BIG Questions- Part 2: “Is getting a tattoo a sin?” “Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?” and “Is it really a big deal if I sin?”

There are a few questions that trip up just about everybody. But every question has an answer. I have been asked a number of these, and some I didn’t have the answer to at the time. So, I’ve looked up a few and I want to share those, so that you can have the answers, too, and so you can tell anyone else who asks you. This time, we tackle tattoos, smoking, drugs, and comparing sin- is any of it really so bad?

                                       Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

1. Is getting a tattoo a sin?

This question grows in popularity as the “art” of self-mutilation grows. It has become easier and more acceptable to get tattooed. Many are even risking infection and disease by having them done with needles and pen ink in their own homes. The danger there goes without saying, but is it a sin? The Bible mentions tattoos specifically one time. That is in the book of Leviticus.

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:28 NIV)

Now, some people have argued against this statement, despite it being perfectly clear. Among the series of commands that this verse is in, we are also told not to eat bloody meat, not to practice divination or sorcery, not to cut our hair at the sides or trim the edges of our beard, and not to make our daughters prostitute. Out of these, the only one we don’t follow nowadays is the trimming of our hair and beards. This command was for the Jews (some of whom still practice it), and was “overturned,” so to speak, later on. Still, some have said that since we cut our hair, we can cut our bodies and tattoo ourselves. This is not a fair comparison at all. We must look at what a tattoo really is, and what it does to our body.

We need to be extremely careful of what marks we put on our bodies. If, for no other reason at all, then for the following.

He [the Antichrist] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that none could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17 NIV)

That is what we commonly call the “Mark of the beast”. It is something that most people will actually want to get, because they are blinded by the convenience and commonality of the world. Still, we can look even deeper into a tattoo’s function. How do you get a tattoo? You let someone stab you with a needle, and while the wound is fresh, they inject foreign ink into your body. Despite some of the beautifully artistic pieces, my view has always been “Hang it on a wall”. So tattooing is not really more than a clever way to mutilate the flesh with a pleasant-looking after effect. What does the Bible say about that?

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Since your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you are living for God, and your body in fact belongs to Him, what authority do you have to cut, poke, mutilate, inject ink, etc.? Jesus paid a price for your body, for your very life, and God asks that in return you use your body to honor Him. Paul warns in his letter to the Philippians,

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (Philippians 3:2 NIV)

So let us take to heart the words of Scripture that plead with us to offer ourselves wholly to God, body, mind, and everything that we are. Don’t allow an inch of the devil’s work to touch you or taint you. Allow yourself to be put to unadulterated service, in every capacity, to the Lord. Since God is in control, let His glory be your decoration, and supply yourself to Him.

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

What about those who already have a tattoo?

Don’t worry if you have one. Many people have gotten tattoos before becoming a Christian, or maybe just didn’t realize the way God felt about it. While the tattoo is difficult to remove, the sin isn’t. Cutting yourself or tattooing is NOT the unforgiveable sin. God will forgive you if you repent sincerely. Many Christians who were previously tattooed use the mark as a part of their testimony of the life they left behind when they accepted Christ. It is never too late.

                               Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

2. Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?

This question has a lot of similarity to tattooing, since it involves harm to the body. However, there are a couple other reasons that smoking and drugs are sinful.

One of the biggest excuses is that God made it, so it’s okay to smoke it. This isn’t further from the truth. Although the Bible does declare that God made everything for good, (Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 3:11a) you must also remember that the earth is not now how God originally made it. Because of the sin of mankind, the earth was changed. God allowed thorns and thistles to grow, plants that were not for our practical use; plants that were not in God’s perfect Garden.

Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18 NIV underline added for emphasis. See also Hebrews 6:8)

Another reason is that it is illegal to do drugs, and to smoke until a certain age. Ask yourself, “Why would such a law be in place unless it was somehow harmful to smoke?” The truth is, the law allows you smoke at such an age because they believe that at that age, you can decide whether or not you want to harm your own body and health. The Bible demands that we not only obey God, but also our governing authorities, i.e. the police, courts, judges, laws, etc. If it is illegal, and harmful to our bodies, you are really committing two sins at once if you smoke.

            Obey your leaders and submit to their authority… (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)

One other thought is this: God has made everything, but for a good purpose. Marijuana plants can be used to make hemp, which is useful and safe. God never said that should smoke the plant. That was sinful man’s idea.

Remember, your body is made in God’s image and is designed for worship. Jesus died to give you life, not so you could slowly destroy yourself. Keep in mind what the Bible teaches about your body:

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

                 Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

3. I try to be good, but I keep making mistakes. Since everybody sins, is really such a big deal if I do once in a while? 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

To you, it might seem like no big deal. It might even seem that way to the person you sinned against. To God, however, it’s a very big deal; the BIGGEST! Sin is the one factor that separates us from God, even if its what we call a little sin. The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

This is a HUGE problem for us. Even just one little lie; or if we steal a candy bar; or if we misuse God’s Name; all of these make us imperfect. God is absolutely perfect, and so is heaven. If heaven had just one sinner in it, it would no longer be a perfect place. Because of this, we have only two options: Be perfect or go to the only other place we can go- hell. “But,” some would ask, “What about all the good deeds I do?”

