Revelation 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

REVELATION 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA 

Revelation 1:11 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

Jesus is Alpha and Omega.  He's not only THE Alpha and Omega but he is YOUR Alpha and Omega.  Both are Greek words meaning beginning and end or first and last.  Jesus isn't just the beginning or just the end.  In your own life, don't just start well with Jesus without finishing with Jesus because he isn't going to abandon you. He's going to stay with you through it all! He isn't going to begin with you and then tire of your relationship, nor is he going to give up on you when the going gets tough.  He's the author of your faith and he's the finisher of your faith and he's doing a perfect work with and in you.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him...

Hebrews 12:1,2  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Recognizing Jesus as the author of our faith, we recognize our faith was his idea.  Just coming to him to be born again means we lay all of our burdens at the foot of the cross.  We enter into a race in which we run with him. Our goal is the same as his, the joy set before us.  Our joy is in him.  Our new life is in him and although there are trials and temptations, finishing the race means we endure in-between the obstacles that come our way and cross the finish line.  Our life on earth is just the beginning.  While there's a finish line, which is our eternal destination, our life doesn't end there! Praise God we live forever in a place with no more tears and no more sorrow...a world without end! Let's therefore take the advice in Hebrews and lay aside sins and weights.  Let's lighten the load and place every burden at his feet.

Jesus is not just the author and finisher of our faith as individuals but for the entire body of Christ. He mentions the 7 churches and names them one by one.  Later, he will address each one according to their present state.  He will speak his Word in a way that will minister directly to their most desperate need.  We all will find ourselves somewhere in the Words to his church and the Word that ministered to them will minister to the intimate places in our hearts.   Although he is risen from the dead, ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father, he is present by his Spirit. John was "in the Spirit," and heard a voice and SAW what he spoke.  Jesus named the churches one by one!  He didn't say the letter was only FOR those churches but he said to distribute them there.  He knew that through this distribution, this WORD, the prophecies of THIS BOOK would reach the entire body of Christ, becoming part of the Canon of Scripture. God is intimately aware of his church; his bride; his love and he is the author and finisher of HER faith.  He is ever present and ever making intercession.  What a comfort to know Jesus sits at the right hand of the father and there, he is praying for me! There, he is praying for you!  He ever lives with that purpose, to see his bride come home!   His Word is alive and well as he is and he is with us! He will never leave us or forsake us. He will bless us and correct us.  He will make his bride ready. He is not only our author, our starter, and our companion.... he is our finisher!  When we as his body, lay aside our weights and look unto him, we will walk through this life and one day we'll step across that finish line and be with him forever! Amen and glory! It excites me to think about that!

Jesus is also not only the author and finisher of our faith, he is the author and finisher of this world. The bible says by his Word, the earth both came into existence and is held in existence.  One day, every Word of this prophecy will come to pass and we'll see the end of the story of earthly creation.  May we find ourselves "in Christ" on that day!  If "in Christ," the story ends well.  If not, the ending isn't so great but we'll leave that for another study.  Just know he is the beginning and the end.  The Word of God opens with the phrase, "In the beginning," and ends with these words:

Revelation 22: 20-21  He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Everything in between is all about him and the joy set before him. He is gathering all things to himself but the choice is ours whether we will be gathered and end in his joy or will we have that undesirable end? The choice is ours! May we be found in his grace!  Won't you accept his grace today? Won't you lay your burdens down at his feet? Won't you hear his voice calling you to run your race with him by your side?  If you've never asked Christ to be your author and finisher, please do so today with a simple prayer, "Lord I give myself to you! Mold me and make me! Precious Lord take my hand!"  Amen!

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

REVELATION- A Verse by Verse Study- My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me; not a journey to study what isn’t revealed!"

