Tag Archives: jesus

The Name of Jesus

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          Like most Christians, we use the name of our Savior very loosely. We tack “Jesus” on the end of our prayer or request so it’s official and somehow makes what we just prayed justified. Yet, if we truly understood our actions, we would be filled with awe and wonder. Jesus means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ and Christ means ‘anointed one’. These are not titles but functions! Even at the time of Jesus birth, God determined his name “He shall be called Jesus” or his function, anointed.  He also took on the name of His father Jehovah is salvation.

This name or function carries with it the ability to steward grace and eternity. 

          Let’s look at a word definition in John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God .

Name means = the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds,, etc.

The Bible enjoins us to pray “in the name of Jesus.” The invoking of Jesus’ name is not a magical incantation; its significance lies deeper. In the culture in which the Bible was written, a person’s name indicated the sum total of his attributes and character. To ask for something in Jesus’ name is not to tag on a phrase at the end of a prayer. Rather, it means that we believe that our request is what Jesus himself would ask for. We are showing that we are so closely aligned with the mind of Christ that we can make our request in his stead.

          Looking at John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son . If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it .  We see this is a legal birthright of sons and daughters. This is asking without restrictions. But the one thing I want to point out is the name of Jesus is always associated with the Glory of God. WOW!

          When we speak the name or accept the name, we are accepting not just a savior but we are identifying with the creator of the entire cosmos. It means we accept our own existence as a son or daughter of that name and we make a demand based on relationship with the creator of everything. The early church recognized the power of the name. They believed that when it was spoken it put into motion a power that would release something created based on what was spoken prior to the name. In other words, the name was not the conclusion of the matter prayed but the beginning or starting point of the answer.  It was the extension of God now brought to bear into the earth. This would mean an answer was surely coming. God’s Glory was going to be revealed. A shifting was about to occur.

          The name of Jesus was recognized by others. They knew an authority had to perform the miracles and that a name always carried association to a higher power.  Acts 4:7-10

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this ? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel , 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole ; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole . 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner . 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved .

Peter declares the authority the name holds and we see the glory of God revealed because of it. The leaders then determined an amazing thing. They were told in Acts 4:18-20 not to speak or teach in this name. The unbelievers realized the power of the name and what would be released if spoken or taught. When they told them not to speak, the word ‘speak’ is defined more as the sound wave that is carried than the content spoken. In other words, they were commanded not to release the power and Spirit behind the name that would cause a vibration in the hearts of men to be set off.

          Then the apostles prayed this prayer: Acts 4:29-30  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word , By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus . They actually asked for more of an increase of the creative ability of the name! The outcome is God infuses the vibration of his Spirit into their midst and the place is shaken. This was an impartation of the Spirit associated with the name. (Remember the word “speak” means the sound wave over content)The prayer was a simple one but because the name is the beginning and not the end, a new chapter is about to open – Ananias and Sapphira. The church now moves to unified Acts 5:12, Magnified Acts 5:13, to multiplied  Acts 5:14. And the apostles are jailed again, only to be released the same night because they are given orders Acts 5:20 to go speak the words of this life. The name of Jesus also holds life!

          The apostles are beaten and told not to speak in the name again and they rejoice that they were counted worthy. You see the problem today is we use the name so loosely almost as a guarantee of our request. The early church used the name to touch lives not to get things. To bring the kingdom to bear into the earth. I will not go intothe other areas of the name such as Paul was called to bear or carry the name. How we take on the name as Christians, etc. But I want us to see why the harvest is not coming into the church yet.

          The great commission has mandates we are to fulfill as The Church. A mandate is non-negotiable. It is something we do not have to pray about. Mark 16:17-18  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues ; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover .

THE NAME IS PART OF THE GREAT COMMISSION! Without us understanding the release and creativity of the name, we will never fulfill the great commission. Why was the early church so fearless, so radical? They understood that they represented the name and if they got into a tight spot, the name also had the ability to create whatever was needed for the moment! If we look at Acts and see everything they did, we see it was all listed in the great commission. Casting out demons, drinking poison, etc. and it was all associated with the name. You see everything was not based on faith, or education but an understanding of the power behind the name.

Now let’s look at one more point in conclusion. Today much emphasis is placed upon the prayer movement, harp and bowl (crown is missing) and 24/7 Davidic worship, etc. An answer of why we are not seeing breakthrough results is seen in scripture.

Acts 15:14-17  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name . 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written , 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up : 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things .