            For all of us have become like one who is unclean,

And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;… (Isaiah 64:6)

All your good deeds are wonderful, and please God, but compared to our sin, every good deed is like a dirty garment. What value is a filthy, robe? Absolutely none. God doesn’t measure your sins in one pile and your good works in another to determine if you make it. You are either perfect, or you aren’t. The problem is, everyone has sinned,, and there is a price to pay for sin:

            For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23)

Because we sin, we die. The punishment for sin is that death, and if we die with that sin still covering our lives, the death continues in hell. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin. We are instructed in how we can have our sin erased, as though it never happened!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Jesus has paid the price for us, but we can choose to accept or ignore this gift. To accept, all we need to do is confess our sins to Him, and He will faithfully forgive us. That is how we can be made perfect! Once God forgives our sin, we have a new start; a perfect record! Of course, we need to try our best to avoid sin in the future, but should we slip up, God is still faithful to His Word. The apostle John continues to urge us on by saying:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Jesus paid the price for the entire world. That includes you. The prophet Joel records God’s words as He urgently calls us to go back to Him in repentance. God beckons us to Him.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting weeping and mourning;

And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness,

And relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)

When you go to God with your sin, it’s serious, yet He is slow to anger. He loves to be gracious and kind to us; He loves to defeat the evil in us. God would be more than thrilled to forgive you of your sin. He wants to erase the sin and one day welcome you into His Heavenly Kingdom. If you need to, confess your sins to Jesus in prayer.

            He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

            But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (Proverbs 28:13)

 What are your thoughts on any of these questions? Do you have questions of your own? Let me know below!

BIG Questions- Part 1: “Who made God?” “What does He look like?” and “Who wrote the Bible?”

There are a few questions that trip up just about everybody. But every question has an answer. I have been asked a number of these, and some I didn’t have the answer to at the time. So, I’ve looked up a few and I want to share those, so that you can have the answers, too, and so you can tell anyone else who asks you.

 

1. If God made everything, then who made God?

“To whom then will you liken Me

That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing.

(Isaiah 40:25-26)

God is not something that we can compare to anything. That includes time. God created “time” for us; something measurable by which we can gauge our life. God is not limited by time, space, distance, etc. He is limitless with few exceptions: He can do no wrong, and He cannot be out-done. Other than that, God is limitless. To ask where God came from, you have to assume there was a “where” to come from. If we ask who made God, we are falsely assuming that there was someone to make God, and that God was made. He was not. Before God made the earth, there was no billions and billions of years; there was no time, as we know it.

 

We usually picture time as a line, because it simplifies our explanation. To God, time is more like liquid. Imagine a big bowl of water. You live in one drop of that water; that’s your “time” on earth. Other drops are the Creation of the world, the great flood, the Tower of Babel, the Crucifixion of Jesus, the 1980 U.S. Presidential elections, the moon landing, the last world war, the future rise of the antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the final trumpet sounding, the new earth, etc. In that bowl of water, God can see everything clearly, and it is all fluid to Him. He holds the bowl in His hands, and can touch any event or era at once. God can see your sin at the same “time” He is judging you, at the same “time” He watches His Son, Jesus, die on a cross for you. God is not limited to time as we are.

 

So, who made God? No one. He’s always been, for as long as time as we know it has existed.

Where did God come from? There was no “where” for Him to come from, until He made it.

 

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

 

I realize that this is a concept that is very hard to understand. We think about everything using time. Hours, minutes, dates, ages, anniversaries, and the list goes on and on. You can’t understand God fully; just accept that much- its okay. What is important is that you have faith that God is. Just believe in Him to be in control over time, and over your life.

 

 

2. What does God look like? Why doesn’t He show Himself to us?

So many kids have asked me this question, and “No one knows” is never a satisfying answer. That is the short answer, because we cannot stand face to face with Him and get details, but the Bible does offer us an idea of how God would look. Our first clue comes from the first chapter of Genesis.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

So if you want to see God, you can look in a mirror. Since you and I are made in His image, we are a reflection of Him. God looks like us, each and every person who ever has, is, or will live is made in God’s image.

Daniel had a vision of God, although he did not physically see God, this is the image in Daniel’s vision:

“As I looked,
       “thrones were set in place,
       and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
       His clothing was as white as snow;
       the hair of his head was white like wool. (Daniel 7:9)

 

The truth is that we cannot see God; no one has, except Jesus. John 1:18 says,

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.( NIV)

 

Jesus affirmed these words in John 6:46, and John wrote again in 1John 4:12 that “no one has ever seen God”.  There was also a time when Moses found favor with the Lord. Moses asked God to show His glory. He didn’t want to continue on without the presence of God.

