Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled 2

As we saw in my earlier post, Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled, fear is a spirit that attacks from the outside...it is not coming from within!

And fear is insidious...let down your guard, start enjoying your freedom, and wham! You get blindsided!

When this happens, remember this: fear attacks the mind, and you are not your mind. You are a spirit, you have a mind, wherein lives your will, your thoughts, your emotions...and you live in a clay vessel we call a body.

And the Spirit within is all God, all the time.

Dead
Romans 6:6,7 says '...knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is feed from sin.'

Paul understood this completely, and said of himself "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Need more proof?

'Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him...' [Romans 6:8]

'But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.' [Romans 7:6]

'For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.' [Colossians 3:3]

'It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him...' [2 Timothy 2:11]

Look at it this way...Ephesians 1 and Colossians 2 both explain that we were buried with Him and raised up together with Him. Was that our bodies, 2000 years ago, resulting in a race of some kind of zombie Christians? [GREAT movie title, by the way...]

No! Our act of faith in His sacrifice joins us to that sacrifice...we died with Him, 2000 years ago [actually, before the foundation of the world], now, today, whenever we accept His sacrifice! It's a quantum reality, but reality nonetheless. And we were raised up together with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places! [Ephesians 2:6] There are lots of articles about that on this blog...use the search function to find them.

Yes, we are in two places at once...in the Spirit, we are seated in Him in heavenly places, in the city of the living God, with all the church, angels, and the sprinkled blood of Jesus! {Hebrews 12:22-24] On earth, we're walking around in these earthen vessels! Someone once called it an earth suit!

But I Digress...
Ok, back to fear. You are not your mind, and fear comes against the mind. Oh, your mind thinks it's you, but it's not...it's something you possess and can control! Psalm 94:11 says 'The Lord knows the thought of man, that they are a mere breath.'

Psalm 146:4 tell us that when we die, 'His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.' Of course, that was from an Old Covenant perspective...as we've seen, our spirits have already departed! Hallelujah! And now we are One Spirit with the Lord! [1 Corinthians 6:17] Filled up to all the fulness of God! [Ephesians 3:19] Strengthened with ALL miracle working power! [Colossians 1:11]

Hallelujah!

How do I know I can control my thought? Because Romans 12:2 tells me to renew my mind. Unfortunately, modern psychology has brainwashed into believing that our thoughts are uncontrollable...they are just who we are.

NO! My thoughts are not who I am, and I will purpose to do what David did in Psalm 94:19: 'When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.' I will choose to meditate on His consolations rather than the lies and deception of the evil one.

Take Charge of Your Thoughts
The Bible calls us vessels...think of your body as a container, filled up with God [Ephesians 3:19] Mediate on that, day and night, until you start to believe it.

If you know who you are in Christ Jesus, and understand the spiritual reality of the New Birth, you will realize that you have authority, not only over the physical world and evil spirits, but over your own mind, as well. [I've written lots on these subjects, please refer to relevant blog articles...there's not enough room here to go into it all again]

Take charge, or control, of your mind. Renew to the Word of God. You are what the Word says you are, in Jesus...'For in Him ALL THE FULLNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM, and in Him YOU have been made COMPLETE...' [Colossians 2:9,10]

You can do it because He says you can...all things are possible to him who believes, remember? How? Through the power that works in you!

Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

After Judas left the Passover table to betray Him, Jesus instructed His disciples about the days and years to come.

In John 14-17, we see Him telling them all the things they they will need to know during this intense time, and in doing so, He has encapsulated the most important things for us as well. He tells us about the indwelling Trinity—He, the Father and the Comforter would come and live within us. He tells us that anything we ask will be granted by the Father.

He gives us His glory, and explains the importance of abiding in Him. He reiterates the assurance of answered prayer, as if He knew that one would be the hardest for us to really believe.

Never Let...He starts off by telling them "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God believe also in Me."

The Greek word me is translated here as 'do not let' or, in the KJV 'Let not' is translated 33 times in the NT as 'never.' If we read the verse that way, it is "Never [let] your heart be troubled..." or better yet, "Never your heart be troubled..."

Never is one of those absolute words. No gray shades about it, never means never, not ever, no chance, period. What is He saying? In the words of David Crosby, don't give in an inch to fear. Don't let it start, don't let it grow, don't let it hang around.

A Spirit of Fear
We've seen in earlier posts that fear is a spirit. Job describes it perfectly...

"Now a word was brought to me stealthily, and my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling, and made all my bones shake.

"Then a spirit passed by my face; the hair of my flesh bristled up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice..." [Job 4:12-16]

Of course, then, the spirit of fear goes on to tempt Job with lies about God.

It's interesting to notice that this spirit is not coming from within but from without. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us 'For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.' The KJV translates the Greek word dielia as fear...the NT Greek Lexicon translates it as timidity, fearfulness, cowardice.

Romans 8:15 calls it a spirit of slavery...

The Spirit given to us is the very Spirit of God...we are one Spirit with the Lord! [2 Corinthians 6:17] And we see that it is a Spirit of 1) power, 2) love and 3) discipline. Colossians 1:11 says that we are strengthened with all power...ALL POWER! Not just a little power, not just natural power, but ALL POWER!