We as God’s people have to first associate with His name, the name of Jesus, not a denomination or organization. Remember the name is associated and brings Gods glory. Much of what we are seeing is not based on the name of Jesus but based on the name of an organization. Then Verse 16 says “after this” after what? When a people exist for his name, then God, not men, will reestablish a place of dwelling. Then the residue of all men will run into it to call upon his name. Here is the final thing. The tabernacle of David so many are trying to build is not about our worship or our prayers but is supposed to be about His name! It is not to bring The Church into intimacy or get them excited but it is to be the greatest evangelism tool the world will ever see.  It is a place were the Glory of God dwells because the name is being continually released creating and touching the needs of all men! When this occurs the name of Jesus will not be a conclusion but a release of creative power bringing the beginning of the future!

Fullness of Christ

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I’m wanting to take a moment and write on the theme from our last conference “Pursuing the Fullness”. I never really taught, due to the flow of the conference, so I decided to briefly touch on some things from my notes I had prepared. I want to start with some background of the book of Colossians. Paul writes to the church because the environment they are in is full of Gnostics. They believed in different lengths of time called eons and divided power into these time segments. They were saying Christ had his time of power and that power no longer existed as he has passed. They were trying to lessen his spiritual position making him equal to deities they worshiped in times past. As Gnostics they worship a huge number of deities. It was a type of demonic worship of Christ. Paul opens the book talking about the supremacy of Christ and how he is above all principalities and powers and is the supreme creator whose power and fullness has always been. He was separating hm away form Gnostic theology.  Paul states in Colossians 1:16 -17

  1. By him all things were created
  2. All things are created for him.
  3. He was before all things.
  4. By Him they consist or are held together
  5. V.18 he has preeminence — or holds first place amongst all suprem or the supreme being.

Paul states that Christ power from the Godhead is the total of all lengths of time. Fullness is directly connected to eternity which has no time as we know it. He brings the point out that fullness of Christ is not dependent upon time but upon decisions. It is all available in fullness at any moment.

Fullness has a focus of eternity, and all eternity holds. Eternity is impacting all things because all things are held by and are part of eternity. Within eternity is fullness or completeness. God sent His Son so that we could partake of heaven’s fullness and all that it offers. When we step into eternal things, we are stepping into a grand fullness of God. All that He has and things we don’t even know exist, are now available. The impossible becomes normal and what we need is already done and finished. We are finding an ancient path that many others have found. That path is that when we step into fullness in Christ we hit overflow of heaven or eternity upon the earth.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Paul uses the word “Filled” for how he is praying for them. Filled here is the Greek word pleroo which is a verb means to cause something to be filled. His desire is for them to be filled with knowledge of His will concerning the sovereignty and power of Christ.

Colossians 1:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Then in Verse 19 he uses a different word coming from filled, fullness. Fullness is slightly different in the Greek – pleroa which is a noun meaning to fill up completely. He said this completeness is dwelling or established and settled in Christ. This word is the end result of pleroo or the action of filling. In other words, Christ has attained this fullness already.

Paul states: He was Head of all principality and power in the sense that He was the Son of God’s love, and that He was one eternally with God in the Godhead. The fullness of the Godhead was in Him in bodily form. This means not only is Christ present in us but also the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Colossians 2:6–10 (KJV 1900) — 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Paul then uses both words for fullness again. Pleroma of the Godhead. Meaning complete fullness. It means that there is no longer a need for filling because it has reached full capacity, so the action is no longer needed. Then he says we are complete in him. Complete is pleroo is a verb meaning an action is happening. It means accomplishment, bring to realization, to perform, to render perfect. We are lacking nothing because of this fullness is in us. If Christ is in us then the fullness he is, is also within us. If Christ is in us the deity of God is living in us!

Paul talks of the fullness as he talks of the Godhead in Colossians as he explains the sovereignty and fullness of Christ.

Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Godhead in these verses is the word Theotes denoting the deity of Christ. It describes the sum total of deity and the fullness that is no longer needing added to but already has attained. It describes to the highest degree of what is available as we see Paul writing about Jesus being above all things. It really is a state of being. So as the Godhead was resident in Christ so was the state of being of the deity. Then as Christ is in us the power to sustain the state of being is also present. 

The Greek word for Godhead is theotes, which is very similar to the Greek word theiotes used in Romans 1:20 for divine characteristics with only a one-letter difference. Now this becomes important as we read the following verse.

Romans 1:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Here the word Godhead is Theiotes which denotes the divine characteristics manifested through the created things. His divine character, not His deity, created all things. That same creative nature is resident within us, the nature of Christ. This aspect of divine nature is the activity of fullness or the act of measure upon measure happening until fullness is attained. We see this in creation and is ongoing today. Some aspects of creation have reached fullness and others are still moving towards it. This is the power of then nature or Dunamis, Paul talks of working in us.

