Preview of Equipped By God In Equipped By God we will see that God has equipped us with nine manifestations of holy spirit. He has not only given us the power, but He has also given us authority in the name of Jesus Christ to use it. We have been commissioned and are able to do what Jesus Christ commanded us to do. Luke 8:1,2: And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, The deliverance of evil spirits is healing. Sickness and disease is torment too. Evil spirits do the same thing. They keep you from doing what you know you want to do. What a joy to see healing! Mark 1:21: And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. Preaching and teaching is all part of what we are to do. Mark 1:22,23: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, When the Word of God is taught and people realize that they need help, they are going to come forward. Jesus taught the Word with authority and the devil spirit could not stay there, it had to come out. Mark 1:24-27: Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 181
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. Devil spirits are always seeking a host body to function in. They love to control and torment people and wreak havoc in their lives and also those that are near them. They can occupy a portion of the mind wherever they can get in. They can occupy the body with diseases and sicknesses. How do we keep them out? Romans 6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We reckon the old man dead. If it shows up and it is not Christ, then he is gone. Renew our minds to the Word of God that tells us who we are in Christ and what we are. James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We resist with the Word of God, by renewing our minds to what we are and who we are in Christ. We renew our minds to how we are to live, and how we are to have relationship in the body of Christ. We renew our minds to how we are to confront to change things that are not right. James 4:11: Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. Speaking evil is a lousy habit. It is an easy one to get into because the world does it. Sometimes it is done in fun. That is a way to work it in. Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. There is your choice, evil or good. There is no gray area. Why do we speak that which is good? To edify the hearers. We want to help to remind them of the love of God and we want to remind ourselves at the same time. When we speak we hear it too. I Corinthians 13:5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 182
Keep no account of evil. If you are having some evil thoughts, get it taken care of. Go to God. If you continue to hold it, it will have an effect on your life. We are not to be beguiled (fooled by false reasoning) by the devil. II Corinthians 11:3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. That is how you resist. You stay in the simplicity of Jesus Christ. I can do all things through Christ. Well, I do not feel like it. It does not matter what you feel like. What does the Word of God say? I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. It is not your strength. We do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. I am more than a conqueror. I am righteous. Now! Love one another even as Christ loved you. Loving your wife even as Christ loved the Church. Remember who you are in Christ and do not let nay one or anything talk you out of it with false reasonings. Do not be talked into something that you already have. We have it all. How can you add to what God has given us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:26,27: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Do not give place to the devil. Anger is one of those things. Be angry at the right thing. Psalms 37:8: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalms 4:4: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. I John 4:1-6: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 183
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Trust in the living God and His Word, always. Then trust can be a living, breathing part of our lives. Isaiah 26:3,4: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: It takes strength to live in this world to be successful in life. Before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave commandments and a commissioning to his disciples. (A disciple is one who follows the teacher and his teachings.) So many times we have disciples that follow the teacher everywhere he goes, but do they follow the teachings? Mark 16:15-18: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. This is what Jesus told them: Go into all the world. Preach the gospel to every creature. In the name of Jesus Christ, cast out devils. Speak in new tongues. You shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover 184
This is what the head of the body of Christ (and we are his disciples) said: Mark 16:20: And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Matthew 28:19a: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. Teach it so that they can understand it. Matthew 28:20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. They were to teach them to observe (to keep an eye upon, to watch; to keep, to guard; to observe attentively) all things that he had commanded them. Jesus wanted others to be taught, and these others should also follow his commandments. What commandments?! Go unto the world! Preach and teach the gospel! Cast out devils! Minister healing God has equipped every believer to be able to do what Jesus Christ commanded. By the name of Jesus Christ and by the power in His gift of holy spirit. Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The nine manifestations of holy spirit are our power base. We have those to utilize, to operate, we also have the authority in the name of Jesus Christ. God equipped us. We are able to do what Jesus Christ did. The worship manifestations are given that we might worship Him in spirit and in truth; that we might bear witness of Him; that we might build our spiritual fellowship with Him; that we might build and edify the body of Christ. The revelation manifestations enable us to receive information and communication directly from God by way of His spirit concerning things we need to know so that we can walk victoriously, and so that we can serve in the body of Christ. These manifestations 185
