Whole Armour of God Part 3

Whole Armour of God Part 3

The whole armour of God is meant for offense if we understand what the armour entails of. The third part of the armour is extremely powerful, because it is NOT about how ready and prepared you are.

'Having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.' - Eph 6:15

The word 'shod' is to 'put on'. You simply put on something by the act of putting it on. You cannot work for it. You cannot earn it.

The word 'preparation' in the Greek in this context is 'the promptitude and alacrity which the Gospel produces'. In other words, this piece of armour is not about how ready and how prepared you are. It is about how ready and how prepared the Gospel is.

When you know the power and readiness of the Gospel, you are ready and prepared. It doesn't matter how long you have been a believer. The moment you know the truth in the Gospel, you are ready to attack the enemy, even if you are just born again yesterday.

The word 'peace' in the Greek simply means 'wholeness'. It is God's gift of wholeness in every area (spirit, soul and body). This is what the Gospel does ----- wholeness in every realm. We crush the enemy by delivering wholeness into every realm.

The word 'feet' is a sign of victory over the defeated foes. The oriental practice was to put your feet over the neck of the vanquished (Joshua 10:24).

When Christ died and rose from the dead, everything is placed under His feet (1 Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; Ps 110:1) in the spirit realm. Since we are His body and His feet is below His body, all things have been placed under our feet in Christ.

This is why we are told that the God of peace will crush the devil under our feet (Rom 16:20). This is a fulfilled prophecy after the Fall of Adam. Speaking to satan, God said, "He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Gen 3:15)

In other words, we must put on this armour and take dominion over the enemy, representing Christ to put the enemy under His feet on earth. 

We are not waiting for Jesus to do something. Ever since He rose from the dead, Jesus is waiting for us at the right hand of the Father (Heb 10:13). He is waiting for us to take dominion and crush the enemy, before He returns to destroy death (1 Cor 15:26).

Whole Armour of God Part 2

Whole Armour of God Part 2

The Whole Armour of God includes 'putting on the breastplate of righteousness' (Eph 6:14)

1 Thes 5:8 says 'the breastplate of faith and love'. Is there a difference?

The same author understood that righteousness comes by love (grace) through faith (Rom 1:17; 3:22-25). So when you put on faith, you are putting on righteousness.

The word 'put on' in the Greek is like 'sinking into a garment'. You clothe yourself with Christ (Rom 13:14) and hide yourself in Him (Col 3:3). The more you cannot be seen, the more Christ is seen. We want the enemy to see Christ, not us. Otherwise, we become his target board.

The word 'breastplate' in the Greek is 'what protects the heart and its emotions (desires) as they bear on our decisions'. When we clothe ourselves with Christ, we intentionally make decisions that reflect His (according to His Word). We have been crucified with Him. It is no longer us who live but He lives in and through us (Gal 2:20). In other words, we act like Him.

The word 'righteousness' is simply God's approval. When God sees us, He sees Christ, since we are clothed with Him. God's approval is on Christ. As Christ is approved, so are we in this world.

With the breastplate of righteousness in place, we can advance and attack the enemy. Even when he tries to disarm us, saying, "Who are you, sinner who has bad behaviours and isn't perfect?", you reply, "Who are you talking to? Christ is here. Righteousness is standing here. So you are now the target board."

Whole Armour of God Part 1

Whole Armour of God Part 1

To withstand against the schemes (deceit or method used by organised evil-doing) of the enemy, we are told to put on the WHOLE armour of God and to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth... - Eph 6:14

In a more accurate English translation, it says, "having girded the loins of you with truth..."

The word 'girded' in this context means 'to equip oneself with knowledge of the truth.'

The word 'loins' is 'the reproductive (creative) capacity of the renewed mind' where the seat of generative power is.

In other words, the more we equip ourselves with the truth of His Word, the more our mind produces the renewed thoughts so that we think like Him.

Since the renewed mind is the seat of generative power, the more we think like Him, the more His power flows through us. Our thoughts become the Word manifested in power (Eph 3:20), fulfilling the will of God.

Truth is not merely knowledge. It becomes manifested power through the renewed mind.

This also means that the whole armour of God is meant for offense.

The Old Has Gone

The Old Has Gone

I feel like the first pan-there-meek in our days is over. And it's time to move on from the vekseen thingy, and to be ready for the next one.

There is enough truth revealed about the lies of the vekseen. There are enough severe adverse effects, cardiac arrest and deaths all over the world, which is caused by the vekseen. 

Those who see it have seen it. Those who choose not to see it will not see it. Those who have taken it have taken it. Those who have not will not be taking. There is no point debating and seeking for an answer anymore. The time is over. The old has gone.