 

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”

And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you…” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”

Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”(Exodus 33:19-23)

 

Following this experience, Moses’ face shone so much, the Israelites put a veil on his face. Just the passing glory of God has such a dramatic effect on a person, it is no wonder we cannot see His face and live. The beauty and glory is far too powerful for our human bodies to stand.

Others have had occurrences with God. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden before their fall into sin. (see Genesis 3:8-13)  God appeared to Abraham (see Genesis 18:2-33), to Jacob (see Genesis 35:7, 9), to Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:5; 9:2; 11:9; 2 Chronicles 1:7; 7:12), to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-5), and to Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 1:26-28)

The Lord has also appeared as a symbol or sign, such as the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), as fire (Exodus 19:16-24) and clouds; He has shown himself by miracles, such as stopping the sun in the sky, setting a rainbow in the sky, tearing the temple veil, parting the Red Sea, providing food where there is none, writing on a wall, earthquakes, and much, much more.

One of the main reasons for God appearing symbolically is established in the first letter to Timothy:

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 NIV Underline added for emphasis)

God has what we would consider a physical appearance; He does look like something, but the invisibility is in respect to an audience of humans. God’s invisibility toward us is by His choice. It encourages faith. Rather that showing up and forcing belief, God chose to remain at a visual distance so that we can choose to seek Him and believe. It allows us to decide whether or not we will follow Him, or the ways of the convenient world.

 

 

3. Who wrote the Bible?

Many people who are critical of Christianity or religion in general, argue that we don’t know who wrote the Bible. A little studying goes a long way, as we now know almost every author. Some continue to argue that the Bible is written by mankind, so we cannot trust it as being “from God”. We know, however, that:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

So without further ado, here are the authors who penned the words of God-

BOOK	WHO WROTE IT
Genesis	Moses
Exodus	Moses
Leviticus	Moses
Numbers	Moses
Deuteronomy	Moses
Joshua	Joshua
Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Esther, Job	Debated or unknown authors
Lamentations	Jeremiah
Psalms: A composite of many authors’ work. Of the 150 psalms, 116 are provided with a title
Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145	David
Psalm 42, 44-45, 47-49, 84-85, 87	Sons of Korah
Psalms 50, 73-83	Asaph
Psalm 72, 127	Solomon
Psalm 88	Heman the Ezrahite
Psalm 89	Ethan the Ezrahite
Psalm 90	Moses
Psalm 119	Ezra
Psalms 120-134	Hezekiah
Psalm 137	Jeremiah
Psalms 146-147	Haggai and Zechariah
Proverbs- Again, the book is a composite, so far as authorship is concerned.
Proverbs 1:1-24:22	Solomon
Proverbs 24:23-34	Attributed to “the wise”
Proverbs 25:1-29:27	Attributed to Solomon, but were collected and recorded by “Hezekiah’s men”.
Proverbs 30:1-33	Agur
Proverbs 31:1-31	Lemuel
Ecclesiastes	Solomon
Ezra-Nehemiah	Author unknown, though Ezra’s chapters 7-9 apparently were written by Ezra, since they are in the first person.
Song of Songs	Solomon
The following were written by the person whose name they bear.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai
Zechariah	Chapters 1-8 written by Zechariah; Chapters 9-11 by Jeremiah; Chapters 12-14 are titled “an oracle” and are attributed to no one.
Malachi	Some believe Malachi was the name of a specific prophet, but it is also the Hebrew term (mal´aki) for “my messenger”, used for priests and prophets alike. Thus, based on Mark 1:2-3, Malachi may have been  written by Isaiah
Matthew	Matthew
Mark	Mark
Luke	Luke
John	John
Acts	Luke
Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy. Titus, Philemon	Paul
Hebrews	Possibly Paul
James	James
1 Peter	Peter
2 Peter	Peter
1, 2 & 3 John	John
Jude	Jude
Revelation	John

 

Preparing the End-Time Church as a Bride

Preparing the End-Time Church as a Bride

I. God’s Mission statement: to provide an eternal companion for Jesus

 

⁶ I heard…the voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ To her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ⁹ He said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” (Rev. 19:6-9)

A. Marriage of the Lamb – God’s eternal purpose for His creation is to provide a family for Himself and an equally yoked bride for His Son as His eternal companion (Jesus’ inheritance).

⁹ The LORD’s portion (reward) is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. (Deut. 32:9)

 

¹⁷ That the…Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of…revelation…18 that you may know (experience)…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints… (Eph. 1:17-18 )

B.  His wife has made herself ready (prepared) – to walk in mature voluntary love and holiness. God has zeal in this hour to train and purify the Church on the earth as a Bride that is fully ready. This is glorious and terrifying that God would be zealous in His commitment to see that we are ready.

C.He granted her to be arrayed in fine linen – these are distinctive wedding garments that are given individually to each believer according to their behavior (acts of obedience). All saints receive the robe of righteousness because of Jesus’ death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 61:10).

