What is holiness?

 "Be holy because I am holy," says the Lord.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In Hebrews 12:1-3 the writer starts off the chapter by encouraging us to throw off those things that hinder our Christian walk, to fix our eyes on Jesus and to run the race that God has marked out for each of His children – those of us that are born-again! He also exhorts us to consider the magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross and to not grow weary and lose heart in our walk of faith.

In Hebrews 12:4-11 we are told that we can overcome our sinful nature by heeding his discipline. God disciplines us because we are His sons and daughters and as such, He loves us. Discipline in love is an integral part of God’s character.

Hebrews 12:4-11 (NIV)

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

We are also told to endure hardship as discipline and if we don’t heed His discipline then we are not His legitimate children and we are not truly born-again!

In verse 10 we are told that God disciplines us for our own good so that we can share in His holiness – for it is written “Be holy, because I am holy.” See Leviticus 11:44 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 below.

And being holy is the subject of this article, so let’s examine from the scripture what it means for us to be holy.

What is holiness?
In the verses below we can see that it has always been God’s intention for His people to be holy because He is holy. The Lord tells us to consecrate ourselves and be holy.

To consecrate oneself means to dedicate oneself to a higher purpose, for a Christian today this means our purpose is to dedicate ourselves to God through His Son Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Peter quoted "be holy for I am holy* from Leviticus 11:44 in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and thus we know without a shadow of doubt that this instruction still applies to Christians today! And God adds to the verse from Leviticus by telling us to be holy in all we do!

Lev 11:44 (NIV)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

And the Apostle Paul reminds us that we have been called to live a holy life, not because of who we are or because of what we do, but solely because of who God is and because of His purpose and His grace upon us as sinners and what He does in our lives. We get what we don’t deserve, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour! It is not about us it is all about Jesus who is our righteousness.

1 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Holiness is a characteristic of who God is, and as such holiness and being at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ should be of paramount importance to us as believers, because without holiness we will never see (or truly know in the Spirit) God!

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

To get a better picture or understanding of the above verse let’s examine the verb ‘will see’ from its original Greek meaning. ‘Will see’ is translated from the Greek word horaó (hor-ah-o, Strong’s 3708) and in its broad definition means: to see, perceive, attend to, look upon, experience, discern, beware of. In Biblical spiritual terms it is to see properly metaphorically, meaning: "to see with the mind" (i.e. to spiritually see), and to perceive with inward spiritual perception. In other words, by being led and guided by the Holy Spirit and, as the Apostle Paul says, living life in the Spirit (Romans 8).

And now, whilst we are in Greek mode and before we can look at what the Bible teaches on being holy, let’s first understand what the word holy means from the original Greek text of the New Testament.

Holiness is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity – holiness is God’s sanctification work in us once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, in other words once we are born again. Sanctification is a process that we go through on our walk to Christian maturity, and it is achieved by being obedient to His Word and by being led by His Holy Spirit – living life in the Spirit (Romans 8). Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy because He is holy. In fact, Hebrews 12:14 above states quite emphatically that we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Also, as we endeavour to pursue holiness, we will experience a measure of pain as He chastises us for our own good, through the process of dying to self – discipline is part and parcel of God’s sanctification (a bringing to holiness) process.

Nevertheless, this chastising process (sanctification) will yield within us the peaceable fruit of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus. 

Hebrew 12:9-11 (NLT)

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

In other words, that which is holy belongs to God, and conversely whatever belongs to God is holy. We are sanctified and made holy and "set apart for a holy use or purpose" by God, and to find out what our use and purpose is in Christ Jesus we need to live life in the Spirit. We need to always be led by the Holy Spirit.

God has selected us to be His servants and has called us to come out of this world, to be different and separate from the rest of the world. Jesus said in His prayer to the Father for the Apostles,

John 17:14-16 (NIV)

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Christian must live in this present evil world, but his life must be different from the lives of the other people that are in the world – who are not born-again, who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In other words, our lives and the way and manner in which we live, must reflect God’s holiness. We must be imitators of Christ and reflect His nature in all we do and say.

