From every point our Well-beloved is most fair. Our various experiences are meant by our heavenly Father to furnish fresh standpoints from which we may view the loveliness of Jesus; how amiable are our trials when they carry us aloft where we may gain clearer views of Jesus than ordinary life could afford us!

We have seen Him from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, and He has shone upon us as the sun in his strength; but we have seen Him also "from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards," and He has lost none of His loveliness. From the languishing of a sick bed, from the borders of the grave, have we turned our eyes to our soul's spouse, and He has never been otherwise than "all fair."

Oh, noble and pleasant employment to be for ever gazing at our sweet Lord Jesus! Is it not unspeakably delightful to view the Savior in all His offices, and to perceive Him matchlessness in each?--to shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh combinations of peerless graces? In the manger and in eternity, on the cross and on His throne, in the garden and in His kingdom, among thieves or in the midst of cherubim, He is everywhere "altogether lovely."

Eternity shall not discover the shadow of a spot in our Beloved, but rather, as ages revolve, His hidden glories shall shine forth with yet more inconceivable splendor, and His unutterable loveliness shall more and more ravish all celestial minds.

But Jesus didn’t say, “...and shall not doubt in his head.” Jesus said, “...and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe...”(Mark 11:23). It’s heart faith that gets the job done - not head faith. Some of the greatest miracles that have ever happened in my life came when I began to make such faith statements as, “I believe from my heart that I receive my healing” - even though my head was saying, “It’s not so. It’s not so!” Do you ever have trouble with your head? Then just trust in the Lord with all your heart (not your head), and lean not unto your own understanding!

In Mark’s second chapter, Jesus made a very profound statement. He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician.” This statement may sound simple, but actually has great spiritual depth. Most people I have met over the years are in great need. They need finances, they need friendship, they need healing, and they need love. Most people are in great need.

However, it’s never been God’s plan for His children to live in need of anything. If we need money, then we are not prosperous. If we need healing, then we are not walking in health. If we need hope, then we are not in faith. And if we need love, we are admitting that we do not have love.

God wants us to move from wanting and needing into having and possessing. God is complete in all things. He has no lack and He has no need. Ephesians 5:1 says that we are to be like God. We are to be complete and without need. Even though the scriptures tell us that God knows our needs before we ask, the purpose of asking is to remove the need.

Say from your heart, “I believe according to that which is spoken.” And “that which is spoken” is God’s Word!

Without sap the tree cannot flourish or even exist. Vitality is essential to a Christian. There must be life--a vital principle infused into us by God the Holy Ghost, or we cannot be trees of the Lord. The mere name of being a Christian is but a dead thing, we must be filled with the spirit of divine life.

This life is mysterious. We may not understand the circulation of the sap, by what force it rises, and by what power it descends again. So the life within us is a sacred mystery. Regeneration is wrought by the Holy Ghost entering into man and becoming man's life; and this divine life in a believer afterwards feeds upon the flesh and blood of Christ and is thus sustained by divine food.

Our root is Christ Jesus, and our life is hid in Him; this is the secret of the Lord. How permanently active is the sap in the cedar! In the Christian the divine life is always full of energy--not always in fruit-bearing, but in inward operations. The believer's graces, are not every one of them in constant motion? but his life never ceases to palpitate within. He is not always working for God, but his heart is always living upon Him.

As the sap manifests itself in producing the foliage and fruit of the tree, so with a truly healthy Christian, his grace is externally manifested in his walk and conversation. If you talk with a believer, he cannot help speaking about Jesus. If you notice his actions you will see that he has been with Jesus. He has so much sap within, that it must fill his conduct and conversation with life.

Giving to God is a type of worship. Giving to God is a command of God. We are to worship him with our tithes and offerings; however, we must give with a cheerful heart.

Anytime you talk about giving, there are those who get turned off. Let me say this. I understand.

There have been many abuses by ministries, churches, and church related organizations. I understand why some people are skeptical, but we must not ignore the commands of God because of the abuses of some. Let’s see what God’s Word says. In 2 Corinthians 9:6 the Bible says, “But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

 Let me clear the air on something else here. God doesn’t need your money. The God who spoke the universes into existence, doesn’t need your money. What he does want, though, is your obedience.