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

 

⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun…another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)

D. The Bride’s garments will be comprised of different elements: glory, fabric, color, fragrance, etc. 

E. A Bride chooses her wedding garments with great care and love. This is different than the way that she chooses her other clothing. We will resist the temptation to sin (compromise), to quit (lose heart), to neglect diligence (laziness) because of love for Jesus as our Bridegroom God.  

F. The wedding garments that we will possess forever are being formed now by our obedience that is done in the spirit of love. We are making choices now that we will literally wear forever. What we do now has impact far beyond our natural lives. Our choices before the wedding are preparation for the life of the redeemed after the wedding.

G. Lord God Omnipotent – God is praised for releasing His power to prepare the Church (v. 6).

II.  The church will be filled with glory at the Second Coming (Eph. 5:26-29)

 

²⁶ That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle…but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies…²⁹ No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church… (Eph. 5:26-29)

A. In this passage, Paul gives us key details and defines what it means for the Church to be made ready at the time of the Second Coming. The Church will be so filled with glory, sanctified and cleansed that she will not have spots or wrinkles (her garments reflecting her actions) or blemishes (her skin reflecting her inner life). The Church’s mind, emotions and actions will be radically cleansed while on earth before Jesus’ Coming. This is glorious and terrifying because the Church worldwide is far from walking in purity in this hour. What will make the difference?

B.  How will this glory be released in the Church? The causes of pressure on a compromising believer are 3-fold. They include Satan’s rage, man’s sin and God’s zeal to discipline us for our good (Heb. 12:5-11). However, the means of grace that God prefers to use to cleanse the Church is His Word (v. 26) and prayer (Rev. 22:17) in context to understanding that we are cherished by Jesus i.e., the Church must feed on portions of the Word that reveal His tender emotions for Her.

C.  God will release great grace on our private times in the Word as well as raising up vessels that will sing and proclaim His Word in great power so as to help transform the Church.

D.  Prayer, fasting, meditation on the Word, and obedience positions our heart before God to freely receive. These activities do not earn us God’s favor. Analogy: we put our cold heart before the bonfire of God’s presence by seeking Him in the Word in spirit and truth.

E.  We give our heart to God and receive from Him as we read Scripture in a way that creates an active dialogue in our heart with God. Scripture gives us the “conversational material” in our prayer life. We pray truths back to Him that exhort us “to believe” His Word by thanking God for such truths and by asking God to reveal them to us. We dialogue with God by praying truths back to Him that exhort us “to obey” His Word and by committing ourselves to obey God in the specific way set forth in a passage. Make simple declarations of your resolve to obey the Word and ask God to empower you to obey a particular truth.

III. The necessary 3-fold cry of the Bride’s intercession 

 

¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”…20 He…says, “Surely I am coming…”(Rev. 22:17, 20)

A. This age will end with a worshipping and praying Church in a bridal identity. This passage is the most significant, comprehensive and clearest End-Time prophecy. It reveals to us what the Spirit is saying and doing. The Church will be in unity with the Spirit as she will be anointed with power, engaged in intercession, established in her bridal identity and effective in the harvest.

B.  The 3-fold cry for God to come in power (Holy Spirit breakthrough)

1.    Come NEAR US in intimacy (renewal or personal encounter): touch my heart 

2. Come TO US in revival (historic visitation of the Holy Spirit): touch our city with signs, wonders and apostolic authority until we see the Habitation of the Lord established

3.  Come FOR US in the sky (Second Coming of Jesus): touch the earth

C. God has delegated the earth to authority or domain of the human race (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 116:15).

¹⁶ The heavens, are the LORD’s…the earth He has given to the children of men. (Ps. 115:16)

 

²⁶ Let Us make man in Our image…let them have dominion over…all the earth… (Gen. 1:26)

 

⁷ You have crowned him (man) with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. ⁸You have put all things in subjection under his feet…He (God) left nothing that is not put under him. (Heb. 2:7-8 )

D. Each person has a specific sphere of authority or domain entrusted to them by God that includes their inner man, ministry, finances, family relationships and the geographic area they live in, etc.

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov. 16:32)

 

¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us–a sphere which includes you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves…as though our authority did not extend to you… (2 Cor. 10:13-14)

 

The Kingdom…is like a man (Jesus) traveling to a far country (heaven), who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents… (Mt. 25:14-15)

 

¹² A certain nobleman (Jesus) went into a far country… ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ (Lk. 19:12-13)

E. Prayer is a covenantal way in which we open the windows to that which is under our domain (heart, circumstances, geographic area, etc.). Our prayers invite the Holy Spirit on a covenantal basis to come into the areas that are under our domain (inwardly and outwardly). Prayer provides the covenantal tracks on which the Spirit works. He comes to the measure that He is invited. The key of David and the keys of the Kingdom operate by covenant with justice before God’s court.

F.   The Bride will prepare a place for the coming of the Lord to dwell individually, corporately, and geographically, as she invites Jesus to come near us, to us and for us (Ps. 132:1-5).

