Excerpts from study on Ezekiel 37

Through the counsel of Balaam, the children of Israel committed trespass against the LORD. A study on his strategy and its relevance in our lives today

A study in scripture on how deceptions enter the church. Ooty Bible Study

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3JkCjpx-HA

The first part of the Sunday sermon on May 15, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2mFKQOh9nQ

I had turned down a major record deal in 1997 because the words of the music I recorded did not go in line with my new found faith. Now 14 years later, though I am convinced that what I did was the biblical thing to do, I still can’t help wondering why the music I hear in church does not excite me as much as secular music did before I was saved.

Sure, there are amazing worship songs, but no matter how I play them and how deep the presence of God is, it is rare that I feel I am not playing second rate music.  Shaving with a dull razor comes to mind, or chopping with a dull axe, you know, no edge! Perhaps it is my musical taste or heritage, call it whatever you want, but I can’t deny this anymore. Besides, secular muscicians seem to have more fun; no, I am not talking about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, but about having fun with the music they play.

So I started hunting the web for Christian musicians that I can respect, not just skill, but soul. Mike Farris is one, and I was blessed when I was even able to buy two of his CDs. He is rare, and I am still looking for more.

This search has now lead me back to my roots; blues based soul, but it has been a long long time since I even dared to walk that way. To make sure that I got my perspective right, I went back to my spiritual roots as well. Way back in 1997, around the time I got saved, I was given a copy of “Hell’s Bells: The Dangers of Rock n Roll”. This film is what made me search for backward masking in the recording I made before I met Jesus; which I found (more on that here: http://reconcenter.com/index.php/about/mmusic/backward-masking/) and played a major role in my turning the record deal down.

Something Eric Holmberg said about in the Hells Bells video’s introduction got me thinking. I thought I’d share that with you.

Throughout the ages, wise men have noted music’s profound impact on its listeners. For example, over 2,000 years before the birth of Christ, the musical systems of China were both highly developed and central to its society. It was to this that the philosophers directed much of their attention. Understanding its intrinsic power, they carefully checked their music to make sure that it conveyed eternal truths and could thus influence man’s character for the better

To this end, tradition states that one emperor, by the name of Shun, would monitor the health of each of the provinces of this vast kingdom by simply examining the music they produced. Course and sensual sounds indicated a sick society, one in need of his intervention and assistance.

Two thousand years later the Greek philosopher, Plato, echoed the sentiments of Emperor Shun when he said, “When modes of music change the fundamental laws of the state change with them.”

David Tame, The Secret Power of Music (Destiny Books, 1984) p.34

Here is what some ‘other’  people thought about music.

Plato – ” Through foolishness, they deceived themselves into thinking that there was no right or wrong in music, that it was to be judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave”
Aristotle – Music has the power to form character
Lenin – One quick way to destroy a society is through its music
Bach – The end of all music should be the glory of God and the refreshment of the human spirit.

I agree with Johann Sebastian Bach. The end of all music should be the glory of God and the refreshment of the human spirit.

To that end I have taken my harp down. I’m excited. Please keep me in prayer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2czkHf9cNyY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa6cwbablWI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASmz2nVt08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUadT9SebQc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DygGSGXraQ

Intercession is prayer which flows out of relationship and fellowship with our Heavenly Father. From our “conversations” with Him, we find out (discover) His will. As we fellowship with God, we come to know what He wants (His will).

1. Laborers Together With God

Intercession is asking or inviting God to do what we find out (discover) He wants to do on earth. In this way we become “laborers together with God” (1 Cor 3:9).

Prayer based on a knowledge of what God desires is described in the Bible as “…praying according to the will of God” (Rom 8:27).

“If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 Jn 5:14).

2. God’s Sovereignty – Man’s Responsibility

There are two verses in John 5 which bring a beautiful balance between “…ask what YOU will…” (John 15:7) and “asking according to God’s will” [or sovereignty].

In verse 27 you recall that Jesus said, “The Father has given the Son authority …because he is the son of Man.” However, inverse 30 Jesus says, “I can of my own self do nothing. “Authority is given Him because He is the Son of Man, yet by Himself He can do nothing.

Jesus then goes on to say, “I judge only as the voice [of the Father] comes to me and my judgment is just, for I seek {consult} not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30).