We, as born again believers in Christ Jesus, must come out from any of this world's ways that are sinful and evil, out from the religious and spiritual "Babylon" that is this whole world. The world is Satan’s domain and so we must set ourselves apart from it.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (NIV)

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her (the world), my people,’[Jer 51:45)

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Making such a distinction and living by it is one of the many ways that God's true servants are different from the rest of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the lawless and sinful ways of the world, we should put our thoughts on better and higher things, things that are worthy of our salvation in Christ Jesus, thoughts and actions that lead to eternal life and not on worldly things that are in opposition to God and that lead to eternal death – eternal separation from God in a fiery hell!

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This scripture makes is very clear that we should avoid filling our minds with entertainment that is sinful: void of (God’s) love, lustful, sexually illicit or that is filled with murder, hatred, evil, violence, abuse and all other such evil things. In this way we will be able to be at peace with others because the God of peace will be with us.

We often justify our sinful actions by saying things like: "It’s only a song — it's only make-believe, it's only a movie or that’s who I am."

On the contrary that is not who you are in Christ Jesus, you are a new creation, the Bible says this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and continue to walk in the ways of the world – we must walk in the way of the Spirit (be holy)! Christians need to be different from the rest of this world — to say no to sin, to evil and to wrong things as it is written:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

We will continue to be holy if we live a life of holiness in the reverent fear of God. That is the way of obedience and conformity with God's ways and His Word. That is living life in the Spirit. In this way we will bring glory, honour and praise to Jesus!

God wants a glorious Church without spot or blemish. Jesus gave his life for the Church in order to make her holy through the process of sanctification.

God calls us to be holy as he is holy, and we can’t do this if we are clinging on to the pleasures that the world throws at us, for friendship with the world is enmity with God. In fact, God is so opposed to those that call themselves Christians yet live in disobedience to the Bible and continually live a life in willful sin that he calls them adulterers, vow breakers and his enemies.

If you reject God’s process of holiness and sanctification, then you are not born-again and you will be going to hell if you do not become truly repentant of your sin! Without holiness no one can see God! I do not say this to be horrible, I say this because it is God’s truth and I care about your salvation!

James 4:4-8 (AMP)

4 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? 6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to overcome the desires of my flesh and help me to be holy just as you are holy so that my life will bring glory to Jesus and be a true witness to the unsaved. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Last update: 18 August 2023.

Cast Out Demons!

 

Casting out demons! This is a topic that is rarely preached in today’s Church which, in my opinion, is such a pity as it formed a large part of the Lord’s ministry when He walked among us! Today’s modern Church has not done itself any favours by choosing to ignore such teachings as these, the ones that Jesus himself placed such great emphasis on!

Let’s examine why I make this statement by looking at what Jesus tells us in the scriptures, using at Mark 6 as a starting point.

Mark 6:7 & 12-13 (NIV)

7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

In Mark 16, Mark tells of the resurrection of Jesus and how “Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.” But when they arrived at the tomb, they found that the stone had been rolled away and Jesus was gone. A ‘young man’ who was sitting in the tomb then told to go and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen. This they did but Peter and some of the other the disciples didn’t believe them!

In verse nine Mark tells us that Jesus, after He had risen, first appeared to Mary Magdalene and for some reason he says of Mary, “out of whom he had driven seven demons (also related in Luke 8:2).” This was the first case of multiple demon possession recorded in the Bible. A significant event that both Mark and Luke felt, under the power of the Holy Spirit, that it should be recorded in the Gospels for the benefit of the Church.

To me the fact that demons being driven out of Mary Magdalen was so important that it is mentioned at the tomb of resurrection, right at the start of the Lord’s forty day ministry before His ascension to heaven!

In verse 14 Mark tells us that, “Later (he doesn’t say how much later) Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”

So, in this verse Jesus tells the disciples off for their unbelief! He then tells them to “go” and gives them what we call the great commission and included in His commission to those of us that believe is, “In my (Jesus’) name they will drive out demons.”

Mark 16:15-18 (NIV)

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Looking at the above verses and focusing on today’s topic let’s note in particular verse 17 where Jesus tells us that those of us who believe will be accompanied by signs and wonders and one of these signs will be driving out demons! We have to believe in order to be effective in our obedience to the Lord!

The Lord’s instruction to those that believe to cast out demons is confirmed by the Apostle Matthew:

Matthew 10:1 (AMP)

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits (demons), to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

And by the Apostle Luke:

Luke 10:49-50 (NIV)

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Verse 50 above confirms that ‘driving out demons’ was not only for the twelve disciples but for all those that believe in Jesus, including today’s believers.