² How he (David) swore to the LORD…, ⁴ “I will not give sleep to my eyes…⁵ until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Ps. 132:1-5)

IV.  The exhortation to acquire wedding garments

A. We can buy white garments or acquire them in the ways that the grace of God teaches. They declare the measure of our love for Jesus in this life. Jesus wants to give us more white garments.

¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire…and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness (lack of garments) may not be revealed… (Rev. 3:18 )

B.  Some will suffer the loss of their rewards while keeping their salvation.

¹⁴ If anyone’s work…endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:14-15)

 

⁸ Look to yourselves, that we (you; NAS, NIV, RSV) do not lose those things we (you; NIV, RSV) worked for, but that we (you; NAS, NIV, RSV) may receive a full reward. (2 Jn. 8 ) 

C. God will wipe away all tears and sorrow after the Millennial Kingdom is completed.

¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth…there was no sea. ³ I heard a loud voice …saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…⁴ God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying…no more pain… (Rev. 21:1-4)

D.  Jesus exhorted us to watch (pray) as the way to keep our garments in the End-Time pressures. We can keep our garments; however, some will lose the garments that they could have had.

¹⁵ Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. (Rev. 16:15)

E. Believers can defile their testimony and lose some of their wedding garments by compromise.

⁴ You have a few…in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. (Rev. 3:4-5)

F.  John exhorts us to “now” abide in Jesus so we do not draw back in the shame of denying our faith at the Second Coming of Jesus.

²⁸ Now…abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed (not shrink away from Him in shame; NAS, RSV) before Him at His coming. (1 Jn. 2:28 )

G.  There will be people on earth at the Second Coming who will seek to celebrate the wedding banquet. “Friend” is the same term that Jesus used with Judas (Mt. 26:50). To bind him is to take him prisoner and cast him into darkness (Lake of Fire).

² The kingdom of heaven is like a certain King who arranged a marriage for His Son 3 He sent out His servants to call those who were invited to the wedding…⁴ saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “I have prepared my dinner…all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”… ¹¹ When the King came in…He saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² He said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” He was speechless. ¹³ The King said, “Bind him…and cast him into outer darkness…” (Mt. 22:2-4, 11-14)

New Testament Intercessory Prayer List

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER – WWW.IHOPKC.COM

New Testament Intercessory Prayer List

(Not a comprehensive list – compiled by Mike Bickle – July 99)

APOSTOLIC PRAYERS OF PAUL

1. Prayer for revelation of Jesus’ beauty and the Bride’s destiny unto transforming our heart

…the Father of glory, may give to you the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE OF HIS CALLING, what are the riches of the GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, and what is the exceeding GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US… (Eph. 1:17-19).

2. Prayer for the release of supernatural strength in the heart unto experiencing God’s emotions.

…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:16-19)

3. Prayer for God’s love to abound in our heart resulting in discernment and righteousness.

And this I pray, that YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Phil. 1:9-11).

4. Prayer to know God’s will, to be fruitful in ministry and strengthened by intimacy with God.

We…do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, fully pleasing Him, BEING FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Col. 1:9-12)

5. Prayer for unity in the church across a city or region.

Now may the God of patience and comfort GRANT YOU TO BE LIKE-MINDED toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, THAT YOU MAY WITH ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. (Romans 15:5-7)

6. Prayer to be filled with supernatural joy, peace and hope.

Now may the God of hope FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

7. Prayer for Israel to be saved through Jesus.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ISRAEL is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1).

8. Prayer for the release of apostolic ministry and to abound in love and holiness

…we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and ABOUND IN LOVE to one another and to all…so that He may ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

9. Prayer for the release of the Holy Spirit’s power unto mature holiness

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

10. Prayer to be equipped and prepared to receive the fullness of God’s destiny for the church.

Therefore we also pray always for you THAT OUR GOD WOULD COUNT YOU WORTHY OF THIS CALLING, AND FULFILL ALL THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS GOODNESS AND THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

11. Prayer for the Word to increase by the release of God’s power to win unbelievers to Jesus.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD MAY RUN SWIFTLY AND BE GLORIFIED, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. NOW MAY THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO THE LOVE OF GOD AND INTO THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5)

Note Scriptures describing God causing His Word to increase resulting in many being born again.

God glorifies His Word by manifesting His power to confirm it with signs and wonders.

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 )

So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20)

The Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly… (Acts 6:7)

But the Word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:24)

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the Teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:12)

12. Prayer that God would open a door of evangelism through releasing His power on the Word.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, THAT GOD WOULD OPEN TO US A DOOR FOR THE WORD, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Col. 4:2-4)

Note Scriptures describing God causing a door to open for His Word by manifesting His power to confirm it with signs and wonders. In other words, that a door of power and opportunity would increase, resulting in people being born again.

…that God…had OPENED THE DOOR OF FAITH to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)

For a GREAT AND EFFECTIVE DOOR HAS OPENED TO ME… (1 Corinthians 16:9)

when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a DOOR WAS OPENED TO ME BY THE LORD…(2 Corinthians 2:12)

…I have set before you AN OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it… (Rev 3:8 )

Note Scriptures declaring how God opens hearts (by revelation) in order to grant  repentance to the spiritually deceived. We pray for revival, that God supernaturally opens many hearts.