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

Revelation 1:9
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

John, one of the 12 disciples, the one Jesus loved, the one who sat with his head on Jesus heart beating, was in prison for his faith in Christ and for the Word of God.  Sometimes we don't realize the generals in the kingdom of God go through trials too! John was in prison! He was exiled! Why? Because he believed in Jesus and spoke his Word!  Your faith doesn't guarantee that you won't be in trials but it does guarantee you'll go through them.  When you go through something, you come out the other side.  Sometimes the middle is tough.  John was in a trial. He was imprisoned for his faith. He would die there....and live again on the other side!

THE ISLE OF PATMOS

John's banishment to Patmos is interesting. Patmos is a Greek Island. At the time, Patmos was a place for banishment of political prisoners as well as those that practiced sorcery, witchcraft and astrology.  John, being prophetic would have been in that category as some saw prophecy as witchcraft... just as they do today!  Prophecy is not witchcraft when it's from God!  John didn't say he was imprisoned for being a Christian but for God's Word!  I find that interesting and although I can't confirm it, I wonder if John was preaching of future events and proclaiming the living prophetic Word of God!

BANISHMENT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

We may think of John as being imprisoned and I guess being exiled is imprisonment but if I was going to be exiled anywhere at all, I guess I'd choose an island....a Greek island!  The story is told, the encounter with Jesus that brought the Revelation was in a cave. I don't know if he was held there or if he was free to roam the island but just remember, in the same way God can give you beauty for ashes and joy for mourning, he can give you beauty in banishment. We must have our eyes open as John did.  One version of the text said he "saw the voice of God!" Whether he saw the voice or what the voice was showing him matters not. He saw something with eyes wide open and in the midst of his banishment, he saw something beautiful!


Revelation 1:10-12 I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: “Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” I turned and saw the voice.


It was here, on The Isle of Patmos, John had his greatest encounter of all, out of which came the Book of Revelation which is a glimpse into the future for the body of Christ and the world at large.  Trials can be difficult but there are lilies in the valley!  Sometimes our greatest encounters come at our lowest moments.

IN THE SPIRIT

John was "in the Spirit."  He was praying and as he was praying he heard a loud voice like a trumpet.  Note John didn't lose his faith while in prison. He still continued to pray. How many of us get into a funk when our hopes and dreams don't turn out the way we expected?  Sometimes in a funk, we may stop praying. John may have gotten in a funk but prayer brought him through. Today John isn't in a funk. Today John is in heaven, seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus worshiping, living in the reality of the revealed and tangible presence of God, and waiting to hear Jesus say, "Come on!" "It's time to see your Revelation revealed!"

When we are "in the Spirit," things happen! As we call upon the name of the Lord, he shows us things to come as he did with John.  We must stay "in the spirit," to make it through our own "Isle of Patmos!"  We must stay in the Spirit to receive heavenly vision.  Jesus had already spoken about this in John 16 as he was telling the disciples about the role the Holy Spirit would have in their life. John wrote about it as he recalled the words of Jesus telling them of the revelations the Holy Spirit would bring:

JOHN 16: 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

JOHN HEARD A VOICE

Now we've all heard of the experience of Moses on the back side of the desert. He was dilly dallying along, minding his own business, herding sheep when out of nowhere came a voice.  He wasn't seeking God at all. He may have not been in a funk at all since he had fled Egypt long ago. Moses may have been living an entirely new life, married to the daughter of the Priest of Midian and minding his sheep.  Moses had given up on the call of God having murdered a man and gone into hiding.  Then out of nowhere he heard a voice, turned aside to look, and there was a tree burning but not desinigrating. 

John had been sent to the Isle of Patmos to live out the rest of his life.  Imagine the hopes and dreams that were crushed.  Having walked with Jesus in his earthly ministry, having seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle and having heard Jesus speak the Words of life, then to die right before his eyes had to be heart rending.  Then Jesus rose from the dead and restored hope but as they began to spread the good news the opposition was great.

THE TRIALS OF THE APOSTLES

Both the bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs are great resources for knowing what some of the apostles of our faith went through to lay the foundation for the Kingdom of God!

