THE NEW,

DYNAMIC CHURCH

Studies in Abundant Living

Victor Paul Wierwille

 THE NEW,
DYNAMIC CHURCH
 THE NEW,
DYNAMIC CHURCH

Volume II,
Studies in Abundant Living

Victor Paul Wierwille

American Christian Press

The Way International
New Knoxville, Ohio 45871
Other books by Victor Paul Wierwille

To my son
Receiving The Holy Spirit Today John Paul Wierwille
The Bible Tells Me So
Volume I, Studies in Abundant Living
The Word’s Way
Volume III, Studies in Abundant Living
Are the Dead Alive Now?
Jesus Christ Is Not God

Standard Book Number ISBN 0-910068-03-8

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 70-176281
American Christian Press
© 1971 by The Way, Inc. All rights reserved
New Knoxville, Ohio 45871
Third Printing 1976
Printed in the United States of America
 CONTENTS

Preface ix

Part I The Dynamic Church 1

1. Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body? 3

Part II A Christian’s Birth and Growth 23

2. The Unquialified Commitment 27

3. How To Be A Christian 35
4. Your Power of Attorney 43
5. Key To Power 57
6. Fellowship is the Secret 71
7. What is True Worship? 81
8. The Believer’s Responsibility 93

Part III A Christian’s Power Base 101

9. Speaking in Tongues 103

10. How to Speak in Tongues 115
11. Filled To Overflowing 127

Part IV The The Church Today 143

12. The First Centruy Church in the Twentieth 145

13. Why Division? 167

vii
Part V Living The Word 173

14. The High Calling 175

15. The Christian’s Joy and Crown 187
16. The Answer 203

About the Author 241

Preface

The New, Dynamic Church is organized into five

parts: “A Dynamic Church,,” “A Christian’s Birth and
Growth,” “A Christian’s Power Base,”“The Church
Today” and “Living The Word.” Within each part are
chapters, each chapter having been researched and
originally written as am individual study. By loosely
grouping the studies into general topics, a person can
get a broader perspective as the parts fit together to
make up the larger whole.

However, because the chapters were written as

individual studies and then put into topical units,
occasionally a reader may find that all facets of the
topic are not covered; however, they have been
covered in other research writings. I know the con-
tents of Volume I of Studies in Abundant Living will
not only open up more of God’s Word for you, but
will also uplift you – mentally and physically and
spiritually.

viii ix
 Let us put God’s Word in our hearts and minds for
it alone can give us complete deliverance from the
darkness of this world.

Part I

The Dynamic
Church

x
 Part I
The Dynamic Church
The word “dynamic” in the above title has a
double meaning. “Dynamic” primarily denotes the
ability to change; dynamic is in direct contrast to
static, which shows inertia or sameness.

During several administrations, God ordained that

His people be organized in the ekkl‘sia, the church,
the called-out. The ekkl‘sia of Israel is Biblically
called the bride of Christ while the ekkl‘sia of Grace
is called the Body of Christ. So much error has come
about by confusing these two distinct, separate
churches that a careful study of both the church of
Israel and the Church of Grace is certainly needed.

The dynamic church is the changed, changing

church. God’s plan for the church of Israel was
carried out during the age of Law and during Jesus
Christ’s presence on earth. However, the ekkl‘sia of
Israel has been temporarily suspended since the day
of Pentecost. We are living during the age of the

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The Dynamic Church
CHAPTER ONE
ekkl‘sia of Grace. But some day when this age of
Grace is terminated with the return of Christ, the
ekkl‘sia of Israel will be reestablished.

Historically the church has been dynamic not only

in changing from one administration to the next, but
also in the power which God has given it. In order to
Ekkl‘‘sia, Bride or Body?
be most effective in using our God-given power, we as
members of the Church first must have knowledge of
His will which is stated in His Word. We, too, then Bible commentaries and Biblical writers frequently
can be dynamic; this is, having the ability to change refer to both the church of the Gospels and the
and effectively meet every new and different situa- Church of the Epistles as the bride of Christ, thus
tion with God’s effectual power. making the two usages synonymous. Thus the rela-
tionship of Christ to the church of the Gospels and to
the church of the book of Revelation in contrast to
the Church of the Epistles has not been properly
understood. The Word of God separates these two
bodies with the bride of Christ being the church of
the Gospels and the Body of Christ being the Church
of the Epistles.

But before we begin a study of the significance of

the two churches, let’s examine what we mean by the
word “church.”