But also in Christ is the deity of God, the fullness and completeness of a finished work. As Christ was upon the earth the finished work of God or fullness of the deity had come to the earth. That portion is also within us. When we received Christ, we received his fullness. As we live our life in Him, we are unlocking measures leading us to fullness. This is indeed the greatest mystery we have that is unfolding in our lives.

Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The role of five-fold graces is to bring the body of Christ to fullness. But fullness comes in measures. But many never reach this fullness because they have settled for measure. When wereceived or accepted Christ, we didn’t just accept provision for sin. Nor did we accept an eternal destination, or even sonship, inheritance, or holy spirit activity. Though these things are true there is still more. We accepted HIS FULLNESS!

Fullness is Gods ending concerning anything! But we seldom pursue the ending, we settled for the relief. We can stop at false finish lines or false fullness. It’s really stopping at a measure and not fullness.

  • Many stop at conversion.
  • Some stop at knowledge.
  • Some become content with how their life has changed.
  • Many stop at traditions.
  • Many stop at truth or portions of truth.
  • Many stop at an experience in God.

Many of these stopping points are moments or moves in God and become a false finish line that is constantly being resurrected. The fullness of God is a result of discipleship by God’s Holy Spirit that produces a transformational anointing. That transformation is taking a measure (metron=limited portion of Christ’s nature) into the fullness (pleroma=the totality of divine powers at work in the transformation of a believer). We are progressively trained, equipped, and maturing in the nature and character of Christ while on this earth through discipleship and impartation of grace coming from the 5 gifts of Ephesians 4. Paul alludes to this operation at the end of Ephesians 1.

Fullness is not our future, but it shapes our future. The outworking of the degree of our fullness is the fruitfulness of ministry we will accomplish. Fullness can be described as our present level of living in the presence of the Lord, as we live in obedience to His voice and his written word. We need to allow the function of the five-fold graces to operate under a different paradigm that we currently have. This is a current weakness in the Apostolic and Prophetic graces. We still have dysfunction of operations because we are trying to fit apostles and prophets into current ecclesiastical structures. Still building in traditional approaches and not through true apostolic and fathering grace. Apostolic is the release of the creative forces of the fullness to make the shifts required in culture. Our current context and focuses upon apostolic structures does not bring or mature the body into the fullness we need.

But God manifest when we decide to pursue the next measure of fullness he wants to bring. We keep in motion from measure to fullness and from glory to glory. So, the key to living in fullness is to never settle for the current measure or level of fullness that we are experiencing, but we must move with God each time he moves in our lives. We need to contend for the fullness that rest in Christ.  

John 1:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

The Burden of the Lord

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This blog could be the most important blog I have ever written. I am always looking for keys and challenges to present before the body of Christ. Many want the dynamics of the church in Acts but don’t know the mindsets they had, nor the seriousness of purpose. They did not live compartmentalized lives but lived their faith and then inserted life into it.

What I see is today’s body is so fixated on themselves and their needs getting fulfilled week after week in meetings. We have made a self-perpetuating focus on ourselves with not much focus on the kingdom work at hand of creating image barriers. We have causes and programs associated with them. We pray and maybe even act upon so many moral and social convictions and yet seem to see such hard-faced battles with some results and maybe low to no results. What is missing? The answer is a God-sent burden.

The early church had a very intense burden they carried for the work of God to advance. They had a burden for souls. This burden was so much part of their faith walk, that they only acted upon what they were burdened for. Today’s church has causes without burden, prayer with no burden, and programs with no burden. In all honesty, I see we don’t have much of a burden for anything. If we did much of what we do would have a huge impact.

What you’re burdened with is what you will invest yourself into. It is what you will give time, resources, and even your heart. Without this burden, we are not aware of the spiritual climates and conditions around us. We also miss opportunities each day because we are not tuned in to the spirit realm, which is another thing a true burden from God will do, get us focused.

I’m not talking about your pet projects or your passions. I’m talking about an apostolic burden, or a burden sent by God to send you out from it. I’m talking about something that you cannot accomplish unless there is a dependency upon God. A true burden will be an activator of true faith. It will reveal God’s righteousness and create His justice.

Paul was burdened for the church:

2 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

The word “comes upon” means something clearly identified, anxiety, pressure and concern, responsibility, oversight. He was not pushing off the burden God had assigned him.

Paul was burdened for his kinsmen:

Romans 9:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Paul was a Roman and wished other Romans would come to salvation.

