Destroying the Works of the Devil

The power of God, the Holy Ghost, is the Spirit of dominion. It makes one not subject to the forces of the world, or the flesh, or the devil. These are under the Christian’s feet. John said: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God…”{1 john 3:2}.

Beloved, God wants us to come, to stay, and to live in that abiding place which is the Christian’s estate. This is the heavenly place in Christ Jesus. This is the secret place of the most high.

The Word of God gives us this key. It says {of the believer} : “…that wicked one toucheth him not” {1 John 5:18}. When the Spirit of God radiated from the man Jesus, I wonder how close it was possible for the evil spirit to come to Him? Do you not see that the Spirit of God is as destructive of evil as it is creative of good? It was impossible for the evil one to come near Him, and I feel sure Satan talked to Jesus from a safe distance.

It is the same with the Christian. It is not only in his spirit that he needs to be rid of sin, nor in his soul he is to be pure. It is God in the body that the individual needs for a well body. It is just God that he needs.

The complaint of the devil {to God} concerning Job was: “Hast not thou made an hedge about Him…?” {Job 1:10}. He was not able to get to through that hedge to touch the man. Don’t you know that the radiation of the Spirit of God around the Lord Jesus was His safeguard? The artists paint a halo around the head of Jesus. They might just as well put it about His hands, feet, body, because the radiation of the Spirit of God is from all the being.

Now the Spirit of God radiates form the Christian’s person because of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and makes him impregnable to any touch or contact of evil forces. He is the subjective force Himself, the Spirit of God radiates from him as long as his faith in God is active. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that He might destroy the works of the devil” John 3:8.

The reason people become sick is the same reason they become sinful. There is no difference. The suggestion of oppression is presented and {the person} becoming frightened, the disease secures a foothold. “In my name shall they {the believers} cast out devils” {Mark 16:17}. The believer says: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I refuse to have this thing.”

So the prayer of the apostle comes to us with a fresh understanding: “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24.

-John G. Lake

I pray this article will be a blessing to all who read it consider it and then be filled with the Holy Ghost.

This just makes me shout victory at the devil. Jesus has triumphed over all the power of the enemy and he causes us to triumph if only we will put our faith in action according to His Word.

Blessings...from brother rbanks

Brethren this is such a powerful message I just had to bump it up again for others to be blessed.

Blessing...from brother rbanks

Brother I knew some wouldn't be able to get past that statement but I believe you are misunderstanding what he is actually saying.

But brother did the main message of the article bless you or are you not able to see the whole forest for the trees.

Blessings...from brother rbanks

God radiates from him as long as his faith in God is active"

as long as... This puts a controlling manipulation in the hands of a "believer", scripture says it takes faith to please God. God may or may not do a certain thing, irregardless of a believers faith, He will make that decision based on His will, not our faith. While it is true, without faith it most likely isn't gonna happen but not always, at least I wouldn't say always.

The reason people become sick is the same reason they become sinful. There is no difference. The suggestion of oppression is presented and {the person} becoming frightened, the disease secures a foothold. “In my name shall they {the believers} cast out devils” {Mark 16:17}.

Getting sick is something we endure because of sin. The earth is cursed because of sin. It awaits Jesus's return to redeem it and/or destroy, make new, etc. Then it goes on to identify sin and casting out demons as if that is the source which we know isn't true, we are wicked from the start so you can't "cast it out".

I really fear when I see this, TO ME, it sounds like Christian magic. Do this, have enough of this, and you get this. The Christian is in control of what God does, manipulating the powers that be etc.

Jesus told His disciples that as the Father has sent me even so send I you. He also said greater works than these shall ye do because I go to the Father.

I believe brother Lake was talking to spirit filled people not to unbelievers.

Brethren we need what the original apostles had in possession of Him who possessed them. I mean in that day their were people who saw Peter passing by and immediately went and got in his shadow and were healed. Paul sent handkerchiefs anointed form his body and people were healed.

John G. Lake was a vessel that God used to see thousands healed. I loved the main message because it spoke to me and I believe it can speak to others who have hears to hear.