Confirmation of this is also shown in the Book of Acts where we read of Phillip, a believer in Jesus, driving our demons and performing other such miracles. Although he was not an Apostle, he really was a true believer and was obedient to the Lord’s commands!

Acts 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

In many cases “driving out demons” is synonymous with healing! When we truly believe we can do, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the great things that Jesus did and He himself says we can even do greater things.

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Is casting out demons relevant in today’s Church for today’s believer?

Let’s have a look at what the Bible says and who Jesus is and what He did in this regard, starting briefly with some basic fundamentals and progressing from there. Let’s follow Jesus and become imitators of Christ!

Jesus is the Word that became flesh – human!

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the above verses we are told that the Word was with God right from the beginning and that He (Jesus) was with God at the beginning as well – thus unifying Jesus and the Word as one! Everything was made through Jesus and that He is the light and life of the world. Darkness (sin) will never overcome Him!

In John 1:14 we are told that the Word (Jesus) became flesh and walked among us.

John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Now, wherever Jesus went His ministry was followed be miracles, signs and wonders. Many of these manifestations of the Spirit working through Jesus involved casting out demons. In fact, casting out demons was such an important part of His ministry, that He gave those that believe in Him the authority to do the same. We have read this in many of the scriptures above.

Now the question I have asked in this section is, “Is casting out demons relevant in today’s Church for today’s believer?”

My answer is, “Yes it most certainly is!”

Why? Because the world has become a lot more populated than it was 2000 years ago and as such has also become a lot more evil. We are already in such times as it was in the days of Noah – deeply disturbing and evil times – men chose not to believe in God – The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit – The Holy Trinity!

Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Genesis 6:5-8 (NIV)

5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Today it is the born-again believer in Christ Jesus that has found favour with the Lord – His Church.

Now, if demonic activity and influence over humans was so prevalent when our Lord walked the earth, it stands to reason that it is even more so today. Just take note of the evil that is all around today’s world and how few of the world’s population are truly saved and are thus children of the devil – most of them without even realising it!

Is everybody demon possessed? No! Is every Christian under the attack of the enemy? Yes, especially in our thought life – the devil’s favourite battleground is the mind of man! Can man be influenced to do evil by the devil and his demons? Yes, he certainly can! Anyone who is not truly born-again from the heart belongs to the devil!

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 8:44 (NIV)

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Take every thought captive!

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 (AMP)

5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.

Because of these factors the Church today needs to stand up and ‘drive out demons’ as Jesus expects us to. He has given us this authority as His Church, we need to realise that as the Apostle Paul says, our fight is not against flesh and blood!

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Jesus has not changed He expects us to do the things He did and even greater things! God does not want a passive Church that rolls over and shows its belly whenever the devil reveals his ugly face! He wants a Church that agressively engages the enemy in spiritual warfare and casts out demons! It is part of the ‘Great Commission!’

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Ephesians 5:1 (AMP)

Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father];

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

How do we cast out demons?

The only answer to this is to say, in the Name of Jesus, the same way the Apostles and other believers of the time did!

Demon possession is a topic that many Christians avoid like the plague and many others go ‘over the top’. For many it is a tricky and very scary subject. Many Christians avoid the topic by saying things like, “You can’t look for a demon behind every bush.” And because of their fear and apprehension of the topic they do nothing at all. But there is Biblical proof that Jesus and His disciples did cast out demons and He definitely gave His authority to the Church to do so as well and thus we should be doing so right now! The times are still evil! Jesus didn’t give His Church His authority for nothing!

When I look at the sinful state of the world today, I personally conclude that there could very well be a demon behind every bush influencing man, and possessing many, to become more and more evil by the day just as in the days of Noah. Let’s be warned by the scriptures, Church! Let’s be aware! Let’s be ready to fight the good fight!

I see mass murders, wars whereby men slaughter thousands upon thousands of other men and innocents, people stealing and robbing, gang wars and drug dealing, human trafficking, and every other despicable acts of man’s inhumanity to man. Then I firmly believe that the evil in man’s heart, the acts of warped minds and suchlike, is brought about by man’s sinful nature, the evil that lies in our hearts in our disobedience to God’s Word – the Bible - and made worse under the influence of the devil and his demonic spirits and forces that gain footholds in our lives through our wilful sin and disobedience to God and His Word! The Church is full of people who call themselves born-again but still wilfully sin!