Paul was burdened for Israel:”

Romans 10:1–4 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Paul was burdened for fullness to come:

Colossians 4:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

A burden will take you from secondhand knowledge to firsthand experience. A vision that has no burden attached is a religious structure. Just like a call with no burden has no destination. When you answer the call, you are accepting and answering the burden of God. But when burden is acted on it will also release Grace … the ability of God to create change. Many times, a burdened prayer will receive a quick result. It is because the burden activates grace for change.

Galatians 6:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

These verses seem to be double-minded. But if we look at the word meanings we see a different thought is being given. Bearing each other’s burdens is to help carry the load a person is under. The definition of burden in verse 2 means there is too heavy, crushing, loads (barē)—more than a man could carry without help.

But Paul then says something in verse 5 that seems contradictory. We are to bear our own burdens. This second burden is “phortion”: It is used to designate the pack usually carried by a marching soldier. It is the “burden” Jesus assigns to His followers (Matt. 11:30). It comes from the word meaning of carrying the ship’s cargo, which is tied to an apostolic work. (An apostle was also the commander of a fleet of ships.) A further definition likens it to a soldier carrying what the commander or apostle saw as necessary or valuable for the mission. When we help each other carry the first burden it enables each person to carry the second burden. It is not taking care of the first for our relief. It is helping with the first so we can be effective in service with the second burden.

The burden will release God’s glory as well. As we look back on every great outpouring it was started by prayer. But it wasn’t just prayer it was burdened prayer. There is something about giving ourselves to the burden that releases the Glory of God connected to it. The greater the burden the greater the glory. Deep travail is the revealing of someone beginning to be caught in the burden.

Burdens are not man-made nor even man inspired but are given by God to bring glory to His name. They are heaven-sent and are part of a corporate plan for the Body of Christ. In this hour God is looking to and foe to see who will carry His burden that will release grace, create change, remove injustice, and let His name be glorified.

Ways of God

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This is an excerpt from my book “Return to Eden”

Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

This has two things to pull out that helps to unfold the understanding of the mind of Christ. The two words are thoughts and ways. The word ‘thoughts’ is defined as a device or plan that is being calculated and it is intentional and inventive. It comes from a root word which means to esteem value and to imagine. It actually holds three meanings. The first is a general thought such as most of us understand the Word of God. It is deductive reasoning and understanding the words that we are reading. The second meaning is how we process and come to conclusion of what a person’s heart is. It is focused upon the heart of God towards us. The third meaning is the ability to be a skilled craftsman that is seeking a result. It is the overall understanding of the intention of God concerning what we are focused upon in front of us.

The word ‘ways’ means a road, journey, correction, and a manner of life. The root word which means to lead or guide, to tread upon, to tread down or to march forward. It is focused upon a meaning to set foot on territories and regions and the journey, as if you are on a main highway that is taking you to a destination. It means the actions of men whether they are righteous or unrighteous.

To know God’s thoughts, we must be able to hear His voice transferring His intentions. To know His ways, we must know the beginning, middle and end of a thing. Words we are hearing should complete a picture and not be an extension of our personal preferences or lack of understanding. We are clearly hearing and clearly seeing the hand of God at work even though it may not appear the way we want it to appear. There is a destination, but the journey may not be the way we wanted it to be. But God’s thoughts and ways always complete cycles of life. Because God thinks in circular, there is always a finish line and a bringing of something to completeness. The highway we are on always brings us to the beginning point or the origins that God has for us. God thinks multidimensional. Look at it like this, that God’s Word is His thoughts but sending forth His Word to accomplish, are His ways.

Psalm 23:3-43 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The circular motion of how God does things is found throughout the Bible. In this verse, that we have quoted many times, the word ‘paths’ means a track or course a circle or something that is round. The circle or the course of righteousness is always connecting to itself. We see Moses returning to Egypt to return to the Promised Land, a circular motion. We see Israel wandering around in circles for years before entering the Promised Land. When they entered the Promised Land, they went in circles around Jericho. Everything that God does is a circular motion. And He is more concerned about us completing the journey, than the hardships we might have along the way. This is the mind of God.

We can see this pattern very clearly as we look at the Old Testament holistically and the New Testament holistically. In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of life. And man has been given a position of authority over the earth and all creation. At the end of the Book of Revelation, it speaks of the tree of life once again and man having that position restored. We are actually beginning to run the Old Testament in a backward sense or circular sense back to the beginning of the original intention in the Garden of Eden. We also see this in the New Testament in the Book of Acts. The Early Church experienced an outpouring and then the apostles came into the scene to manage the outpouring and the Church was birthed into the earth. Today the Church that is born into the earth, is coming more into an apostolic governing of the Kingdom so we can have one final large outpouring upon the face of the earth. These circular patterns are seen throughout the scriptures and throughout people’s lives. These are the ways and thoughts of God.