If we experience any kind of fear—timidity, fearfulness, cowardice, any kind of anxiety or worry—we know that 1) it's not from God our Father and 2) it's not coming from within us but is the result of an external spirit of fear.

Don't Leave Yet...
Okay, I can hear the wacko alarms going off out there, but bear with me. Everything I've written so far is directly from the Word. And evil spirits are a Bible fact.

But there's good news! In Luke 10:19 Jesus told His disciples "Behold [look], I have given [past tense] you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you."

Authority over ALL the POWER of the ENEMY! And they weren't even reborn yet...we've got God inside and have been strengthened with ALL POWER!

In John 17:20, Jesus prayed for His disciples and all who would believe in Him through their word...He didn't give them one thing and us another! We have the authority in His Name—not as a talisman, or lucky coin, or rabbit's foot—we are ONE with Him, and wear His Name as His Body in the earth! We have authority because He has authority, and we wear and use His Name as a wife wears and uses the name of her husband...well, used to, in the olden days.

Control Yourself...
Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit was a Spirit of power, love and discipline. He knew what the fruits of the Spirit were, '...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...'

And then there's 2 Timothy 1:7...

'For God has not given us a spirit of timidity [fearfulness, cowardice], but of POWER and LOVE and DISCIPLINE [self-control].' 

So when He tell us to NEVER let our hearts be troubled, He knew that we would be capable of doing it. The disciples really didn't get it—when the soldiers took Jesus, they ran off and hid. Peter was the only one with enough nerve to go after Him...but he succumbed to fear, too. After Jesus died, some of the disciples went back to fishing! In the couple of days He was buried!

They didn't get it, just like we don't get it. Modern psychology has us so twisted in our thinking that we don't think we can control our emotions...we're not supposed to suppress them, that would be denial!

Live in Denial
I'm here to tell you, go ahead...live in denial! Deny the spirit of fear any place in your life. Deny it's every attempt to dominate you. Deny, or forbid, it to come near you.

Jesus has give us the keys of the kingdom. Whatever we bind, or forbid, on earth shall have been bound, or forbidden, in Heaven! And whatever we loose, or allow, shall have been allowed in Heaven. That's past tense spiritually—in Heaven, and present tense naturally—on earth...a quantum verse!

Forbid fear to exist in your life. Live in full blown denial...the denial of fear's right to exist anywhere near you. Don't allow it to start, don't allow it to grow, don't allow it to stay.

But How...
I asked the Lord, "That's great, but how exactly do I do that?"

Immediately James 3 came to mind...the NT treatise on the tongue. [The Old Testament treatise is, of course, the Book of Proverbs—read it through and write down all the verses pertaining to the mouth]

James 3:2 says '...If anyone does not stumble in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.' And he compares the tongue to the bit in a horse's mouth and the rudder of a great ship. The word 'perfect' is the Greek word teleios, meaning brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness, that which is perfect. Kinda reminds you of shalom, doesn't it?

It doesn't really mean perfect, as we think of it...without blemish or error. It really means soteria—the Greek word for salvation—complete wholeness, redemption from all earthly ills.

I saw what He was saying...you deny fear just like you got saved. Believe in your heart and say it with your mouth. '...for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.' [Romans 10:10] Believing in the heart results in a spiritual state—righteousness, or right-standing with God; and confessing with the mouth brings it to pass in our lives—soteria!

So the 'how' is the same 'how' we access all spiritual blessing with...faith. Believe it and speak it, just as Jesus instructed in Mark 11:22,23.

'And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him."'

Oh yeah...right. Faith. The way things really work in the universe...I get it...[cut to Jesus with His hand on His forehead, shaking His head, saying 'how many times do I have to tell these morons the same thing?' [My personal interpretation of Matthew 17:17]
Renew your mind so you can be transformed...changed! Changed to prove or demonstrate the will of God in your life—that which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT! [Romans 12:1,2]

Take up the sword in your mouth. Deny fear it's right to dominate you. Do what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 10:8 and Mark 16:17,...cast it out!

Then believe that what you said happened and praise the Lord!

Amen to the Glory of God!

'For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are YES; therefore also through Him is our Amen—so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled—to the GLORY OF GOD through us.' [1 Corinthians 1:20]

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you've seen the first part of 1 Corinthians 1:20 quoted over and over. It is such a wonderful, neglected scripture, confirming the spiritual reality that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us...so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. [Galatians 3:13,14]

Every promise is YES in Him...He has fulfilled all the requirement of the Law so that we may enjoy every blessing. I write about this a lot, because it seems that we are constantly being told that we must still earn our blessings, both in church and in the world.

Jesus said "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has CHOSEN GLADLY to give you the kingdom." [Luke 12:32] It is His will that we have His kingdom—it is not His plan to withhold it from us, and anything contrary to that fact is a lie.

Look at the Lord's prayer. Jesus prayed "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Most Christians believe this means the millennial reign of Jesus in some distant, magical time, and we've had a lot of help believing that.

Today

'And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." 

'And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."' [Luke 4:16-21]

And what a fabulous Scripture it is! The Favorable Year of the Lord refers to the Jubilee, that 50th year where all debt was wiped out, where slaves went free and no one worked...

He said that all of these wonderful things, prophesied by Isaiah, were fulfilled TODAY. TODAY, TODAY, TODAY.

The Second Part...
Now let's look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 1:20...

