The Price of God's Miracle-Working Power #3
As we approach the soon coming Rapture in these end times and as a Prophet of God, I have written this series to instruct us in what it takes to have God’s miracle – working power operating in our lives in a way that we have not seen before. The world needs to see Christ’s disciples lay hands on people and see them instantly changed and healed i.e. blind eyes opening, tumors disappearing, the lame to walk, deaf ears opening, the dumb to speak, people instantly delivered, etc. With all the turmoil that Satan is causing, God wants to show forth His glory and power though His people like never before. The third requirement is entitled:
“Be perfect as He is perfect” In this message I want to talk about attaining perfection or “sanctification.” Jesus commanded us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect in Matthew 5:48. Jesus would not have commanded us to do something if it was not attainable. As opposed to the people in the Old Testament times it is so much easier for us to live holy and achieve this perfection as God gave His Spirit to enable us to do so. God said “ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them….Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 6:16-7:1). These promises are ours and we can cleanse ourselves from all filthiness. We can perfect holiness in the fear of God. Call it what you will–perfection, holiness, entire sanctification-it is not only possible; it is a command from God.
There are a lot of preachers who say one can’t be perfect or sanctified and as a result they are not healing the sick and casting out devils. Sin is Satan’s bridgehead in your life and if Satan holds the bridgehead this will rob you of God’s power operating in your life. Jesus did not allow the devil to maintain a bridgehead in his life. Just before He was crucified He said, “The prince of this world (Satan) cometh, and hath nothing in me (John 14:30). He had power to accomplish the work that he came into the world to do because Satan had nothing in Him, not even a little bridgehead of self-pity or self-indulgence.
God’s followers are admonished to keep the coasts of their lives free of Satan’s bridgeheads, also: “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). It is the devil’s business to make you think you can’t keep your life entirely free of his hideouts and landing strips. If you leave him a base of operation in your life, he can sabotage every effort you make for God and rob you of the power you need. Then the work God has given you to do will go undone. You won’t see the sick healed or the captives set free. Should you attempt to cast out demons, they will laugh in your face, saying, “You let us remain in your own life and now you want to cast us out of others!” Demons know the power of Christ and they know and fear the power of a power-filled Christian. But they have no fear of one who is not holy.
The seven sons of Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests, decided they could say the same words as Paul, commanding demons, in Jesus’ name, to come out of those who were possessed. But without the holiness and consecration of Paul, the result was not the same. The evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?“And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them…so that they fled…naked and wounded” (Acts 19:15, 16). They didn’t think holiness was necessary, but they found that it cannot be overlooked, if one is to exercise the miracle-working power of God! Demons only flee before the power of Christ, or of a Christ-filled life. There is no way to have power with God without holiness, for Jesus himself said, “Every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Luke 6:40).
Don’t be discouraged because you have not attained perfection. There is an ultimate perfection which can only be reached when we see Jesus face to face at His coming. But there is a growth process towards perfection, which must continue as long as we remain in the flesh. When you get saved He puts you on the road towards perfection and as you turn your flesh over to the Holy Spirit He continues to conform you into the image of Jesus. This process is called sanctification or perfection. Paul said in Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Although Paul didn’t claim to be perfect, he declared “I follow after …. This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark... (verses 12-14). Although the immature Christian may be perfect in God’s sight, he will cease to be perfect when he is satisfied to stop growing.
Growth continues by taking in food which is the word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous: that the man of God may be perfect” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). So many have time to read books other than the bible and they don’t have time to read the Word. No wonder they don’t grow!
We also need to take the avenue of escape when temptation arises (1 Cor. 10:13). Other ways to grow in perfection are:
1.) Walking in the Spirit- being led by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16)
2.) Don’t forsake gathering together with other believers (Heb. 10:25)
3.) Patience also plays a part in perfection (James 1:4).
4.) The tongue also plays an important part (James 3:2).
5.) Walk in love (Col. 3:14).
Remember, as I mentioned in my last message the best way to conform to the image of Jesus(perfection) is to go through the epistles of Paul (Romans to Hebrews) and ask God to point out scriptures that you need to confess into your life to help conform you into the image of Jesus and bear much fruit. Paul was mentioned in the same sentence as Jesus by the demons mentioned above (Acts 19:15, 16) so this is why we need to read and meditate in his epistles. His most important goal was to be like Jesus and grow into perfection. Meditating and confessing the epistles of Paul will also allow the Father to bring forth more miracle-working power out of your life!