We get caught up looking at the valley, or low points in our life, and not the circle that God is doing in our life. We walk the linear path and try to interpret in a single dimension. We believe the valley could possibly be part of our destination when in reality, it is something we are going through that takes us to the destination. The cycle of God’s paths is actually a cycle of seasons in our life. God is thinking in times and seasons and not events. Each season has thoughts of God that we need to find and embrace for the next season that is coming upon us. Most of the time we think in the present, while God is thinking in the future. We think revival, He thinks harvest. We think Upper Room outpouring, He thinks marketplace ministry. We think reformation, He thinks awakening. God’s thoughts are not so much on right now but on the next step!


Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD . 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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God says His thoughts are higher. The word ‘higher’ means to be high and exalted, to be made higher, dignity, majesty, an elevated position. It is that is beyond general thinking. In order for us to engage into this, we must be in the spirit and have a revelation from the Holy Spirit of how God is thinking concerning a matter. There are many questions that we have like why was that person’s life taken at a young age? Or why was that person going through all that suffering? We try to explain it away based on promises because we don’t understand the ways and thoughts of God are higher than our ways and thoughts. Perhaps the person that dies a premature death is the closest they will ever be to God, and God knows that because He has foreknowledge. Perhaps in their death, they will reach more people than how they would have lived their whole life. Perhaps the person with sickness or suffering that seems to be upon their life has created opportunities for them to minister the love of God or even the hope of God to others in the same predicament. We must be looking beyond what we see to understand the mind of God concerning the matters at hand. What is He creating that I cannot see? How is He dealing in a person’s heart that is creating the nature of Christ within him?


Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Looking at this verse that is at the beginning of Isaiah, we see that it is God’s desire to teach us His ways and also to walk in His paths. The word ‘walk’ means to proceed, to live and die, to lead and carry, and cause to walk in the manner of life. God always starts in our life with His intentions and ends with His intentions as well. It is simply a decision on our part if we will go up to the mountain and be taught His ways and walk in His paths. As we do, we end up having the mind of God or the mind of Christ concerning life. To know the mind of God requires intimacy with God.

Authority

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This is an excerpt from my new book coming out “Return to Eden”. I felt it could help some people understand spiritual authority and to recognize it when they need to move in it. There are 3 levels of authority that we move in. I’ll briefly cover these in this writing.

Delegated Authority –Exousia

The first level of authority is delegated authority. It is the legal right or power behind the legal right to exercise authority. It is the word exousia which is one of the definitions of the word ‘power’. It means the power of authority or influence. The right given to exercise authority. Delegated authority comes from being responsible, committed and submitted. It comes with accountability and responsibility. In the New Testament, we see this statement in Hebrews 13.17 talking of those who have rule (authority) over you.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Delegated authority is over structures that have been formed to govern. It means you have been given the necessary authority to accomplish the task of your assignment. It has been transferred to you. We see in the New Testament that the Early Church operated in delegated authority. Jesus passed authority to the early apostles, and they passed the authority to the elders. But we also see this in the position of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He was given delegated authority to oversee the structure of Earth and creation. He had been given that because he was committed and submitted to El or God. He had the legal right or delegated authority given by God to subdue the earth and bring it into dominion. He was God’s appointed authority for the earth and creation. When Jesus came, he restored this delegated authority back to us to the same degree that Adam had before he fell away.

Spiritual Authority – Dunamis

The second authority that we all carry is spiritual authority. Spiritual authority is the nature of God residing within us. It is the dunamis power we talk about in the New Testament. It is authority residing within us because the creative abilities and empowerments of God are greater than any other created being or resistance. It is spiritual authority over demonic forces, over sickness and disease. It is an authority based on truth and the understanding of the highest spiritual dimensions are the ruling dimensions from God. That they rule over all created things. It is ruling from the spirit realm and the spirit man together. It is the spiritual life force. Probably of all the authorities that we talk about, we talk about spiritual authority the most. This is where giftings and spiritual life comes from. It is the expression of our faith and what we believe. It is how our actions are determined and how we sustain daily life.

Again, this same spiritual authority was sitting inside of Adam. He had the very nature of God and the creative authority of God residing within him. He had the ability to exercise authority and even create what was needed for that authority to be fulfilled. He was actually living in that authority as his body was not aging nor was there any sickness or disease in his life before the fall. Jesus restored this same spiritual authority back to us, but we do not connect it back to the origins of the Garden of Eden.