'...therefore also through Him is our AMEN—so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled—to the GLORY OF GOD through us.'

Why would He give us His kingdom? Why would He choose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him? [Ephesians 1:4] Why would He, with Him [Jesus], freely give us all things?

So that the Glory of God would be demonstrated through us! To the world, to the enemy—we are to demonstrate His glory in the earth!

Consider Romans 12:2:

'And do not be conformed to this world, but BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, SO THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, that which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.'

In other words, change your mind so you can prove how wonderful God is! How wonderful and perfect His will is!

Please note that it does NOT say so we can prove how God blesses us be giving us cancer or killing our children or burning down our church!

How about these Scriptures?

'Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW.' [James 1:17] 

'For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; NO GOOD THING DOES HE WITHHOLD from those who walk uprightly.' [Psalm 84:11] 

'But BY HIS DOING you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us WISDOM from God, and RIGHTEOUSNESS and sanctification and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."' [1 Corinthians 1:30,31]

Complete
Colossians 2:9,10 says 'For in Him ALL THE FULNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM, and in Him you have been made complete [full]...'

Put this together with 1 John 4:17...'By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because AS HE IS, SO ALSO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD.'

And again, "The glory which You have given Me I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM, that they may be one, just as We are one..." [John 17:22]

Then there's the [I think] most mind-blowing Scripture in the Bible [that no one believes], '...and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be FILLED UP TO ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.'

In Colossians 1:11, the Holy Spirit Himself prays that we be strengthened with ALL POWER!!

So What's the Problem?
If these things are true, and they are, what's the problem?

Why are so many Christians struggling with sickness, lack and oppression of every kind?

Proverbs 23:7 tell us 'For as he thinks within himself—reckons in his soul—so he is.' That's why we're told to renew our minds if we want to prove the good and perfect and acceptable will of God!

Yes, Jesus taught us to speak to the natural world to change things, as does much of the rest of the Bible [particularly Proverbs and the Psalms]. But before speaking, we must BELIEVE! [Mark 11:22-24]

We've been deceived, alright...right out of our inheritance! In the Old Testament, we read that all things belong to God...in the New Testament, we're heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ, and all things belong to us! [Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 3:21,22]

If Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture—the very Word Himself, and we are in Him and He is in us—what about Isaiah 57:14? 'And it WILL be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE OUT OF THE WAY OF MY PEOPLE."'

How about Isaiah 26:7...'The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright one, make the path of the righteous level.'

Or Psalm 1:1-4?

'How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD 

And in His law he meditates day and night. 

'He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he PROSPERS.'

Did you realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 91 for us? For our families?

Before the Curse/After Jesus
Let's look at Adam, before the fall. His job was to reign upon the earth and commune with God. God did everything else—provided a wonderfully abundant place to live, provided a beautiful soulmate...He even brought the animals to him to name! [Girls, there were even jewels and gold there...Genesis 2:12!]

You know the story. Adam severed his relationship with God, then it was all struggle and toil. Mankind could only prosper to the extent that he was strong...this is called a CURSE!

You see, in God's eyes, it is a curse to have to struggle without Him, and a blessing to live in His provision! He then began to make covenants with men, to bless them if they would permit it!

Until the final Covenant—Jesus, the Last Adam and the Firstborn of Many Brethren [that's us]. 'He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS? [Romans 8:32]

Christ has REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE, having become the curse for us!

In Deuteronomy 30, we see how God looks at things. He set before the Israelites LIFE AND PROSPERITY, and DEATH AND ADVERSITY. See how He linked those things together? Not life and adversity or death and prosperity [in the sweet by-and-by]...just the opposite! And Jesus came to give us life!

The Jesus Race
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us 'Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come.'

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:8] and He made clear just what those works are..."The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly—have abundance. [John 10:10]

He came to create a new race—He was the Last Adam, and the Firstborn of many brethren! A race of God-filled men and women, with authority over all the power of the enemy [Luke 10:19] who would show His Glory and His good and perfect and acceptable will!

I think, and this is just my opinion, that when Jesus told us to speak to things, believing that they would obey, He was giving us the Kingdom way of living in the earth. He was reinforcing everything the Book of Proverbs taught...the easy way, the Kingdom way of reigning in life!

But where are they? Cowering in churches, sick and broke. Why? Because they don't know any better! They don't know who they are In Christ or what God's will for them really is! They don't know that the Holy Spirit prayed that they be FILLED UP TO ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD [and that His prayers are answered...]

It's time to renew our minds to the Word of God, so we can PROVE what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God! To walk as Jesus, our Brother and example did, speaking to the natural world, walking away from crazy mobs, healing the sick and raising the dead.

Rambling...
Yes, I'm rambling, it's true. I'm having a hard time expressing what's in my heart.

Here it is [the point].

Believe God and enter into His rest. [Hebrews 4]

Start to expect the blessing instead of the curse. When people tell you how hard life is supposed to be for Christians, don't listen. Meditate on the Word of God—as God told Joshua,

"No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. [Joshua 1:5,8,9]

Read my post Easy Does It and all the ones on Yad. Go ahead, read them all—they're all about this!

Maybe it's easier than we think, or have been taught. Enter into His rest, demonstrate His glory. Renew your mind, expect good—expect blessings and miracles to come easily to you. Speak His good Word into the earth and expect it to come to pass.

