The Integrity of Our Word

The Integrity of Our Word

Since God upholds the whole universe by the integrity of His Word (Heb 1:3) and that He cannot lie (Heb 6:18), every Word that proceeds from His mouth will not return void until it has accomplished His purpose (Isa 55:11).

Therefore, every promise that He has given to us is sure, certain and guaranteed. So we can take Him at His Word.

We can receive healing and wholeness for our bodies by trusting in His integrity aka taking Him at His Word.

However, this morning, He asked me a question, "Can I take you at your word?"

As far as I know, I have never broken any promise to my son. If I promise something, I will fulfill it. But God is not looking for this, He is looking at the integrity of my word.

I realised that if Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20), the same integrity will be expected for my words. And if God's integrity contains all His power (Heb 1:3; Isa 55:11), that means that 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝.

In other words, someone who has a lack of integrity or keeps lying (including telling white lies) might not think that it's a problem. Neither does he think that he's hurting anybody (by telling white lies), but because 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝, even when he tries to be serious when needed.

He may command and speak healing to people's lives but not see consistent results, because a renewed mind does not lie. Only a renewed mind can produce Christ-results (Rom 12:2) ------- which also means that 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.

Someone can speak the word of God, but because of a lack of integrity in his words, the mind does not take the words he says in full certainty. It renders the word less effective in power because the power of the Word lies in integrity ----- the one who does not lie.

When Christ was walking on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit, everything He spoke came to pass. Every person He spoke healing to was healed. Because He upheld God's integrity, God upheld the Word from Christ's mouth.

Death and life lies in the power of the tongue. But we can decide how much power we want it to flow by the integrity of our words and our lives.

The Sequence Of Healing

Faith -> Fact -> Feeling: This is the sequence of healing

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 -> 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 -> 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭 (Mk 11:24), for without works, faith is dead (Jm 2:26).

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭. When you act on your faith, it becomes a fact to you.

The fact that you believe you are already healed is the answer you are looking for. You start thinking and doing what you would do when you are made whole. Since the righteous lives by faith, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. Apart from that, it's sensuality and carnal, human mindset.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞. It will. It has to. The manifestation takes place. We expect it to be instant. But sometimes, it takes a while. Yet in every moment, we expect the instant to take place. Your expectation will determine the outcome. 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 (Eph 3:20).

The problem today is that we are trying to get healing in the wrong sequence. We are thinking Faith -> Feeling -> Fact. If feeling comes first, it is no longer faith. It is simply a kind of belief that is the same as what demons have (Jm 2:19).

We need to be so preoccupied with "it is written..." than to be occupied with "it is reported...".

"I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞.” - Smith Wigglesworth

Does God Cause All Things To Work For Our Good?

Does God Cause All Things To Work For Our Good?

A common quote by believers when someone is going through challenges will be Romans 8:28.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - Rom 8:28

It is assumed that God will automatically cause all things to work together for good for the believers. It sounds assuring and comforting, but it is not true. We need to read the Word in context.

The word 'And' tells us that there is an important passage (aka principle) before this verse.

Now in the same way the Spirit also 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. - Rom 8:26-27

The word 'helps' in the Greek means 'to take hold with at the side'. It is to 'cooperate with' or 'assist jointly to perform some task'. In other words, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧/𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫. He doesn't do it on your behalf. You do it WITH Him.

Hence, "the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words..." does not mean that the Spirit prays for us automatically. It requires our partnership. Many charismatics teach that it's about praying in tongues. The word 'groanings' comes from the word 'moan, groan, sigh...' It may include tongues, but it is not limited to tongues.

As long as we commune with God (in various ways), it can be considered groaning (due to the pressure from the circumstances). 

When we partner with the Holy Spirit to pray, He knows what our heart is feeling/thinking/going through, yet He has the mind of Christ (Rom 8:27). Therefore, He will intercede for (with) us according to the mind of Christ aka the will of God aka the Word of God.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧, God will cause all things to work together for our good.

The next time when someone is going through challenges, do not give them a blind assurance on Romans 8:28. Instead, pray for them. Also, encourage them to commune with Him to turn the situation around for their good.