They were imprisoned, beaten, chained, stoned and killed. Some were boiled and some were burned at the stake.  They were persecuted, harassed, chased down like animals and tortured. Through all of this, their faith did not fail.  The key word is through. All of them went through!  In America, we are fortunate to have religious liberty.  They were not so fortunate.  Some may think those were acts of ancient times but get the publication "Voice of the Martyrs," and you'll know these thing are happening this very day!

Our faith has to go beyond our circumstance!  Our faith has to be forever settled in heaven and on earth. Our faith has to be settled in our hearts, that no matter what we go through, even death, our faith remains strong and our expectation that he will deliver us and do far above all we could ask or think will be realized!  We must in the face of our greatest trial, have our greatest faith! We must remain "in the spirit," and pray!  Just as John and Moses out of nowhere heard a voice, so our encounter with God that carries us to our next assignment will come suddenly!  Although this assignment didn't bring deliverance from Patmos, it brought a message of deliverance for the entire body of Christ!

REVELATION 1:6-7 THE PRIESTHOOD OF YOU

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

 

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

 

Revelation 1:6 & 7 Part III: The Priesthood of You

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

⁷ Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Part III- cont’d from Parts I & II

Jesus is coming quickly!  When he comes, there will be many on the earth that never knew him.  Every eye will see him!  With modern technology we now know that is possible naturally as we already knew it was possible spiritually. I used to wonder how every eye would see, even as recent as in the 80s.  I don’t wonder that anymore! Modern technology is advancing at lightning speed. Truly every eye on earth will see Jesus! The Jews will be here, who in times passed, asked for a thief and murderer to be released and for Jesus, the perfect lover of their soul to be crucified by piercing.  Ultimately we can say all mankind was responsible for the piercing of Jesus since all mankind has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory! People truly need the Lord!  When he returns the tribes of the earth will mourn, some from repentance as they realize they were wrong and some as they realize the judgments that are coming and are here and life as they know it will change and unless they get saved it won’t go well for them!

Before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law, there were priests who stood before God.  There was no law from God dictating who would be priests.   There were priests in other nations and religions that were not necessarily priests of God.  Only God knew if a person was really approaching him.  God did recognize one priest who was not a priest according to the law, who had no record of birth and who did not fit the description of the qualifications of the law and his name was Melchesidek.  There were other priests. The bible tells us Moses’ father in law was a priest.  Later God established the priesthood according to the law but before the law, whether a priest truly was a priest of the one true God was determined by the heart and by God.   Abraham recognized this Melchizedek and gave him tithes long before the tithe in the law was established.  Abraham tithed to Melchizedek because he recognized he was greater, not because of the law.  The law had not been established, yet, Melchizedek was a Priest of the Most High God, and later in Hebrews was recognized by God! In fact, God himself said Jesus would be a high priest, after the order of Melchizedek! Jesus’ priesthood was not according to the law but was according to the truth. Remember, the law is a schoolmaster to teach truth!

God later established the law and the order of the priesthood according to the law.  Priests had to enter into the line of the priesthood according to their birth.  If one wasn’t a Levite one could not be a priest.  In addition to being chosen by birth, priests were chosen and anointed for their task.  The wonderful lesson here is although the priesthood is no longer Levitical, even today, God chooses men and women for tasks and anoints them.  Once he chooses you, he puts his anointing upon you to enable you to fulfill your call.

God said he would make up his kingdom and nation a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  Some may say he was speaking to Israel but this was never established or fulfilled through Israel and the law because only Levites were priests.  God’s goal is to have a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. This is fully accomplished in Christ alone!

Exodus 19:5-7  ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”⁷ So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 

Priests were chosen by God to minister both to and before him. They were to live consecrated lives, set apart for God.  Today were are to live our lives both for and before God. We are to live a consecrated life, set apart. We are called out to be distinctly separate from the world even if among the world.

