The Scriptures are all powerful in breaking down strongholds, raising up those who are pressed down, and guiding us into experiencing the Lord’s victory over all things. In this segment we set forth a series of subjects with appropriate Scriptures that strengthen faith, and lead to overcoming in the Lord.
Subject areas will be changed regularly, and previous scriptural readings and commentaries may be accessed by clicking different weeks in the calendar below.
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“I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Isa 44:22.
Again, this is an assurance to those who think that their sins are so bad that they have created a barrier that God cannot overlook. This reading tells us to remember our redemption, and that the blood of Jesus never fails to proclaim our righteousness on the heavenly altar. Return to God, knowing that the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all unrighteousness.
“Return to Me; and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then you shall not be moved.” Jer 4:1.
We put away our abominations from God’s sight standing on this promise.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9-10.
We have the further promise that “we will not be moved.” That is, no matter how hard the suffering and warfare, we will not lose the peace of God.
From the parable of the prodigal son: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” Luke 15:18-19.
The prodigal son realised that he had detached himself from his father by his sinful living, and vowed to return to him in repentance.
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20.
This parable intends to show God’s reaction to those who return to Him in repentance. The father was looking out for him and saw him when he was still far off. Before the son could confess his repentance, the father embraced him.
“And bring the fated calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” Luke 15:23-24.
Despite his sins, the son was restored. The reason the father gave for the celebration was “my son was dead and is alive again” Not only do our sins separate us from our heavenly Father, they result in us walking in spiritual death.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress my God, in Him I will trust.” Ps 91:1-2. NKJV.
The “secret place of the Most High,” is in the presence of God through the veil, which was rent when Christ was crucified. We now have access to God’s presence when we enter through the rent veil in Christ by faith, knowing in our hearts that it is only by the virtue of Christ’s sacrificed body and shed blood. In this spiritual position, immersed in God’s Spirit, we can say with confidence, ‘God is my fortress, in Him I put my trust.’
“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” Ps 91:3-4. NKJV.
The “snare of the fowler” is an analogy for the wiles of Satan. Covering us with His feathers, refers to the wings of the cherubim over the mercy seat. The promise to deliver us from the perilous pestilence is very relevant to us in this present time of this pandemic. His shield and buckler speak of God’s protection in spiritual warfare.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help.”
Heb 4:15-16. NKJV.
Do you shrink back with a feeling of unworthiness? This reading assures us that Jesus, our High Priest, having once taken on a human form, is well acquainted with our human frailties, and bids us to come boldly with Him through the rent veil into the presence of God, where we will be met with mercy and grace.
“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” 1 John 4:12-14. NKJV.
How do we know that we are in God and He in us? Here we are given two clues. If we love one another God is in us, because God is love. The second is easily recognised. If we have God’s Spirit operating in us, we can be assured that God is dwelling in us.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
Ps 91:5-6. NKJV.
If we have entered into God’s presence, we are able to experience the peace of God in all of our circumstances. The terror by night looks at nightmares, the arrow that flies in daylight at fearful attacks, the pestilence of life-threatening disease, destruction and the loss of everything.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the
Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Ps 91:9-11. NKJV.
The Psalmist identifies the reader with himself, saying like me, they will receive an abundance of God’s blessings. We will not experience evil, or pestilence, or plague. We will know the protection of God’s angels in all that we do.
“In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.” Ps 91:12-13. NKJV.
God’s angels will lift you above danger. Dashing your foot against a stone tells us that angels will guard us against even the slightest mishap. The lion, cobra, and serpents symbolise Satan’s demon spirits. Trampling them underfoot means that they will be rendered powerless.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.”
Ps 91:14. NKJV.
Some may have thought that the promises of Psalm 91 were of the psalmist rather than from God. But these last three verses are from God Himself, signifying His approval.
Because we have shown our love and trust, He will deliver us from Satan’s attacks, and set us on high, in union with Him. He will deliver us because we have trusted Him to be all that His name expresses.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
Ps 91:15-16. NKJV.
We are assured that if we turn to Him in prayer when we are in trouble, He will be with us and deliver us. Lastly, He will honour us and save us, and satisfy us with long life.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Cor 12:7.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
Our desires for certain gifts of the Spirit are tarnished by our carnal thoughts and imaginations. By comparison, the Holy Spirit knows our hearts, and our potential for ministry by His union with our spirits. “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor 2:11.
Our position should be to brush aside all preconceived anticipation, and receive what the Holy Spirit gives us with thanksgiving, trusting that His will for us is not only for our own good, but for the whole body of Christ.
