God Thinking XXII - In His Presence 3

"If you want an inner court experience that takes you behind the veil, in the very presence of God, the holy of holies, that place where God is God and you are in Him; you will have to bring your faith, seek God diligently, present yourself to Him, without reservation, and be prepared to commune with Him in awe.

But you need to know: 

• If you seek for God to disclose Himself to you in this most intimate way. 
• If you want the beauty of holiness to overcome you so that you can see nothing but God.
• If you want the impartation of God’s very light to encircle you.
• If you want the transforming power of God to overtake you.

Does this sound like an experience that you might want in your life?

Let me read you a short story from the scriptures.

There is a process, an osmosis of sorts that takes place in this story that is somewhat like our own. 

John 4:6-29, The woman at the well comes into the presence of the Savior.  Let's see what happens.

“Now Jacob’s well was there. (Samaria) Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.  V7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink.” V8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) V9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria?  For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Let’s stop here for a second.

I want you to notice first that those who don’t know the Savior feel like they have to bring God up to speed.  They have to let God know what’s going on; who they are, where they are from, kind of set the record straight.

The unsaved always start out trying to tell God how it is.  They spend the most of their time trying to enlighten God.  They spend a lot of time justifying who they are and why.  That’s the view of the unbeliever - They don’t recognize God, nor do they understand the things of God."

Excerpt from God-thinking XXII - In His Presence by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

God Thinking XXII - In His Presence 2

"Today you are going to see what it means to put “on top” the presence of God.  You are going to understand how to facilitate the presence of God by obedience. 

When we talk about being in the presence of God we talk about four things that pertain to the presence of God; two things you have to do prepare to be in the presence of God and two things that happen because you are in the presence of God.  God knows before you even think about it, whether you are sincere or not. 

God knows what you are going to do when you get there, and if you intend to;

force the hand of God

manipulate God

get what you want

to question His message

to try Him out to see if you like it

to add a notch in your spiritual belt

to use the experience to bring glory to your self

Here are the four things that must be in order:  two things you have to do prepare and two things that happen because you are there.

1     You will have to be prepared to be changed.

2     You will have to abandon your pre-conceived idea of  what you will receive from God.

3     You will have to accept what God gives to you.

4     You will have to accept what God tells you when you are there.

Excerpt from God-thinking XXII - In His Presence by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

God Thinking XXII - In His Presence 1

"Primarily we are facilitators of life.

Think about it.  For those of us who are saved, the Bible says “we were bought with a price, we are not our own.”

• We are stewards of God’s creation, not owners.
• We are truly strangers and pilgrims here.
• We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Like I said, primarily we are facilitators of life.

God Thinking teaches us principles: 

Principles that we learn.

Principles that we understand.

And Principles that we practice.

When you learn something, that you can use, that could help you to become more like Christ, you need to pay attention.  

God Thinking teaching you to pay attention to the things of God; to put the things of God “on top”, all the while pushing out the things that consume you, the things that do not glorify God; the things that take your time, our money and your resources, but they never satisfy you.

Excerpt from God-thinking XXII - In His Presence by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy 10

"God Thinking doesn’t allow the enemy to win the war.  It requires that you believe what God is telling you and move forward expecting the enemy to war against you, but by putting on the armour of God so you can stand and fight, and win.

• God Thinking teaches you not open the windows in a storm. 
• God thinking teaches you not to allow satan a piece of the garden to put his seeds in.   
• God Thinking doesn’t entertain the foolish things of this world, as if you could partner with the devil and somehow come out unscathed.
• God Thinking teaches you to recognize the enemy, despite how he is dressed or what facade he puts on.
• God Thinking teaches you to flee from the enemy, not argue with him, not pursue him, not invite him in, not entertain him, not test him or see if he is really powerful - No, the wise among us, flee from him.  You turn away fast, as if it were a fire out of control and you were in its path

We don’t dabble with the most powerful wicked creature in the universe.  You win by keeping yourself and everything you own out of his reach.  You don’t bait satan to see if he will grab the line.  He will grab the line, every time.

 If you are thinking, “why do I need to know these things?”  My answer would be, that, God designed this universe and everything in it. 