Let’s have a look at a Biblical example of Jesus casting out demons!

Mark 5:1-11 (NIV)

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Now, in the above verses we see that Jesus was approached by a man with and impure spirit. The characteristics of this man’s demonic possession were:

• He was inhumanly strong.

• His mind was tortured.

• He self-harmed.

• He lived amongst the dead and roamed about night and day – he had trouble sleeping and finding rest for his tortured soul!

• He recognised that Jesus was the Son of God – Satan and his cohorts know who Jesus is and that they are under His authority!

James 1:19 (AMP)

You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!

When Jesus asks the demoniac his name, we discover that the impure spirit was accompanied by many other demons – multiple demon possession, the impure spirit being the spokesperson or leader of the pack! The impure spirit tells Jesus that, “We are many.” For when Jesus gives them permission to go into the pigs, we see that the whole herd of about 2000 pigs runs into the sea and are drowned. So, there could very well have been 2000 demons in one person!

After this the demon possessed man was healed and in his right mind.

Luke 8:34-36 (NIV)

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.

There are many other examples of Jesus, the Apostles and other believers casting out demons as well. Why don’t you do a little Bible study for yourself?

Luke 10:17 (NIV)

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

John 20:30-31 (AMP)

30 There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God; and that by believing [and trusting in and relying on Him] you may have life in His name.

So, now that we have examined scripture it is plain to see that there is only one way in which we, as born-again Christians, can cast out demons and that is in the Name of Jesus. “Demon come out in the name of Jesus!”

A single command, “Come out!” from Jesus brought instant results, and on one occasion, a whole legion of demons fled at His command.

We don’t have need to shout and scream, chop the air with our hands or shake the person wildly, just simply look the person in the eye and commanding with all the authority that Jesus has given us, “Demon come out in the name of Jesus!” Prayer and fasting are also a part of our spiritual warfare manifesto as born again believers – we should make prayer and fasting a part of our Christian lifestyle – be ready for spiritual warfare at all times!

Matthew 17:21 (AMP)

[But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”

A lifestyle of prayer and fasting keeps a born-again believer spiritually trained and constantly ready for battle!

How do we know if someone is demon possessed?

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit and living life in the Spirit, your spirit will discern what is an evil spirit in another and what isn’t, that is why the Apostle Paul tells us to follow the way of love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts – the gift of the discerning of spirits is one of them. The key to anything we do as a born-again Christian is having the agapé love of God for others!

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (AMP)

13 Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. 14 Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

The bible tells us that demon possessed people show certain symptomatic and unnatural tendencies in behaviour and actions. Let’s take a look at these.

1. At times they are unable to control themselves.
The evil spirit will sometimes speak through the person in a voice that is not their own or often they will prevent a person from talking at all. Nervous actions such as eye ticks, lack of eye contact with other people, body twitches and even excessive burping – I am speaking from my own experiences in casting out demons. Demons can come out with cries and screams!

Matthew 9:33 (NIV)

And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

Mark 1:23-26 (NIV)

23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

2. A demon possessed person can often manifest different personalities.
Demons have evil and destructive, even self-destructive, personalities and these personalities can be made manifest in their victims.

Mark 5:7 (NIV)

He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

3. A demon can speak through a possessed person in a voice or voices that are not the person’s own. Like the demoniac in Mark 5.

4. A demon possessed person will often have unusual strength.

Acts 19:15-16 (NIV)

15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

5. A demon possessed person, under the demon’s influence, will often show suicidal and self-harm tendencies.

Mark 9:21-22 (NIV)

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

A word of caution:

Not every illness, especially mental illness, is caused by demonic possession, the Bible in the Book of Matthew is very clear about this. There are those that are demon possessed and those that have mental illness (lunatic). As I have mentioned before, not everybody will be demon possessed but many, even those that know Jesus, can be influenced and tempted to do evils things – those things that are contrary to the Word of God!