…IF GOD PERHAPS WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, so that they may know the truth, and…come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil…(2Tim 2:24-26).

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us…THE LORD OPENED HER HEART TO HEED the things spoken by Paul. (Acts 16:14)

He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45)

13. Prayer to be enriched with the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit leading unto righteousness.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, THAT YOU WERE ENRICHED IN EVERYTHING by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so THAT YOU COME SHORT IN NO GIFT, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:4-8).

Note Scriptures that exhort us to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. One primary way to earnestly seek the gifts of the Spirit is to earnestly pray for their release. This is a pray for revival.

But EARNESTLY DESIRE the best gifts… (1 Cor. 12:31)

…DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Cor. 14:1)

DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (1 Cor. 14:39)

 

THE APOSTOLIC PRAYER OF PETER AND JOHN

1. Prayer for the impartation of Holy Spirit boldness through the release of signs and wonders.

…they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: `Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and GRANT TO YOUR SERVANTS THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD, “BY STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24-31) also, see Eph. 6:19.

THE APOSTOLIC PRAYERS OF JESUS

Consider the Apostle…of our confession, Christ Jesus… (Heb. 3:1)

1. The Lord’s Prayer

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And DO NOT LEAD US into temptation, but DELIVER US from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matt 6:9-13)

2. Prayer for anointed laborers in the Harvest

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  “Therefore PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS into His harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38; Luke 10:2)

3. Prayer for the release of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!” (Luke 11:13)

4. Prayer of strength in temptation.

Then He came to the disciples…, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…” (Matt. 26:40-41)

 

JESUS’ HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER – JOHN 17

1. Jesus prays to keep the saints in the Father’s name

“…I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:11)

2. Jesus prays to keep the saints from the evil one

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15)

3. Jesus prays that the saints might be sanctified by truth

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

4. Jesus prays that the saints would experience the fullness of God’s glory

“that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also MAY BE ONE IN US, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: “I in them, and You in Me; that they MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them AS You have loved Me.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

“O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.

“And I have declared to them Your name, and WILL DECLARE IT, THAT THE LOVE WITH WHICH YOU LOVED ME MAY BE IN THEM, and I in them.” (John 17:21-26)

 

WORSHIP HYMNS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

1. John’s thanksgiving to Jesus for such great love that makes us kings and priests unto God.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5, 6)

2. The seraphim’s song magnifying the Father’s transcendent beauty.

The four living creatures… do not rest day or night, saying: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8 )

3. The 24 elders sing to the Father – this is the 1st “worthy song”. (Note 3 themes in their praise.)

The 24 elders fall down…saying: “YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev. 4:10-11)

4. The seraphim and the 24 elders before the Throne sing to Jesus – this is the 2nd “worthy song”. (Note the 5 verbs that describe Jesus’ activity in redemption.)

…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders…sang a new song, saying: “YOU ARE WORTHY to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:8-10)

5. The angelic host, the seraphim and the 24 elders sing to Jesus as the scroll is about to be opened – This is the 3rd and final “worthy song” in the New Testament. (Note 7 themes in their praise.)

…many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand…saying with a loud voice: “WORTHY IS THE LAMB who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11-12)

6. The Song of all creation before the Throne as the scroll is opened. Note the only 3 times that ALL the saints worship together before the Throne. (Rev. 5:11-14; 7:9-12; 19:1-7)

And EVERY CREATURE which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)

7. Worship from all nations as result of the Great Harvest at the end of the age.

…a great multitude…of all nations…standing before the throne…saying, “SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB!” (Rev. 7:9-10)

8. The angelic host responds seeing people from all nations worship God. (Note 7 themes in their praise.)

All the angels…and the elders and the four living creatures…worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 7:11-12)

9. The tribulation saints worship in context to the end time judgments.

I saw…a sea of glass mingled with fire…standing…having harps of God they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! Just and true are Your ways, O KING OF SAINTS! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? FOR YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” (Rev. 15:2-4).

10. God’s righteousness is declared in light of His end time judgments.

…the angel of the waters saying: “YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS, O LORD, the One who is and who was and who is to be, BECAUSE YOU HAVE JUDGED THESE THINGS. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” (Rev. 16:4-5)

11. A voice from God’s altar of incense before the Throne.

I heard another from the altar saying, “Even SO, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE YOUR JUDGMENTS.” (Rev. 16:7)

12. The Bride worships God in light of the end time judgments. Note 4 themes in their praise.

…a loud voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! FOR TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS JUDGMENTS, BECAUSE HE HAS JUDGED THE GREAT HARLOT who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Rev. 19:1-2)

13. The Bride worships God at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

…the voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:5-6)

 