2 Corinthians 6:17 ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Priests were to go before God for the people carrying the sacrificial blood of bulls that atoned for sins.  Priests put fire on the altar that became a sweet smell acceptable to God, reminding him, sins had been forgiven.... for a year!  Today we go before God making spiritual sacrifices of prayers, praise and thanksgiving.   Our lives become a sweet smell that reminds God of the blood of Christ that has atoned for sins.  Priests keep the flame burning so there never ceases to be prayers going up for the people.  They keep the flame without mixture.  Strange fire, not from God and unrecognizable to God isn’t allowed to keep the fire burning.  Only pure and holy oil from God creates the holy mix that burns brightly before God.

Priests were and are to stand in the gap for people.  They stand before the Lord and minister to him.  They weep in intercession and cry out for restoration.  They cry out for God to spare people from his judgment.

Joel 2:17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, “Where is their God?”

Priests were to stand before the Lord not only for forgiveness for the people, to keep the flame burning and to stand in the gap but one of the most important things the priests did was bless the Lord.  We today as priests come before God not only for our needs and the needs of others but we come before him to bless his name!

Deuteronomy 21:5 Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of the Lord; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled.

Priests are called to build the house of the Lord and to give the Word of God its’ proper place.   The call to build the house of the Lord is one that moves the heart of priests.  While not all will go into the 5 fold ministry we all have a part in building God’s house. As God moves upon our heart, we are called to build his spiritual house and keep his Word before us and the people. Even if not in the full time ministry, this is done in your home, your life and your service.

Ezra 1:5 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.

The reason understanding the Priesthood is important is God has in the New Testament changed the order of the Priesthood. As he said he would make Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizekek. Everything in the Old Testament was a foreshadow of the truth of the New.  Jesus is our high priest, yes, according to birth but not according to the Levitical bloodline. Jesus was of God, not of Levi. He was not of the tribe of Levi. He was after the order of Melchizedek who was a priest before God before the law was ever established. Melchizedek birth was not recorded; he had no beginning or end. Jesus was with the Father in the beginning and Jesus has no end.  He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. His Priesthood was in the beginning before the law and has no end!  Now because of our birth into the family of God, with Jesus as our high priest, not after Levi but after his father, we are a priests after the new order of God before the law.  Jesus is High Priest after the truth, which came and was already in existence before the law. 

Psalm 110:4  The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 2:17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 7:11-12 [ Need for a New Priesthood ] Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

God also said he has made us Kings and Priests, a Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation! We are now all Priests and we are the representatives of God that go before God for the people who are not yet saved and who will be saved. We weep between the porch and the altar for the lost. We stand in the gap. We are keepers of the flame!  We keep the Word in its place and communicate it in the earth. We bless the Lord and make spiritual sacrifices in praise, prayer and worship, all of which are a sweet smelling savor to the Lord!

1 Peter 2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Revelation 1:6  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The bible says the time is short and he is coming back. If you have been born again into the body of Christ, you are a Priest of God, part of a Holy Nation and a Kingdom of Priests!  We must be not just living for ourselves but live to make his name known and make his name great.  We must be standing in the gap for those who are not yet his, pouring out our hearts as a sweet smell before God, making intercession and crying out for salvation for our loved ones and for those who don’t yet know him.  Behold he is coming quickly and has made us both kings and priests!  Let’s fulfill the role of priests while we still can! Amen!

REVELATION 1:6 GOD'S POWER IN AND FOR YOU

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

Part II

Cont’d...from Part I

In Part I I addressed who this book of Revelation was written to: Christians (servants of God,) the Trinity and that we have been made kings! 

This, Part II will address the power we have in Christ in his “kingdom!”  I was going to talk about being priests unto God but felt led to discuss his power and authority!  He has preeminence! He is our head and he is our king.  We are in his kingdom now and have been completely and fully delivered from the kingdom of darkness.  If you see no earthy evidence, it is no less true! This is our fight and this is our battle! May we fight to see his kingdom come! He said , “May it come on earth as it is in heaven!”  There’s no throne over him and no devil can rule him. No earthly situation overcomes him. The truth is you are in his kingdom and you have an inheritance.  Your authority is to fight for your inheritance and his will in earth as it is in heaven! 