In 2 Corinthians 9:10 the Bible says, “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”

 When we give to God, the Bible refers to that as sowing seed. When we sow, we reap, and the harvest is larger than the seed sown. The unique thing about this is that God is the one who gives us the seed to sow. The more we sow, the more we reap. The more we reap, the more we sow, and on and on.

I heard one man say it this way. We keep shoveling to God and He keeps shoveling back. The only difference is, His shovel is bigger than our shovel.

In Luke 6:38 Jesus said “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.”

You are a spirit - and you are eternal!

Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when His people are earnest in a matter which concerns His glory.

The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah's courts.

Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but "Go again." We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven. Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel's brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again.

So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait upon the Lord.

Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed. The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing.

Do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought.

Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire.

The Holy Spirit is often pleased, in a most gracious manner, to witness with our spirits of the love of Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. No voice is heard from the clouds, and no vision is seen in the night, but we have a testimony more sure than either of these. If an angel should fly from heaven and inform the saint personally of the Savior’s love to him, the evidence would not be one bit more satisfactory than that which is borne in the heart by the Holy Spirit.

Ask those of the Lord's people who have lived the nearest to the gates of heaven, and they will tell you that they have had seasons when the love of Christ towards them has been a fact so clear and sure, that they could no more doubt it than they could question their own existence.

Yes, beloved believer, you and I have had times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and then our faith has mounted to the topmost heights of assurance. We have had confidence to lean our heads upon the bosom of our Lord, and we have no more questioned our Master's affection to us than John did when in that blessed posture, queried, "Lord, is it I that shall betray thee?" has been put far from us. He has kissed us with the kisses of His mouth, and killed our doubts by the closeness of His embrace. His love has been sweeter than wine to our souls.

Broad rivers and streams produce fertility, and abundance in the land. Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of their plants and their plentiful harvests. God is all this to His Church.

Having God she has abundance. What can she ask for that He will not give her? What want can she mention which He will not supply? "In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things." Do you want the bread of life? It drops like manna from the sky. Do you want refreshing streams? The rock follows you, and that Rock is Christ.

If you suffer any want it is your own fault; if you are straitened you are not straitened in Him, but in your own bowels.

Rivers were of old a defense. Oh! beloved, what a defense is God to His Church! The devil cannot cross this broad river of God. How he wishes he could turn the current, but fear not, for God abideth immutably the same. Satan may worry, but he cannot destroy us; no galley with oars shall invade our river, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

Once let the truth of God obtain an entrance into the human heart and subdue the whole man unto itself, no power human or infernal can dislodge it. We entertain it not as a guest but as the master of the house--this is a Christian necessity.

Those who feel the vital power of the gospel, and know the might of the Holy Ghost as He opens, applies, and seals the Lord's Word, would sooner be torn to pieces than be rent away from the gospel of their salvation. What a thousand mercies are wrapped up in the assurance that the truth will be with us for ever; will be our living support, our dying comfort, our rising song, our eternal glory; this is Christian privilege, without it our faith is of little worth.

Wherever this abiding love of truth can be discovered, we are bound to exercise our love. No narrow circle can contain our gracious sympathies, wide as the election of grace must be our communion of heart. Much of error may be mingled with truth received, let us war with the error but still love the brother for the measure of truth which we see in Him; above all let us love and spread the truth ourselves.

Everything is on the move, time knows nothing of rest. The solid earth is a rolling ball, and the great sun himself a star obediently fulfilling its course around some greater luminary.

Tides move the sea, winds l stir the airy ocean, friction wears the rock: change and death rule everywhere. The sea is not a miser's storehouse for a wealth of waters, for as by one force the waters flow into it, by another they are lifted from it. Men are born but to die: everything is hurry, worry, and vexation of spirit.

Friend of the unchanging Jesus, what a joy it is to reflect upon your changeless heritage; your sea of bliss which will be for ever full, since God Himself shall pour eternal rivers of pleasure into it.

We seek an abiding city beyond the skies, and we shall not be disappointed. The passage before us may well teach us gratitude. Father Ocean is a great receiver, but he is a generous distributor. What the rivers bring him he returns to the earth in the form of clouds and rain.