When we see a building with a steeple on it, we

point to it and say, “That is a church.” This is one
usage – a building. Another current usage of
“church” is a group of people who gather for reli-

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

gious ritual. We also refer to various denominations Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this
such as the Methodist, Presbyterian or Roman Paul hath persuaded and turned away much
Catholic as churches. Another usage of the word people, saying that they be no gods, which are
“church” is a group of people who are born again of made with hands:
God’s Spirit. The meaning of “church” varies with its
context. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be
set at nought; but also that the temple of the
The Greek word for our English word “church” is great goddess Diana should be despised, and her
ekkl‘sia, meaning “the called-out.” People may be magnificence should be destroyed, whom all
called out for various reasons; for example, if a group Asia and the world worshippeth.
of people decided they were going bowling and then
gathered at the bowling alley, they would be an And when they heard these sayings [of
ekkl‘sia because they are called out to bowl. In Acts Demetrius], they were full of wrath, and cried
19 a mob is called a church, an ekkl‘sia. Why? Be- out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
cause a mob is composed of a group of people who
have gathered for a specific purpose. And the whole city was filled with confusion:
and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of
Acts 19:23-32: And the same time there arose Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they
no small stir about that way. rushed with one accord into the theatre.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silver- And when Paul would have entered in unto the
smith, which made silver shrines for Diana, people, the disciples suffered him not.
brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
And certain of the chief of Asia, which were
Whom he called together with the workmen of his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he
like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that would not adventure himself into the theatre.
by this craft we have our wealth.
Some therefore cried one thing, and some
Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at another: for the assembly [ekkl‘sia, the church]

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

was confused; and the more part knew not all expansive Kingdom of God are several periods, one
wherefore they were come together. of which is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of
Heaven period is for the called-out of Israel, the
A large company of silversmiths under Demetrius church of Israel, which is the bride of Christ. Each
were stirred up for fear that their comfortable income time the Kingdom of Heaven is referred to, the
was being diminished by Paul’s coming to town. Paul personal presence of the King Himself upon earth is
preached the greatness of God’s Word which is designated.
against the usage of medals, amulets and charms to
represent God and His blessings. Although the mob
wasn’t certain what the real issue was, Demetrius had USAGE OF THE WORD ‘CHURCH’
emotionally incited them against Paul. One group •SIA — CALLED OUT
EKKL•
cried one thing and some another because the church, KINGDOM—OF—GOD
the assembly, the ekkl‘sia was confused. “And the •SIA
EKKL• •SIA
EKKL• •SIA
EKKL•
more part knew not wherefore they were come
ISRAEL JEW AND GENTILE ISRAEL
together.” This is a mob – following along with the
BRIDE OF CHRIST BODY OF CHRIST BRIDE & BRIDEGROOM
confused assemblage. The word “assembly” in Acts KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
19 is ekkl‘sia, church, the called-out. KING
GREAT
MYSTERY
KING
DOM — REIGN DOM — REIGN

The ekkl‘sia or the called-out of Israel, the bride of LAW GRACE LAW
Christ, covers the time span of the Gospels. Jesus GOSPELS CHURCH EPISTLES BOOK OF REVELATION

HELD-IN-ABEYANCE
Christ came unto Israel, His own people. This era of
the ekkl‘sia of the bride is called the Kingdom of
Heaven because the King from heaven was on earth.

Before we go further, it is necessary to clarify The word “kingdom” is made up of two words:
the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and king and dom, dom meaning “reign or supremacy.”
the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has Therefore, “kingdom” means “the rulership of a king.”
no beginning and no ending. The Kingdom of There cannot be a kingdom without a king. Great
God spans all existence. However, under this Britain can speak of itself as a kingdom because of

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

the reign of a king or a queen. Citizens of the United dead, and it appeared that the Kingdom had been
States of America cannot speak of their land as a defeated. However, this is not so, for the church of
kingdom for there is no monarch. While Jesus Christ the bride is yet to be fulfilled in the future. The same
was on earth, it was His reign. During His reign He church referred to in Revelation is again the church
called out those people of Israel who believed in Him of the bride, just as it was in the Gospels.*
as the Messiah. Not only did Jesus Himself minister to
the people of Israel, but He also sent the twelve With the death of the King, the Kingdom of
apostles to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When Heaven was interrupted; but God raised Jesus Christ
Jesus sent out the seventy, He directed them also to from the dead and He is coming back to earth. When
the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He told them Jesus Christ returns He will not be born in a stable
not to go unto the Gentiles because Jesus had come and laid in a manger. He is not coming to be mocked
unto God’s own, Israel, and called out from Israel and nailed to a cross. Man is not going to spit in His
those who were to make up the bride. Jesus Christ was face and press a crown of thorns on His head. When
the Bridegroom. The church, the called-out of Israel, Jesus Christ comes again, He is coming as King of
was called the bride while the Bridegroom was on the Kings and Lord of Lords. The Kingdom of the church
earth. of Israel is being held in abeyance until these events
come to pass. Then the bride and the Bridegroom will
But what happened to the Bridegroom? He was be together again, and the “gates of hell shall not
nailed to the cross. When the King of the Kingdom prevail against it [the Kingdom of Heaven].” It will
was crucified, the church as the bride was interrupted then again be in effect. But in the meantime, while the
because the Bridegroom was dead. As previously Bridegroom is gone, a different arrangement has been
noted, God promised that there would be no end to made. The next verse of Ephesians 1 explains what
the Kingdom of Heaven, but man killed the King.* the Church with Christ as the Head is.
What happened to God’s promise? God promised that
when the King came He would build the church and Ephesians 1:23:
the gates of hell would not prevail against it. But Which [the Church] is his body, the fulness of
when the King was crucified, the Bridegroom was him that filleth all in all.