Col 1: 12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

It’s important for Christians to understand that being born again means you are translated into his kingdom!  You’ve been made a “king” serving a “King!”  He has endued YOU with power from on high.  One reason the body of Christ seems at times weak is we have no knowledge whatsoever that his power is not just for the apostles and prophets but his power is for us!

In some of the earlier verses, who this is written to and the blessings we can receive from both reading and hearing the book of Revelation are discussed.  This Word from God was given to John to be distributed unto God’s servants.  This is not a book that was meant to be only for the clergy. There is nothing in the word “servants” to suggest it is meant for clergy only.   On the other hand, being a king doesn’t mean we can take an authority that isn’t rightfully ours.  We are servant kings, serving under the King of Kings in the place of authority he gives us.  This power isn’t for usurping from man, but it’s for defeating the devil.  It’s for carrying out the will of THE KING! That will is to be carried out “on earth as it is in heaven!”

We “have been made,” kings and priests.  This indicates a past tense.  This is not something to come, but this is something that is!  Although we will all be given assignments in the millennium we all have assignments now!  A wonderful meditation in the Lord is to consider what heaven will look like for us.  What place will he give us in his earthly millennial rule.  However, I am on earth now.  I am not yet in the millennium.  Look around you!  Where has God placed you?  All around you is evil that you can pray against.  All around you are people who are sick that need your prayers! All around you are the lost that can be prayed into the Kingdom.  People need the Lord and they need your prayers.  At times God will give you opportunities to speak and when you know the Word, you know you can speak his truth.  When you have his Spirit inside, you know he will help you speak.  What good is it to know we have been made kings and priests without knowing what that means?

Do we sit on a throne?  Yes! We sit on his throne with and in him!  Again, we serve in what he has given us- not what he hasn’t!  Serving in the kingdom of God is different from the kingdoms of this world.  In the kingdoms of the world, men seek power and authority according to their own lust but in his kingdom, we serve with humility! Even Jesus said the greatest among you would be your servant!  Being a king in HIS kingdom is about faithfully serving him. It’s not a lust for authority but it’s knowing what he’s given you and how to live in the power of that truth!

Matthew 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Ephesians 2:6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

THE POWER GIVEN US 

Being a king means you have been given both power and authority!  Glory to God! When Jesus rose from the dead, he descended into hell and there he took back they keys to death and hell!  He is King of Kings! He has all authority and he has all power!  Right now, he is currently gathering all things under him and while we still have battles to fight, the victory was won at the cross, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the day of Pentecost, he transferred his power to believers! Praise his wonderful name!

His is the kingdom, the power and the glory! 

Matthew 6:13 For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The power to preach, heal the sick and cast out devils has been given!

Matthew 10:1  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

This doesn’t say he gave only his apostles or only elders or the clergy the power to cast out devils. This is something God gave to disciples which means followers or students.  The power to cast out devils has not only been given to the clergy; it has been given to you!  This isn’t a license to go around where you aren’t authorized but when you know there is a devil influencing a situation, you can speak to it in Jesus name and cast that devil from its place!  When you have authority to pray over people and you know there is a devil involved, you can rebuke the devil in Jesus name.  Jesus has in fact given us the power to cast out devils but as I said in the last study, America has become sophisticated.  Can you speak to a person you don’t even know is there?  No!  When you know a thief enters your house, you have the authority to say, “Get out!”  If necessary, you can use a gun.  You have that same authority in Christ. 

Mark 3: 14b-15  He might send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have power to heal sicknesses and  to cast out demons:

Mark 6:7  And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

Luke 10: 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

THE POWER TO PREACH, HEAL THE SICK, CAST OUT DEVILS

Paul knew that when he spoke and preached, people did not come to the Lord because his speech was persuasive, but he knew there would be present the power of God to demonstrate the gospel.  When I got saved, my heart pounded inside of my chest for no reason.   The tug on my heart was stronger than the pull of the earth to the sun or any ship on the ropes!  The love in the pull was powerful and irresistible as the preaching of the Word was accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit!  Isn’t he wonderful that we don’t rely on the strength of man but on the power of God!

