Revolution Era

Fourth Layer - What Do We Have As Children of God?

This is not a prosperity doctrine. This is not a bless-me club membership. This is not a 5 steps to success guideline. What I am presenting here is Bible, plain and simple. Every son, every heir, every king, has responsibilities. But he also has attributes, authority, power, titles, privileges, weapons, resources, and benefits. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU AND I BECOME AWARE OF WHAT IS OURS. Why? So that you and I can stop wasting time praying for and seeking things that God HAS ALREADY given us. Moreover, by knowing what HAS been made available to us, we can begin TO USE these resources and privileges to aid us in fulfilling the task God has assigned each of us to do. Readers beware: once you read this, you will be short on excused for your apathy and inactivity.

“He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Luke 10:18-21

Satan fell from his seat of authority. And he hasn’t gotten back on it, because Jesus took over it (Mt 28:18, remember?). Now, because you are a co-heir with Christ, you have authority in heaven and on earth (see below). If Satan fell, so did demons, principalities, and strongmen. That’s probably why Jesus and his disciples never taught on doing spiritual warfare against regional principalities. Let me be blunt: Daniel’s Prince of Persia (Dan 10:13) has fallen. Well what about Ephesians 2:2, and 6:12 – Paul is clear in stating that we war against demons, you say. Yes, we do. Jesus and the Apostles cast out devils. Daniel didn’t. We fight a defeated enemy. These demons no longer resist angels. If Jesus has ALL authority, then someone has NO authority. That someone is Satan. Again, this is one of the shifts that took place from Old Covenant to New. YOU and I now have authority over all these snakes and scorpions (Biblical imagery for demons). Jesus said it, not me.

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’” Mat 16:17-19

You didn’t believe me when I said you had authority on earth AND in heaven, I know. Well, now I’m even more confident to say it again. YOU and I share in the Matthew 28:18 declaration. And Jesus here even takes it a step father – whatever WE bind ON earth will be bound in heaven. Understand something: this isn’t a neat trick; it’s a truck load of responsibility. Note also the fact that Jesus says HE will do the building of churches, not us. And finally, He has declared that Hell itself will not overcome us. Why? Cause Satan and his demons fell. They are under your feet. We resist the devil, AND HE FLEES FROM US. That never could have taken place in Daniel’s day, under the Old Covenant.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 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." Mrk 16:17-18

If you don’t believe they will follow you, then they won’t. It’s that simple. Put yourself at risk, where God has to do the impossible through you. If a miracle happens, you’re on the right track. If it doesn’t, you’re still on the right track. Keep at it, and eventually you will die to yourself to the point where it is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you. Then you’ll be a ball of Holy Spirit fire.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Col 2:9-10

Again, this is to remind us that our enemy is UNDER us, not over us. He fell from his place of authority. He is stripped bare. The only thing left is for us to advance and repossess the land and the lives he has taken. OUR COARSE OF ACTION IS NOT TO SIT AND PRAY FOR GOD TO REMOVE PRINCIPALITIES AND STONGMEN. He did that. Now you move in and apprehend the enemy, and set people free.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Eph 1:3-6

If you have BEEN blessed (past tense) with EVERY spiritual blessing, is there any blessing left to be blessed with? Honestly, think about it. We ask God to bless us. But can He? Is there anything left for Him to give? “Oh Lord bless me, and keep me, cause your face to shine on me”. It’s a beautiful prayer. But does it still apply today? Is not Ephesians 1:3-6 even more wonderful?

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ...” Rom 8:17

Too good to be true. Which is why so few dare to teach on it today.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:6-7

Whatever seat Satan fell from, be sure of this: your seat is much higher, and greater. Again, he is defeated. Act accordingly.
Also, for those who often feel that God is “far from you”, or, that He has “hidden His face” from you, to you I say this: Be reminded of who He is, and who you are because of Him. How can God hide from you if you are sitting next to Him in heaven, and He is dwelling inside you on earth? Renew your mind!