That man is out of joint with the universe who takes all but makes no return. To give to others is but sowing seed for ourselves. He who is so good a steward as to be willing to use his substance for his Lord, shall be entrusted with more.

Friend of Jesus, are you rendering to Him according to the benefit received? Much has been given thee, what is thy fruit? Have you done all? Can you not do more? To be selfish is to be wicked.

Suppose the ocean gave up none of its watery treasure, it would bring ruin upon our race. God forbid that any of us should follow the ungenerous and destructive policy of living unto ourselves. Jesus pleased not Himself. All fulness dwells in Him, but of His fulness have all we received. O for Jesus’ heart of love, that henceforth we may live not unto ourselves!

Jerusalem at the time of the passover was one great inn; each householder had invited his own friends, but no one had invited the Savior, and He had no dwelling of His own. It was by His own supernatural power that He found Himself an upper room in which to keep the feast.

It is so even to this day--Jesus is not received among the sons of men save only where by His supernatural power and grace He makes the heart anew. All doors are open enough to the prince of darkness, but Jesus must clear a way for Himself or lodge in the streets.

It was through the mysterious power exerted by our Lord that the householder raised no question, but at once cheerfully and joyfully opened his guest chamber. Who he was, and what he was, we do not know, but he readily accepted the honor which the Redeemer proposed to confer upon him.

In like manner it is still discovered who are the Lord's chosen, and who are not; for when the gospel comes to some, they fight against it, and will not have it, but where men receive it, welcoming it, this is a sure indication that there is a secret work going on in the soul, and that God has chosen them unto eternal life.

Are you willing, Christ will be your guest; His own power is working with you, making you willing. What an honor to entertain the Son of God! The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, and yet He condescends to find a house within our hearts!

We are not worthy that He should come under our roof, but what an unutterable privilege when He condescends to enter! For then He makes a feast, and causes us to feast with Him upon royal pleasures, we sit at a banquet with the immortal, and give immortality to those who feed thereon.

It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter.

All things else have changed--all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only has immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about so long, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth--"I am the Lord, I change not."

The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold-fast, is like that which the Christian's hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. His power, His wisdom, His justice, His truth, are alike unchanged.

He has ever been the refuge of His people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and He is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in His love. He has loved His people with "an everlasting love"; He loves them now as much as ever He did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the end, His love will still wear the dew of its youth.

A cry is the natural expression of sorrow, and a suitable utterance when all other modes of appeal fail us; but the cry must be alone directed to the Lord, for to cry to man is to waste our entreaties upon the air. When we consider the readiness of the Lord to hear, and His ability to aid, we shall see good reason for directing all our appeals at once to the God of our salvation. It will be in vain to call to the rocks in the day of judgment, but our Rock attends to our cries.

"Be not silent to me." Some may be content without answers to their prayers, but genuine suppliants cannot; they are not satisfied with the results of prayer itself in calming the mind and subduing the will--they must go further, and obtain actual replies from heaven, or they cannot rest; and those replies they long to receive at once, they dread even a little of God's silence.

God's voice is often so terrible that it shakes the wilderness; but His silence is equally full of awe to an eager suppliant. When God seems to close His ear, we must not close our mouths, but rather confess our answers with more earnestness; for when our faith grows shrill with eagerness, He will not long deny us a hearing.

What a dreadful case should we be in if the Lord should become for ever silent to our prayers? "Lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." Deprived of the God who answers prayer, we should be in a more worse than the dead. We must have answers to prayer: ours is an urgent case of dire necessity; surely the Lord will speak peace to our agitated minds, for He never can find it in His heart to permit His own elect to perish.

We must believe the whole Word of God. There is no middle ground.

The Bible tells us in Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 that it is impossible for God to lie. Every word that proceeds from His mouth is true. Everything that He says will happen, will happen. What He says He will do, He will do. Not only does God not lie, but God cannot lie. It’s impossible.

Satan, on the other hand is a liar. Jesus said in John 8:44 that Satan a liar and he is the father of lies. There is no truth in him. Jesus went on to say that when Satan speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar.

So, here we have it clearly divided. On one hand, we have God who will not and cannot lie. On the other hand, we have Satan who will not and cannot tell the truth.