*Luke 1; 33: “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and *The church described and spoken of in the book of Revelation has
of his kingdom there shall be no end.” nothing to do with our time and our administration.

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

While the Bridegroom is absent, the members of nor comprehend the fullness of the miracle which had
the Church make up the Body of Christ. In this occurred, just as I cannot explain electricity although
Church of the Body, there is only one Head and that I enjoy the utilization of it. On the day of Pentecost,
is the Lord Jesus Christ. and for a period of time following, the believers
benefited from the new birth and the power from the
The Church of the Body, which in this Holy Spirit, but they could not explain what they
administration of Grace is the Church of Grace, had. Finally, years later, the revelation to explain the
is also called the Church of God.* Jesus came gift that came on Pentecost was given to the Apostle
to fulfill the Law and to make the Church of Grace Paul. To Paul was revealed the greatest mystery the
available. When all things were ready, the Church of world has ever known – the mystery of the Body of
Grace was founded and the new birth was made Christ, which is His Church.
available. From the day of Pentecost until the return
of Christ everyone who is born again by God’s Spirit To discover when the mystery was revealed to
is a member of the Church of Grace, the Body of Paul, let us check Romans 16 and Ephesians 3.
Christ. The membership of this Church of the Body
consists of all those called out from among both Jew Romans 16:25,26:
and Gentile. Therefore, any Jew or Gentile who Now to him that is of power to stablish you
confesses Jesus Christ as his Lord and believes that according to my gospel, and the preaching of
God raised Him from the dead becomes a member of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
the Body of Christ. mystery, which was kept secret since the world
began,
Although believers on Pentecost received the new
birth, the power from on high, they could not explain
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures
*Ephesians 1:22,23: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave of the prophets [not the Old Testament
him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the prophets, but the post-Pentecost prophets who
fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Ephesians 3:2: “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of
are members of the Church, the Body],
God which is given me to you-ward.” according to the commandment of the ever-
I Corinthians 1:2: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to lasting God, made known to all nations for the
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that
in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
obedience of faith.
and ours.”
11
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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

Ephesians 3:2-5: It was no mystery that the Gentiles would be

If ye have heard of the dispensation [or the blessed under Abraham’s and David’s ministries and
administration] of the grace of God which is during Israel’s reign. Examples of the Gentiles’ being
given me to you-ward: blessed are scattered throughout the Old Testament.
But the Old Testament does not give the slightest
How that by revelation he made known unto me inkling that the Gentiles would ever be fellowheirs or
the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, joint-heirs, “of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel.” The revelation of
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my the Gentiles being fellowheirs in Christ was, to say
knowledge in the mystery of Christ) the least, revolutionary news.

Which in other ages was not made known unto Ephesians 3:7,8:
the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his Whereof I was made a minister, according to the
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power.
The founding of the Church of the Body was not
made known in other ages; thus the prophets of the Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,
Old Testament did not know about the Church of is this grace given, that I should preach among
Grace; neither did the people living at the time of the the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Gospels. But it is “now [lately] revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” The word “unsearchable” can be translated
“untrackable.” The mystery of the riches of God’s
Once the timing of the revelation of the mystery is grace to the Gentiles could literally not be tracked in
clear, the essential question remains: What is the the Word of God from the Old Testament through
mystery? the Gospels. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs
and of the same Body was a secret, hidden from the
Ephesians 3:6: beginning of the world.
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of
the same body, and partakers of his promise in Ephesians 3:9:
Christ by the gospel. And to make all men see what is the fellowship

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

of the mystery, which from the beginning of believer. Wherever a believer is, there Christ is
the world hath been hid in God, who created all present. Had the devil known this mystery he would
things .... never have crucified Jesus. Through Jesus’ death,
resurrection and ascension, power hitherto unknown
The revelation was made known “to make all men in history was made available. The devil was totally
see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” The word unaware of God’s plan, as told in I Corinthians,
“fellowship” in the Greek text is the word
“administration.” The “fellowship of the mystery” is I Corinthians 2:7,8:
literally the “administration of the church of grace.” But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained
Colossians 1:26,27: before the world unto our glory:
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, but now is made manifest Which none of the princes of this world knew:
to his saints: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.
To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the
The devil as ruling prince would much rather have
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of
had Jesus Christ personally present on earth
glory.
than to have thousands of believers with
Christ in them scattered across the world. By cruci-
The mystery, so important that it was kept secret
fying the Lord of Glory, Satan brought an unsolvable
since the foundation of the world, is that all born-
problem to himself.
again believers, Jews and Gentiles, would be fellow-
heirs of Christ and that Christ would be in every one
of them. Imagine that! When Jesus Christ was here Obviously the devil was not the only one who was
upon earth, He could only be at one place at one ignorant of the intentions of God. Many men before
time. But after He ascended into heaven, and God the time of the Church of Grace tried to find out
had given the power of the holy spirit on the day of about this period. Peter told of the Old Testament
Pentecost, then Christ could be in every born-again prophets’ quests.