Matthew 4:24 (KJV)

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic (mental illness), and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

This is why it is so important for born-again Christians to be continually Holy Spirit filled, living life in the Spirit and operating in the Gifts of the Spirit in the agapé love of God (doing everything in love) so that the divine leading of the Holy Spirit can show us the difference.

Having said this, the Church has to be actively aware that demonic possession is just as prevalent today (and probably more so) as it was in the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth. We cannot just sit back and ignore the Lord’s teaching on this subject just because we find it unpleasant or scary or we don’t believe it is for today – it is for today! Jesus instructs us to heal the sick and cast out demons!

The key to a born-again Christians protection from the devil lies in their submission to God and their humility in serving God, in serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and being Jesus to an unbelieving world!

James 4:7 (AMP)

7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].

1 Peter 5:6 (AMP)

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,

In Christ Jesus we have the victory!

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to minister the full Gospel to others at all times and without compromise. I ask that you help me overcome my unbelief and my timidity and to act in boldness of the Spirit at all times and to be obedient to your all your commands including driving out demons and healing the sick. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my King, my Lord, my Saviour. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

The Devoted Church

 

The Church of Jesus Christ began at Pentecost and is the only model today’s Church should follow!

The New Testament Church was started just after Pentecost with the first mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can read about Pentecost and the Apostle Peter’s bold address to the crowd of his very first gospel message in the Book of Acts chapter 2. 

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was established in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was Spirit filled and, unlike today’s Church, without sect or denomination and the preaching man’s doctrines– just preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified!

This is the model Church that today’s Church should be imitating in every way, but sadly does not!

It was the Church that God himself wanted, conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord and Saviour – the King of kings who never changes!

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Let’s examine how the Church was structured (the way today’s Church should be structured) and were ministering in faith and in accordance with the Word of God brought by the Apostles in the power of the Holy Spirit and let’s not forget the below words spoken to the Apostles by Jesus himself:

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The apostles’ teaching was directly from Jesus who is the Word – taught to them by the Holy Spirit!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The Fellowship of the Believers
What were these new believers doing? What did their lifestyle look like? How was the Holy Spirit binding them together in unity to bring glory to the name of Jesus? How did they respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading and to the apostles’ teaching?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What does ‘devoted to’ mean?

Verse 42 in Acts 2 starts off like this: “They (the Church) devoted themselves to……….”

Let’s examine what they were devoted to and how they were devoted.

Today’s dictionary meaning of ‘devoted to’ is:

"Being devoted to something means being focused on that particular thing almost exclusively. When you are devoted to a cause, you work to achieve its goals. When you are devoted to a person, you place their needs above your own. Being devoted doesn't have to refer only to personal relationships."

So that’s how today’s modern dictionaries define ‘devoted to’, but in order to have a clearer picture of what the early Church would have understood by this we will need to examine the original Greek meaning of being ‘devoted’ to.

The original Greek meaning of ‘devoted’ in Acts 2:42 is:

Proskartereo (pronounced: pros-kär-te-ray-o) and its expanded meaning:

• To join together with

• To adhere to

• To be ready

• To give attention to

• To be fully committed to

• To spend much time together

• To be faithful

This is what the early church would have understood by the ‘devoted to’ and what today's Church needs to be like as well, so let’s look at each term’s meaning on an individual basis.

To join together with:

• What were they joined together with?

• With each other as the family of Christ.

• The Apostles and their teaching - The Word.

• And through this they were being unified as one Church in the power of the Holy Spirit.

To adhere to:

The early church stuck together and did not deviate from the apostles’ teaching – the Word of God, the Bible.

To be ready:

They were being made ready to put into practice what they were being taught and to walk the Christian path as Jesus intended. A path of love, unity of the Spirit and self-sacrifice.

To give attention to:

They were focused on the Word, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship with each other and with God in the fulness of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

To be fully committed to:

They were fully committed to God, to each other and to the teachings of The Word and in putting them into practice.

To spend much time together:

They spend a lot of time together – devoted to each other in the love of Christ. They didn’t shrink back from fellowshipping together as often as they could. They helped each other and encouraged each other on the path to maturity.

To be faithful:

In all these things they were faithful as Christ is faithful to his Church! The unity of living life in the Spirit as Paul was later to describe in Romans 8!

What was the early Church devoted to – Acts 2:42?