Now, if someone tells you that something in the Bible is not true, where do you think that comes from? You’re right, Satan. Whenever God speaks, whether it’s through His Word or whether it’s to your heart by His Holy Spirit, as soon as the words leave His mouth, Satan is there to lie and confuse.

That’s what happened in the Garden of Eden. God told Eve one thing and Satan implied that God didn’t really mean what He said. He made Eve think that it was possible for God to lie and it destroyed her. That’s what Satan wants to do to you and me.

Faith is the key to everything in the Bible. Salvation, healing, peace and victory all depend on faith. Believing that God does not lie is the key to faith. If Satan can get us to believe that it is remotely possible for God to lie, then our faith will be small or nonexistent, and that gives Satan an advantage in our lives.

God loves faith and Satan hates it. Faith will destroy Satan’s kingdom.

Paul has four of these "faithful sayings." The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation."

The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, "It is a faithful saying--If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him".

The fourth is in Titus 3:3, "This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works."

We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation--the blessings of the upper and nether springs--of time and of eternity, and also the blessedness of life now in His holy presence. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that "if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." In this life we will rise from affliction and reign with Him. Praise God! The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Good works of His gospel bring life and health and prosperity to his servants. Not the bad works of sickness poverty and death.

Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness.

Our good Shepherd has in His flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but He is impartial in His care for all His sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to Him as the most advanced of the flock.

Lambs are apt to lag behind, prone to wander, and often grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the Shepherd protects them with His arm of power.

He finds new-born souls, like young lambs, ready to perish--He nourishes them till life becomes vigorous; He finds weak minds ready to faint and die--He consoles them and renews their strength. All the little ones He gathers, for it is not the will of our heavenly Father that one of them should perish.

What a quick eye He must have to see them all! What a tender heart to care for them all! What a far- reaching and potent arm, to gather them all!

In His lifetime on earth He was a great gatherer of the weaker sort, and now that He dwells in heaven, His loving heart yearns towards the meek and contrite, the timid and feeble, the fearful and fainting here below. How gently did He gather me to Himself, to His truth, to His blood, to His love, to His church! With what effectual grace did He compel me to come to Himself!

How frequently has He restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of His everlasting arm! The best of all is, that He does it all Himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending Himself to rescue and preserve His most unworthy servant.

How shall I love Him enough or serve Him worthily? I would attempt to make His name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for Him? Great Shepherd, add to Your mercies this one other, a heart to love You more truly as I ought.

Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God

Love invites you, the promises guarantee you success, the precious blood prepares the way. Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner's cries will prevail with God. You are invited, no, you are commanded to pray, come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace.

Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back, imitate Him by being giving of self. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ.

Then you can substitute "me," like this:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto "ME" the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of "MY" understanding being enlightened; that "I" may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places...

After a while the revelation of God's Word will come to you!

As for causes for anxiety there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true.

On earth the Lord's power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; His love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest's horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.

"God is God; He sees and hears All our troubles, all our tears.”

In hell, evil spirits own, when permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death's darts are under the Lord's lock. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble.

"Fear not death, nor Satan's thrusts, God defends who in Him trusts;

Soul, remember, in thy pains, God o'er all for ever reigns."

In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do Him homage. Angels are His courtiers, the redeemed His favorites, and all delight to serve Him day and night.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore... -MATTHEW 28:18,19

The authority on earth that is invested in the Name of Jesus Christ and was obtained by Him through His overcoming Satan was then delegated by Jesus Christ to the Church.

Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 28 after His death on the cross, after His burial, after His defeat of Satan in hell, after His resurrection, after His ascension with His own blood to the heavenly Holy of holies - but just before His ascension to be seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Him. Then He immediately transferred this authority on earth to His Church, saying, "Go ye therefore..."

Mark records that Jesus said at this same time, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17,18).

Behold, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. -LUKE 10:19

The Greek word exousia means "authority." However, it is often translated as "power" in the King James Version of the New Testament. Our verse should read, "I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy..."

What is the difference between power and authority?

