot build tenacity by a prophecy given to you. Your mind must remain unshakeable, unchangeable, unwavering, steadfast and immovable when it comes to the truths of God's Word.

Your life experiences may change; your circumstances may change; but the truths change not, for God changes not. Until our mind is renewed to that reality, we don't have the tenacity to stand firm in the truths for an extended period of time (of not seeing the desired results). The moment we get worn out by the enemy, we miss the privilege to receive the promises of God.

Tenacity is undervalued in the life of a believer. In order to win the war, there is a need for patient endurance.

P.S: This applies to healing for those with chronic diseases.

Scattered To Pour Out

On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered in one accord at the Upper Room for the Holy Spirit to pour into them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, so that they could be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

It took a persecution to scatter the disciples (Acts 8:4), so that they could pour out the Holy Spirit beyond Jerusalem. They no longer kept gathering and waiting for God to pour in. They scattered for God to pour out through them, for Christ in them is the Hope of glory.

Covid is a tiny glimpse of “persecution”, though it isn’t really persecution.

Two days ago, I saw a vision of a gigantic bottle. Multitudes were waiting inside the bottle for one pebble to drop. However, the pebble couldn’t get through the opening. Then I saw the bottle turned upside down and the multitudes were being poured out into many different bowls and each bowl had that pebble.

What’s the point of this vision? I didn’t get any understanding until today.

The time has come where the “opening” has become tighter and shall be even more in the days to come. This is the time for the believers to stop gathering and waiting for the Holy Spirit to pour in. It is time for the believers to scatter for the Holy Spirit to pour out, because He is present (pebble) wherever we go ——- in every sphere of life.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. - Matt 24:14

The True Exegesis

The True Exegesis

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, 𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐦. - John 1:18

The word 'has declared Him' in Greek is eksēgéomai, where the English term is '𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬'.

Exegesis is the legitimate interpretation which "reads out of' the biblical text what the original author meant to convey.

In other words, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝 in the Scriptures.

No matter how strong your exegesis is; no matter how much you have studied about exegesis; no matter what your title is in the Kingdom of God... if your explanation/interpretation of who God is differs from Jesus' words and actions, your exegesis is wrong. Period.

For Jesus is the True Exegesis.

The Promises Are In You

The Promises Are In You

This morning, I saw a vision of a rainbow chasing after me. Whichever direction I head to, the rainbow keeps following me. Then the rainbow turns into words ------ "God's promises".

God's promises follow me wherever I go. Whichever direction I head to, His promises follow me. 

I said to Him, "Scriptures, please."

The Holy Spirit said, "2 Cor 1:20".

2 Cor 1:20 - For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.

God's promises are Yes in Christ. Since Christ lives in you and me (Col 1:27), all of God's promises live in us. In other words, we don't have to pray for God's promises to come to pass in our lives. They are already given through Christ into our lives.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭. - Eph 1:3

As His divine power 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬 all things that pertain to life and godliness... - 2 Peter 1:3

Your tongue releases milk and honey, for I find the 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮. - Song of Solomon 4:11

Since the Promised Land (flowing with milk and honey aka all the promises of God) is now the Promised Spirit in the New Covenant (Gal 3:14), all of God's promises are 𝐈𝐍 us because of the perfect and finished works of Christ.

As Christ lives in us, His promises follow us wherever we go. If you don't see His promises, it has nothing to do with God, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧. Since God cannot lie (Heb 6:18), and He changes not (Mal 3:6), the problem lies with us 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 by grace through faith.

For let not that man suppose that 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. - James 1:7-8

All of God's promises are in the 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 tense ---- already given to us. We need to learn to receive in the 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓 (NOW) and see the 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 changed because of the manifestation of the promises (Mark 11:24).

In a nutshell, "𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄".

The Power Of Testifying

The Power Of Testifying

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡. - Rev 12:11

Most of the time, we will hear teachers of the Word talking about overcoming the enemy (in the area of healing) by His blood and our testimonies. But they almost never talk about the most crucial key to overcome the enemy ----- that is, to love not our lives even unto death.

When we are self-focused, we are earthly-minded. Only when we are Christ-focused do we become heavenly-minded (Col 3:1-3). 

To testify for the purpose of self-benefit is to be self-focused. In that way, you won't overcome the enemy.

To testify for the purpose of exalting Him is to be Christ-focused. That destroys both the nature and the works of the devil.

On the other hand, there is another school of thoughts when it comes to healing testimonies. Some told me this, "Wilson, even though all my symptoms have left me, I am not going to testify or write about it. Medically, there is no cure. The medical review can be good but I can't be sure that the symptoms won't come back. I don't want to testify first, and end up tarnishing the name of God when I am not really healed in the end."

Well, in true honesty, they are afraid of tarnishing their own reputation, not God. God is way more secure than that. The self-absorbed mindset prevents them from testifying and walking in faith. Because they love their lives and stop the power of testimony, they will not overcome the enemy. He will come and steal, kill and destroy.

Out of the ten lepers, only one returned to testify and glorify God. Only he was made whole (having all missing limbs re-created). There is power when you testify what He did for you ---- even if you haven't seen the full manifestation of wholeness.

When you testify the works of God, you nullify the works of the enemy.

God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in Him.

The Cross