need to be in operation if we are to be able to fully serve in the Body of Christ. They are the spiritual eyes and ears of the Church, and are companion to the Power or Impartation Manifestations. The Impartation Manifestations of Faith, Working of Miracles, and Gifts of Healings, are the action manifestations, which bring deliverance to God s people. All nine of these manifestations are important to our carrying out the commandments and commissioning of Jesus Christ to the apostles and to us. They are important if we are going to live that Balanced Christian Spiritual Walk. That will bring great praise and great glory, and great honor to our God and Father. These twelve apostles did not spend four years in a university or graduate from theology school. They were fisherman, blue collar laborers with some white collar, coat and tie, tax collectors stuck in there. They knew about boats, about nets. Sometimes they knew where to catch fish. The tax collector knew all the loopholes. He knew how to get the money, how to squeeze it out of them. But all that stuff that they knew did not equip them and prepare them to do the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ or to deal with devil spirits or ministering healing. But through Jesus Christ we are equipped. We have the power and we have authority. Jesus commissioned us to do something with them. God has given us free will. We can learn all we can and do nothing, or we can rise up and do. Luke 9:2,3: And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. No staffs no need for protection. No script do not bother with a sleeping bag. No bags do not bother with a suitcase. No bread you do not need to bring food. No money God will provide your need. No extra tunics just the clothes on your back. Luke 9:4,5: And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. Jesus Christ commissioned his twelve apostles to preach, teach, heal and deliver Israel. That has all changed because now we are to preach to the nations, the whole world. Luke 9:1: 186
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (Luke 8:49-52) Jesus did not ask them to do something they could not do and neither does God. We have been equipped, too. The old veteran believer is not any more equipped than the new one. We all got the same package. All of us can do all through Christ which strengtheneth us. If you are an old veteran and feel a little rusty, do not worry about it. The manifestations never rust. They are just as pure as when you got them. Start believing you can do whatever you need to do. People, either God is real or He is not. Either these manifestations are real or they are not. We have to make up our minds every day, this day. If you have any doubts, speak in tongues, that is supernatural. Jesus said you stay where you are wanted. Do not allow disappointment or the bad way you have been treated affect you. Do not let their evil cling to you. Do not let it take up residence. Paul and Barnabus did the same thing when they were commissioned to spread God s Word. Acts 13:50,51: But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. Luke 9:6: And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. The apostles were equipped and they acted, they followed the command and commissioning they were given, and they were successful. Luke 9:10a: And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. One day we will all have an opportunity to report back what we have done. (Luke 10:1) He tells them that the harvest is truly great and people that has not changed today. The laborers are always too few. God keeps sending laborers. That is why he called you and me. It is the truth of God s Word, the power of God, that sets men and women free. If we commit our hearts to serve God and minister to His people, we will have many opportunities to bring deliverance to others. 187
Matthew 4:23,24: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 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 lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. It is the love of God and the truth of God s Word that draws men and women to believe and receive God s deliverance and healing. In Matthew 4:23 and 24 we saw the pattern of the full gospel ministry of Jesus Christ. Teaching, preaching, healing, and casting out devil spirits. We teach you about discerning of spirits so that you will be prepared. So that you know that you can ask God if evil spirits are involved in situations. Then you will not be shocked if God tells you something like this out of the blue. It is important that you are knowledgeable of the devil s kingdom and his spirits because they are real. Also, that you might know how to recognize them and to know how to handle them by casting them out in the name of Jesus Christ if there is opportunity. Remember, God does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual matters or Satan s devices. (I Corinthians 12:1; II Corinthians 2:11) God wants us to know the power He has given us, which is greater than the devil s and