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” 1 Cor 12:11.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
We have a personal consciousness of what we think is right, but the Holy Spirit knows what is best for the working of the whole body of Christ. If we hold a right position, in our ministry to His body, the Lord overshadows us, and directs our use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit entrusted to us, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” Mark 16:20.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord: “And He [Jesus Christ] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” Eph 4:11-12.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
Whereas the gifts of the Spirit are the province of the Holy Spirit, spiritual ministries are the domain of Jesus Christ. This was the case in the early Church, where the Lord selected and trained prospective members from the body of believers. When they were ready, they were ‘called’ by the Lord to accept their ministry. They were recognised by the elders, who laid hands on them, and settled them in the body. The modern Church has lost its way, and trains ‘ministers’ in religious seminaries. Nevertheless, the barrier between the clergy and the laity is beginning to be taken out of the way, and members of the laity are beginning to be trained and called to ministries by the Lord.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” Eph 4:12-13.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
The ultimate purpose of the spiritual ministries of the Lord, is for those with ministries to equip other members of the body for ministry – teachers produce teachers, evangelists create evangelists, and so forth. This is for the ‘edifying’ or building up the whole body, until all have a unity in faith and knowledge of the Lord.
“there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all: “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you…” Joel 2:23.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
God is watching over the Lord’s Church to perfect her, and establish the kingdom of the Lord over the whole earth. It is He who sent down the former rain of the Spirit at Pentecost, and it is He who will send down the latter rain of the Spirit at the end of the age to precipitate a huge influx of souls into the Lord’s kingdom. It is God the Father who has created revivals, and brought about the Reformation to rid the Church from gross apostasy.
There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all: “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested…They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zech 13:9.
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6.
Eph 2:10 states, “…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
As we walk on the path of the cross, being perfected in holiness, it is God who refines us leading us through His refining fire to purge our every trace of our carnal natures.
“…for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit…” 1 Cor 12:8-11.
A word of wisdom is not from our own intellects, but a snippet from the vast wisdom of God, presented to us by the Holy Spirit. It is similar to a word of knowledge, in that one receives words directly from the Spirit. Whereas the gift of a word of knowledge applies to a particular circumstance, the word of wisdom has a general application to our Christian life. Also, the word of wisdom has a distinctive wisdom aura that differentiates it. This is an example of how Jesus presented a word of wisdom that silenced His critics. He confronted those who were trying to discredit Him about paying the temple tax. He said to them, “Show Me the tax money...And He said to them, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said to Him, ‘Caesar's.’” Jesus then presented a word of wisdom that silenced His critics. “‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.’” Matt 22:19-22.
Here is another example, this time a personal word of wisdom presented to me to give understanding in a situation. I was in a charismatic meeting, and while. the congregation was singing a gospel chorus, a number of women were walking up and down the aisles waving large banners with slogans like ‘Jesus is love.’ I prayed to the Lord, thinking that something was amiss in me because I couldn’t feel a oneness with what was going on. The Holy Spirit presented this word of wisdom. “Shallow water ripples, still water runs deep.” The general application was that exuberant showy worship is shallow.
“…to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit…” 1 Cor 12:8.
The word of knowledge is not knowledge from our minds, but a directive from the Holy Spirit, imparting knowledge impossible for our own minds to conceive, to guide us in our ministry to a person in need. We have an example in Jesus presenting a word of knowledge to a Samarian woman, and the results it produced. “Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’’’ Jesus then presented a word of knowledge. ‘You have well said, 'I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."’” John 4:16-18.
The woman then left and told the menfolk, and they went out to see and hear Jesus. He stayed with them for two days, and many believed and were saved.
The word of knowledge may accompany any ministry. For instance, it may be used to show why a ministry of healing is not proving to be effective. A word of knowledge may be, ‘healing cannot be imparted whilst there is unforgiveness in your heart.’
The word of knowledge is a most valuable aid in ministry, but it is one that may be interfered with by a word from our own intellects, or a counterfeit word from Satan. These measures may be taken to overcome interference.
Ministries should be undertaken by two, rather than one person.
Carnality should be cast off, and replaced by Christ with His sound mind.
We should allow minds to settle from all personal thoughts that are interfering with our capacity to receive words from the Holy Spirit.
All ministry should be undertaken in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting Him to validate our ministry by directing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” Mark 16:20.
“…to another faith by the same Spirit…” 1 Cor 12:8.
All Christians have been given a measure of faith, but this small portion of God’s faith that enables a person to perform miracles. The gift of faith operated in Jesus’ ministry, as in this example. “And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.” Luke 8:24.
The dead were raised miraculously in the apostle’s ministry, and the gift of faith is still operating in the modern era, as in the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, who reportedly raised a number of people from the dead. Without any capital, and relying on God to supply by faith, Robert Muller established five orphanages and over a hundred schools.
“…to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit…” 1 Cor 12:8.
The first thing to notice that gifts of healings is plural. There are numerus types of ailments, like mental disorders, joint pains, abdominal disorders, migraines, and so forth. There are different ministries of healing, each associated with a type of ailment. The gift of healing provides miraculous rather than natural healing. Healings may occur instantaneously with the laying on of hands, but sometimes with a steady healing process.
“…to another the working of miracles…” 1 Cor 12:9.
It should be understood that the gifts of the Spirit are not independent from one another. For instance, the gift of faith may operate in gifts of healing, or in this case, the working of miracles. A distinguishing point is that the working of miracles is usually accompanied by a verbal command and visible results.
“Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.” Matt 12:13-14.
“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Acts 3:6-7.
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