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

I Peter 1:10,11: A wise and interesting tradition in the synagogues

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired at the time was that whenever a man read from the
and searched diligently, who prophesied of the Word of God, he always stood to show respect for the
grace that should come unto you: sacred scrolls and to show that he was reading, not
just talking on his own. When a person finished
Searching what, or what manner of time the reading the Word of God and began teaching or
Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, discussing, the man sat down. When a man sat,
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of listeners were not certain that the man ministering to
Christ, and the glory that should follow. them was giving The Word; but when the minister was
standing and reading, the congregation knew that
The literal translation according to usage of verse they were hearing the Word of God. This is why Jesus
11 reads: “Searching out unto the time of the spirit stood to read.
which was upon them did signify of Christ when it
testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and Luke 4:17:
the glory that should follow.” And there was delivered unto him the book
[scroll] of the prophet Esaias [Isaiah]. And
These Old Testament prophets diligently searched when he had opened the book, he found the
The Word for the time lapse between the Gospels and place where it was written.
the book of Revelation, between the suffering of
Christ and His glory. But this period of grace could How thoroughly Jesus must have studied the scroll
not be found because it was completely hidden. of Isaiah! Although He did not have the help of
chapters and verses or center references, He “opened
The period of grace is indicated by Jesus’ reading the book [and], he found the place where it was
of Isaiah 61 which is recorded in Luke. written.”

Luke 4:16:
And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he There is a story told of a man who said that he did
had been brought up: and, as his custom was, not have to study the Bible to learn its message for
he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, him. All he had to do to find God’s guidance each
and stood up for to read. morning was to flip through the Bible and, while

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

covering his eyes, place his finger on a verse. The And he began to say unto them, This day is this
verse on which his finger landed was his guidance for scripture fulfilled in your ears.
the day. An interesting guidance was given
to this man one morning as he casually flipped to a Jesus stopped reading with the phrase, “to preach
page in the New Testament. He placed his finger on a the acceptable year of the Lord,” and sat down
verse, opened his eyes, and read, “And Judas went saying, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your
and hanged himself.” The man was dissatisfied with ears.” Compare Luke 4 with Isaiah 61 from which
this guidance, so he flipped to another page, and this Jesus read.
time read, “Go and do thou likewise.” Shocked, the
man gave his method a third try only to read, “That Isaiah 61:2:
which thou doest, do quickly.” To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
and the day of vengeance of our God
In contrast to this fellow, Jesus found the place
where it was written; He deliberately located the
Isaiah says, “To proclaim the acceptable year of
Scripture He needed at that particular time. Jesus was
the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God,” but
prepared, as Luke 4 demonstrates.
Jesus never read the last eight words. Why did He
Luke 4: 18-21: stop in the middle of the phrase? Had Jesus read the
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he words “the day of vengeance of our God,” and then
hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled,” Jesus would
poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken- have been in error. Jesus could not say, “This day is
hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, the day of vengeance of our God fulfilled in your
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at ears,” because the day of vengeance had not yet come.
liberty them that are bruised. The “day of vengeance of our God” will be fulfilled
with the prophecy of Revelation when Christ will
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords with all
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the power of God.
the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all
them that were in the synagogue were fastened Jesus accurately divided the Word of God. Jesus
on him. Christ was to preach the acceptable year of the Lord

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The Dynamic Church Ekkl‘sia: Bride or Body?

– it was fulfilled. The day of vengeance had not yet What exactly is the Lord’s Day? Some people
come. In Isaiah 61:2 a comma is placed after the speak loosely of the Lord’s Day as Sunday, yet for
expression “to preach the acceptable year of the another group of people the Lord’s Day is the Sab-
Lord,” while in Luke 4:19 a period follows the same bath, Saturday. Biblically speaking, the Lord’s Day
statement. The comma in Isaiah 61:2 represents all has nothing to do with the day of the week. The
the years from the day of Pentecost until the time the Lord’s Day is the age in which the Lord does the
Lord Jesus Christ will come again. The intervening judging. In that age nobody will nail Him to a cross,
time is the period of Grace, the Church to which nobody will curse Him, nobody will mock Him, for
post-Pentecost believers belong, which was still a His return as King of Kings will usher in the age of
mystery at the time of the writing of Isaiah and was the vengeance of God spoken of in Isaiah 61.
unknown to Jesus.
To live in this age of Grace, an age which was kept
The time of the Church of Grace is the day of secret from the foundation of the world until it was
man’s judgment. revealed to Paul, is a tremendous privilege. Man has
power and status in Christ which no other age has ever
I Corinthians 4:3: known.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should
be judged of you, or of man’s judgment
The church of the bride did not know of the
The words “of man’s judgment” are “man’s day.” Church of Grace that was to come. The Church of
Man does the judging today during the age of Grace Grace, the Church of the Body, was founded after the
for it is man’s day. If this were not so, a man would church of the bride was suspended at the time of the
not be able to curse God, use His name in vain, nor live crucifixion and death of the Bridegroom. The church
like the devil himself. In this age of Grace man is free, of the bride will remain in that state until Christ
but there is another judgment coming as Revelation returns. In the meantime, during the period of the
indicates. Church of the Body, all believers are one in Christ
Jesus, the Head of that Body. Each born-again
Revelation 1:10: believer has Christ in him, the hope of glory. No
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day .... other age has had this potential power for manifesting