1. The apostles teaching – The Word of God via the Apostles who were led and taught by Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit after the Lord’s ascension:

• Jesus – The Word – God

• Love for all mankind and especially for the family of believers – agapé

• Salvation in Christ Jesus

• The New Covenant by the blood of Jesus (set apart from the Law)

• Freedom in Christ

• The Holy Spirit

2. Fellowship – from the Greek word Koinónia, meaning:

• In partnership with.

• Being a contributory help.

• Participation in.

• Sharing in.

• Communion with.

• Spiritual fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with each other.

3. The breaking of bread

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“

1 Cor 11:26

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In the verse above, Paul tells us exactly what we are doing, apart from remembering the work of Jesus on the cross, when we break bread together. We are proclaiming his death until he returns.

Now here it will be good for us to have a look at the meaning of the word ‘proclaim’ from the original Greek translation. It comes from the Greek word ‘kataggello’.

Proclaim – Kataggello

• To proclaim.

• To declare openly.

• To preach.

• To laud (praise).

• To celebrate.

• To announce a message in a definite way.

So, here we see that when we break bread together, at least two significant things happen that only the Church, the true born-again believer, can do.

• We remember the significance of the pain and suffering the Lord suffered on our behalf that we may become born-again and thus reconciled to the Father.

• We announce to each other and to the world in an evangelical way that there is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ His son and that we are committed to Him and to each other.

4. Prayer

Personal and corporate, relationship building prayer with God in the name of Jesus.

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Corporate prayer by the Church in unity, ushers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and brings revival both individually and corporately!

Pentecost is our prime example!

When the Church is devoted to God and to each other in prayer, love, action and devotion, supernatural things happen:

• People get saved, people get healed, people are delivered from demons!

Acts 2:47

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• We receive favour with the people.

• Miracles signs and wonders follow us.

Are you a devoted Christian and is your Church a devoted Church?

Today’s Church should look like the Acts Church, for Jesus is the same yesterday, today and always! Amen!

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I ask that you continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to become a devoted servant that I may bring glory to Jesus and be a blessing to others in Christ. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

The Holy Spirit Teaches Us All Things

Without the Holy Spirit we will not be overcomers in Christ Jesus!

In John chapter 14 we find Jesus talking to his disciples and telling them that he would soon be leaving them. Now reading between the lines of this chapter I sort of detect that the news of Jesus leaving them has made them more than a little bit nervous and has scared them somewhat, as he says to them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

The Lord tells the disciples that he is going back to the Father but that he would come back to fetch them – although He gives them no indication of the timing of when His return will be. And he goes on to tell them not to worry about his departure from the world because he is going to ask the Father to send them the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit who will teach them all things and lead them in all truth.

Now the Greek word for comforter used in verse 16 is ‘parakletos’ (pronounced paraklaytos) and its full meaning besides comforter is: advocate, helper, the one who draws alongside us, consoler, and intercessor. So here we see that the Holy Spirit is everything one could ask for and more. He is our advocate and advisor, he helps us to complete our God-given purpose, he is there to console us and see us through difficult times, and he is our intercessor and continually prays to the Father for us just as Jesus does.

From verses 15 to 31 in the table below I will attempt to explain, verse by verse, just how much we need the Holy Spirit as believers and just how, like Jesus, it is absolutely necessary for us to allow the Holy Spirit to permeate every aspect of our beings and in all that we do in our daily lives. But please remember that my words are fallible – the Word of God is not!

John 14:15-31 (NIV)

15. “If you love me, keep my commands.

In this verse love here is the agapé love of God that expects nothing in return. We can only appropriate this kind of love in its full measure through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. We have a direct connection to God through the Holy Spirit alive within us. It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates our spirit and as such we are to follow the commands of Jesus. This means living according to His Word – the Bible. Every born-again Christian’s life-manual. Know the Word = know Jesus = know the Holy Spirit = know God = a changed me, a good and faithful servant of the Lord! If we don’t keep his commands, we move ourselves out of His perfect will for our lives.

16. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

Here Jesus is saying to his disciples (and to us today) that when he is gone, he will ask the Father to give us another Comforter and He shall give us the Holy Spirit who will live within us for ever. It is also interesting to note here that Jesus says that the Father will send another Comforter – Jesus being the first, somebody just like him with all His characteristics who will live within us for ever. The Holy Spirit in us is how Jesus lives in each one of us.

