NOT BY MIGHT OR POWER, BUT BY HIS SPIRIT  7/27/13

I spent about a lengthy season where the Lord brought to me many teachings and doctrines of men.  I was following the Lord through that journey, because I did not seek these teachings out.  They were given to me via people – some who needed help and were in error due to following these teachings.   So in my prayer and search for truth, the Lord put me through that school.  Finally the Lord began bringing me live examples where I saw all the things I had been warned about being demonstrated through different people.  Always the Lord would allow me to learn through their mistakes and He would once again affirm, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

The Lord continued to give me this scripture about what I was observing.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

THE SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL

In these last days there are many people casting out demons and teaching healing through many means outside the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his cunning, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

THE FOCUS OF WHO AND WHAT

The easiest way to discern someone’s teachings is to see Who and what they focus upon.  How often do they refer to scripture or to the Lord?  How often are they presenting a different gospel based on some other method?  We as a prophetic people do live and breathe revelation which is new understanding and application upon the Truth of His Word.  The difference between the gospel we follow and the doctrines of men’s opinions and experiences, is that we continually cling to scripture and raise the banner of leaning upon Jesus Christ Who draws all men to Himself.

STRIVING

Many of the Words to Ponders that the Lord gave me refer to man’s strivings, soul power, the arm of flesh, doctrines, mindsets, control and not honoring free will.  All of those writings are based upon that time in my life where He took me to observation school to easily distinguish between doctrines of men, demons vs the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Recently I wrote about how the Lord has taken His people through a very long season of coming to the end of ourselves.  Like Jacob for the blessing, we have striven and striven with sweat, blood and tears and still not gotten a hold of the promise we contend for.  We have forgotten that the priests of the Lord were not allowed to sweat when coming into His Presence! 

He has all along been teaching us what doesn’t work and He is bringing us to a new level of faith in His Word which will manifest in the power of His Word.  And that will culminate into Sabbath rest:  perfect belief in the simplicity that what He says goes.

Hebrews 4:1-12 Let us therefore fear, lest, although a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

PRAYER:  Lord grant Your people discernment, wisdom and opened eyes to see Your Truth when it is presented and to recognize a direction away from Your truth as it veers off the mark.  Lord help all to lay down soul power and the arm of flesh in efforts to influence and change people.  Open eyes to see that these things are a branch of witchcraft because it does not honor the free will of man. 

Let us rely totally upon You Lord to bring about the changes we yearn for, and let it come through fasting, prayer, holy warfare and the power of Your Spirit.  In Jesus Name.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.