20 21
The Dynamic Church

the greatness of God as have members of the Church of

Grace. We must not allow this power of Christ in
us to remain dormant. Now that Christ is in us
spiritually, let us put on His mind and show forth our
power to defeat the devil and his forces of evil. We
are more than conquerors now! We now have Christ
in us and we are now fellowheirs with Him.

Part II

A Christian’s
Birth and Growth

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 Part II

A Christian’s Birth and Growth

In order to become a member of an earthly family

a person must first be born. Likewise, in order to be a
member of God’s heavenly family a person must also
have birth into God’s family. In both cases we begin as
babies. In the human family, a baby matures step by
step, day by day. However, in God’s family it takes
more than just time for a baby to mature. In fact,
some babies in Christ never mature for two possible
reasons: first, they may never have been taught or
never have learned any more than how to be born
into the family or, second, they may have rejected
the plan of development which must be carried out if
they are to spiritually mature. Maturity doesn’t just
happen spontaneously as a simple act of God.

In this part on “A Christian’s Birth and Growth,”

we study God’s Word to learn about our Christian
development. This study eradicates the first problem
of ignorance. The next step – applying God’s plan for
our spiritual growth – remains in our hands.

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth A Christian’s Birth and Growth

“The Unqualified Commitment” and “How to be a we grow we cultivate that initial investment by staying
Christian” show the foundational step of being born in fellowship and by worshipping God by the spirit.
into the family of God. “Your Power of Attorney” When we as Christians are ready to accept “The
and “Key to Power” tell of the rights and privileges Believer’s Responsibility,” it shows that we have
we have as members of that family. progressed beyond the early self-focused stage. The
Christian has spiritually matured to the point of
To this point we ourselves have done nothing to accepting his responsibility which, simply stated, is to
obtain what we have as sons of God. God in Christ bear witness to the greatness of God and His Word to
did the work of giving us salvation and sonship rights. those who do not know. Then it is their decision to
After spiritual birth with its inherent potential power, accept or reject birth and growth in God’s family.
however, we must follow God’s plan if we are going
to outgrow our Christian “baby stage.” We must
apply our power of attorney and the other legal rights
we have been given. “Fellowship is the Secret” reveals
the strength we have when we keep in fellowship and
communion with God. “What is True Worship?”
studies what The Word says is worship. Worship
according to the Bible has nothing to do with a
church building or altars or candelabra. Worship
is communion with God by way of the holy spirit. This
truth answers a question which has been perplexing
many people for a long time, and it enlightens our
minds so that we know how God expects us to
worship Him.

The final chapter in this part, “A Christian’s Birth

and Growth,” shows the mature Christian in full
bloom. We learned of the investment God puts within
us at our birth as a Christian. Then we found that as

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 CHAPTER TWO

The Unqualified Commitment

Romans 10 contains the unqualified commitment.

Romans 10:9,10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteous-

ness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.

When a man confesses with his mouth Jesus as

Lord and believes in his heart* that God raised Jesus
from the dead, God creates a new spirit in the man,
the man who before this confession had just a body
and soul.† The moment you believe in the depth of
your innermost being that God raised Jesus from the

*“Heart” is the figure of speech catachresis and means “the innermost

part of the mind.”
†II Peter 2:12 and Jude 10 refer to the men of body and soul as “brute
beasts.”

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth The Unqualified Commitment