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. How wonderful it is to know our confidence is not in the power of man but in the power of God!

THE RESURRECTION POWER AT WORK IN YOU

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead works in us!

Ephesians 1: 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Jesus addressed the religious crowd that had no understanding of Christ’ resurrection power! 

Matthew 22:  ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

 POWER AT PENTECOST GIVEN TO YOU

Some would say the power of God is only given to clergy yet there were 120 present at Pentecost.  In this passage Jesus told his disciples to go and wait for power.  It wasn’t only the top 12 disciples that waited for this power but there were others! There were 120 and after the power of the Spirit was poured out, Peter made the proclamation, “This promise is for all!”

Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Peter declares the power of the Spirit to be for all:

Acts 2: 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,  That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  Your young men shall see visions,  Your old men shall dream dreams.  ¹⁸ And on My menservants and on  My maidservants  I will pour out My Spirit in those days;  And they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:32   This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear....

Acts 2: 38, 39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

The apostles had power:

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

and so did Stephen, a lay minister.  Whether you are in full time ministry or whether you are a lay minister, the power of God is available to you.  Every believer is a minister!

Acts 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL

Anyone communicating the gospel carries the power of God.  The power is in the gospel, not the person and when someone commits themselves to speak the gospel, they are backed up by the power of God.  God’s Spirit who is the Power of God, dwells in each believer.  Glory to God his power is not just for clergy! In fact there are many in the clergy who are trying to minister that are void in power not because of lack but because of denial!

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:18  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.

Only religion (rules & regulations without relationship) denies the power for the people! They are more concerned with position and authority over people than they are in turning believers loose in the power and glory of the kingdom!

2 Timothy 3: 5-7 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It’s not my goal to do an entire study on kingly authority, the power of God or the priesthood but just know by his Word, he has made you a king; he has given you power and he has given you authority!  He has not made us to be cowards but to be humble servants, filled with great power, exercising his authority as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

STRENGTH & HOPE

Romans 15: 13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Dear friends, God has not only given power to the apostles. This promise of his Spirit is for all.  The power of God was brought to all believers on the Day of Pentecost.  Truly he has given you power over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the devil.  Don’t be like the religious crowd, not understanding the power of God, but believe that he has given you his power.  You are seated with him in heavenly places and all things are under his feet!  Walk in the power and authority given you by Jesus Christ in his name.

Once again I say, We’ll pick this up next by studying what it means to be a Priest to God.

Joyreaper

5/27/2013

P.S.  If you’ve allowed me to tag you but you don’t want this to appear on your timeline, remember you can set your timeline so you must approve things to be placed on it.  If you no longer want me to tag you just let me know!  If I haven’t tagged you and you want me to, let me know!

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for dynamis (Strong's 1411)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 27 May 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G1411&t=KJV >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=power&version1=NKJV&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=176

Revelation 1:6 We've Been Made Kings and Priests

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1: 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen....

After greeting us with grace and peace and after making clear who this Revelation was from and who it was coming to, one of the first things revealed is God has made us kings and priests?  Who?  The answer is his servants to whom the Revelation was coming. The Revelation was coming from Jesus, on behalf of the Father, to his servants, through his angel and John the apostle.  The Revelation was though as stated in the first few verses for his servants and for all who would read and hear the words of the book!  Who are we as kings and priests serving? We are serving God the father (to his God and Father,) and to whom is glory and dominion forever and ever. The kingdoms of this world may pass but the kingdom of God, of which we are kings and priests is forever and ever Amen!