Let's Pretend

Ok, let's play a game.

Let's pretend that everything in the Bible is true. Close your eyes...we're going to pretend that we are filled up to all the fullness of God, and that everything we say comes to pass. [Ephesians 3, Mark 11]

The Hebrew word 'dabar' means both word and thing...so let's pretend that everything that comes out of our mouths are actual little things that float out like bubbles and go 'pop' and land fully grown on the earth!

Let's pretend that Satan has been stripped of his weapons and that we have authority over all his power...that all he can do is deceive us, and we don't fall for it, ever. No matter how things look, we have the power to see the invisible provision that is all around us. See how he runs away from us!

Let's pretend that we can talk to physical, natural things and they obey us. That we can talk to trees and mountains and money and fish and donkeys and rooms...and they obey us. 

Oh, this is fun!

More...
Now let's pretend that we're capable of being in two places at once. That we can walk on earth in these wonderful 'earth suits' but we're also seated at the right hand of God in Christ in Heaven!

Let's pretend that nothing is impossible to us—we're Super People, a new race in the earth! That the Creator of all things is our Father, and that the Glorious King Jesus is our big brother! And that our job is to reign upon the earth! Let's have beautiful robes and crowns and scepters!

And don't forget to pretend that we're always surrounded by enormous warrior angels that guard us in all our ways! That their job is to minister to us because we're heirs of God.

Let's pretend that everything belongs to us. That there are great and wonderful tables set before us, that our every heart's desire is granted, that our Father has given us all things richly to enjoy.

You Get The Idea...
Ok, doesn't that feel great? Every one of those 'pretends' was from one or more scriptures! Now do it several times a day and see what happens. Close your eyes and see the unseen. Believe the Word and refuse to be moved.

Close your eyes and see your desires fulfilled, according to Psalm 37:4—see the Word as true in your life, and be the person you long to be. This is true Christian meditation.

Have faith in God.

[ref Visual Prayer, See the Unseen, Pull Back the Curtain, What Are The Giants Saying To You, Trash Talk, The Purpose of Fear 3]

How to Trust God

Sometimes, even though you may have been a Christian for a long time, studied the Word for years and even seen miracles, it’s hard to trust God.

Sometimes unbelief takes hold and seems impossible to shake.

Or, you may be a new Christian and have no idea how to really trust God.

Until you realize that there’s a hand in your mouth.

‘Death and life are in the power [Hebrew yad = hand] of the tongue…’ [Proverbs 18:21]

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So CHOOSE life in order that you may live, you and your descendants…” [Deuteronomy 30:19]

[Read Yad, The Yad of God, The Yad of God 2]

Remember what God told Joshua…to put the Word in his MOUTH day and night so that HE—Joshua—would MAKE his way prosperous and HAVE good success. [Joshua 1:8]

In other words, God has already spoken. It’s up to us to CHOOSE His Word, and we do that with our mouths. In fact, that’s what Jesus was teaching us to do in the Lord’s prayer…

“Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven.” [Matthew 6:9,10]

Get Started
Here are some scripture-based confessions to get you started. Keep them in your mouth…remember, there’s a hand in there!

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, "You are my God." [Psalm 31:14]

I trust in the LORD and do good; I dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. I delight myself in the LORD; and He gives me the desires of my heart. I commit my way to the LORD, I trust also in Him, and He will do it. [Psalm 37:3-5]

I choose this day to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, therefore I will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" [Psalm 91:1,2]

Because I trust in the LORD I am as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. [Psalm 125:1]

I choose to trust in the LORD with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I acknowledge Him, and He makes my paths straight. [Proverbs 3:5,6]

There are lots more, particularly in the Psalms and Proverbs…no wonder they’re called the Books of Wisdom!

Just work the system. Put the Word in your mouth and change your life. James 3 says your tongue is like the rudder of a ship or the bridle in a horse’s mouth—put the Word in your mouth and change the direction of your life! Put the Word in your mouth and have good success! [Joshua 1:8]

Put the Word in your mouth and trust God. Even if you’re having trouble when you start, the hand in your mouth will bring it to pass.

You will trust God.

Trash Talk

I awoke this morning with pressures and problems circling my head like vultures. Worry was right there in my face.

Talking to me.

That's right, talking to me.

We know from the Word that faith always speaks. So does fear, or any of its cousins—worry, doubt, unbelief, anxiety.

They will talk to you until you tell them to shut up. Until you tell them what the Word says about it.

Things talk to you, too. Your car problems, your bank account, your health. You see images of your failure or your kids in trouble or car accidents or whatever your particular dread is.

If you don't believe me, consider the famous fig tree in Mark 11. Jesus was hungry, and the fig tree told him in no uncertain terms, "you're not getting anything to eat here." In fact, the King James and Young's Literal Translation say that Jesus answered the fig tree.

Do I mean that it actually spoke to Him, like the trees in the Wizard of Oz or Lord of the Rings? Not really. But it communicated to Him quite clearly that He was out of luck.

And He told it, or answered it "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" When He and the disciples passed by the next day, the tree was withered from its roots. The guys were astonished, but I don't think Jesus even looked at it. He knew that His words dominated physical reality and that was the end of it.

