The Kingdom of God!

 

Chapter 134

 

 

One of the problems many churches have is that they have bought into the Rapture theory, which didn't come about until the 1800's, and they are majoring in getting people saved or are emphasizing that the Lord's return is eminent. It is a good thing to get people saved, however, we must also realize that we are in a spiritual war, and we have spiritual authority to overcome evil. Paul said in Eph. 6:10-13,

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

 

I want you to notice that he said to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power! Well, "What is that mighty power?" The Lord said in Zech. 4:6,

 

"This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." 

 

Mark 16:20 says, (NIV)

 

"Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it."

 

If we deny the Holy Spirit working with us with signs and wonders following, we will never defeat the devil! We are the Body of Christ the anointed one! How can the Lord put the devil under His feet if we are not involved? Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:24-26, (NIV)

 

"Then the end will come, when he (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."

 

Do you agree with me that we are the Body of Christ? (Rom. 12:27). Paul said in Col. 1:24, (NIV)

 

"Whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church!"

 

Christ is ruling and reigning through His Body which is us. Paul said in Eph. 5:8-11, (NIV)

 

"Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

Who are these authorities in the heavenly realms? Go back to Eph. 6:10 where Paul said,

 

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

 

This doesn't mean the heaven we all want to go to! Paul said he was caught up into the third heaven where the Lord reigns. The second heaven is where the warfare is going on and we have a big part to play in this war as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

 

If we deny that the Holy Spirit has baptized us into the Body of Christ and has given us the authority and power to put Satan under our feet, we will be denying the gospel that Paul was chosen of the Lord to bring to us!

 

Fortunately, there is a remnant of Pentecostals in this Body, numbering in the millions, who are equipped with the full armor of God who are waging this war on the front lines and will succeed in this battle full of the Holy Spirit. As I have told you before, the latter rain is falling and soon there will be an avalanche of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all flesh.

 

The good news is that we will stand victorious when our Lord returns with all the saints that have gone on before and heaven and earth will be united, and we will rule and reign with Him forever! John said in 1 John 3:2, (NIV)

 

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."