dead, you are saved. You have eternal life abiding Ephesians 2:8,9:
within. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
This is the miracle of conversion, the new birth, a
miracle of God whereby a man or woman of Not of works, lest any man should boast.
body and soul becomes a new creation in Him thus
having body, soul and spirit. Ephesians 4:7:
But unto every one of us is given grace according
For a man to believe with his heart that God raised to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Jesus from the dead is “believing unto righteousness.”
Only after a person believes unto righteousness is it All born-again believers have “the faith of Jesus
possible to confess Jesus as Lord. In this confession Christ” which is the measure given to everyone when
lies the salvation that a man receives because he he believes.* After a person has confessed with his
believes. mouth the Lord Jesus and has believed in his heart
What does the word “salvation” mean? It means that God raised Jesus from the dead, he is a privileged
wholeness or soundness: mental, physical, spiritual. son of God with access to all His promises. All born-
Colossians 2:10 defines “wholeness” as “complete.” again believers have a legal right and opportunity to
God has made us “completely complete,” having all receive what God has made available. All have the
things needed in this life and in that which is to same righteousness, the same amount of faith and
come. the same perfection before God.
Righteousness, on the other hand, is our God-given *Romans 3:22: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of
ability to stand and walk before God without any Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
sense of sin, guilt or fear. Righteousness is ours difference.”
Romans 12:3: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every
because of believing, and believing only. We do not man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
work for righteousness; for if we did, it would be ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to
something we earned. We cannot work for righteous- every man the measure of faith.”
Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not
ness; we simply accept the righteousness of God as a I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
gift. The unqualified commitment gives both right- by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
eousness and wholeness. me.”

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth The Unqualified Commitment

Do you believe that what God has promised He is that sinister power any longer? If we have been
able to perform? If you do, you will see mighty signs, delivered, why look further for deliverance? Why wait
miracles and wonders in your life. You must believe for deliverance when it has already been made avail-
that God is not only able but also willing to perform able. Satan has no legal rights over a believer because
what He has promised. all believers have been delivered from Satan’s power
through Jesus Christ. What God accomplished for us
Ephesians 1:7: when He rescued us from the power of Satan we can
In whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption appropriate to ourselves when we believe. So the next
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, time you get sick, say, “Look here, headache [cold,
according to the riches of his grace. or whatever negative symptom it may be], you have
no power over me. You were defeated over nineteen
We have redemption through His blood according to hundred years ago. It says so in The Word, and I
the riches of His grace. Do you believe God is rich in believe The Word; therefore, be gone from me.”
grace? “For God so loved ... that he gave his only be- When we have salvation, we have wholeness, even
gotten Son ....” Would you call that rich in grace? I physical wholeness, if we simply accept it.
would. Ephesians says that we have received redemp-
tion so we don’t need to beg for it. The only thing we We have nothing to stand upon for our complete-
must do is receive it. ness except the revealed Word of God. When we stand
upon The Word we have only one way of life and that
Colossians 1: 13,14: is the way of Christ Jesus. In Him we have wholeness.
Who hath delivered [past tense] us from the
power of darkness, and hath translated [past II Corinthians 5:7:
tense] us into the kingdom of [by] his dear For we walk by faith [believing], not by sight.
Son:
The Bible says that we are to believe first, and then
In whom we have redemption through his blood, we will see. We stand upon The Word and declare The
even the forgiveness of sins. Word. If I pray for the sick and no one is healed, I
continue praying for the sick because The Word says
If God has delivered us from the power of darkness healing is available. If no one believed in receiving the
(that is, the power of Satan) how can we be under
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A Christian’s Birth and Growth The Unqualified Commitment

power from the Holy Spirit, I would go right on Do you want your body quickened – made alive,
teaching about the Holy Spirit because the Bible vital, spry? The Word says that if you will make the
admonishes in Ephesians 5:18, “... be not drunk with unqualified commitment of confessing Jesus as your
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Savior and Lord while believing that God raised Jesus
We must walk by believing the promises of God’s from the dead, not only are you made alive spiritually
Word; then the fulfillment of the promise is guaran- but also your physical body is made alive even now.
teed to us even though we may not see the results
immediately. Since you have the spirit from God within, you are
righteous; you are no longer separated from God.
When you belong to Christ, you are a son of God. After God gives all this, you then have a respon-
The moment you become a child of God, you be- sibility. He says you are to be renewed in your mind.
come heir to everything that God has made available.
Ephesians 4:23,24:
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Romans 8:17:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and And that ye put on the new man, which after
joint-heirs with Christ God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.
How can you then, as a Christian, talk negatively?
How can you continue to be full of fear? How can You are not only to be born again of the spirit
you go out in the community and act like you are from God, but you must change your thinking
defeated? You are not defeated. Satan has been patterns.
defeated and the power of God is in you today.
Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
Romans 8:11: whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
from the dead shall also quicken your mortal report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. praise, think on these things.
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A Christian’s Birth and Growth

Change what you put in your mind. To change the CHAPTER THREE
food you are sending to your mind is to “renew your
mind.” Think those things which are true, honest,
just, pure, lovely and of good report.

If you by your free will accept Christ as your

Savior and renew your mind according to The Word,
you will find that every word I have written to you is
true. I challenge you to stand upon the Word of God,
declare your authority in Christ and claim your How To Be A Christian
rights. The Amplified Version translates a verse in
Romans so vividly.
THE SEARCHER: For years I have tried to be a
Romans 10:11: Christian. I have tried and failed so many times that I
The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him am not going to try again because I have no faith left
– who adheres to, relies on and trusts in Him – to try.
will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
(The Amplified New Testament) THE TEACHER: What did you try and in what have
you lost faith?
Let us make our unqualified commitment; let us
confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised Him THE SEARCHER: I suppose I tried to get God in my
from the dead. We will never be disappointed. life, but I have been defeated so I have lost faith in
myself. You see, I really wanted to be a Christian, to
have God’s presence, guidance and help in life. I took
special instructions, I joined the church, I tried hard
to be a Christian; but in my heart I knew there was
no change. I went to the altar again and again and yet
I received nothing. I have sought and cried after God
so much and so many times that I feel that I am a
complete failure.