Oh Yeah...
Then it hit me—it's just trash talk! I am one Spirit with the Lord! I am born of the imperishable seed, which is the living and enduring Word of God. [1 Peter 1:23]

Jesus is the Word of God [John 1:1,14] and we are the Word multiplied, the Body of Christ. [Acts 12:24]

We are told to reign in life through the One, Christ Jesus, and we have authority in the earth.

According to the Word, there's a lot going on around us in the unseen realm of the spirit.

'For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.' [Ps. 5:12]

'You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs [or shouts] of deliverance.' [Ps. 32:7]

'...he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.' [Ps. 32:10]

'The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.' [Ps. 34:7]

'As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.' [Ps. 125:2]

Acts 6:16 tells us to take up the shield of faith, with which we WILL BE ABLE to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one! Not might be able to do it sometimes, if God wills...the Word is His will, and He wills us to be more than conquerors, every time.

'But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.' [2 Corinthians 2:14]

'But in ALL THESE THINGS we OVERWHELMINGLY CONQUER through Him Who loved us.' [Romans 8:37]

Faith
Like all things spiritual [and natural, for that matter] we do everything by faith. We believe the Word of God over the word of the liar and we declare it boldly. He's a nasty, trash talkin' bully who really can't back it up unless we agree with him. He can only get us to use our own power against us—he was cursed in Genesis and thoroughly defeated by the Seed, Jesus.

'When He [Jesus] had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.' [Colossians 2:15]

In Deuteronomy 30, we are given the choice—choose life and prosperity, or choose death and adversity—the blessing or the curse.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that life and death are in the power, or hand, of the tongue. And Jesus Himself told us several times to talk to mountains, trees and sick bodies...He said we can have what we say.

The enemy is talking trash, and we don't have to put up with it one more minute.

Luke 10:18 tells us we have AUTHORITY over ALL the power of the devil, and Psalm 91 sys we can stomp him down. Resist the devil and HE WILL FLEE!

Where Am I?
Did you know that we are seated in heavenly places, in Christ? [Ephesians 2:6]

Where is that, exactly?

'...far above ALL RULE and AUTHORITY and POWER and DOMINION, and EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, not only in this age but also in the one to come.' [Ephesians 1:21]

Wow. That's not later, folks....that's right now! No wonder God tells us to look at the unseen—it's fabulous! [2 Corinthians 4:18]

And don't fret if the exact scripture you need doesn't spring to mind...His name is called the Word of God! Sometimes all I can get out is JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!! And it works, every time.

Philippians 2:9 says His name is above EVERY name.

Talk about dropping names! It's time to drop the big one on the trash talker. Tell him to get out, and use the Name. It's your name, too!

And meditate on Psalm 91 [my comments in italics, my emphasis in CAPS]:

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High WILL abide in the shadow of the Almighty. [you choose where you live…see the next verse]

2 I WILL SAY to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" [that's how you activate all of the following verses...it's already done according to Hebrews 4:3 but we must choose to agree with Him—see also Deuteronomy 30:15-19; Proverbs 18:21]

3 FOR IT IS HE WHO DELIVERS you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He WILL cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness IS a shield and bulwark. [not might be, is]

5 You WILL NOT be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it SHALL NOT APPROACH YOU.

8 You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For YOU HAVE MADE the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. [you made it when you said it...you choose where you live with your mouth]

10 NO EVIL WILL BEFALL YOU, nor will ANY PLAGUE COME NEAR YOUR TENT. [dwelling, home, habitation, the sacred tabernacle of Jehovah]

11 For He WILL give His angels charge concerning you, To GUARD YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS. [not maybe, not if it's His will—He's saying right here what His will is]

12 They WILL bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 YOU WILL TREAD UPON THE LION AND COBRA, The young LION and the SERPENT YOU WILL trample down. [satan is the roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, and the serpent of old]

14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I WILL deliver him; I WILL set him securely on high, because he has known My name. [Hallelujah...we know His Name, and His Son's Name, too! And we’re already seated in Him in heavenly places…]

15 "He will call upon Me, and I WILL answer him; I WILL be with him in trouble; I WILL rescue him and honor him.

16 "With a long life I WILL satisfy him and let him see My salvation." [v.14-16 is God speaking, telling us clearly what His will for us is]

So trample him down. Shut his trash talkin' mouth up with the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus and the Word of God.

Hallelujah!
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Related articles: Clothed, Crowned, Surrounded; Who Says So; I Will Say; Surrounded By; What Are YOU Saying To The Giants; Liar, Liar, Pants Definitely on Fire; You Are The Second Witness; Think Like God.

What Are YOU Saying to the Giants?

We know that Israel faced giants at the edge of the Promised Land [What Are The Giants Saying To You?]

Centuries later, they were facing giants again. Maybe the very descendants of the first giants, I don't know.

You know the story. It is one of the most widely-known stories in the Bible...even most non-believers know it. You can read it in 1 Samuel 17.

Saul, king of Israel, was camped with his army in the valley of Elah, where the Philistines had gathered their armies for battle.

Get the picture...the Bible says the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side of the valley and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side.

Every day the Philistines' champion, a giant named Goliath, came out and challenged Israel to send someone out to fight him. And the Word says 'When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.'

And every time he came out to taunt them, the Israelite army '...fled from him and were greatly afraid.' [1 Samuel 17:24]

Hmmm...