P.S: If things don’t work together for our good, it’s not because God is not doing His job, but we fail to understand Romans 8:26-28.

The Word Must Be Fulfilled

The Word Must Be Fulfilled

He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. - Ps 107:20

Since Jesus is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14) and the Word cannot return to the Father void but it shall accomplish that which He purposed (Isa 55:11), then Jesus must heal and deliver all. For the Word was sent out to heal and to deliver.

During His earthly ministry, He always healed all and delivered all who came to Him, as part of the fulfillment of God's Word. If He would to heal some and not all, the Word of God would be broken, since Matt 8:16-17 also said that it was to fulfill Isaiah 53:4-5.

In Isaiah 53, Jesus bore the sins of all on the Cross. Yet Isaiah 53:4-5 also tells us that He bore the sicknesses and pain of all (cross reference Matt 8:16-17).

To bear the sins of all means that He has to bear the sicknesses and diseases of all (1 Peter 2:24). If He only heals some, then He has to only save some and not all.

The fulfillment of Isaiah 55:11, therefore, has to be the stripes (body) and the Cross (blood), because Jesus' earthly ministry could not fully accomplish the purpose of the Word sent (He only had 3 and a half years). By His stripes and the Cross, He could thus, forever, fulfill healing and deliverance in every man, saving (sozo-ing) His spirit, soul and body.

In a nutshell, healing is not just a part of God's blessings. It is CENTRAL to the entire Gospel, without which, the Gospel itself will break apart and the whole universe (and the world) will not be able to stand and hold together (Heb 1:3), if the integrity of His Word was compromised.

The Gospel that only delivers the soul from sin, but without healing the body, is heretic in nature. Because it is not the truth of God's Word and the purpose it was sent for.

The Gospel you preach is either the full Gospel or not the Gospel at all. There is no in between.

His Presence

His Presence

God's presence is always with us. It is His promise (Heb 13:5). You don't have to invite His presence, because He lives in you and me. He does not come and go. He is always present.

However, we are not always present with Him. We are not always with Him. We are not always present IN His presence. We can get so caught up with life itself, that we forget to dwell in His presence.

Abide in Me and I in you, and you will bear much fruit. - John 15:5 (paraphrased)

In His presence, you get fresh revelations of His love. For apart from His love, there is no way for His presence to dwell in you. When we  take time (even if it means a second to turn our attention to Him), we experience His manifest presence. It is almost immediate when we give Him our affection.

It is in His presence that you realise His willingness, mercy (compassion) and goodness. It is not enough to know that He is powerful and great (even pagans know that). Because in the Gospel, multitudes were astonished/amazed by Jesus' power and authority (because of His signs and wonders). 

BUT only the disciples saw His love and wrote about His love (i.e. John, Peter and Paul).

Knowing that He is powerful is for those who do not know Him. But knowing that He is love is for the intimate ones whom He called friends and brethren.

When you know He is love, you realise that He is always willing; He wills to; it's always His will. It is in meditating on His presence that you get this understanding of His love. And when you see His love, nothing is impossible (because you believe He wants to), since faith works through love.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full, in His wonderful face

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐦

In the light of His glory and grace

When the visible is overwhelmed by the invisible, the invisible will triumph over the visible. In His presence, we have a glimpse of the invisible and we realise that what we are experiencing is only a light momentary affliction. Therefore, we must carry in our bodies the death of Christ, so that the life of Christ can be manifested through our bodies (2 Cor 4).

The greatest privilege of a believer is to be made ONE with the One who spoke the world into existence. Enjoy His presence, because in His presence, there is fullness of joy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6XpOnTAdfYw&list=RDMM6XpOnTAdfYw&start_radio=1&fbclid=IwAR1YiSDTGoG_yyR-7fyBXpWHbjIq9DHwsFFQHIlGCqAYuRYvgd_8eezXFSA

Power & Love

Power: God can

Love: God will

Power: God is able

Love: God wants to

Power: God’s greatness

Love: God’s goodness

God’s love includes His mercy, compassion and will. He is willing to make us whole. It is His will to make us whole. He will make us whole.