NEW TESTAMENT DOXOLOGIES

1. Worship prayers to God by Paul in 1 Timothy.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Tim. 1:17)

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1Tim. 6:15-16)

2. A worship prayer esteeming God’s power in creation.

And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.” (Heb. 1:10-12)

3. Worshipping God for the joy of salvation

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24)

4. Proclamation of our blessing in the heavenly realm.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 1:3).

PRAYERS FOR MORE PERSONAL REVELATION OF GOD

1. An apostolic intercessory benediction to be established with insight into the mystery.

Now to Him who is able TO ESTABLISH YOU according to my gospel…according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith– to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. (Rom. 16:25-27)

2. Prayers to grow in grace and knowledge of God

GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Peter 1:2,3)

…grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 )

3. The Bride’s prayer for Jesus’ Coming.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”…He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS! (Rev. 22:17, 20)

 

THE CENTRAL ROLE OF SINGING PRAYERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. The vital place of making melody and singing from the heart in Spirit filled living

…be filled with the Spirit, (by) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART to the Lord… (Eph. 5:18-19)

2. The necessity of singing the Word in our spiritual songs.

Let the WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS to the Lord. (Col. 3:16)

3. The central role of singing with our spirit (singing in the Spirit) – note its value and importance in the apostle Paul’s life.

For if I pray in a tongue, MY SPIRIT PRAYS, but my understanding is unfruitful. I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:14-16).

I thank my God I speak with tongues MORE THAN YOU ALL; (1 Cor. 14:18 )

4. The necessity of praying in the Spirit with all perseverance

…praying ALWAYS with ALL PRAYER and supplication IN THE SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with ALL PERSEVERANCE and supplication FOR ALL the saints– (Eph 6:18 )

5. The central role of singing the Word in the spiritual songs in the Tabernacle of David in the Old Testament.

King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the lord WITH THE WORDS OF DAVID AND OF ASAPH the seer. So they sang praises with gladness… (2 Chr. 29:30)

 

FIVE BENEFITS OF SINGING OR PRAYING WITH OUR SPIRIT

1. We speak mysteries – in other words, speaking inspired ideas to God and receiving inspired ideas from God in our prayers.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; HOWEVER, IN THE SPIRIT HE SPEAKS MYSTERIES. (1 Cor. 14:2)

2. We bless (worship) God through singing in the spirit

I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT…you BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT… (1 Cor. 14:15-16).

3. We give thanks (worship) toward God through singing in the spirit

What is the conclusion then?…I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will also sing with the understanding…you BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT…FOR YOU INDEED GIVE THANKS WELL…(1 Cor. 14:15-17).

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered… (Acts 10:46)

4. We build up our faith by praying in the Spirit (this includes praying with our spirit or in tongues)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, (by) praying in the Holy Spirit… (Jude1:20)

5 To edify our human spirit by praying with our spirit or in tongues)

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself… (1 Cor. 14:4)

Inheritance of Jesus: Bride Crowned with Glory

FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

INTRODUCTION TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Inheritance of Jesus: Bride Crowned with Glory

I. GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS SON – REVIEW

A. The inheritance God promised His Son: a people He fully possesses.

Ask of Me, and I will give You, the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. (Psalm 2:8 )

B. Jesus prays for His inheritance to be released.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them…, 23 …that the world may know that You…have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold (experience) My glory which You have given Me…(John 17:22-24)

C. The apostle Paul prayed for the release of the Ps. 2:8 reality just as Jesus did.

“that God…may give to…revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that YOU MAY KNOW…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…(Ephesians 1:17-18 )

1. “God…may give…revelation in the knowledge (experience) of Him…”

2. “…that you may know (experience) …” – the result is to possess a profound sense of success in being His inheritance.

 

II. A BRIDE IN HIS IMAGE: OUR ULTIMATE DESTINY IN GOD’S GLORY

A. We are destined (Divine determination) to be like Jesus in several ways.

“…predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29)

“…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him.” (1 John 3:2)

B. The Father planned great things for Jesus’ inheritance (His Bride).

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ORDAINED BEFORE THE AGES FOR OUR GLORY…But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9)

1. Ordained before the ages – Divine determination cannot be stopped.

2. For our glory – our inheritance and destiny.

 

III. BRIDE’S INHERITANCE: POSSESSING NEW CAPACITIES IN GOD’S GLORY

A. Becoming partakers of God’s glory.

“…the glory which You gave Me I have given them…” (John 17:22 )

“…You have crowned him (the redeemed) with glory and honor… (Hebrews 2:7, 10)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed IN US.” (Romans 8:18 )

B. A Bride possessing the indwelling spirit.

“…God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians l:27)

“…you are…built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

“…till we all come to…the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13)

C. The human spirit is God’s eternal dwelling place or the place of His highest communion and expression. It is the place God, the Consuming Fire chose to express His glory – His grandeur, love, beauty, authority, pleasure, etc.