Enter David
Now David was the youngest son of Jesse, and had already been anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel [I Samuel 16]. Saul knew David, because the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him and an evil spirit was terrorizing him. David had played for Saul to sooth and calm him. I don't think Saul knew that David had already been selected to replace him—not yet, anyway.

David's three older brothers were at the battle and his father had sent him up to the camp with provisions. He arrived to see Goliath challenging Israel and heard what he said to the Israelites.

I love what happened next.

'The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."

'Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?

'"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" The people answered him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who kills him."' [1 Samuel 17:25-27]

First, he wants to know what he gets if he defeats the giant. HE'S ALREADY THINKING VICTORY! Then we see why—when he called Goliath an 'uncircumcised Philistine' he was thinking COVENANT! Only those in covenant with God in the nation of Israel were circumcised—it was the mark of the covenant!

He's thinking of God's promises for protection and deliverance! Remember, he's been tending sheep and writing psalms inspired by God. Psalms like 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.' [Psalm 23:4] And he had used his covenant to kill lions and bears when they had attacked his flock [v. 34-37].

Of course, his oldest brother got mad at him and accused him of being insolent and wicked! But David just turned away and asked the same question of somebody else...what will I get? He just ignored him—which was no small thing, becuase the firstborn held special status.

In David's mind, however, this un-covenanted Philistine had no right to taunt the armies of the Living God—I'm sure he wondered what the heck the rest of these people were thinking.

Saul tried to talk him out of it, too, stating the obvious, natural circumstances—you're too young, he's a trained warrior from his youth, he's really big, etc. But David was just not listening to reason...

'And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."' [1 Samuel 17:37]

So Saul finally gave him permission to go. Either David's anointing convinced him, or he figured 'what the heck,' I can't say. He did try to get David to wear his armor, but David refused.

He took the weapons he trusted in—his covenant with God, his staff, his sling and five smooth stones.

Goliath was suited up in full armor.

'He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.' [1 Samuel 17:5-7]

Now, I don't know what any of that stuff is, but it sounds heavy and scary. Sort of like one of the evil Transformers...and here stands David, dressed in his shepherd's clothes, armed with a stick and a slingshot!

Calling the end from the beginning
Of course, like any good movie villan, Goliath started shooting his mouth off, because no one had ever stopped him before. He was king his domain and standing before him was this teenager, dressed like a shepherd.

'When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. [a pretty boy..author's translation] 

'The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

'The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field."' [1 Samuel 17:42-44]

This is like every movie you've ever seen! The big, badass is going to teach our hero a lesson he'll never forget, mostly because he won't live long enough to remember it!

But then it was David's turn!

'Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in THE NAME OF THE LOFD OF HOSTS, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

"THIS DAY the LORD WILL DELIVER you up into my hands, and I WILL strike you down and remove your head from you.

"And I WILL give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS.

'Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that DAVID RAN QUICKLY TOWARD THE BATTLE LINE TO MEET THE PHILISTINE.' [1 Samuel 17:45-48]

I love it! He decreed the end from the beginning, and then RAN to the battle! Why? Because he trusted in God and in his covenant! He didn't hope God would deliver him, he KNEW it!

So much for preachers telling us that calling the end from the beginning is not for us, that it's some kind of cult or religious fad.

Yes, natural man has some power in his mouth—remember the tower of Babel. [see Fabulous Finds] But the mouth backed by covenant with Almighty God is always going to win! Somehow Goliath knew that his words meant something, but he had NO COVENANT WITH GOD!

You know the rest of the story. David felled Goliath with a stone from his sling, then used Goliath's own sword to cut his head off! The Philistines turned tail and fled, and the Israelites chased them off and plundered their camps. [That's another article, for another time...hallelujah!]

Moral of the Story
That's great, but what does it mean for me, today?

Satan ALWAYS places giants at the edge of the Promised Land. They take different forms in the natural realm, but he's always behind whatever it is.

And they talk to us, all day, every day. 'You can't do this, you'll never be able to do this, there's no way, it's impossible, God won't help you this time, sometimes the answer is no, blah blah blah...'

I hate that guy.

And we've got the same two options David had.

We can do what Israel did the first time [read Numbers 13] and believe the lie. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what the Israelite armies had been doing every day...believing the lie and shaking in their boots. And if David hadn't shown up, they'd be there still!

But he did show up! And he used his covenant with God to defeat the giant, just like Joshua and Caleb finally defeated the giants of Canaan. They held fast to their original confession..."We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." [Numbers 13:30]

It's up to us. We have a better covenant, with better promises, sealed in the Blood of Jesus!!

We can believe the lies or we can tell the giants to pound sand.

Once again, it's up to us.

Reign in life. [Romans 5:17, Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57]

With Us [re-post]

What is one of the most important revelations for the Christian today?

That we are One Spirit with the Lord, filled up to all the fulness of God, strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.

That we have actually died—crucified with Christ, raised up with Him and seated in Him in heavenly places. That Christ is living in these earthen vessels, right now—that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit dwell within.

That we're not alone, not waiting for God to move. That He has promised NEVER to leave or forsake us.

That He told us to speak to the natural world and it will obey us.

Why? Because He's in us, performing His Word! Because 'Now unto Him Who is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY beyond ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, according to THE POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US, to Him be the GLORY IN THE CHURCH and in CHRIST JESUS forever and ever. AMEN [so be it]!! 