Jesus always discovered (referenced) the will of God. He always submitted to the will of the Father. The Father, however, depends on Him to be the One through whom His will shall be done here on earth. The Father would not in any way enter the arena of man’s dominion, without being invited in prayer to do so.

In a sense, the Father and the Son chose to be dependent upon one another. The Son had been sent to do a work here on earth. The Father did not and would not work without Him. Nor would the Son do anything apart from the revealed will of the Father.

It is this unique and special relationship between the Father and the Son that becomes a pattern for us in prayer.

Jesus saw what the Father was doing and wanted done. As the Son of Man, He then had the right and responsibility to ask – in a sense invite – the Father to work out His will on earth.

The Father then had a moral right to enter the scene on earth and answer the prayer of His son. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is [being done] in heaven” (Matt 6:10)

Prayer, therefore, involves knowing God and His will. It requires that we humbly, but faithfully, ask (invite) Him to bring forth His purpose here on earth.

The world is our God-given realm or domain of responsibility and authority. Therefore, God waits for our prayers before acting on our behalf in earthly affairs.

When we carry out our right to pray and intercede, God has the right to come on the scene to display His purpose and power. Prayer is bringing God into the picture in a responsible way. But He wont’ come without an invitation!

a. Praying In The Will Of God. Three things happen when we pray in the will of God.

1. We will pray God’s prayer.
2. We will feel God’s feelings.
3. We will think God’s thoughts.

We will be praying His prayers, feeling His feelings and thinking His thoughts.

Therefore, in the pages that follow, we will teach you how to discover God’s will. God is waiting for us to invite Him into our world of need that He might work out His will for our good and His glory. come, let us pray!

Time to give Satan an eviction notice eh?

Sunday bible study on April 24, 2011

A trial run recorded for broadcast at the YWCA Chapel without additional lights. Video quality is substandard.
Sermon preached at the Father’s House church Ooty on our current spiritual status.
2011 04 21

3. Jesus Bought Back Man’s Dominion Part 2

Jesus Restored Dominion To Man. The devil’s dominion was finally broken by Christ’s triumph over death- on the cross and in the realm of death, Hell (Hades).

It was God’s original intent and purpose that man should have dominion over the earth. This could only be if Jesus came and conquered. Then He could say on His resurrection day, “..All power [dominion] is given unto me in heaven and in earth… and, low, I am with you always, even unto the send of the age. Amen” (Matt 28:18,20).

Sixty years after His resurrection, Jesus came to John on the isle of Patmos (where John was imprisoned). Here was Jesus’ triumphant proclamation. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev 1:18). What a glorious gospel!

Thus what God set out to do in the Garden of Eden must come to pass. Jesus came in God’s image and likeness to reclaim what Adam lost. Jesus came to produce a new family of sons in God’s image and likeness – this family would again exercise the authority and dominion over God’s creation.

Jesus christ, therefore, came as the Son of Man. As the Son of Man He would totally vanquish Satan. He triumphed over Satan’s temptations. He proved His victory over death (by His resurrection). His victory as “The Son of Man” regained for all men (who are willing to bear God’s image and likeness) the dominion which had been lost in the Garden of Eden by sin.

Now that the dominion has been restored to man, God comes at our request (when we pray) and enters the human realm to fulfill His will (at our invitation).

b. Total Triumph. On the cross He overcame the devil and his messengers – for all time and all people! “And having disarmed the [devils] powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col 2:15).

He not only defeated them but “…made a public spectacle of them.” what does that mean?

In Bible times, when a military leader had defeated an enemy, the winning army would force the opposing General and his troops to walk behind the victorious General in a public parade,. The people on the sides of the road would heap verbal abuse on them and throw rocks at the defeated.

This is illustrated in the life of King David. His son Absalom drove David from his throne. “And as David and his men went by the way, shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust” (2 Sam 16:13)

Paul says this is what was happening in the spiritual realm when Jesus was crucified. Jesus triumphed over all of the powers of the devil and his demons.

Jesus forced the devil and his ruling princes to march in His victory parade for the whole Creation to affirm that – JESUS WON!

He triumphed over Satan’s temptations; He proved His victory over death (by his resurrection). His victory as “The Son of Man” regained for all men (who are willing to bear God’s image and likeness) the dominion which had been lost in the Garden of Eden by sin.

Once again we have been given the power and authority to carry out our Father’s will – to establish His Kingdom here on earth. We now have that authority and privilege in prayer.

