Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5 v 14 - 16: "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
There is no doubt that being born again changes us from sinners to saints, from rebels to submitted to God; from cursing and swearing to speaking kind words. We change from worshipping worldly people, film stars, singers, bands, sporting greats, and religious statues, to worshipping the Lord God Almighty in Spirit and truth.
It takes time for these changes to come about because sometimes we resist change, fearing the unknown. However, we are being changed into the likeness of Jesus.
Philippians 3 v 20 - 21: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
John saw Jesus in His resurrected body after He had ascended into Heaven. This is who he saw.
Revelation 1 v 12 - 16: "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
Both Ezekiel and Daniel saw the preincarnate Son of God and their description matches the One spoken of by John. Daniel 10 v 5 - 11; Ezekiel 1 v 26 - 28.
This description of Jesus is the likeness we are to match. God is changing us to be this new creation, this out-of-this-world, beyond our imaginations being, capable of extraordinary feats.
This is who we are intended to be but our carnal minds and worldly ways are preventing us from rising to the heights intended for us. Everywhere Jesus went He gave us the examples of what this new creation being could do. Healing, miracles, preaching the true gospel, deliverance, tongues, prophecy, unconquerable faith, power over storms, walk on water, raise the dead. He said that we could do all these things and more after He went to the Father. Read Like a Mighty Wind by Mel Tari.
He said we would do the greater works, things greater than He was able to do, if we believed and had faith. He said nothing shall be impossible to us, if it was according to the will of God. John 14 v 12.We also inherited His creativity and He welcomes our ability to pioneer new ways of extending the Kingdom of God.
When we pray deliverance we come across some demons that are very hard to move. We suddenly got a new idea, a word of knowledge, 'lock them in hot chains' and we added 'the longer you resist the hotter they get!' They didn't like that idea at all.
Those which tried to prolong it we added 'For every minute you hang around we command the release of 10,000 more who are similarly bound!' That speeded things up a lot. One of our Intercessors burst out laughing. She saw a vision of Satan asking God, Can she do that? And He said, Comply! She laughed again saying I see this accountant type with a baseball cap and a calculator keeping tally of all the ones being released! How we rejoiced and blessed the Lord.
We really don't know who we are in Christ. He is our prototype, the first of the new creation that we must conform to. But we have been inundated by a flood of demonic liars who have succeeded in suppressing our ability to conceive of ourselves other than poor humans weighed down like sinners.
Peter and John got the message when they boldly healed a man who had been paralyzed all his life using the name of Jesus. He was walking and leaping and praising God. Acts 3.
Peter and John were brought before the Council and told that they may not use THAT name! Acts 4 v 17 - 20: "But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
The enemy is desperate to keep us ignorant of who we are really. We cannot go beyond what we believe. If we are not born again, then baptised in water, then baptised in the Holy Spirit we have not reached the new creation level. We need all the gifts to be in operation so that we are available for the Lord to use us when He needs us. We need boldness and faith to knock the enemy flat. We need words of knowledge and words of wisdom to outwit the enemy.
Recently there have been huge volcanic eruptions in Iceland, Hawaii, Japan, Sicily, the Philippines, and others in the Pacific Ring of Fire. There are currently 225 horrific fires in Canada making heavy smoke over themselves and the USA. Man is not able to start or stop these "acts of God. But is it our Almighty God or the evil one Jesus called "the god of this world"?
Intercessors are constantly praying against demonic attacks. To the world, scientists, geologists, experts, quakes are caused by movement below the Earth's crust. However, Hell is below us, below the crust, so when demons are defeated they are cast into Hell and they move through that crust at phenomenal speeds causing the plates to separate. Some are bigger than others. The bigger they are the harder they fall and the more mess they make. If we do not know the power in the name of Jesus then these concepts are not understood. All the glory belongs to Jesus.
We were a while back interceding for people bound by Rap music and spent many hours pulling down strongholds. When the peace came we rejoiced. Later that same day there was an earthquake in a place called Eureka, California. That was Jesus letting us know those demons have been conquered. Perhaps the long term release is the Diddy saga and current trial. Our God is thorough and takes prayer seriously. While Satan is still god of this world, only our prayers give Him the ability to respond on Earth. That's why Jesus gave all His authority over demons to us.
Because the world does not believe in Heaven and Hell they cannot factor in spiritual knowledge so we settle for their version, but the full truth paints a different picture. John 3 v 3: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Whenever Jesus says Verily Verily please pay attention, it is usually vital to eternal life.
So it's sad that some quakes cause death and destruction but Jesus said at the time of the end earthquakes will increase. It's because He knows that people will be doing more prayer and deliverance round about now. We are spirit beings fighting against fallen spirit beings, in a never ending war. If we have no clue about the spiritual realm we cannot grasp the significance of evil spirits causing "acts of God"!
Superstorms, tornadoes, and other destructive happenings, are attributed to global warming and climate change. Satan is desperate to destroy this planet before Jesus arrives. He knows what the Bible says and the fate that awaits him. He knows Jesus is on His way. The only One preventing Satan from tearing this planet apart is the Holy Spirit. Read 2 Thessalonians 2 v 3 - 8.
Then it's the turn of Almighty God to respond to the world of sinners who prefer to follow Satan.
Revelation 11 v 3 - 6: "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."
These people must be alive today and being prepared by God for this onerous task. Maybe they are not aware of it themselves as yet but the day will come when they know exactly who they are and what they must do. The Lord will say Sleeper arise! Then they will become those two olive trees spoken of in Zechariah 4.
Are you doing your part? Have you caused an earthquake yet? A tremor even? If we want to rock this world for Jesus we need to rise up and scare that devil because then he will know that we know who we really are.
This is the time of the end! We cannot say let someone else do it. We are the Body of Christ and we must rise as one, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and under His direction, destroy the forces of the enemy and set the captives free!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are holy and we bow down before Your throne and exalt Thee. You have given us power over flesh, You have given us bodies that are immortal, help us to grasp the significance so we can rise up to be who You created us to be. Change our ignorance into acceptance that we are part of the body of Jesus and can do on Earth all He did and more. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.