And brethren this is just part of the message that he preached because if we regard iniguity in our heart the Lord will not hear us. We must have clean hands and a pure heart in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to get our prayers answered.

To him who can receive it let him receive it or otherwise remain as you are.

Blessings...from brother rbanks

Scripture I would like to ask you questions about.

Galatians 4:13-14
"but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.."

This is Paul, he is the man who raised someone from the dead! Now, he did not give us any kind of break down to why he was sick or that he lost faith etc. We get sick rbanks, not because we don't have enough faith. We only need faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain after all, not a wheel barrel.

2 Corinthians 12:7
"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself!"

Now this is something that we would consider, probably, worse than a sickness but still we see God uses it for His purposes! Some bibles say "thorn in the flesh". Either way, the Gospel isn't for our use, per say, but it is Good News! We are gonna get sick and we are gonna die, but we can be reconciled unto God through Christ Jesus!

edit: forgot the question lol
What was wrong with Paul's belief that he endured sickness and "a thorn in the flesh"?

What was wrong with Paul's belief that he endured sickness and "a thorn in the flesh"?
quote

Not one thing wrong with his enduring!

God bless you Lovefirst and believe me that I have no desire to disagree with you on anything in the Word of God to just be in disagreement.

First we need to realize that Paul let nothing stop him from acting in Faith in the Word. Although He suffered stoning, imprisonment, ship wreck, stripes 39 times, and much affliction He stayed full of the Holy Ghost and did more by the grace of God than all the Apostles. He had received so much revelation from the Lord even carried up into the 3rd heaven that God had to give him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.

The scriptures reveal to us that Paul sought the Lord three times because He knew the power of God and the Word of God and He wasn't going to let nothing stop him from the work God had for Him to do with mighty signs following his ministry. Notice Paul wouldn't give up until the Lord answered him with assurance that this thorn was necessary for him to stay humble so that he would be able to experience more power to accomplish all that God had called him to do. This was not something that kept Paul bed ridden nor was it something that kept Paul from having mighty signs and healing to continue in His ministry.

This example is not a good example for the average "do nothing" kind of christian and I'm not meaning to be offensive to you.

Blessings...from brother rbanks

This example is not a good example for the average "do nothing" kind of christian and I'm not meaning to be offensive to you.

No offense taken friend. I enjoyed our discourse. The understanding I am getting from your last post makes a lot more sense to me then what you originally posted. Paul had a walk with God that was very close and in asking he was sure to get answered. Either yes or no, he was sure his Father would hear him. Most of this type of preaching, speaking from what you originally posted, isn't from close walks with God and do not glorify Him rather they center on the believer instead.

God Bless you Lovefirst!

It is not about us but about the Christ of God and us giving ourselves up for His purpose.

The reason why so many are not getting healed today is because of unbelief. The bible says one thing but in fear we can’t act upon it because we are afraid to die or that he want hear us because we know that deep down we are not living “the gospel” the way it reads that we should. We must be cleansed by the blood and have faith in His atonement for our sins. We must confess all known sin and ask God to show us areas in our life that displeases Him. We are to ask Him to fill us with His Spirit and power and wisdom.

Then we are not to fear anymore for our life but lose it completely for His sake and the gospel sake so that God can empower us to destroy the works of the devil. We should be assuming the ministry of Jesus Christ but we are too complacent to do any real works for God. We are still hanging out at the school of the prophets. If we are going to do the greater works then we must desire a greater anointing and we must step out with all of our being to follow God and burn the plow and never look back. We should never be satisfied with less than what God desires for us.

We are to do everything for the gospel sake because of the one who was crucified and resurrected for us to be filled with the Holy Ghost to do the work of the ministry. We should be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren. The signs should be following the believer, we should be casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, putting away serpents, if drink any deadly thing feel no hurt, and we should be laying hands on the sick and they shall recover. This gospel is a gospel of power and if we are preaching this gospel of power then God will be confirming the Word with signs and wonders following.

Blessings…from brother rbanks

Thank you for posting this. It is so true we should be doing the work of the gospel. God desires us to continue the ministry of Jesus, but we have to believe. Thanks!