Apprehending the Magnitude of God's Love

Praying the Word of God is one way to pray in the Spirit, because the Word of God is Spirit (Eph. 6:17) and It is Truth (John 17:17). When we know not how to pray, we can rest assured that we are praying God's will when we pray His Word, at the same time knowing that we have from Him what we've asked (1John 5: 14-15). Such "knowing" requires faith, and faith is produced by hearing the Word of God (Ro. 10:17).

The Word of God affects us in ways that nothing else can (Heb. 4:12-13). It is key to the faith we need in order to apprehend the revelation of the magnitude of the love God has for us, and empowers us to remain rooted in that love. It is vital that we understand the concept of God's love for ourselves and others while we were in our ungodly and helpless state, and that we enter into the realization that it was while we were yet sinners and enemies of God that Christ died for us (John 3:16; Ro.5:5-10). Failure to understand this Truth prevents Christ from abiding in our wounded heart/soul (mind, will, and emotions), rendering us incapable of receiving the transforming power that is God's love.

We are admonished to renew our mind with the Word of God, which cleanses all aspects of our wounded heart, that it may be healed and transformed into the image of Christ (Eph. 5:26; 2Cor. 3:18). As we study and meditate on God's Word, His Spirit will reveal to us how desperately sick and wicked our heart is (Jer. 17:9-10, Is. 64:6) and how desperately we need a Redeemer and Deliverer. This revelation will lead us to Calvary and to the cross of the Lamb of God, Who paid the ultimate price for our sins and reconciled us to our Heavenly Father.

It's the Word of God that shows us that it's our wicked heart that produces the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19-21, 24). It is for these works of the flesh that we must take personal responsibility and from which we must repent and turn to the loving God, that we may ask for and receive the forgiveness and healing needed in order for our soul to grow to become in tandem with our inner man...the new creation...and thereby enter into agreement with God's Truth and His will. As this spirit/heart union progresses, we become more of a reflection of God's character and the members of our physical body line up in loving obedience to God.

It takes God's power to strengthen our inner man (the new creation), enabling our born-again spirit to rise above our wounded and unbelieving heart that lacks the faith needed to apprehend the revelation of how much God loves us...that Christ may abide in our heart through faith. The words of Eph. 3:16-21 are some verses we can confidently pray to that end.

Can A Believer Be Cursed?

Yesterday a message was left on my answering machine by a friend who's been experiencing much ongoing affliction in her life for a number of years. Her life has been difficult from childhood and as a result... though she has been a believer for years and loves the Lord... her wounded soul has been very resistant to sound biblical councelling. She is now alone and disabled, due to suffering from several chronic physical conditions, and she is on pain-killers, which makes it difficult for her to focus. My heart goes out to her. Throughout the years I've prayed with her, ministered to her with the Word, been there for her as a friend...trying not to be like one of Job's "comforters..." all to no avail. This time, as has been the case on other occasions, she wanted prayer because she believes that someone is cursing her. My first inclination was to call her and once again pray and loose (shatter, destroy) the power and effects of any curse that may have been spoken against her. However, this time, as I was about to once again come to her rescue, I was stopped in my tracks as Proverbs 26:2 was brought to my remembrance:

"Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without cause does not alight."

I put the phone down and asked Father to give me His insight into this scripture. First He revealed that a curse can't take hold unless there's a place for it to light...a cause. He showed me that it does no good to loose the power and effects of a curse unless the cause is first dealt with.