When this verse says “to his God and to his Father,” we can again, along with many other passages in the bible see the Trinity established. Many reject the Trinity because they can’t grasp with their limited natural mind that God can be three in one.  While you can’t separate the Father from the Son or either from the Spirit, you can clearly see here that the Father is the God of Jesus. He is his God and Father.  Jesus is in relationship with the Father as both a separate person and they are indeed one... inseparable! This is not, God, taking the shape of three different ones, one at a time, but instead this is three separate persons in one! The Father is distinct from the Son and the Spirit is distinct from either. We see the Spirit before the throne that the Father is upon and we see the Son acknowledging the Father as his God.  Glory be to God that he is not limited to earthly understanding. This is what makes him different from all other religions and this is what makes him the real God rather than a list of rules and doctrines.  Many men have formed many religions, yet none have surpassed human wisdom.   Our God, he IS God and he is real.  There have been physicists who have accepted him because they saw a person that wrote about things like the three in one that seemed in our limited world to be impossible yet with God all things are possible.  All other religions write about things that are possible and imaginable yet only God through the Scriptures reveals things beyond our imagination.  In Ephesians he assures us there is more to come that is exceedingly and abundantly beyond all we can think or imagine. The author of the bible is supernatural and beyond earthly imaginations.   Outside of this world and outside of our limited understanding it is mathematically possible for three to be one.  There is a point to where they can all be one.  This knowledge wasn’t known by man when the Trinity was revealed.  For it to have been revealed before the Physicists knew it was possible reveals a source beyond the knowledge of the world’s greatest physicists. He is the one that knows it all and he is the one revealing it all to us! Praise his name!  With God all things are possible! 

Matthew 19:26b  “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

He says that he has made us kings and priest unto our God.  All through the Old Testament there were kings both in Israel, and Judea when the kingdom was divided and there were also king in the earth.  In the 1^st and 2^nd Kings and 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles, we read stories of the kings; each being either a good or bad king.  All of these kings exercised authority in their land.  They were the top authority yet Christ is King of Kings.  We too have been given authority in the kingdom of heaven.  We are ambassadors that stand in his name.  We are kings of God and his good, heavenly kingdom and we are in direct opposition to our enemy, the devil who is over the kingdom of darkness.  How we exercise our authority in the earth is important!  What does the bible say about our authority?

The bible says his kingdom is the power and the glory forever. We are not kings in a temporary kingdom. Although at times the picture may look bleak, we must remember we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose power and authority are both established and are eternal. The kingdoms of this world will fail and many will even come against our God! The devil in the kingdom of darkness will fight God until the end and his demise but we can be rest assured the Kingdom of our God is both victorious and without end!

Matthew 6:13b For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

INFLUENCE

One Greek word for authority is also interpreted as power in the English.  It is “exousia.”  It is used to represent the power of authority and influence.  When Jesus spoke, men listened because of the “exousia” he walked in. As we speak the Words of God, God allows us to speak in his name and with his authority.  Remember the old saying, “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen.”  God has given us that same authority. As we speak, we speak with authority that comes from heaven. Sometimes people may not know exactly why they are listening but when they hear, they know they are hearing the truth and they know they are hearing a heavenly voice, even though God is using our voice.  As “kings” to our God and in his authority, we cannot take lightly the Great Commission to know and speak his Words in the earth!  When we speak, people listen and our words are influential because of the authority he gives us!  Yes, it’s supernatural. You can know when you speak the Words of God, you are backed up with a heavenly authority that he has given by making you a king.  Being a king, speaks of having authority.

POWER OVER THE DEVIL AND DARKNESS

This word, “exousia,” is also used in the passage in Matthew 10 where it speaks of Jesus giving his disciples power (authority) to cast out demons.