Well, what can one uniformed police officer do to direct the flow of rush hour traffic? He can do a great deal. Is it because the policeman has the power to hold back these mighty machines? No! His most strenuous efforts couldn't stop the swiftly passing cars. He doesn't have the power to do it, but he has something far better. He is invested with the authority of the government he serves. Even a stranger in a city recognizes this authority and obeys that authority.

Authority is delegated power. We have been given this authority over the curse. Sickness poverty and death are subject to our using the authority delegated to us by God Himself. His word is that authority.

Here we are taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually vigorous, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we are ourselves watered.

How? Our efforts to be useful, bring out our powers for usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant faculties, which are brought to light by exercise. Our strength for labor is hidden even from ourselves, until we venture forth to fight the Lord's battles, or to climb the mountains of difficulty. We do not know what tender sympathies we possess until we try to dry the widow's tears, and soothe the orphan's grief. We often find in attempting to teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves. We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked for it.

Our own comfort is also increased by our working for others. We endeavor to cheer them, and the consolation gladdens our own heart. Like the two men in the snow; one chafed the other's limbs to keep him from dying, and in so doing kept his own blood in circulation, and saved his own life.

The poor widow of Sarepta gave from her scanty store a supply for the prophet's wants, and from that day she never again knew what want was. Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection... -PHILIPPIANS 3:10

Paul was actually praying in Ephesians that the Church would receive revelation knowledge of the spiritual things. If you've been praying the Ephesians’ prayers for yourself you know that Paul wanted the believers at Ephesus to know:

...the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
EPHESIANS 1:19-21

There was such a manifestation of the divine omnipotence of God's power in raising Jesus from the dead that it is actually the mightiest working of God! And God wants us to know what happened when this occurred.

The resurrection was opposed by all the tremendous powers of the air. These evil forces endeavored to defeat the plan of God. But these powers were overthrown by our Lord Jesus Christ, and He has been enthroned far above them, ruling with the authority of the Most High. Thus, the source of our authority is found in this resurrection and seating of Christ by God.

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power...Which he wrought in Christ, WHEN HE RAISED HIM from the dead, AND SET HIM at his own right hand in the heavenly places...AND YOU hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. -EPHESIANS 1:19,20; 2:1

Open your own Bible to Ephesians 2:1. A King James Version will look something like this:

CHAPTER 2 :1
AND you (hath he quickened), who were dead in trespasses and sins.

When a word is italicized in the King James Version, that means the word is not in the original manuscripts; the translators have added it.

So the original reads, "And you were dead in trespasses and sins."

I wanted you to see the verb that controls this first verse of chapter two is back in the twentieth verse of chapter one! (Paul didn't write in chapters and verses; men divided Paul's writings later for easy reference.) Our text today makes it clearer for you. Notice the capitalized words: "...WHEN HE [God] RAISED HIM [Christ] from the dead...AND [raised] YOU...who were dead in trespasses and sins."

The same verb that expresses the reviving of Christ also expresses the reviving of Christ's people! So the mighty act of God which raised Christ from the dead also raised His Body!

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: -EPHESIANS 2:5,6

The very act that raised the Lord from the dead also raised His Body. (The head and the body are naturally raised together.)

Furthermore, the very act that seated Christ also seated His Body. Where are we sitting? In heavenly places! Right now! We're not going to sit there sometime; God has made us sit together now in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Christ is seated at the Father's own right hand. Therefore, we are seated at the Father's own right hand! (The right hand is the place of authority. God carries out all of His plan and program through His right hand - through Christ, through His spiritual Body, which is the Church.)

The right hand of the throne of Majesty (Hebrews 8:1) in the heavens is the center of power of the whole universe! The exercising of the power of that throne was committed to the ascended Christ - and that authority belongs to us.

...and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. -EPHESIANS 1:20-23

The Church is the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the Body of Christ.

Now for a question: Where are the feet? Are they in the head, or are they part of the body? They're on the body, of course.

Look again at today's text. It describes where we are seated (or positioned).

God has put all things under Christ's feet. Christ's feet are on His Body. Therefore, all things have been put under our feet!

What are the "all things" Paul is talking about? Principalities, powers, might and dominion. In other words, all the power of the enemy is under our feet!