“For through [Jesus] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Eph 2:18

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Eph 3:20

I couldn’t resist! God’s power works through us! Just like it worked through Jesus when he walked the earth!

----- Part 2: Applying Our Pyramid to Modern Teachings and Doctrines -----

This Pyramid can be used as a sort of ‘measuring stick’ or ‘grid’, if you will, to a host of doctrines, traditions, and teachings that are prevalent in the church today. The intent is that you now can verify if what you are being taught lines up with the completed work of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant He established. For the scope of this article, I will limit my attention to teachings on mantles, impartations, and anointing, as I mentioned above.

So Is There Anything More That I Can Receive From God?

This sort of article will undoubtedly beg such a question. So I have taken the liberty of asking it myself, with the obvious intent of answering it.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3

So, can we receive more? Well, as far as blessings go, no.

“Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Cor 12:1

I figured this chapter, or Ephesians 4:7-13, would have also come to your mind. “I don’t have this certain gift, but I’d like to”, you say. This is a big issue, and I don’t have room to cover it. So I’ll simply say this: Gifts simply help the church mature into Christ. Once we mature into Christ, we don’t need gifts. Did Jesus operate in gifts, or did he reflect the Father because he was mature in the Spirit? Did Paul walk in gifts, or did he reflect Jesus Christ because he was mature in the Spirit? Here are some passages from 1 Corinthians 12, 14, and Ephesians 4:

“But covet earnestly the best gifts.” 1 Cor 12:31

Don’t pick one gift - pick them all.

“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy...
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” 1 Cor 14:1, 12

Again, the purpose of these gifts is to help people in your local church mature into Christ.

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Eph 4:7, 11-15

So, can we receive more? Yes and No. It would seem that in learning how to have the Holy Spirit manifest through us, we can grow more, learn more, and have more. This is done by seeking to have more. But it isn’t a matter of God holding back. It is a matter of OUR OWN MATURITY and UNDERSTANDING. The more we seek to do things that build up and edify our brethren in the church, the more we will see the Spirit manifesting through us. This includes teaching, discipling, laying hands on the sick, songs of worship, etc. As times passes, you will learn how to RELEASE the power of the Spirit through you, instead of waiting for a sovereign move of God. Take this example: Jesus healed on command. Peter healed on command. Paul healed on command. They did not operate in the gift of healing; they operated in maturity, through an understanding of who they were.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift” 1 Cor 1:4-6

In essence, we don’t need more ‘gifts of the Spirit’. We need to have our knowledge of Jesus Christ and ourselves enriched. More on this in the following section.

LORD, I WANT MORE!

Now, gifts aside, there is another theme I want to cover. This is pretty much the crux of this article. IT IS BY FAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO BE STRESSED HERE. What I am about to cover is the one thing we can receive more of. It is the one thing we need to have taught more often, sung more often, prayed for more often, and emphasized more often. If you want ‘more’ from God, or from your church, or from the next conference you’ve registered for – THIS IS THE ‘MORE’ YOU NEED TO BE AFTER. It’s better, more powerful, and more effective than an anointing, mantle, impartation, sermon, worship CD, or warm-fuzzy you could ever experience. Ready?

Want more? You got it!

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 1:4-8

Growing in the gifts of the Spirit comes from being enriched through teaching and knowledge of who we are in Christ. Knowledge. In other words, the more we know about who WE ARE, THE LESS WE WILL LACK. Interesting…

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Eph 1:17-19

What was Paul asking? That his church KNOW Jesus Christ better, and that they KNOW who Jesus SAYS THEY ARE more thoroughly. Not only that, but that they would KNOW MORE about our calling, and KNOW MORE about our inheritance, and KNOW MORE about our power through the Spirit. It doesn’t seem like it’s enough to hear it once and move on…

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:16-21

This is bizarre. Paul is so wanting that these people KNOW Christ and who THEY are because of Christ that he actually prays that they be given divine power to enable them to KNOW these wonderful things. He even implies that their experiencing fullness in God seems come from their experiential knowledge of who Jesus is and who they are in Him.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Php 1:9-11

Haven’t we seen this already? It’s like Paul can’t seem to stress this knowledge thing enough! The more we know Him, and who we are in Him, the more we can discern what is best, and live apart from sin. Amazing!