 Positional Authority –Kratos

The third level of authority is positional authority. This is authority that is being given because of the position you have attained in God and in His government. It is from the word kratos, which is a word we seldom see in the New Testament, yet it is there. We do not define the word ‘power’ and we missed that there is a power that is for dominion rule. The word kratos means the governmental rule, the supreme power, perfect strength, final authority, power to overcome all resistance. This is a governing authority that is connected to the establishment of God’s rule and reign over all things. It is an authority that positions us in our assignment and in our mission. It is an authority that can displace principalities and powers over regions. Since it is governmental, it encompasses the other two levels of authority. It is the final say in spiritual matters and creative order.

Matthew 16:19 What you bind on Earth, is bound in Heaven. What you loose on Earth, is loosed in Heaven. 

The actual Greek translation says, “What you bind on earth, is what is already bound in Heaven. What you loose on earth, is what is already loosed in Heaven.” This greatly changes the order of things. It is not that you bind something demonic here on Earth and then it becomes bound in Heaven. No, you are acting as a divine administrator binding on Earth what has already been bound in Heaven.

Acts 19: Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The greatest place to see the power of kratos and governing authority is found in the above scripture. At first, as we read it, we believe the Word of God prevailed because it grew in the hearts of people and understanding. But when we begin to look at the word structure, we see a different meaning begin to unfold. A meaning that is very key.

The words ‘curious arts’ refer to being under a spell by enchantments. It was a way in that day, to get information from people to use against them. It was a very demonic way of control. The word of God grew and prevailed. The word grew’ means to increase in the extent of or in the instances of an activity or state— ‘to increase, to grow, to spread, to extend. It is associated with a process that once started keeps growing on its own. And it also prevailed. Prevail means to wield power, to show power by deeds, strength to overcome, strong in body and mind, the ability to have force. These are both extreme outcomes. But do we see these same outcomes today when we preach and teach the Word of God. We may see some results because it is the Word. But it appears from this text that something extreme happened when they burned witchcraft paraphernalia that was of great, value. The spiritual realms had been confronted.

I did this in the early stage of the ministry, when about sixty people got saved one summer that were all practicing occultisms. They were not just playing around but had real results and experiences. They were yogis, holy men, teachers of occultism, practicing witches and all kinds of things at very high levels. One woman had studied under one the world’s leading warlocks in England and had ancient magic books of spells. As we burned these things in a fire, demonic faces came forth out of the fire and we captured them on film. The book of spells would not burn as it was covered with human skin. I had to turn it page by page to burn it. I have experienced this very verse in Acts 20 firsthand.

But what causes these kinds of shifts? Let us look at one more word in this verse, the word ‘mighty’. Might is actually the word kratos! Kratos authority or sovereign authority. A power to overcome resistance. What grew the word and caused it to prevail? Kratos! When this authority is released, then nothing can resist it. It causes the Word to prevail and multiply.

Adam had this authority as he was God’s representative or “ambassador” upon the earth. He had sovereign authority and divine rule. He had been given the position to have the final say. He named the animals and God gave him this privilege because of his position. After all, he would govern all things upon the earth. Jesus also carried this same sovereign rule, defeating sickness, disease, religious structure, and even death. Now we have this restored to us like Adam had in the Garden.

The degree of your authority is based on your Lordship, assignments, and mission you are on. The one who occupies a higher spiritual rank will command a greater degree of authority. As we are called into not just redemption of humanity, but also creation, we are called to a higher dimension. This will require deepening commitments and also understanding of spiritual principles.

So how you begin to move in authority is simply begin. You already are probably moving in delegated authority begin a son or daughter of God and spiritual authority because the greater one is inside of you. Authority is knowing promises and principles and then using faith to decree and speak to them into existence in your life. Start by finding promises and scripture that are answers to situations in your life that are contrary to your well-being. Speak to those things by the promise with the knowing you have been given authority to shift whatever it is. You will be surprised how far you can go in influencing things around you because you know whose you are and the authority, He has given to you.

Books of Heaven

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Today I want to speak briefly to a little known and even less talked about subject. That is the books of heaven. Yes, I did say books plural. As far as I have studied it out there are actually 10 different types of books being penned concerning our lives. When I first got saved, I was only told of 2 of these, the bible of course and the Lambs book of Life. But as I started looking into how heaven operates and what is really going on I found it fascinating that God is so fascinated about us He has angels constantly scribing about our lives, the history we are making, and the unfolding of creation. I want to briefly touch each of these to perk your interest.

We begin by knowing the entire bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through men who were moved by the Spirit. The end of the gospel of John says: John 21:25 (KJV 1900) — 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Book of tears

Psalm 56:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?