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? ... -LUKE 8:22-25

John Alexander Dowie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and moved to Australia as a young man. About 1875, while Dowie was pastoring a Congregational church in Newton, Australia, a terrible plague swept through that part of the country. It was during this plague that Dowie first received light on divine healing and the authority that believers possess.

Dowie once said, "I have crossed the ocean fourteen times by ship. During those fourteen crossings, many storms arose. But every time a storm came up, I always did like Jesus did: I rebuked that storm. And every single one ceased."

Dowie knew that Jesus had said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also..." Dowie knew that he was linked up with God. You and I are coupled up with God just as much as Dowie ever was.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. -JOHN 14:12

Dr. John Alexander Dowie (1847-1907) was used by God to reintroduce divine healing to the modern church.

Dr. P. C. Nelson, founder of Southwestern Assemblies of God College, said, "You can't follow Dowie's doctrine, but you can follow his faith." Dr. Nelson told about when he himself was a young Baptist minister, he saw Dowie minister to a woman with a purplish-blue cancerous growth that covered most of her face.

Nelson said, "I saw Dowie, in the presence of us six denominational ministers and three medical doctors, just reach out and take hold of that cancer, saying, 'In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!' - and then strip it off that woman's face. The doctors present examined her immediately, and said the skin on her face was like the skin of a newborn baby."

The reason Jesus gave, that those who believe on Him would be able to do the works He did was, "...because I go unto my Father." It's because of Jesus' seating at the right hand of the Father on High in the place of authority that believers can do these same works.

We do discuss 'wisdom' with those who are mature; only it is not the wisdom of this world or of the dethroned Powers who rule this world, it is the mysterious Wisdom of God...-1 CORINTHIANS 2:6,7 Moffatt

God's Word teaches that Satan and evil spirits are rebel holders of authority, and that they have been dethroned by the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice how Moffatt's translation calls them "dethroned Powers who rule the world."

God made the earth and the fullness thereof. Then He gave Adam dominion, or authority, over all the works of His hands (Genesis 1:27,28; Psalm 8:3-6). Adam had dominion on the earth. In fact, Adam was made the god of this world. When he committed high treason and sold out to Satan, then Satan, through Adam, became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), and a rebel holder of Adam's authority.

But the Bible calls Jesus Christ the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Jesus came as our Representative - our Substitute - and defeated Satan! Jesus didn't do it for Himself; He did it for us! All that Jesus did belongs to us.

We believers are to remember that we are in the world, but we're not of it. Satan is not to dominate us. We are to dominate Satan. We can dominate Satan. We have authority over him. Jesus defeated him for us.

The Spirit of God gives us liberty. He first imparts love; He next inspires hope, and then gives liberty, and that is about the last thing we have in a good many of our churches at the present day. I am sorry to say there must be a funeral in a good many churches before there is much work done, we shall have to bury the formalism so deep that it will never have any resurrection.

The last thing to be found in many a church is liberty. If the Gospel happens to be preached, the people criticize, as they would a theatrical performance. It is exactly the same, and many a professed Christian never thinks of listening to what the man of God has to say. It is hard work to preach to carnally minded critics, but ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’

D L Moody

“In this condition I went a great while; but when comforting time was come, I heard one preach a sermon upon those words in the

But at that time he made these two words, ‘My love’, his chief and subject matter; from which, after he had a little opened the text, he observed these several conclusions:

That the Church, and so every saved soul, is Christ’s love, when loveless.

Christ’s love without a cause.

Christ’s love when hated of the world.

Christ’s love when under temptation, and under desertion.

Christ’s love from first to last.

But I got nothing by what he said at present, only when he came to the application of the fourth particular, this was the word he said: If it be so, that the saved soul is Christ’s love when under temptation and desertion; then, poor tempted soul, when thou art assaulted and afflicted with temptation, and the hidings of God’s face, yet think on these two words, ‘My love’, still.