God wants you to know about your enemy or He wouldn’t have told us about him.

God told us the truth about who satan is so that you would be informed and knowledgeable.

God gave you instruction to empower you, so that when the enemy comes, you will recognize him, and flee from him.

God gave you the information you need so you can avoid being misled, confused, tricked, manipulated or overcome.

The things that use to derail you, need not have any place in your life anymore.

You are the righteousness of Christ and your life should reveal it. 

God gave you discernment to use.  So let’s use it.

God gave you power to use.  Let’s wield it.

God gave you His Word to use.  Let’s speak it.

 

“Get thee behind me satan” Luke 4:8 “I am the righteousness of Christ” 1 Corinthians 1:30

 

When the principalities or powers of darkness come to reek havoc, they should confer with one another and say, “we would just be wasting our time to go to their house.  There’s nothing there for us to work with.” 

Excerpt from God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

 

 

 

 

God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy 9

"Peter was familiar with the work of the enemy.  It was the same year that Jesus had ascended into heaven.  Christians were gathering together and joining forces by distributing amongst themselves equally, so that the rich could still have plenty, but the poor would have plenty too. 

Everyone brought to the disciples what they had and they distributed it amongst the brethren.  But there was a certain man and his wife that wanted the best of both worlds.  They wanted the benefits of being a Christian, but they chose rather to believe satan.

The story goes like this, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

V2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

V3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?  And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?  Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?  Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

V5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.”  Acts 5:1-5
 

In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul is talking to the Church at Corinth.  Paul has lifted them up.  He has talked firmly and appropriately to the people of God.  He says in 2 Corinthianas11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 

Now in Jesus’s own words in John 8:42-47

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent Me.

V43 Why do ye not understand My speech?  Even because ye cannot hear My Word.

V44 Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

V45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not.

V46 Which of you convinceth Me of sin?  And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

In Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil.” 

And again in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

V11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

V12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

This is a direct statement to the Spirit filled believer.  Whether you want it or not, you are in battle with the enemy.  And to know the parameters of the enemy is a great advantage."

Excerpt from God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

 

God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy 8

"It’s complicated, because many Christians don’t believe they have to resist the devil.  They believe that the devil doesn’t pose any real or immediate threat to them.  They dabble with the devil by allowing him open doors by default. 

Since they don’t take the devil seriously, they think that the devil doesn’t take them seriously.  Huge mistake.

Luke 22:1-3, “Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover:

V2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him (Jesus); for they feared the people.
V3 Then entered satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”

There is significance in this statement.  Just as the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, satan can indwell the unbeliever.

They have no protection against the wicked one.  Until you are born again, you have no power or authority over satan and his cohorts. It doesn't matter what your religion teaches.  Religion is man-made.  Until you are born again, you have no power or authority over satan and his cohorts.  

 

Jesus speaks to Peter in a way that most of us wouldn’t expect.  Jesus says to him in Luke 22:31, “...Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”

Paul was familiar with the enemy.  Paul knew his opponent.  But even Paul came to realize that satan was a formidable enemy.  Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but satan hindered us.”

Please don't try to fight the battle on your own.  You need to believe what God says and live accordingly.

Excerpt from God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013

God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy 7

• "satan doesn’t need to consume you to be satisfied.  he is satisfied with whatever territory you allow him to possess.
•  satan wants territory and he will take whatever territory is not prayed down or tied down by faith.
• satan knows the rules of engagement.  Do you?

satan knows that the truth of Jesus Christ and the presence of the indwelling Spirit is not only enough to win the war, but it is enough to win the daily battles too.

• he knows that he cannot do anything in your life that you do not allow. 
• he knows that he cannot oppress you unless you let him.
• he knows he cannot discourage you unless you let him.
• he knows that he cannot cause you to doubt if your mind is made up  
• he knows he cannot have any territory unless you relinquish it. 
• he knows that he cannot make you worry unless you let him.
• he knows that you have within you the power to exile him.

The Word of God says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:8

It’s that simple. Just say, “stop, you have no authority here.”  If you resist him, he has to go, that’s the rules of engagement."

 

Excerpt from God Thinking XXI - Know Your Enemy by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2013