Beginning here with the book of tears we experience all kinds of things in life. Sorrow, pain, suffering, burdens, headaches and even tears of joy and excitement. We have tears in prayer and intercession and tears of concern. These tears are collected by angel and placed in a bottle, which is a wineskin, a new wineskin to be exact. Then these are put into a book. I believe that book is read at a future moment and the words of it put into motion.

Psalm 126:5 (KJV 1900) — 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

The reaping of Joy is directly connected to tears. There is a transformation in heavenly realms not just reading the sorrow or sufferings but reading the answers and outcomes the tears will produce. No tear is lost or without meaning and impact.

Book of the living

Psalm 69:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.

The word living means to have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health. David writes this in the midst of a prayer of imprecation against his enemies. He knows there is a book that lists those who lived. It has the names of every person ever created. Every baby aborted. It says that this list has within it those who are looked as righteous. They are mingled in the list. As it is an all-inclusive list. His prayer is not as if they never existed — being blotted out — but would show denial of existence. This is strong language. But what’s important is there is a book of those alive and that have lived.

Book of remembrance

 Malachi 3:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

This book is a book remembering all we have said about the Lord and spoken concerning him. Notice it says those who feared and spoke to each other or the conversations we had. It is a book of the words of believers. The word book here means written order, commission, a legal document that has been penned. The word remembrance means memorial record or mention.

This is a legal document that was written before the Lord or in His presence. Angles are scribing our words and even our actions being produced. It will be read later at judgement concerning our words. It also is read by the Holy spirit as He brings all things back into remembrance in the selfsame hour, we need them.

Book of days or Destiny

Psalm 139:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The word Substance means embryo which is our origin in God upon the earth. This is a book about our physical makeup and the destiny of our life. It holds how God has fashioned us, sees us and the processes we are in. it also has the plan of God for us and destiny we are to become. This also has your giftings and desires come from, they were first in This book. Every aspect of us God has recorded! Each day upon the earth is a day of destiny!

Book of House of Israel

Ezekiel 13:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

This is a book about citizenship. It is about those who are spiritual Israel and Old Testament Israel. Philippians 3:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

The word conversation means the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered. The commonwealth of citizens.

Ephesians 2:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

This book is about how we conduct our kingdom citizenship and governor upon the earth. It probably has listed all the rights and privileges we have and the authority that has been given to governor.

Books in the Court for Judgements 

Daniel 7:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Daniel saw these books. Here multiple books are used here. Probably made up of the ones we are talking about. These books are associated with the judgement since it was set then the books opened. So, these would be books of accusations against us but not in the typical sense. But in showing the potential of what was intended and how far we missed opportunities.

Book of General Assembly (Ecclesia) and first born

Hebrews 12:23 (KJV 1900) — 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

This is a book about 2 groups of people. First the General assembly, which is a public festival of all created beings. Second the Church or Ecclesia    of the first born, which means the first in place or time, to bring forth a son, new order. It is about the collective body. This book again is being written in heaven. It contains the names of those qualified. Notice it even states the qualifier, just men who have reached perfection.

Book of life of the Lamb

Revelation 13:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 21:27 (KJV 1900) — 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The book is about the lamb’s life and the activity of His life through ours. This is not the book of life but the lamb’s book of life. It holds all the attributes of Jesus and how he conducted his life. This book is a standard by which all other things will be measured, so it has been written down so there is no dispute.

Book of Life

Philippians 4:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

This book is for the elect of God to be written in, those who labored in the gospel. This is a book about separation. Wheat from chaff. Those who know God and those who did not. Those who deserve access and those who don’t.

Revelation 17:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:11 (KJV 1900) 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 (KJV 1900) — 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Little Book

Revelation 10:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Revelation 10:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

The final book I want to speak about is called the little book. It is not little in value or importance but little in size compared to all the other books. This little book the Lord revealed to me is the Bible. It is a condensed version we read connected to the vast thought behind every word. The Lord told me there is a book written about every verse. In our eyes is a large book, but in Gods eyes it is little. If you think of all these books being written about us a vast library that is incomprehensible has been written and continues to be written. I believe we will read the stories of each other for all eternity.

This study I did on the books here is short. I have written much more on it and taught on it as well. But what this study did challenged me to live my life differently knowing it was being recorded. It also made me see how much God is involved in our lives that he would have our lives scribed from so many different angles. Blessings.

This book has an entire chapter to this subject….

Pioneers of the Realms Prophesy

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Word — Pioneers of the Realms through Apostle Greg Crawford

12/9/2023

Today’s blog is a word that the Lord released through me. We had been in a strong prophetic singing around the themes of “Heaven is coming” and we “won’t stop believing”. Then we moved into a spontaneous singing around this. In that setting is when this word came.