So as I was going home, these words came again into my thoughts; and I well remember, as I came in, I said thus in my heart, What shall I get by thinking on these two words? This thought had no sooner passed through my heart, but the words began thus to kindle in my spirit, ‘Thou art my love, thou art my love’, twenty times together; and still as they ran thus in my mind, they waxed stronger and warmer, and began to make me look up; but being as yet between hope and fear, I still replied in my heart, But is it true, but is it true? At which, that sentence fell in upon me “And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.” Acts 12:9

Then I began to give place to the word, which, with power, did over and over make this joyful sound within my soul, Thou art my love, thou art my love; and nothing shall separate thee from my love;”… John Bunyan

Thus our faith works by this profound love of God, which never ceases to work in our behalf. Neither can it be still but works the end as speedily as love can arise from our worship and praise heavenward toward Him whom we love.

WITH what confidence the Apostle speaks here! There is not in his mind the shadow of a doubt: but he declares it as a positive certainty, that his God would supply all their need. Where does this confidence come from? Not from the flesh, we may be well certain. But it arose from two causes:

first, from the deep conviction, lodged by the Holy Ghost in the heart of the Apostle, that God would supply all the wants of his church and people;

secondly, because he had himself experienced, in his own particular case, this gracious and perpetual supply.

But why should both these be necessary? Would not one be sufficient? Say that the ground of his confidence was his own personal experience, and disjoin that experience from the truth which I have said was lodged in his heart that God would supply all the wants of his church; take that great truth away, and his experience would afford him no solid ground for confidence that God would supply all their wants.

Or look at the other side of the question: suppose the doctrinal truth only was lodged in his heart that God would supply all the needs of his church, but that he himself had not a personal experience of that supply, there would still be wanting a sufficient ground of confidence.

His confidence would stand upon one foot only if it stood on either of these truths alone, and would thus be liable to be blown down by every gust of temptation. But when his confidence stood in the firm conviction of a general truth on the one hand, and a blessed experience of that truth in his own case on the other, it then stood firmly upon two feet: and no storm or gust that might arise could drive him down from his standing.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. -COLOSSIANS 2:15

And the hostile princes and rulers He shook off from Himself, and boldly displayed them as His conquests... -COLOSSIANS 2:15 Weymouth

The Bible teaches us here that Jesus put Satan to nought and He triumphed over him. Another translation reads, "He stripped him." What did He strip Satan of? His authority over man.

When Jesus put Satan to nought and stripped him of his authority, it was you in Christ who did that work. Christ acted in your stead - in your place. He did it for you.

What Christ did was marked to your credit. He did it as your substitute. (He did it in your place, and God marked it to your credit as though you were the one who did it!)

No, we're not bragging about what you are in the flesh. (You don't amount to much in the flesh.) We're talking about who you are in Christ.

You can say, "In Christ, I conquered Satan. I stripped him of his authority. And when Jesus arose from the dead, I arose with Him!"

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. -HEBREWS 2:14

...that He might paralyze him that held the dominion of death, That is the Adversary.-HEBREWS 2:14 Rotherham

Jesus put to naught the hosts of darkness! He paralyzed their death-dealing power! And when Jesus met John the Revelator on the Isle of Patmos, Jesus said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18).

Keys represent authority. Jesus conquered Satan and stripped him of his authority. Jesus was the master of all heaven, earth, and hell!

But Jesus did not conquer Satan for Himself. He conquered him for us. It was as though you and I personally had met Satan and conquered him, stripped him of his authority, and stood master over him.

SAY THIS:
Jesus is my head. Jesus is lord over all. Jesus conquered Satan for me. Jesus stripped Satan of his authority over me. In the eyes of heaven, hell, and this universe, it was as though I personally had met Satan and conquered him, stripped him of his authority, and stood master over him. Therefore, in Christ Jesus, I am more than a conqueror. I am a holder of authority. I stand a master over Satan and all his evil cohorts!

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power...Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you ...hath he quickened together with him...
-COLOSSIANS 2:10,12,13

Notice the expression "through the faith of the operation of God." Jesus was quickened (made alive) by the faith of the operation of God - and we were made alive at the same time. It was God who raised Jesus from the dead. It was God who gave Jesus a Name above every name. It was God who blotted out "the handwriting of ordinances" against us, took it out of the way, and nailed it to His cross (Colossians 2:14). It was God who stripped the powers of darkness of their authority and handed it to the Son (Colossians 2:15). And it was God who quickened us "together with Him."