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth How To Be A Christian

THE TEACHER: Did you ever stop to think that way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us
salvation is a gift, that it is unnecessary for you to go all.”
anywhere to get it? You can find God anywhere and
miss Him everywhere. Do you realize that receiving God is describing you as well as the rest of us. You
salvation is not dependent upon what you do but have turned to your own way. That is why you are
what Christ Jesus did for you? Do you realize that to lost. But God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. You
be a child of God, to receive eternal life, to be saved, by your good works and efforts cannot save yourself.
converted, born again, is to receive something instead God simply laid your sins on Jesus. So far there is no
of giving something? requirement on your part, is there?

You become a Christian by receiving a gift from Notice John 3:16: “For God so loved the world,
the very heart of God directly to you. You, like so that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
many others, thought that receiving Christ depended believeth in him should not perish, but have ever-
upon what you gave up, what you surrendered, how lasting life.”
much sin you confessed. It doesn’t.
This is the Father, God, giving His Son as your
You become a Christian by believing that God substitute and requesting simply that you believe God
raised Jesus from the dead, by confessing Him as did this for you and that you claim Jesus as your
Lord in your life. Savior. He does not ask you to do a thing except to
believe and believing is acting upon what The Word
THE SEARCHER: Surely it can’t be as simple as says He did for you.
that. I thought and heard and was taught that I must
do certain things and give up other things. No, you have not sinned so much that Jesus cannot
save you. Notice His Word in Hebrews 7:25: “Where-
THE TEACHER: If that were true, then you would fore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
be earning your salvation; you would be working for come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
it. There is nothing in the Bible that indicates such a intercession for them.”
process. Look at Isaiah 53:6: “All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned every one to his own Jesus saves to the uttermost and as you notice

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth How To Be A Christian

there is still no work on your part except believing to raised from the dead. It’s easy to confess Jesus as
receive what He has done. Lord.

Romans 10:9 and 10 says, “That if thou shalt THE TEACHER: If you have confessed Jesus as
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt Lord, what does The Word say that you are?
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
THE SEARCHER: That I am saved.
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.”
THE TEACHER: Do you believe that God raised
Let us look at these verses closely. If you confess Jesus from the dead and have you confessed Jesus as
with your mouth Jesus as your Lord, you are acting Lord?
on your believing. You still have not done any works
for your salvation, have you? This is not hard to do, THE SEARCHER: I do believe and I have confessed.
is it? Your own way thus far has not been a happy But I never thought salvation was that easy to receive.
way, a way of joy and peace, nor a successful way. It I am a child of God now?
has been a way of hardship and defeat. Romans 5:1
says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have THE TEACHER: I John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
are justified in Him and we have peace with God. shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear ....
we shall see him as he is.”

Now God says that this is all yours and that He How do you know you are born again and a child
wants you to change from being the lord of your own of God?
life by yielding and confessing with your mouth Jesus
as your Lord.
THE SEARCHER: Because The Word says I am. I
believe God raised Jesus from the dead and I con-
THE SEARCHER: That’s easy for me to do. I know
fessed Him as my Lord, so The Word declares I am a
that God sent Jesus into the world and that He was
child of God.
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A Christian’s Birth and Growth How To Be A Christian

But what about having eternal life? God made Jesus to be sin that you might become
the righteousness of God in Him. If He became sin for
THE TEACHER: I John 5:13: “These things have I you and you accept Him as your Savior (your sub-
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son stitute), you are made the righteousness of God in
of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, Him now.
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God.” THE SEARCHER: Have all the gifts of God been
given so freely?
Do you believe on the name of Jesus?
THE TEACHER: Ephesians 2:8—10 says, “For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
THE SEARCHER: I most assuredly do. yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest
any man should boast. For we are his workmanship,
THE TEACHER: Then what have you? created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
THE SEARCHER: I have eternal life. Now I know
according to The Word I do not have to wait until I THE SEARCHER: I never dreamed that receiving
die to find out whether or not I have eternal life. I Christ could be as easy as that. I now know that I am
have eternal life now. a new creature in Christ, having eternal life now, and
that I am righteous before God, and Satan has no
But what about this righteousness of God that more power over me if I give him no place. How I
makes it possible for me to stand in His presence thank God through Jesus my new Savior and
without any sense of sin, guilt and defeat; do I have wonderful Lord!
that too?

THE TEACHER: Notice II Corinthians 5:21: “For he

hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him.”