God’s purpose for this world will be fulfilled through the Body of Christ, as we pray. Jesus is the Heavenly Head, but we are the earthly members that make up that Body. God has purposed to work out His will on earth through you and me. Without Him we cannot, without us He will not!

c. God Honors Our Dominion.

The above explains why prayer is necessary. God honors the dominion which He has given to redeemed men. He waits for us to come to Him in prayer before He will enter the earthly arena. He respects the “dominion” He delegated to us. That is why He doesn’t work or intervene until we ask Him to.

In effect, God will not work in our earth without someone who will work with Him – those who through prayer will discover His will and take the action necessary to implement it on earth.

The third part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross.

The second part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross.

3. Jesus Bought Back Man’s Dominion Part 1

Man fell from his calling, and the scepter of dominion slipped from his hand. Satan took it and held it until Christ came. Christ would redeem (buy back) that which man had surrendered to Satan. He did this by coming into this world as the Son of MAN.

Hebrews 2:14-16 confirms this. He came not only as the Son of God, but also as the Son of Man. There is an important reason for this, as is seen in the following paraphrase: “God’s divine Son became the Son of Man… by being born in human form. He became a man like us, that he might die, and through death, render the devil powerless…[that is - take dominion and authority away from Satan and restore it back to the man recreated in God's image and likeness].”

a. Why The Son Of Man? Let us raise the question again: Why did Jesus Christ come as a man? Why did He not come only as the son of God?

The answer is of great importance, because it directly relates to the purpose for prayer.

1) God will Not Violate His Will.

God will not force His way into man’s area of authority (our world), and violate the dominion which He has given to man. He made man to have dominion and rule in the earth.

Thus God is bound by His own predetermined purpose – He will not violate His own will, and exercise authority in a realm given to another.

For example, the man next door might be a wonderful painter. But, he is not free to use his skills in your house without being asked. You have authority and dominion in your own home. Others must wait to be invited, before they can legally enter.

In a similar way, God will not come into the earthly realm of redeemed man’s dominion without a man inviting Him to do so in prayer.

Christian men and women have a responsibility in this world that God will not assume – a dominion which He will not violate. He cannot and will not violate this principle of “delegated authority.”

“The Father has given the Son authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” (John 5:27).

Jesus Had To Die. The devil had to be confronted and defeated. His dominion was the “dominion of death.” Someone who was capable of dying had to come. This is the only way access could be gained into the realm of death.

By entering the realm of death, our Savior could gain the access needed to subdue that realm. Messiah could triumph over death and set those held captive free from death and Hell (Hebrews = Sheol Greek = hades).

Here are three translations of Hebrews 2:14 by different Greek scholars.

“…He became flesh and blood too by being born in human form; for only as a human being could he die and in dying break the dominion of the devil who had the power of death” (tlb).

“He also became a human being, so that by going through death as a man he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…” (pme).

“The children of a family share the same flesh and blood; and so he too shared ours, so that through death he might break the power of him who had death at his command, that is, the devil…” (neb).

Jesus died – and by dying gained access to the realm of death. He conquered death! He set the prisoners free. He led a multitude of the righteous dead out of Hades into Heaven.

“When he went up to the very heights he took many captives with him; he gave gifts to men. Now what does ‘he went up’ mean? It means that first he came down – that is, down to the lower depths of the earth” (Eph 4:8,9 tev).

The first part of the Bible study on walking in the freedom and victory that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. An introduction to what Jesus’ mission was and what Satan’ mission is now. Ooty, April 21, 2011

2. Man Lost Dominion To Satan

We know from Genesis 3 that Satan came into the Garden of Eden and, through deceiving Eve, gained access to Adam.

“..Adam was not deceived…” (1 Tim 2:14). Adam chose to eat of the forbidden fruit and “…by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men… death reigned [Greek= basileuo, to rule as king]…death ruled as king by one…” (Rom 5:12,14,17).

That one by whom death reigned was the devil. “…the devil… had the power of death” (Heb 2:14).

A careful study of the Greek text reveals this interesting insight to Hebrews 2:14. The verse could be praphrased as follows: “Jesus came to render useless and powerless the one through whom the dominion of death was channeled, the devil himself.”

When Adam and Eve surrendered (submitted) to Satan’s lie, they came under Satan’s dominion. “…to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are… whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Rom 6:16).