D. We receive the Divine nature or God’s seed.

“…given to us exceedingly great …promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Whoever has been born of God…His seed (life) remains in him…(1 John 3:9)

1. The life of God is eternally deposited in the human spirit at the new birth. Therefore, we will have all the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit forever.

2. We alone address the Most High God as, “our Father.”

 

IV. THE GLORY OF GOD ON OUR MINDS AND HEARTS

“This is the covenant that I will make with them…I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them…” (Hebrews 10:16)

A. We will think and feel like God does forever. When God writes on our mind and heart it speaks of our capacity being supernaturally enlarged.

 

B. A mind with supernatural capacities for revelation (understanding), communication (perception), skillful tasks (competency).

“…I will put My law in their minds…34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor…saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

1. New mental capacities for understanding face-to-face revelation of His heart (the revealing of His name).

They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads…for the Lord God gives them light…(Revelation 22:4-5)

“…I will write on him the name of My God and the name of …the New Jerusalem…And I will write on him My new name. (Revelation 3:12)

2. New mental capacities for understanding of life.

“…we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

a. New mental capacities for communication – clear thinking, perfect ability in to express thoughts and heart feelings with great understanding of others. Skillful communication in languages, music, poetic expression, etc

b. New mental abilities with competency in many areas (math, science, technology, food, art, music, etc.). In other words, we will possess many skills , great intelligence in many areas like Adam in the garden of Eden.

 

C. A new heart with supernatural capacities for holiness and satisfaction.

“…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts…(Jeremiah 31:33)

“…I will give you a new heart…” (Ezekiel 36:26)

“…the riches of the glory…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

1. New emotional capacities for love – empowered affections for God/others.

“…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

I (Jesus) have declared to them Your (Father) name…that the love with which You (Father) loved Me may be in them…” (John 17:26)

2. New emotional capacities for confidence – no accusation, condemnation, fear of failure, comparison, competition, etc.

3. New emotional capacities for happiness and contentment.

“…you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…” (1 Peter 1:8 )

 

V. A NEW BODY WITH CAPACITIES FOR GOD’S GLORY

“…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him.” (1 John 3:2)

A. Jesus became human forever. God designed the greatest physical body for His beloved Son. It is the best body that God can create, it is far superior to the angels.

B. It is a body with all the capacities necessary to express the glory of God to the fullest measure.

C. The body that God custom designed for Jesus is the same type of body the Bride will have forever. Our eternal body will have the same supernatural properties and abilities that Jesus’ body has.

“…who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…” (Philippians 3:21)

D. A body filled with light (glory, color etc).

“…Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment…” (Psalm 104:2)

“…having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal…” (Revelation 21:11)

“…You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14)

E. A body filled with power and glory.

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:41-44)

1. Supernatural abilities – 5 senses without corruption or weakness.

a. Sight – seeing at a distant, at close range, through walls (x-ray vision).

b. Hearing – at distances, with great perception, perfect balance, etc.

c. Taste – enjoyment of food to the full degree (1 Cor. 10:31).

d. Touch – to discern and feel perfectly.

e. Smell – to enjoy and discern.

2. Supernatural abilities related to communication – speech, musical, singing

3. Supernatural abilities in strength – speed, endurance, lifting objects

4. Supernatural abilities in health – no fatigue (energy), sickness or death

5. Supernatural abilities in travel – flight and speed.

6. Supernatural abilities related to the material realm – pass through walls

7. Supernatural beauty – physical countenance, fragrance, light, color, etc.

 

F. A supernatural unity (relationship) with one another like unto the Father and Son.

that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us… (John 17:21)

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one… (John 17:23)

G. Jesus shares His heart and affections with His eternal companion.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9)

1. Four dimensions of God’s love.

that He would grant you…to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the

WIDTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

2. Receiving the embrace of the Father in the same way Jesus does.

“…that the world may know that You …have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23)

3. Jesus’ desire to be with His bride and to share His glory.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory.” (John 17:24)

4. The affections of Jesus are imparted to His people.

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:8 )

5. The Bride being cherished and nourished by Jesus.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. (Ephesians 5:29)

H. Jesus shares His home – the Eternal City (Rev. 21-22).

 

VI. JESUS SHARES HIS POWER AND AUTHORITY WITH HIS CO-HEIRS.

The Bride inherits a new position in the heavenly authority structure. The Church has authority in eternity to judge the world and the angels. She possesses a unique rank in all of creation as a co-heir with Jesus. To rule by words that have God’s authority released in them. Adam in the garden of Eden ruled by words not strife, etc. Adam ruled by naming of animals and plants.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

“…to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them…” (Revelation 2:26)

“…made us kings…to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)

“I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. I saw the souls…they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years.” (Revelation 20:4)

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a 1000 years. (Revelation 20:6)

They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?….(1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

“…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (2 Timothy 2:12)

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28 )

And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ (Luke 19:17-19)

 

Scripture in all caps added for emphasis. Source is International House of Prayer, K.C., MO; www.ihop.org and Friends of the Bridegroom www.fotb.com.  Orignal notes by Mike Bickle.