“[We] have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Col 1:9-12

Wow! Want to know what pleases our Father?
-bearing fruit in every good work,
-growing in the knowledge of God,
-being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
-and joyfully giving thanks to the Father

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! Look at the emphasis Paul places on being filled with wisdom and knowledge and understanding, in order that we might know Jesus Christ EVEN MORE!

“I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col 2:1-3

Read this again: “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding.” This is key. This is vital. This is what keeps you from begging God to give you something He already gave, and to do for you what He has commanded you to do for Him. This is what keeps us from thinking that God has held back, held out, or has disqualified you in some way. This is what make you realize that you ALREADY have all the power, authority, calling, anointing, leading, permission, and any other hindrance you’ve hid behind in order to keep yourself from bearing good fruit for Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ, and who you are in Him, sets you free from religion, doctrines, powerlessness, and apathy.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again…” Rom 15:13-15

I’ve said this once, but I will stress it again. It is not enough to read about Jesus, and about who we are, then get the T-shirt, go to the conference, and move on.

THERE IS NO MOVING ON.

Where can you go beyond Jesus Christ? You are in Him, He is in you. You’re stuck. Finding Him will lead you to finding yourself in Him. Paul seems to indicate here that he was writing to people that were not only full of this knowledge that I’ve been advocating, but that they were also admonishing each other in this knowledge. Yet Paul felt it was ok to remind them of things they already knew! He didn’t move on; he went over it again and again. This is the fundamental difference between them and us. Their focus was Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. And as their knowledge of Him grew, so did their knowledge of themselves grow.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Col 3:9-10

Remember how I emphasized the fact that we are a new creation? Guess what we need to do in order to live like a new creation? By renewing our thinking!

Now, If you’ve had enough of Paul, let’s hear from Peter. I believe that this passage is a wonderful summary of what we’ve been exploring together up till now. So read it carefully, and slowly:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body.” 2 Pet 1:3-13

----- Part 3: So what About…? -----

What About Impartation?

New Covenant Biblical Context:

“For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.” Rom 1:11-12

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” 1 Thes 2:7-9

The impartations Paul speaks of are in the sense of encouragement, and edification. They stem from a desire for intimacy and discipleship. It has nothing to do with giving someone an ‘anointing’ during an alter call at the end of a Sunday service. Remember, you already have EVERYTHING given to you. You just need to go learn what it is that God has given you.

What About Anointing?

New Covenant Biblical Context:

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” 1 Jon 2:20

“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” 1 Jon 2:24-27

There is no biblical basis for teachings on ‘anointing for finances’, or ‘anointing for healing’, or ‘an anointed man of God’, or the ‘anointing was there that night’. We are all smeared with the Holy Spirit. God anointed us first, and then filled us with His Spirit. End of story. What more could you want? What more is there to have? Think of it this way: In the Old Testament, the anointing of olive oil was like painting a big “X” on someone, and then God telling His Spirit, “Go land on that “X” down there. Now, that “X” is no longer on our foreheads – it is in our hearts. And God himself did the anointing (whereas before he would send someone to do it), and then tells His Spirit to fill in the space where the “X” was. Then out comes you! Born anew, and filled with His Spirit.

What About Mantles?

New Covenant Biblical Context: None.

Old Covenant Biblical Context:

“So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.” 1 Kings 19:19

“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.” 2 Kings 2:11-14

Mantle: 'addereth – The Hebrew word literally means “wide”, or “ample”. However, it is most often rendered “cloak” (in the sense that the cloak is wide), and also “glory”.