Since (our) faith works through (His) love, faith must be in His love (His will).

The Word Is The Evidence

The Word Is The Evidence

Heb 11:1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). 

Since the Word of God is where faith is, then we can substitute Rom 10:17 into Heb 11:1.

The Word is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for. The Word is the EVIDENCE of things not seen.

The Word is sure, guaranteed and certain. It is the evidence. 

Look nowhere for evidence. The symptoms are not the evidence. The feelings are not the evidence. The visuals/sight are not the evidence. The reports are not the evidence. The doctors are not the evidence. The manifestations are not the evidence. 

The Word IS the evidence! If it is in the Word, it IS the evidence! It is sure, guaranteed and certain! That is our healing and health (Isa 53:4-5).

Strengthen Yourself

Conclusion

Righteousness Produces God-Quality Of Life

Righteousness Produces God-Quality Of Life

Righteousness is a gift of God and from God (2 Cor 5:21). By believing in Christ & His finished works, we are made right with God (Rom 3:22).

However, Romans 6 tells us that we have the power of choice. Though we are free from the power of sin, we can still choose to sin. Every sin, therefore, is a choice for a believer. It is never a bondage, and it is never an addiction IF you are a believer. If the Word is truth, then what you were taught and believed is a lie.

For just as you 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 presented your members as slaves to impurity and to 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, so now present your members as slaves to 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. - Rom 6:19

Presenting our body IS a choice, because we have the power of choice as a believer. If we present it to lawlessness (sin), it will lead to more lawlessness (sin). It becomes easier to repeat the sin again and again. And it becomes easier to go deeper in that sin.

i.e. If you tell white lies often, you will eventually think it is okay. Soon you will get deeper in lying to others, because you are deceived by your own lawlessness.

But 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐢𝐧 and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. - Rom 6:22

If we present our body to righteousness, it produces fruit. For Right Believing leads to Right Living (fruit). And right living leads to sanctification (mind renewal, Rom 12:2), which in turn, produces God-quality of life (eternal life) in the NOW-possession.

i.e. If we believe that we are made right with God, we can do Mark 16:17-18 and lay hands on the sick ----- that's right living. The more we do it, the more our mind will be renewed. Eventually, we experience God's healing in reality ------ eternal life in the NOW-possession.

The foundation of God-quality of life is Righteousness. For Righteousness leads to Sanctification (Mind-Renewal) that produces Eternal Life.

Be Normal Yet Powerful

Be Normal Yet Powerful

Every denomination has it's strengths and weaknesses. We thank God that He uses all not because they (and we) are good, but because He is good.

If He can use a donkey aka an ass to prophesy, I don't think there is anyone He cannot use, regardless of his/her spirituality. Therefore, if you place someone on the pedestal and think that he is anointed (charismatic understanding of anointed man of God), it's treading on idolatry. Because, I repeat... God can use a donkey aka an ass.

It's not his spirituality that brought him there. It's God's grace and His ability to use anyone.

Biblical understanding of anointing has nothing to do with the man. Neither has it to do with power. 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

Power comes from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:9), not anointing, as widely misunderstood by the charismatics. Since anointing is about the position of sonship (the Anointed One, Christ lives in you), anointing has to do with authority.

If you are a son of God, you have authority (exousia).

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲; 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. They are not the same. Since anointing is about sonship and authority, it is never about being flaky or having some kind of ecstatic feelings.

And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 that the Lord had left him. - Judges 16:20

The anointing in the Old Covenant was still about position. Samson was anointed into the position of a judge/deliverer. He did not know that the Lord left him (Old Covenant has no abiding Spirit), which means that whenever he acted as a judge, there was no flaky or whatever special feelings.

Today, we think that the anointing has to do with some kind of feelings when it has to do with position (authority). "Oh....The anointing is here! God is here!" Since when did the anointing (position) leave? And since when did God become non-omnipresent?

Be normal yet powerful, as an anointed son (position of authority) who has received power (Holy Spirit). And walk around normal like Jesus, instead of appearing being possessed by ghosts when you start ministering.

See What He Sees