we need to believe and act. 1 John 4:4: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. God want us to be knowledgeable of His kingdom and of His gift of holy spirit, and He wants us to be knowledgeable of the devil s kingdom and his spirits. He wants us to know the difference between the two. We need to know that God s kingdom has no beginning and it has no ending. The devil s kingdom began when he was cast out of heaven and will end when Christ returns with his saints and subdues him, and God destroys the devil and his spirits and cast them in the lake of fire. We also need to know how the two kingdoms function:! God s kingdom functions out of love and allows free will choice.! The devil s kingdom functions in hate and by possession.! God s kingdom yields life more than abundant, life eternal.! The devil s kingdom yields steal, kill, and destroy, death. We are in a spiritual warfare. 188
Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. All of these are a part of the devil s kingdom:! Principalities (evil powers of high authority)! Rulers of darkness of this world (world lords of high position)! Spiritual wickedness (those in high places that delight in evil) Ephesians 6:13-17: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: We have an adversary, an enemy that afflicts people. He is all evil, and he exists in this world. There are many people, even Christians that do not believe that the devil or spirits exists. When they think this way, they are sitting ducks. The devil and his spirits exist! They affect everyday life all over the world, and they love to be able to operate secretly. They do because people do not want to believe they exist. They believe that everything that happens, good or evil, is God. Christian believers, especially Christian ministers who are ignorant of Satan s devices or do not believe the devil exists will NEVER be able to fully minister to God s people and bring them God s deliverance. They can teach people about Jesus Christ and get them born again, but after that, the new Christian is left out there. The manifestations of word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits are not more important than the other six. All the manifestations are important because they work together to fulfill God s purposes. They equip believers so that they can be strong, that they might grow spiritually, that they might have a deeper relationship and fellowship with God, that they might have direct communication with Him; that He may give them knowledge and wisdom they need to know; that they will be able to deal with the adversary and his kingdom; that they may have supernatural believing or faith; that they may work miracles, and that they may minister the gifts of healing to others. Jesus Christ s ministry was one of deliverance. Every ministry of God has to be the same. If we are going to be followers of him If we are going to do the commandments and the commissioning of Jesus Christ, then we minister deliverance just as he did. Jesus 189
Christ utilized all the power and authority God had given him to minister to God s people. He manifested: Word of Knowledge Word of Wisdom Discerning of Spirits Faith The Working of Miracles Gifts of Healings God has equipped us and He has called us:! We are the called of Jesus Christ Romans 1:6! We have been called to be Ambassadors for Christ II Corinthians 5:20! We have been called to be more than conquerors - Romans 8:37! As Ambassadors for Christ we are to speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15! We are called to be the lights of the world Matthew 5:14 When we speak and live the light of God s Word, our actions will dispel the darkness. We have power of attorney to make petitions and demands in the name of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:9-11: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. How are they going to confess it if they do not hear the Word? We have to preach and teach. John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. We need to know the truth regarding the manifestations, how they work, and what our responsibilities are. All the manifestations are supernatural. As Christian believers we must learn to function in both realms the physical realm and the supernatural realm. As we grow in our knowledge of God s gift, practice the presence of God, and seek that we might excel in the manifestations, then we will have opportunities to actively receive revelation from God with instructions whether to take action or not. When we do we will see many of the same things the 12 and the 70 saw on their missions. The apostle Paul preached the full gospel and the manifestations were a big part of his ministry. 190
Romans 15:19: Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. I Corinthians 2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: Paul followed in the steps of Jesus Christ. He followed the commissioning that Jesus Christ gave. Acts 20:20: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Acts 28:30,31: And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. We should have all the confidence in the world because we are equipped. Paul continued in the example of Jesus Christ and his ministry. He showed it publicly before the believers in the name of Jesus Christ. If we want to manifest our sonship before the generation of our times and let our life become a praise and glory unto God, then we need to walk by the spirit and be Led by God s Power. Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. We are the sons and daughters of God. Let us walk in all that we have. Get out there and go forth, preaching and teaching and healing and do what Jesus Christ commissioned us to do. 191