The terms "blessing" and "curse" are covenant terms. In order to be able to relate to these terms we must have a basic understanding of covenant. It would behoove every Christian to do a study on covenant, as the subject is too extensive to cover here. Briefly though, in biblical terms a covenant is a contract between God and His people, with conditions laid out to which both parties agree. Biblical covenant is where each party agrees to completely give their whole being to the other...name, possessions, reputation, protection, provision...for life, then the covenant is sealed in blood. There are advantages (blessings) to upholding these conditions, and consequences (curses) for failing to do so. One can familiarize themselves with covenant blessings and curses in Deut. 28. The foundational conditions of covenant are based upon the Ten Commandments, and are summed up by Jesus in two requirements...to love (resulting in obedience) the Lord your God with your whole being, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Because mankind, in his fallen state, is incapable in himself of keeping the conditions of the covenant in all of its intricacies, it was necessary for God to make provision for us by coming to earth as the Son of Man...Jesus Christ...to perfectly fulfill the conditions of covenant on our behalf. Then the perfect, innocent One shed His blood as the ultimate sacrifice... the Lamb of God. He became our substitute and representative by taking upon Himself the sin of all mankind, along with all of the curses for breaking covenant, paying the ultimate price...death on the cross, once for all. We were "in"Him (joined with Him) as He suffered on the cross. In Him we died and were buried. We were in Him when He was resurrected as the Son of God with power, in Him we were reconciled to Father God, and in Him we ascended on high and are seated with Him in heavenly places. As He is, so are we in this world! These are all covenant concepts we must grasp in order to fully realize what Jesus Christ accomplished on our behalf.

Understanding and having faith in the work of the cross of Jesus Christ and applying it daily and consistantly to our lives is what prevents the curse from alighting on us. However, first of all we must see our need for a Redeemer, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23). We must understand that the heart of man is desperately sick and wicked (Jer. 17:9), acknowledge that in God's sight our human righteousness is as filthy rags (Is.64:6), and repent from the heart for our sins. We must realize that Jesus died for the ungodly (Ro. 5:6)... all of mankind, while we were sinners (Ro. 5:8)...and while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Ro. 5:10).

We must be able to receive forgiveness for our sins and we must forgive those who sin against us. No sin, no matter how horrific, is too great to be atoned for by the blood of Jesus and forgiven; no sickness, disease, or wound of soul or body is beyond the healing power of the cross of Jesus; no torment is beyond the chastisement that Jesus bore on our behalf so that we could receive the peace that passes all understanding...unless, of course, we refuse to forgive ourselves or others (Mk. 11:25-26; Matt. 18:21-35).

Some causes that allow curses to alight:

• Practicing sin and corruption (Heb. 10:20)


• Lack of knowledge and understanding of covenant concepts


• Failure to know and understand covenant provisions and apply them to one's life


• Failure to understand the affects and consequences of the fall of Adam on mankind


• Unwillingness to acknowledge one's sin (your own sins against God, yourself, and others... and your wrong reactions to those who sin against you)


• Victim mentality, the constant replaying of painful memories with the unwillingness to release them and forgive those who were involved...and justifying that unforgiveness...or deny that you haven't forgiven.


• Failure to repent of sins


• Failure to consecrate oneself to God


• Unbelief (without faith it's impossible to please God)


• Disobedience and rebellion


• Idolatry (putting people and things before God)


• Murmurring


• Ignorance of the Word


• Double-mindedness (can receive nothing from God)


• Unforgiveness toward self and/or others (Failure to walk in love)


• Failure to ask for and receive healing for wounds in the soul once forgiveness has been applied to a situation, making one more vulnerable to repeat offenses


• Fear (placing faith in the circumstances and negative reports rather than in God's promises of deliverance)


• Placing trust in mankind or one's own strength rather than in the power of God (Jer. 17:5-10)


• Failure to have faith in God's transforming power to be accomplished in you and in others


• Misconceptions of God


• Belief systems contrary to the Word of God (Truth)


• Failure to renew the mind with the Word of God


• Wrong expectations


• Failure to guard one's heart from ungodly influences


• Meditating more on world events than on things of God

If after examining our hearts for a "cause" we find none, then we need to put on the full armor of God, finding applicable truths in God's Word to meditate on. Counter the circumstances with Truth and stand in agreement with Truth. Then, "having done all to stand, stand firm, therefore..." (Eph. 6:13-14), "considering it all joy that the testing (proving) of your faith produces endurance..." (James 1:2-4) rejoicing in the fact that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28) and glorifying God as He demonstrates His faithfulness to His Word and His willingness to act on your behalf...delivering you out of all of your afflictions (Ps. 34:19).