The Closest Thing You Will Find in the NT:

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:49

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Pet 4:14

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Rom 13:12-14

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Eph 6:10-11

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Gal 3:26-27

Well, take your pick: a New Covenant Mantle is either the armor of God, or Jesus Christ. I’m leaning towards Jesus Christ on this one. Seriously though, our mantle is not that of Elijah, Moses, John G. Lake, Smith Wigglesworth, Mariah Woodworth-Etter, Martin Luther, John Calvin, or an other man or woman of God’s. My mantle is great than Elisha’s, or David’s, or Isaiah’s. That’s right. They would have given everything they had to have the mantle I have today. My mantle is Jesus Christ. You can’t beat it, not matter how many you wear.

What About Double-Portions?

New Covenant Context: None.

Old Covenant Context:

“When a man hath two wives, the one loved and the other hated, and they have borne to him sons (the loved one and the hated one), and the first-born son hath been to the hated one; then it hath been, in the day of his causing his sons to inherit that which he hath, he is not able to declare first-born the son of the loved one, in the face of the son of the hated one -- the first-born.
But the first-born, son of the hated one, he doth acknowledge, to give to him a double portion of all that is found with him, for he [is] the beginning of his strength; to him [is] the right of the first-born.” Deut 21:15-17

“And Israel saith unto Joseph, `Lo, I am dying, and God hath been with you, and hath brought you back unto the land of your fathers; and I -- I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I have taken out of the hand of the Amorite by my sword and by my bow.'“ Gen 48:21-22

“And Elijah taketh his robe, and wrappeth [it] together, and smiteth the waters, and they are halved, hither and thither, and they pass over both of them on dry land.
And it cometh to pass, at their passing over, that Elijah hath said unto Elisha, `Ask, what do I do for thee before I am taken from thee?' and Elisha saith, `Then let there be, I pray thee, a double portion of thy spirit unto me;'
and he saith, `Thou hast asked a hard thing; if thou dost see me taken from thee, it is to thee so; and if not, it is not.'” 2 Kings 2:8-10

Portion: peh – The Hebrew literally means “mouth”. But in relation to the passage it is used in, can be rendered “helping” [of food], or “portion” [of food]. The legal implications of a double portion primarily related to the inheritance allocated to the first-born male in a Hebrew household (see above, Deut 21:15-17).

The Closest Thing You Will Find in the NT:

In Romans 8:28-29, Christ is “the firstborn among many brethren.” Jesus is our Elder Brother. He has authority and power over us, His younger brothers and sisters. He is the head of the Church. He is honored and obeyed.

In Colossians 1:15-17, Christ is “the firstborn over all creation.” He has power and authority over the whole creation and universe, for He created them. His Name is above every other name, Phil. 2:9-11. He has authority over all men, angels, principalities and powers. He is King of all kings, and Lord of all lords.

In Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5, Christ is “the firstborn from the dead.” Jesus has complete power and authority over death. Death fears Him and bows before Him. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, and has the keys of death and hell, Rev.1:18, Jn.11:25.

In Hebrews 12:22-23 we read of “the Church of the firstborn [ones.]” In the original Greek the firstborn is plural. This speaks of believers who are firstborn ones among their brethren.

There you have it folks. Christ is our eldest brother, and legally entitled to a double portion of any inheritance His Father was to give him. But, because God our Father wanted to do a new thing on the earth, God decided to change that old system and introduce a better one: The last-born, and the first-born, all share in the same inheritance! WE WERE ALREADY GIVEN A DOUBLE PORTION. In fact, because our portion is not material, but spiritual, it has no limit, no bounds, and no end. It can’t be quantified. It can’t be counted. It can’t be multiplied.

Read: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him” 2 Pet 1:3

and,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3

Well friends, that’s it for now! Pass it on and read it over and over again!

Praise be to God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!