The Power of the Force

Chapter Four

Paul said in 2 Cor. 4:18,

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

The literal meaning of the word ‘temporal’ is this. The things which are seen are limited to a period of time. As things stand at this time, all living things are only here on a temporary basis or are limited to a time period but the things that are not visible to the naked eye are eternal.

Jesus said in John 3:5-8,

“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

We have been so instructed in the ways of the world that it becomes very difficult for us to walk in the spirit. We have had a mistaken identity about our origin. We came from God but we have been trained in the ways of this world. The ways of this world are controlled by the five fleshly senses. But these are the last days and men and women are learning who they really are and are learning to walk as their spirits lead them and are finding a whole new way of living. Jesus said in John 10:10,

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

We have been born of God and as such our spirits are in touch with the invisible world of the spirit. Paul said in 1 Cor. 6:17,

“He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

Notice! He did not say, “One spirit with the Lord!” Paul also said in Eph. 4:4-6,

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

There is only one spirit, one life, one way, and that is His Spirit, His life, and His way. We are the extension of Him; His expression in this visible realm. Elohiym said in Gen. 1:26-28,

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

God has given to man the authority to rule and to reign on this earth and He has never taken away that authority. Not only that but He created us in His image and in His likeness. That image and likeness has never changed. We didn’t fall in the garden but we became disillusioned by our entertaining the thought that we were different from God and that we could never be like Him.

Paul said in Col. 1:22,

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled”

This is why we have to be born again by the Father’s seed which is His Word.

Peter said in 1 Peter 1:22,

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever….”

Once our spirits are regenerated by the Word of God, we enter into communion with the world of the spirit where things are not temporal but everlasting and we have the authority to speak them into existence in this world. Jesus told the disciples in Matt. 16:19,

“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

He also said in Luke 17:21,

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

The Kingdom of God is within each of us. This Kingdom is ruled by the most powerful force in all of creation; His word! In the beginning God spoke His word and the universe was created. Heb. 4:12 says,

“The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The keys of this Kingdom is the Word of God. It is His words that are spirit and life and when we speak what He says we speak with power and authority. Someone will say, “But I have spoken the word of God and nothing happened!” The reason this happens is because we are still having a problem with our mistaken identity. Jesus said in Mark11:24,

“Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus laid out for us three principles for success in declaring His word. This is the order we must conform to if we are going to have success in declaring His word.

First

Have faith in God! The actual translation of this statement is, “Have the God kind of faith.” The question then becomes, “What is the God kind of faith? There is nothing in all of creation that is more powerful than when God makes a declaration. He speaks from a position of authority. He knows that His words are spirit and are life. He knows that what He says has to come to pass. Jesus is telling us that as He is so are we in this world. When we speak we must speak from a position of authority and have confidence that what we say will come to pass even as we have spoken.

Second

We must believe that what we say will come to pass!!

There is no room for doubt. James said in James 1:5,

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

Herein lies the problem we experience. Do we believe? We have been taught to expect the Lord to do everything for us and when He does not do what He commanded us to do, we begin to doubt. Jesus said that anyone can say to the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea. Well, are you anyone? Yes and that qualifies you to speak to the mountain. However, when we speak it must be from a position of authority. We must firmly believe that what we say has to come to pass because of who we are and the authority that has been given to us.

If the authority has been given to us, then we must learn how to administer that authority with love and compassion.

There is absolutely no place to doubt when we make a faith declaration. The reason that we have a tendency to doubt is because we talk doubt in so much of our conversations. So much of what we say to each other is filled with pessimism and doubt. You can’t talk all day long with a pessimistic attitude and then when the occasion arrives that you want to speak with authority, suddenly switch and speak with optimism. We must guard what comes out of our mouths. We can’t be lackadaisical about what we say.

Jesus said in Matt. 12:37,

“For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We will be held accountable for what we say with our mouths. What we say in faith believing is going to come to pass. We have been given the authority to rule and reign on this earth and what we say in faith will come to pass. It may be to our advantage or it may be to our detriment. If we say, “I just know that I am going to get the flu this year!” Guess what? You will! Now, do you understand why it is so important that we guard what we allow to come out of our mouths? If we learn to speak the words of Jesus we are guaranteed success. However, this must be a way of life for us and not just something to be used when the occasion arrives.

Third

We must learn to forgive others. Jesus said,

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Can you see now what I meant when I said that there is accountability in the Kingdom of God? Jesus said that His Father will forgive us the same way we forgive others. I have told you that spiritual laws govern the Kingdom of God and these are just three of them. If we will place ourselves in alignment with these laws we will see the power of God released in our lives.

Jesus was always telling people, “O ye of little faith!” Peter, for example, walked on water and yet, Jesus said he had little faith. The story is in Matt. 14:28,

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “O You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

What did Jesus say about doubt? In Mark 11:23 He said,

“Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

Jesus said in Luke 12:28-32,

“If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

And in Matt. 16:5-12,

“When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

These are just some of the times that Jesus said, “O Ye of little faith!” How does faith come or how do we obtain this faith that Jesus was talking about? Paul said in Romans 10:17,

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

We must be careful what we allow to enter into our thought life. Most of the so-called Christian hymns and songs contain thoughts that are contrary to the word of God. We love their melody but they are preaching lies about what is real. For example:

“One Day at a time!”

“From a distance!”

“I’ll Fly away!”

“When we all get to heaven!”

“I’ve got a mansion!”

The words of God are spirit and they are life. If we speak the words that Jesus spoke, we are speaking words that produce life to the spirits who hear us talk, even ourselves.

Paul said in Eph. 6:17,

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”