This pan-there-meek has further separated the Kingdom and the churchianity. It has also separated some relationships, at least for me. 

This is needed, not because it is intentional, but because the lump that is not leavened will become divided from the lump that is leavened. The two just cannot be mixed together in depth.

When we live against the culture of the world, we become discerning and quick to recognise and connect with those who are of the Kingdom.

The new is here...

True Empowerment

True Empowerment

The word 'empower' comes from the word 'en' (impart) and 'power' (dunamis aka God's miraculous ability/power).

Since 'dunamis' only comes when you receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), 'to empower' doesn't mean that you impart God's power to other people, because that will make you become the Holy Spirit.

On the contrary, 'to empower' means that you impart (make able) truth to others such that they realise that the Holy Spirit is in them, for He is the One who gives dunamis --- God's miraculous power.

True empowerment points people AWAY from you and UNTO the Holy Spirit, for it is the Christ in them that is the Hope of Glory.

P.S: If anyone practises gift/power impartation (apart from the laying on of hands for the baptism of the Holy Spirit), he cancels true empowerment and points people to himself. No matter how much he preaches on empowering others, his work cancels his words.

Be Filled With The Spirit

Be Filled With The Spirit

What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

We were taught that a believer needs to be filled with the Spirit over and over again. You need to keep receiving prayer & impartation to be filled more and more in the Spirit.

This is often equated with power.

Nothing is further from the truth, because this is not in the Word.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Eph 5:18-20

Scriptures interpret Scriptures. Let's look at the following.

Let 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Col 3:16-17

To be filled with the Spirit is the same as to be filled with the Word aka 'let the Word of Christ dwell in you'. The word 'dwell' is to reside, to abide (John 15:7).

In other words, when we let the Word of Christ dwell (abide) in us, we are surrendered to the Spirit aka 'filled with the Spirit'. We are under the influence of the Spirit (instead of the influence of the wine; Eph 5:18).

To be filled with the Spirit is the SAME as to live in the Word. It is not flaky, spontaneous or mystical. It is according to the written Word. 

The result of 'filled with the Spirit' is not power, but with a heart that continually praises and thank God, as well as lifting one another up (Eph 5:18-20; Col 3:16-17). 

No one can pray and impart this to you. This is why Paul instructed the church to do it as a command.

The Purpose Of Dominion Power

The Purpose Of Dominion Power

Since the beginning of time, dominion has been given to mankind. It is the consistent theme in the Bible. Even when Adam lost the authority, God still empowered Israel to take dominion (Exo 23:29-30).

Christianity without dominion is merely a religion that is void of the power of the Holy Spirit. Staying in the four walls doing our own thing, filling up the seats, making the place crowded and packed with events and programme is a form of religion.

...what is the surpassing greatness of 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 toward us who believe. These are 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 the working of the 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 of His 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. - Eph 1:19-20

The power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly places is the SAME POWER that works in us.

The word 'might' is 'dominion' aka 'exerted power'. 

The word 'strength' is 'power over external things (to overcome immediate resistance).'

The word 'power' is 'miraculous power through God's ability'.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead and lifted Him to heaven is the SAME POWER that is in us. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝/𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 (might) 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (strength).

There are many external resistance in our world today. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. We need to walk in dominion power more than ever before. It is not just for overcoming sicknesses, diseases and demons. But also what you are seeing in the world today.

Appreciating The Different Functions In The Body

Appreciating The Different Functions In The Body

I used to think that we should all be zealous about going after power evangelism. That should be the way. We should all be out there doing it. It is the commandment from Christ anyway.

However, such zeal can prevent us from appreciating other functions in the Body.

But 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 according to the measure of Christ's gift... And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 for the work of ministry... the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Eph 4:7, 11-12, 16

The purpose of the four-fold ministerial offices (Christ's gift) is to empower the believers to work together in correct order aka to work together properly.

The word 'equip' in Greek is 'katartismos', which means 'exact adjustment to enable the individual parts to 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫'.

Because when each part of the Body (the Church) is working properly, the Body will grow (Eph 4:16).

Equipping in this case doesn't mean that "I empower you to do what I do." No, that's not this context of equipping (which isn't really a good English translation).

Equipping is "𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐝". Because everyone is assigned to different functions in the Body. Only by empowering them to do what they are supposed to do will fulfill 'each part is working properly' and causes the Body to grow.

There are so many functions in the Body, and we need to learn to appreciate their work, even if their work is drastically different from yours.

Instead of trying to impart our passion and vision to others to do what we do, try praying and asking God how He wants others to be empowered into their God-assignment and appreciate the differences.