The Father within, He does the works! [John 14:10]

That's why all things belong to us...because we belong to Him and are One with Him, and He belongs to God! [1 Corinthians 3:21,22]

Jesus was the Word, we are the Word, multiplied! [Acts 6:7; Acts 12:24; Acts 13:49; Acts 19:20]

He is the heir of the world [Hebrews 1:2] and we are His joint heirs. Think of a joint account, or more specifically, when siblings all receive the entire share of their parents' will!

He is the LORD OF GLORY and we are one with Him!!!

What's More...
We are in covenant with God the Father in the Blood of Jesus!

True covenant means what ever belongs to one party belongs to the other...strength, debts, wealth, favor, enemies, etc. They are covenanted together, forever.

Marriage used to be an example of this, until we had quickie divorces, keeping-their-own-name feminists and his-n-her bank accounts.

A true covenant between two parties means that whatever belongs to one party belongs to the second party, whether good or ill. Parties used to covenant together to strengthen their weaknesses...in fact, royalty used covenant marriage to cement relations between kingdoms.

And we are in Covenant with God! We are born of Him [1 John 5:1,4], born of His seed, which is the living and enduring Word of God. [1 Peter 1:23]

One with Jesus, born of God, filled with His Spirit. The Body of Christ!

He is with us always [Matthew 28:20], even to the end of the age. He will never desert or forsake us [Hebrews 13:5]. How could He forsake Himself?

Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David
We study the great patriarchs of old, men of great faith who performed marvelous exploits by the power of God.

'You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; and gave them this land, which you swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with mill and honey.' [Jeremiah 32:21,22]

God was with them, and His anointing was on them...but He was not in them. They were not one Spirit with Him and they were not filled with all of His fulness! He and His mighty power were with and on them but not in them...can you see the difference?

As wonderful as they were, they were spiritually dead. Their power came from a covenant with God, and their faith was credited to them as righteousness.

But we were crucified with Christ, buried with Him in baptism, raised up with Him and seated together with Him in heavenly places! One Spirit with the Lord!

That's why there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:1]...because we are One with Him. The one who deserved condemnation was crucified with Him, slain with Him before the foundation of the world!

Hallelujah!

What Would Jesus Do?
So ask yourself, your born-again, one-Spirit-with-the-Lord self, what would Jesus do in any situation that faces you?

What's more, what would God the Father do? The Holy Spirit?

In John 14-17, Jesus makes some pretty wild claims. That He and the Father would live in us along with the Comforter—the Holy Spirit. That's the Trinity, people...all of it, not just a teaspoon or two!

Is God divisible? Does each Christian only have a dropperful of God?

Jesus said repeatedly that He and the Father were One...do the math! If we're one with Him, and He is One with the Father, then we are One with the Father!

He's no longer just with us, He has placed Himself and all that He is IN US! In fact, the truth of the new birth is that He has replaced the one who was crucified with Him! Paul plainly taught that we are crucified with Christ, buried with Him in baptism, raised up together with Him and SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES! That Christ now lives in and though us!

No, it's not blasphemy, it's the Word of God!

No wonder He told us to speak to trees and mountains and they would obey!

What would Jesus do? What would the Father do? What would the Holy Spirit do?

They wouldn't put up with sickness or poverty or distress of any kind, I can tell you that!

Think about this...God told Joshua that no man would be able to stand before him all the days of his life, just as He was with Moses, He would be with him. [Joshua 1:5]

If no man could stand before Joshua, who can stand before us who are filled up to all the fulness of God? Jesus Himself said that the least in the Kingdom of God would be greater than the greatest prophet of the Old Covenant! Why? Because we are One with Him!

Why haven't we walked in this? Why haven't we fulfilled Romans 5:21, reigning in life through the ONE, Jesus Christ?

Why haven't we fulfilled Colossians 2:9,10 or Ephesians 1:22,23?

'For in Him ALL THE FULNESS OF DIETY dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete...'

'And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His BODY, the FULNESS of Him Who fills all in all.'

Don't just skim over these passages because you've read them 100 times. Meditate on them...what can they possibly mean?

Could it be that we've been lied to, indoctrinated out of our power and true calling?

Hmmm...

Think about all of the wonderful things that Jesus did when He walked the earth, and then think about one of the last things He said:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." [John 14:12]

I can't speak for you, but I'm not doing greater works than Jesus did. I can't even find a church in my area that will lay hands on the sick, at least not with any faith that it will actually work! Mostly we're told how to cope with fill-in-the-tragedy, or worse, that God is doing it to us...

To Himself? If we're one with Him, is He making Himself sick/poor/bound? Huh?

We're told, over and over, how weak we are, how sinful we are, how we shouldn't expect too much, how we shouldn't want too much, maybe the answer is no, maybe the tragedy is God's will, blah blah woof woof.

Now I wonder where those lies comes from...

Think about it.

Read Thoughts on the New Birth, Think Like God, Vessels of Power,An Eternal Perspective...God's POV

God Wants You Free

Consider this...

God wants and needs for you to be delivered as much if not more than you do!

We're taught, wrongfully, that we need to beg for His help, and sometimes the answer is 'No.' Maybe He wants to teach us something, or maybe we just don't deserve His help.

These things are not true. I don't care where you heard them.