Thus Adam and Eve lost the right by rule – a right God had given. Satan took over that authority and power, and held it fast.

a. Satan Ruled Through Dominion Of Death. Adam had everlasting life as long as he obeyed God. That added further authority to his empirical rule, since it would go on forever. He ruled through the dominion of the power of an endless life.

In contrast, when Adam sinned and caused “…death to pass upon all men…” Satan ruled by becoming the channel for the “dominion of death.” The devil used this dominion to intimidate and dominate mankind – forcing compliance with his will.

Man by his sin gave up his head-ship. When man sinned, the image and likeness of God was ruined and his relationship with God was broken.

b. Tempting Jesus Proved Satan’s Dominion. The devil tempted Jesus by offering Him dominion to rule and reign over the earth without going to the cross.

“Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And said unto him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me” (Matt 4:8,9).

At this time, Satan had the earthly kingdoms and their glory to offer to Jesus. The devil promised them to Jesus on the condition that Jesus would bow down and worship him. The act of falling (bowing) down and worshipping the devil would be an acknowledgement of Satan’s right to rule (in effect, Satan would still be the final one in charge).

As an obedient Son of Man, Jesus had to totally rely upon the higher and greater authority of God’s Word and God’s Spirit to overcome the temptation. These are the same resources available to you and me. Jesus thereby overcame that temptation and became an example for us.

This study was previously uploaded in the following 5 parts.

1. Availability
2. Our work in the Kingdom of God, Gifts and Fruit
3. Where is my house?
4. Zion
5. The Assignment

I felt it important to give an option to watch this study as a whole.

For some years, I found it very difficult to understand why the Lord invited and commanded me to pray. Why did we have to pray? God is God, so why doesn’t He just do what He wants? Why are we even in the picture? why are the events on earth related to our prayers at all?

I knew that prayer worked because I saw the effects of my prayers in my everyday life. However, I didn’t know why God wanted to involve me in the process. What really was the purpose of prayer?

1. God Gave Man Dominion

John 5:26,27 is a key that unlocked the mystery and answered my perplexing questions about prayer. Jesus said, “The Father has given him [the Son] authority … because he is the Son of Man.

I thought it should have read, “because he is the Son of God. “But it doesn’t say that. It says, “The Father has given him [the Son] authority … because he is the Son of Man.”

Why was it necessary for Jesus to be the “Son of Man” in order to have authority on earth? The answer is found in Genesis 1:26. The Lord made man for a divine purpose: “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness. We will give him dominion [the right to rule]… over everything that moves upon the earth.”

The whole earth was given over to man’s rule or dominion. Man was made for that purpose. God made him the head or chief authority over the earth.

David confirms this in Psalms when he speaks of the special position that man has in God’s plan: “What is man, that you would even think of him?… You made man to have dominion over the works of your hand, and have put all things under his feet” (Ps 8:4-6).

Man was created to exercise dominion over all the works of God’s hand. He was to rule it all, govern it all, be head of it all. God made man with that intent and for that purpose.

In the New Testament, the idea is taken still further: “What is man that you should think of him… You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him to rule over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet. He left nothing that is not put under him…” (Heb 2:6-8).

There is a holy wonder to these words. They are almost beyond our understanding. Nothing has been left outside of the man’s dominion who walks in right fellowship and relationship with God.

a. God will Not Change His Mind.

The Bible says in Romans 11:29 that “…the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.” This means God will not change His mind about giving man the dominion.

The Greek word for repentance is “metanoia“. It means to have a change of mind.

The calling to exercise authority would not be taken from man – as long as man would maintain the image and likeness of his heavenly Father. God will not change His mind about His callings. They are without repentance! God will not reverse direction.

Moses said it in these words: “God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent [change His mind]..” (Num 23:19).

The point is clear: God made man and gave him authority and dominion over all the earth. It was a commitment that He was bound to honor for all time and eternity. He will not change His mind.

His purpose for man from the very beginning will forever stay the same. The man in God’s image and likeness has a divine and royal destiny to exercise dominion and authority in this world. He is to be the head of it all.

This talk is a continuation of “A Matter of Motives Part 2″

A healing move of the Holy Spirit lead us to study on how we need liberty from life’s bruises to have a heart to live with untainted motives.

The end of the Bible study on April 07, 2011 – Thursday, Ooty.

A look at our position in Christ, our mission here, and the benefits of being present in the throne room of God.