In the mind of God, legally speaking, it was when Jesus was quickened and made alive, that we were recreated. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." (Ephesians 2:10). This fact of our re-creation becomes a vital reality in our lives when we are individually born again (made new creatures).

Raised with Christ! Quickened with Him! Seated with Him! (Ephesians 2:4-6).

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence. -COLOSSIANS 1:18

Here's where we believers have missed it. We've recognized that Jesus is the Head of the Church, and we've exalted Him to His position of Power. But, we've failed to see that the Head is wholly dependent upon its body for carrying out its plans. We've failed to see that we are seated with Him in the heavenly places. We've failed to see that Jesus has authority over Satan's power.

If this authority is ever exercised, it will have to be exercised through the Body. We've been so sure that we couldn't do anything, that we've left everything up to Christ the Head of the Church - and the Head is powerless without the Body.

Take your own physical head as an example. It is powerless to carry out any of its plans without the cooperation of the body. Your head might see a songbook on a rack in front of you, but unless your body cooperates, your head will never be able to sing from that book.

The ministry God wants to accomplish through His Son in this world will be carried out through the Body of Christ. And we - the Body of Christ - have the same authority the Head has.

Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. -PSALM 78:41

Can you limit God? The Bible says Israel did. And we have limited Him. We have limited God with our prayer life.

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, said, "It seems that God is limited by our prayer life. He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him to do it."

Why is this?

God made the world and the fullness thereof. Then God made man and gave man dominion over all the works of His hands. Adam was made the god of this world. Adam, however, committed high treason and sold out to Satan. Then Satan became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4).

God didn't just move in and destroy Satan. If He had, Satan could have accused God of doing the same thing he had done. But God devised a plan of salvation. And He sent His Son, whom Satan could not and did not touch, to consummate that plan. Through Jesus, God redeemed mankind!

Now authority has been restored to us through Jesus Christ - and when we ask God, then He can and will move. That is why it seems He can do nothing unless someone asks Him to do it.

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
-GENESIS 18:23-25

God refused to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until He had talked it over with Abraham, His blood covenant friend!

Abraham's prayer in this eighteenth chapter of Genesis is one of the most suggestive and illuminating prayers in the Old Testament. Abraham was taking his place in the covenant that God made with him.

Abraham, through the covenant, had received rights and privileges we understand little about. The covenant Abraham had just solemnized with the Lord Jehovah gave Abraham a legal standing with God. Therefore, we hear Abraham speak plainly as he intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Consider the confidence a lion has. He is the king of the beasts. When he is hungry, he has confidence; he knows who he is. He knows the strength that he has within himself.

Proverbs 30:30, "A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any." What about us as believers? "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13); that is my confidence!

Think also of the courage of the lion. A lion is not afraid of any animal. If he is hungry, he'll go after almost anything. Do we have this courage? Think of some of the men in the Word of God, such as Daniel, Moses, Elijah, Paul, Jesus; do we have courage like they manifested?

They knew they were righteous, and so they were bold and fearless as lions. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but He has given us the spirit of love, and of power, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). Therefore we can be fearless, just like the lion. And daring. We as believers need to have some courage and daring upon the Word of God.

Dare to believe God today… I am healed! God will meet all my needs today! I feel great today!

Now when we come to the time of harvest, this scripture is one great promise of God. As far as our English language is concerned., "shall" is the word of absoluteness, so "my God shall absolutely supply all your need". The supply of our need is wrapped up in what Christ Jesus, the victorious One, did for us. This is a promise in the Word of God, and it is a promise that is true regardless of whether the prices are low or high, it is a promise that is true regardless of whether there is a credit squeeze or inflation is running rampant, it is a promise that is true absolutely regardless of outward circumstances.

One further truth needs to be understood from this verse, and that is to note that God's supply is "according to" His riches. These two words indicate the standard by which we estimate His grace. God is not poor and He does not want us to be poor; God is not poverty stricken, and He does not want us to be poverty stricken.

How rich is God? Then that is the standard of the supply of your need. It is not "out of" His riches but "according to", on the same basis as His riches. The promise of the harvest is: "My God shall absolutely supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." The enjoyment of that supply is conditiona