I hear the Spirit of the Lord say in this hour,

“There is a rising up of a new pioneering prophet in the land and new pioneering spirit is ones that have a hunger to know the mysteries that are hidden. The ones that Enoch stepped in and saw and experienced. They are the ones that enter into realms and begin to understand how the spiritual dimensions work and how they’re interconnected into the earth. They are beginning to find themselves, like the latter rain prophets of old, they know each other after the same spirit and the same understanding. They’re able to know and hear the same things in the Spirit, and I’m beginning to bring them into a new dimension of the spirit, a new reality of what I want to do in the earth. A greater dimension of knowing who I am and what is in my heart. For while the majority search out what is sitting inside of my heart and the hidden thing.

They longed to look into the mysteries that I’ve hit for the end of the age, and they are now beginning to tap into the areas that I’ve reserved for this hour and reserved for them. They shall be few in number, but they shall gather. Though they shall be few, and what seems to be what they carry, but they shall be much with what they know.

They shall be ones that will begin to shift the earth and begin to shift the atmospheres of the Earth into the atmospheres of heaven. They will understand how to begin to bring that which is upon the earth into alignment, in order with that which is in heaven. For they understand how the heavenly realm works, and they will bring that understanding into the earth. In this hour they are despised and rejected, they are somewhat pushed aside, but yet the truth remains within them. The desire to see my body become who I say it is, is setting deep inside of them. And they are pushing forward into the very depths of my heart to understand my ways and understand my paths.

They will bring these things into the earth, and you will see a generation that will rise after them that will complete the things that they have started. It is a foundation for the restoration of the earth. You will see a generation rise that will have deeper and richer understanding in the embrace of what I have put inside of their hearts. And you will know that I was working all along to bring a conclusion into the earth to bring a finality to the things that you now know. To create something that you did not even understand could be. I say it is a new season and these are coming forth into the earth.

Their voices will become stronger in the days ahead. Their reach will begin to go into nations, they will begin to impact in hidden places and hidden places of men’s hearts. They will confront leaders with the things that they have opposed themselves against. They will begin to set the order and the alignment back, of what is upon the earth. Back into the alignment in order of what is in heaven.

They will see the kingdom come but they will not see it in the fullness with their eyes, but they will see it in the spirit of what they’ve endeavored to place upon the earth. They will see much of what will be, not seeing with their physical eyes. For a generation must emerge that will lay all aside and lay aside that which they’ve received in their eyes, out their heart of the ideas of what they think it must be.

I say a generation is rising even in young ones in this hour that are untainted by religion and untainted by the culture of the world. They are few but they will number greatly when it is finished. For I am doing complete work and a finishing work in the earth. The things that I put my hand to do in this hour through the lives and hearts of many of these pioneering ones that enter into these realms, will be things that you will talk about in the future. They will be things that will set the course for the finality of all things.

I am doing something in this hour, do not despise it. Do not reject it. Do not cast it aside, but say hey God, how can I embrace. Hey God, what must I do? Hey God, what are you doing in the meeting? Ask me the questions and I will give you the answers. I will show you how to be positioned where you need to be. I will show you what you must put your hand to do. I will show you what must occur in your life. I will show you the pathway you must go. You will know that you are working with me and partnering with me.

I say do not worry that you do not understand but worry that your moving in faith. Worry I am doing that which has been placed into my hand. Can you ask for more than what I can do with in this hour? I say there is nothing I cannot do through you and cannot use you for all kinds of things. But I say you must yield to me, and you must yield your mind and your understanding of me. For I will do things that will confound the wisdom that sits inside of you. I will do things that require you to move in greater faith. I will require things for you to step in and trust me in ways that you have not trusted me and I will move you into places where you must confront that which you have never confronted. You must confront the things that oppose you, even your own self that opposes you at times and seasons.

So, I say it is a new day where the realms begin to open in this hour. The things that I have reserved for this hour are beginning to drop into the heavens out of the heavens into the earth to begin to cover it. It will begin to water it back to the original way that I had intended things to be. It is a great time of setting things in order and setting things into alignment for it is my heart that is coming into the earth.

These are the ones that are seeking after that which creation holds to understand the mysteries of creation like my son Enoch, he understood these things. How I worked in spiritual protocol, and that is what I shall bring into the earth in the next season. Be ready and prepared. Be Watching and waiting, learning what I am doing and know the season and the time is setting upon you. And you shall not be disappointed, you shall not be dismayed, and you shall not be left out. You shall be in step in season, and you will be in the very Kairos of my moment because you have understood the Chronos that is setting around you.”

I trust this has been a blessing to you. If so feel free to share this with others. Also feel free to share the resources found at gregcrawford.org.