'For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are YES; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.' [2 Corinthians 1:20]

'"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED in the Son. If you ask Me ANYTHING in My name, I will do it."' [John 14:13,14]

'"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you WILL receive, so that your joy may be made full."' [John 16:23,24]

'...and through Him everyone who believes is freed from ALL THINGS, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.' [Acts 13:39]

Already
Technically, we are already delivered from everything we need to be delivered from, because His works were finished from the foundation of the world. [Hebrews 4:3]

We are one Spirit with Him, His Body in the earth...as He is, SO ALSO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD! [1 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 1:23; 1 John 4:17]

'For in Him ALL THE FULLNESS of Deity—GODHEAD—dwells in bodily form, and in Him YOU HAVE BEEN MADE COMPLETE...' [Colossians 2:9,10]

Did you know that the Greek word for 'salvation' is soteria, meaning deliverance, preservation and safety? Deliverance from the molestation of enemies!! Hallelujah!

In fact, He tells us how to appropriate His will.

'And do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, so that you may PROVE what the will of God is, that which is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.' [Romans 12:2]

In other words, we are transformed when we know we are!

Transformed into the manifestation of His Word! Healed, delivered, rich, protected...

Why? So that we can PROVE what His good and acceptable and perfect will is!

We are to be His proof in the earth...proof that He is Love, proof that He is good, proof that Jesus has already paid for all sin and for all of it's consequences!

'"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father Who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

'YOUR KINGDOM COME. YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

'Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

'And do not lead us into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]"' [Matthew 6:9-13]

[For more on proving His good will, read Thoughts on the New Birth,God isn't Holding Back 2, and Liar, Liar, Pants Definitely on Fire! I'm sure there are other articles on the blog, but these are good for a start...]

He needs us to manifest His finished work in Jesus. And the system He put into place for us to do this is the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, answered prayer, the confession of His Word and the power of words over the natural, physical world. Not to mention the indwelling Father...

Think About This
According to the Holy Spirit, writing through Paul, we died with Jesus, were buried with Him, were raised up together with Him and seated with Him in heavenly places. [Ephesians 2:6]

And we were born again...one Spirit with Him, God-inside.

So ask yourselves the question...just who is being hindered by the enemy?

If Jesus said it was the Father in Him doing the works [John 5:20], and we'd do greater works than He did because He was going to the Father [John 14:12]...WHO IS BEING PERSECUTED BY THE ENEMY?

When Paul was persecuting Christians, when Jesus stopped him on the road Damascus, what did He ask him?

'"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?"' [Acts 9:3]

Don't you see? We are ONE with Him, His Body, full of God the Father, God and Son and God the Holy Spirit. That other sinner that used to live in this earthen vessel WAS CRUCIFIED 2000 years ago, and to be technically accurate, from the FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!!!

'...knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin...' [Romans 6:6]

'"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."' [Galatians 2:20]

So, I'll ask again...WHO IS BEING HINDERED IN THE EARTH?

Satan knows all of this, people! He's effectively stopping the Body from doing the works of Jesus in the earth, even though we've been given authority over all his power! If we can't move neither can God!

That's the primary reason He needs us free, so He can work unencumbered through us, via Ephesians 3!

'For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with POWER through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

'...and that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST which surpasses knowledge, THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED UP TO ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD,

'Now to HIM who is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, according to the POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US, to Him be the GLORY IN THE CHURCH and IN CHRIST JESUS to all generations forever and ever. Amen.' [Ephesians 3:14-21]

And we have this treasure in earthen vessels...why? So that the SURPASSING GREATNESS OF THE POWER WILL BE OF GOD and not of ourselves... [2 Corinthians 4:7]

His Will
He wants us free because He loves us and He has already paid the price for our total freedom...health, wealth, well-being, angelic protection, peace, joy.

He needs us free so that the greatness of His power can be seen in the earth!

It is His purpose that His power and love be demonstrated through the Body of Jesus, just like it was shown through the Man Jesus when He walked on the earth.

He has already spoken that the kingdom of this world must become the kingdom of our Christ, so we know that this is His will...

'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven WILL BE GIVEN the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and ALL THE DOMINIONS WILL SERVE AND OBEY HIM.' [DANIEL 7:27]

'Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, " The kingdom of the world HAS BECOME the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." [Revelation 11:15

'Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "NOW the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the AUTHORITY OF HIS CHRIST HAVE COME, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.' [Revelation 12:10]

...and we know that Jesus preached the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM! [I just saw this yesterday...Hallelujah!]

'Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.' [Matthew 4:23]

'"This GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."' [Matthew 24:14]

Okay, Get To The Point
The point is that God wants you totally free in every area of your life more than you do. You don't have to beg...it's already yours!

'This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.' [1 John 5:14,15]

'"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom."' [Luke 12:32]

'For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.' [Romans 11:36]

'For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.' [1 Corinthians 3:21-23]

And in some cases, you don't even need to ask! Jesus plainly told us to speak to natural, physical things...

'And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. "TRULY I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES THAT WHAT HE SAYS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, ALL THINGS for which you pray and ask, BELIEVE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THEM, and they will be granted you.' [Mark 11:22-24]

Praise the Lord! It is finished! [...and I mean that in more ways than one!]

It is time to reign in life through the One, Christ Jesus. [Romans 5:17]