Newsletter #226 - August - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

As a Christian, you should know there is only One source of power. That power is shared equally with all believers that claim and exercise the power. This power is just the same as your gifts from God. If you don't exercise your gifts, they do you nor God any good. Let's begin our study with the teaching of Christ.

Luke 10:18 And He said unto them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

This is looking forward to the coming of spurious messiah de facto in the 6th trump. Should you be fearful of antichrist at that time and his evil spirits that exist today?

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Christ gives you power over serpents, or evil spirits, and the scorpions of Revelation Chapter 9. Check out the 2nd word "power"n this verse in your Strong's Concordance. It is different than the 1st "power" in this verse, in the manuscripts. You will find it is from the Greek word "dunamis" (doo-nam-is) and means miraculous power. Yes, Christ even gives you power over the supernatural power of antichrist. I hope you find this reassuring as I do. Take names, and kick dragon. Doing so in the name of Christ, of course.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

If your name i not written in heaven, you do not have the power to begin with. The only way to obtain the powr is to love and serve the Lord. Let's turn to Chapter 22. Even the 12 disciples had had difficulty dealing with power.

Luke 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

The subjects of the kings think the king is really something. After all, he is the "head duck". Listen to the wisdom of Christ.

Luke 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Those that serve God receive the greatest power of all. The Son of God spiritually feeds us with the Word.

Luke 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath appointed unto Me;

The Kingdom of God is promised to those who serve the Father. You see, the power we have been talking about is to be used against the enemy, not each other. We are all servants.

Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Fantastic! Spiritually, God's table is huge. There is a seat at that table for each of His children that deserves one. Even the disciples had to be careful not to let their egos get carried away with the power. You also need to be on guard. Satan's favorite trick is to utilize your ego against you. Use the power humbly and wisely. Always remember, it really isn't your power at all. Some try to misuse the power. Let's look at an example.

Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."

Comparing any man to God is dangerous. This man was not Simon Peter. He would compare to those who work magic from the pulpits today. You can also compare him to the drug pushers that control their victim's lives.

Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The people heard the real power of God, and Simon lost his crowd.

Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon decided to follow the crowd. He wanted to know how Philip performed the miracles and signs. Simon didn't realize it wasn't Philip's power.

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:

They prayed that the Holy Spirit would give them the cloven tonguethat every ear could understand as they had received on Pentecost Day.

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Simon thought this would be a neat trick to his bag of tricks. He probably was alread thinking of buying a bigger tent.

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

You can not buy the power of God.

Acts 8:19 Saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

This Simon is the origin of the English word simony. Simony is the buying or selling of God's power. Don't do it! We are going to turn to Chapter 26, and picking it up with Paul defending himself before King Agrippa. He was explaining what happened on the road to Damacus.

Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.'

Saul, later named Paul, was persecuting Christ and Christians. Paul might as well have taken off his shoe and kicked a cactus.

Acts 26:15 And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Paul would go on to write a great deal of the New Testament.

Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.'

Do you mean Satan has power? You had better believe Satan has power. And, his power will "eat your lunch", if you don't have and use the power of God. Know your enemy. Know the weapons you have available at you disposal to fight your enemy. Order Satan and evil out of your life in the name and power of Jesus Christ. Let's turn to Colossians.

Colossians 1:9 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; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

To have knowledge of His will and be fruitful you must increase your knowledge of God's Word.

Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:

Spiritually, darkness prevents us from seeing or understanding. Removing the power of darkness gives us eyes to see and ears to understand. In conclusion, let's skip to Chapter 2. Pay close attention to these last few verses. You may be throwing away everything you have learned in this lesson, if you don't.

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Do you want to know the mystery of God? It's right here friends.

Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Don't allow any man to deceive you. Focus on God's Word. His Word will never lead you astray.

Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Walk through this life as He showed the way. Don't get sidetracked. You can forget about having access to His power, if you don't do things His way. I am talking about blessing removed and a lot of darkness ahead.

Colossians 2:7 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.

This Scripture reminds me of the recent fuss made over the red heifer. The red heifer has absolutely nothing to do with prophecy concerning the end times. In fact, it would be an insult to Christ for you to even have such a thought. Christ and the Word are all the signs we need. Wake up! We are nearing the battle.

Colossians 2:9 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:

God is all powerful. When you love and serve Him, you have access to that power. Satan will have a feast on you, your family and everything important in your life, if you don't use the power of God.

In His service,
Arnold Murray