Psalm 27:1-3

v-1 The Lord (and all He is...the Most High, Creator of the Universe, King of the Universe)

is my Light (The Truth and the Revealer of Truth, Teacher)

and my Salvation (Deliverer from all affliction...physical, emotional, spiritual; Provider of all of my needs...physical, emotional, spiritual).

Whom then shall I fear? (No one, no thing...whether spiritual entities, humans, or beasts)

The Lord is the defense of my life (He's the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Lord of Hosts...angelic or demonic...,the Captain of my salvation, my Advocate and Judge, my Redeemer...the Lamb of God..., the Author and Finisher of my faith);

Whom shall I dread? (No one, no thing...whether spiritual entities, humans, or beasts...for all of the above reasons)

v-2 When evildoers (the wicked under demonic or soulical influences) come upon me to destroy me (physically, mentally, or emotionally), my adversaries and my enemies (those who oppose me and those who would attempt to destroy me) stumbled (were confounded, confused) and fell (were conquered, destroyed).

v-3 Though a host (multitudes of evildoers, wicked) encamp against me (stand against me by argument, opposition, contradiction), my heart (soul...mind, will, emotions) will not fear.
Though war (destruction, attack) arise against me (threaten me), in spite of this I shall be confident (established in the intimate, experiential knowledge and understanding of Who God is and His covenant with me).
**********
Fear is foolishness to God, for He has provided everything for us. Faith is absolute trust in Who God is, what He says, and His willingness and ability to do what He says He will do; whereas, fear is misplaced faith. It is trusting in any circumstances, reports, and outcomes that are contrary to God's Word and that misrepresent Who He is and how He works. Fear is unbelief in Who God is and what He says, and is evil in God's sight.

It takes faith to please God. Our Father expects us to walk in absolute trust towards Him at all times, rejoicing in the opportunity to glorify Him by standing firm in His covenant with us, and watching as He uses opposing circumstances to demonstrate His power and His faithfulness to fulfill His Word on our behalf.

The Plundering of the Strong Man's Household

Today I would like to return to Matt.12 to share some additional insights from verses 28-30. The Pharisees are jealous and fearful because Jesus is drawing people away from their religious traditions of man. In an effort to undermine the faith of those whom Jesus is gathering to Himself, the Pharisees are attempting to discredit Him by attributing to the devil the messianic signs and wonders Jesus is demonstrating by the power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the messianic signs is that Messiah will cast out demons by the Spirit of God, which Jesus declares is an indication that "the kingdom of God has come upon you." He then instructs them using a parable as an example. In this parable, the "strong man" is satan, and the property being plundered is the authority he usurped when Adam fell. Mankind... who became captives of the kingdom of darkness (satan's household), being dead in our transgressions...is who is being "carried off." Jesus is the plunderer of the strong man's household Who, while on earth,
"went around doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38).

It was for the purpose of destroying the works of the devil that the Son of God was made manifest (1John 3:8). Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus preached about and demonstrated the Kingdom of God, setting people free from the "works" of the devil; but it was upon His death, burial, and resurrection, that He preached to the spirits in prison (1Pet.3:19-20) and led captivity captive (Eph.4:8-10; Luke 4:18-19).

According to Luke 4:11:21, it's someone stronger and more powerful that attacks the strong man and "takes away from him all the armor on which he has relied." The armor upon which satan relied was the authority that he usurped from mankind, as a result of Adam's fall. It was upon His death, burial and resurrection that Jesus completed the plundering of satan's household by disarming the rulers and authorities by making a public display of them, triumphing over them. He fulfilled the decrees (the Law) that were hostile to us and, because of our inability to obey them, kept us in bondage to the devil. Jesus perfectly fulfilled those decrees and paid the penalty of death for our transgression of them, which had kept mankind enslaved to the devil (Col.2:15). Through Christ, the Father delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Col.1:12-14).

In verse 30, Jesus continues to teach that those who are not with Him are against Him; and those who don't gather with Him scatter. After His resurrection, In Matt. 28:18-20 and in Mark 16:15-18, He gives His followers the power and authority to continue His ministry throughout all the earth. We are to continue to "gather" with Him by bringing the Kingdom of God upon a lost and dying world...standing in and enforcing the victory He won for mankind when he plundered the kingdom of darkness.