Matthew 10:10 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Just as he gave his disciples power over darkness and disease so he has given us that same authority by making us kings.  When he transferred that to his disciples, they now had the power to walk in his name.  To walk in authority you must know you have authority yet many do not know or understand the power that has been given them in Jesus name.  Should all Christians come to the place of understanding this power, we would see a mighty wave of deliverance and healing in the earth.  Jesus is still at work today through the lives of his servants, those who have been made kings unto their God! Wow! If we ever got a full revelation of this, the world would be changed!  You’ve heard it said we have sophisticated demons in America.  They hide behind all of our technical knowledge.  We just call sickness diseases with names and they are diseases, caused by the devil. To act in authority one must act in faith and in America we have come to rely on science more than faith!  One thing you don’t see much of in America is halls of hospitals clearing because an authority filled Christian has visited every room where inside the rooms, people filled with faith have put their trust in God and allowed the prayer of faith to come into their room.  You may see this from time to time but we are instead looked upon with disdain if we ask to pray for patients. There are other nations on the other hand in which hospitals welcome the prayers of authority filled Christians and many hospital rooms are emptied.  I have one particular friend who ministers in the continent of Africa who is allowed to enter hospital rooms to pray. The patients welcome him and very often they go home healed with no medical explanation.  To allow prayer is not to deny science but it is to recognize the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.  May we again see a wave of healing sweep through America once again as in days of old when preachers were sometimes arrested for practicing medicine because of people coming to a meeting sick but going home cured! We really need a great awakening of the authority and power of Christ in our nation again!  When Jesus returns and even before when the saints are swept away, we’ll enter that heavenly city where we will eat from the Tree of Life and sickness will be no more.  Just know though, you are not meant to wait for the New Jerusalem. You have been made a king now. You have an authority that has been given you from heaven.  Don’t wait to pray for the sick. Start today!

There are other ways the kingdom of darkness manifests.  In many other nations there are demon filled people who attempt to enter a Christian meeting.  If you are not filled with the Spirit and authority of Christ, you may not have the understanding it takes to deal with a situation like this.  We’ve become so sterilized in America, we do not even realize when we are dealing with a devil. That’s why a Holy Spirit gift of Discernment has been given, that we may know what spirit we are dealing with.  The authority Christ has given us as kings to him, is to silence and defeat devils yet if you speak on that subject in America, you are laughed at.  The world may laugh now but when the time of reckoning comes, they will wish they had listened.  For now we wrestle against the devil and his temporary authority but there will come a day when all other power and authority is wiped away and only the Kingdom of God will remain!

1 Corinthians 15:24, 25  24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

P.S. I posted this as a note on Facebook and my minister friend whom I spoke about in this blog responded to the note saying the following:

Wow-i just finished it: Hospital Ministry. Everyday, even today, in my own home land-ZIMBABWE, I'm being warned, 'Be careful, U will never see the whole hospital being healed by your message'. But I'm daily witnessing the healing of multitudes in Hospitals, and clinics. I thank our GOD, I'm now mentoring a brother, and a sister in the hospital ministry. I believe by the end of the year, I will be mentoring disciples from every continent, until we are in every country. I'm not yet even where I'm supposed to be, in terms of substance-I travel in taxis, I'm renting a house and sometimes I trust GOD, for only $1 for the taxi...-please, please, I'm not asking for your hand, its just a testimony, and I'm not even manipulating u to fund my ministry work, GOD Himself is my Own Source-in ZIMBABWE, its just a miracle to be on the internet everyday, they actually term it, 'a luxury'. I'm using an average of $2-US, on the phone, everyday-wow!! Yes-in ZIMBABWE, but how??, because I'm not employed. The authority has been invested in u, so why are u not using it??? Most Christians, u cry, God is very faithful in honoring His Word, but in your acts, you are always warning us, be careful, it might not be GOD's will to heal every one at this hospital. So how are u going to demonstrate to the world, that HE IS ALIVE, but for me, through healing miracles... 5 people, this year are now free from the 'HIV & AIDS pandemic'. Its a very long testimony, I can continue, If u still want somemore......

To be cont’d...

We’ll pick this up next by studying what it means to be a Priest to God.

Joyreaper

5/25/2013

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for exousia (Strong's 1849)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 25 May 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=G1849&t=KJV&page=3 >

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201:6&version=NKJV