17. the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Here Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. The Greek word here for truth is ‘aletheia’ (a-lay-thi-a) and its full definition is: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness (ref: Strong’s 225). This is the truth that is God’s and that He wants us to have, and we will only have if we have the Holy Spirit living and working in us and through us. Jesus says that the world does not know the Holy Spirit only those that truly belong to Him will know the Holy Spirit.

18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Here Jesus again reassures us that he will not leave us alone, but he will be with us always through his Holy Spirit until he comes again! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. A Holy Spirit filled Christian is never alone!

19. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Jesus assures all believers that even though he is no longer with us in the flesh we can still see him in the spirit. Our spirits are alive and connected to him by the Holy Spirit. And when we remain in Him, not deviating from His commands, our reward is eternal life!

20. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Here the Lord gives us a word picture of how it is the Holy Spirit that connects him to the Father and us to him and through him we are connected to the Father which enables us to enter the Holy of Holies into the direct presence of God! And through the Holy Spirit all believers are connected to each other, the same spirit is in all of us – God’s Holy Spirit! We, as born-again Christians, are God’s children and family, therefore we are brothers and sisters to each other through Christ Jesus!

21. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Jesus states here that those that keep his commands (the teachings of the Bible) are the ones who truly love him and as a result of this we will be loved by the Father. 

The Lord tells us quite clearly that it is the ones that know the Bible and keep His commands are the ones that love Him. This suggests that if we don’t know His word and keep His commands then we don’t truly love Him! This is a warning to the Church! Do you still wilfully use bad language, get drunk, lie, cheat and steal, etc?? 

It is through this cycle of God’s agape love that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the believers. Those that love Jesus truly from the heart are those that keep his commands – the Bible – Jesus is the Word! The Word is the sword of the Spirit!

22. Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

The answer to Judas’ question in verse 22 is of course that through the Holy Spirit being alive within us, Jesus will be revealed to others. Through the Father’s agape love emanating from the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to us and us loving Jesus in the same way, provides a channel by which Jesus will live within our hearts. The conduit and connection is through the Holy Spirit – spirit speaks to spirit.

24. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

If we do not love Jesus, we will not obey his teachings in the Bible. Our disobedience to the truth of the Word is sin! When we are disobedient and unrepentant we have to face the consequences for God disciplines the ones He loves!

25. “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In these two verses the Lord tells us that even though He is not with us physically, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he will come in the name of Jesus and will teach us all things and he will also remind us of what Jesus has already said, that is he will remind us of what is in the Word – remembering of course that Jesus is the Word in flesh. The Holy Spirit will also reveal to us the Father’s will for our lives in what lies ahead – this will enable us to bring glory to Jesus, the Name above all names.

27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus is saying here that because he has sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to us and we follow His guidance, we will have peace of mind and we need not be afraid of anything.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 

 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

28. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Here I believe that Jesus is telling us as modern-day believers that although he is not with us in the flesh we can still rejoice because he is with us in spirit once we are born-again and have the infilling of the Holy Spirit – we should be joyful that he is with the Father because the Father is greater than Jesus in the flesh and everything that the Father has belongs to Jesus and He gives it to us through the Holy Spirit!

John 16:12-16 (NIV) 

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 .29. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

Jesus is telling the disciples that what is about to happen, his betrayal and crucifixion, so that when it does happen, they will believe it!

30. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31. but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Jesus is telling us that the Devil, the prince of the world, is coming in the guise of Judas’ kiss of betrayal. Jesus is also telling us that the Devil has no hold over him and that He loves the Father completely and is completely obedient to the Father. It was the Father’s command that Jesus should suffer and die for our sins, and because of His great love (agapé) he is going to the cross willingly so that we might live! Amen! Thank you, Jesus!

When we, His Church, love Jesus as He loves the Father and when we are completely obedient to Him and The Word, the devil has no hold over us! Yes and Amen! 

When we are disobedient to Jesus and The Word we allow the devil to get a foot in the door of our lives where he will sow evil into our lives through lies and deception! If we are unrepentant in anything, things will not go well! Do not try and hide your sin, God sees you always!

James (talking to the Church) 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and keep on filling me. Lead me in all truth, Holy Spirit, and teach me all things, that my lifestyle would be such that in all I do, I will bring glory to the name of Jesus my Saviour. Lead me on the path of righteousness and let me not go astray. Lead me on the path that the Father has willed for my life. Lead me on the path of obedience to your Word, Father. Bless me, Lord, so that I may be a blessing to others. Protect me from the evil one, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Are You Plugged in to God's Power Grid?

In the above picture we see the power grid of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, three persons. The Church, as born-again Christians both as individual people and as a corporate entity, are able to join God’s power grid by plugging in to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, when asked by one of the teacher’s of the law what the greatest commandment was, responded in this way:

Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[Dt 6:4-5]

And just before He ascended into heaven, He left us with these encouraging and comforting words that shows us that He will live within us and empower us to do greater things than He if we love Him and keep His commands!

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:15-17 (NIV)

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

How do we plug in to God’s Power Grid?

First and foremost, ask Jesus to become Lord of your life and turn away (repent) from your sinful life, confess before Him that you are a sinner in a simple prayer just as I have said it in this sentence.

Once we become born again (repent and give our lives to Jesus) and are baptised, there is a ‘power’ that God makes available to us in order for us to become effective ministers within His Kingdom and to fulfil His purpose in our lives and to help us be conformed to His image.

Acts 2:38 (AMP)

And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We have all been predestined to do the works that God has prepared for us to do, but we need to be moving in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil them. In Romans 8, Paul calls this ‘Life in the Spirit.’

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Dear Reader, I would encourage you to read and study Romans 8 for yourself. It will change your life!

Let’s have a look at what happened with Jesus just before he began his ministry amongst us.

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, here Jesus is baptised in order to fulfil all righteousness (verse 15) and we see that he was filled with the Holy Spirit (the descending dove) and this was pleasing to God.

Directly after his baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil and by the Word of God the ‘tempter’ was defeated – this was Jesus moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

It was directly after this battle with Satan that Jesus began his Spirit filled ministry to the people!

Luke 4:14 (NIV)

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Here we see that Jesus was connected into the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil his predestined ministry on earth. This is the example that the Church needs to embrace both individually and corporately to be effective ministers in the world and to be overcomers of the world.

Just as a country is connected into a power grid in order to run effectively so the Church needs to be connected into God’s power grid to be effective ministers in Jesus’ name.

Luke 24:49 tells us to wait, before we do anything, to be clothed with power from on high. This is what happens when we wait and get plugged in to His power!

Pentecost was only the beginning of the power that God has for His Church moving in the Holy Spirit. When we do this Church, we bring glory to the name of Jesus!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Look what happens when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit!

We receive power from on high, we speak the Word, boldly, miracles, signs and wonders follow us wherever we go, and the Lord adds to the number of those being saved!

The Holy Spirit empowers us to bring glory to Jesus!

John 16:14-15 (AMP)

14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.

How do we plug in to the Holy Spirit both as individuals and corporately as an entire congregation?

With loving (agape) devotion and obedience to:

• God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• and to His Word

• and to each other

Matt 22:37-39

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 Cor 13:1 (NIV)

If I don’t have love: I am a clanging cymbal; I am nothing; I gain nothing!

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:12-14

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Luke 11:28 (AMP)

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Is your congregation plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Do you live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?

Do you need to make changes in your life to be conformed to the image of Christ?

Do you live and walk in full obedience to the teachings and commands of the Bible in Christ Jesus?

If you and/or your congregation are not, then you will never reach your full potential in Christ Jesus!

Jesus has so much he wants to reveal to us and this he does through the Holy Spirit. As his disciples we are only able to glorify the name of Jesus when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit and walking in full obedience to His Word – NOT PARTIAL OBEDIENCE OR OBEDIENCE WHEN IT SUITS YOU!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

“The Christian’s obedience to the Word (Jesus) opens the channel through which the Holy Spirit will move in, upon and through you! The true Baptism in the Holy Spirit”

When we, as Christian’s, are not in full obedience to the Word – walking in the flesh - we are in willful sin which hampers our Christian walk to maturity!

Ephesians 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled (continually) with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may live my life in the Spirit and not according to my flesh. Help me, I pray, in all I do to bring glory to Jesus! Amen

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!