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 CHAPTER FOUR

Your Power of Attorney

Every person in the world wants a good name.

People desire to be well thought of, and rightly so. I
want to have a good name, and I want people to
think well of me.

But many people’s names today are not respected.

A man says to you, “I'll pay you on such and such a
day.” When that day comes, he does not pay. Some-
one promises, “I’ll meet you at such and such a
time.” When that time comes, he is not there but has
left you waiting. Such a person’s name is not
respected because he has not put off lying.*

I know that Christ is in me† and I am in Him.**

*Ephesians 4:25: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man

truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
†Colossians 1:27: “To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory.”
**Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.”

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

No matter what people may say, no matter what enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
the world may say, my name is written in the Book of of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of
Life. But, in order for us to be able to help ourselves his inheritance in the saints,
and others, we must know more: we must know what
power we have. And what is the exceeding greatness of his
power to usward who believe, according to the
What is the power of attorney? What is it to have working of his mighty power,
the power of attorney in your life or in the life of the
Church? Do you know? The power of attorney is the Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him
legal right to use the name of the person who has from the dead, and set him at his own right hand
given you the power. This power is limited only to in the heavenly places,
the extent of the resources behind that name. If the
Church has been given the power of attorney, it has Far above all principality, and power, and might,
only as much power as is in the name of Jesus Christ. and dominion, and every name that is named,
If the name of Jesus Christ has power, and that name not only in this world, but also in that which is
has been given to you, then you have the power of to come:
attorney to execute in that name whatever resources
He has available. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave
him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 1:17:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. all in all.

The purpose that God had in mind in giving His All the individuals in the true Church (body of
name to us is set forth in Ephesians. believers) may claim the power in the name of Jesus
Christ. But before we study the power we have been
Ephesians 1:18-23: given, I want to show you three reasons for the power
The eyes of your understanding being in His name.
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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

First of all, Jesus inherited a more excellent name In the third place, Jesus acquired for Himself a
than any other name in heaven and in earth., He name above every name.
inherited it because He was the only-begotten of the
Father. This gave Him the legal rights of a first-born Ephesians 4:8:
son. He is greater than any of the angels or any other Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on
individual human being who has lived or who will high, he led captivity captive ....
ever live. In God’s presence, next to Jesus Christ
stand the believers. Did you know that? Colossians 2:15:
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he
Romans 8:17: made a shew of them openly, triumphing over
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and them in it.
joint-heirs with Christ
Jesus achieved these things. He acquired this name
by His conquest of sin, by His conquest of the devil,
Jesus said, “I came from the Father,” and another
hell, sickness and disease. He acquired an exalted
time He said, “My Father and I are one. He who has
name because of His achievements.
seen me has seen the Father.” Remember? Jesus
inherited a wonderful name.
The power which Jesus acquired is the legal right
of every born-again believer. But for a believer to
Secondly, God gave Jesus a name, a name which is manifest Christ’s power in his life, he must renew his
above every name. mind according to the Word of God.

Philippians 2:9,10: Romans 12:2:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
and given him a name which is above every transformed by the renewing of your mind, that
name: ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God.
That at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, We must make our minds think as The Word
and things under the earth. dictates so we may prove the will of God.

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

In order to understand the power in the name of longing to a church or by attending church on
Jesus Christ that is ours, I will take you directly into Christmas and Easter. We must be saved by confessing
the Word of God. the Lord Jesus Christ and by believing that God
raised Him from the dead.*
Matthew 1:21:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt Acts 2:38:
call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
from their sins. baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
The prophecy says this child’s name shall be Jesus. receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus means “Savior.”
John 14:13,14:
Matthew 1:23: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name [There
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall is that wonderful name again.], that will I do,
bring forth a son, and they shall call his name that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

His name means “He is our Savior,” and God is The blessing of using the name of Jesus Christ
with us through Him as you can be with me through belongs to us because we belong to the Body of
your children. Christ, the Church. Paul said, “I pray that God may
open your understanding so that you will see some of
the riches of the inheritance of the saints in the
Acts 4:12: precious name РJesus.Ӡ
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among *Romans 10:9,10: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
men, whereby we must be saved. Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
There is no other name but Jesus Christ whereby †Ephesians 1: 18: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that
we can be saved. We cannot be saved by just be- ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints.”

48
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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

In Acts 3 again we note the mighty name of Jesus Acts 16: 16-18:
Christ on the day Peter and John came to the temple And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a
and spoke to the man at the gate who was begging for certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divina-
alms. Did Peter and John go down on their knees and tion met us, which brought her masters much
plead with God for an hour to heal the man? No. gain by soothsaying:
What does the record say?
The same followed Paul and us, and cried,
saying, These men are the servants of the most
Acts 3:6,7:
high God, which shew unto us the way of salva-
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but
tion.
such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being
grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted
thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of
him up: and immediately his feet and ancle
her. And he came out the same hour.
bones received strength.

What power the Church has today in the name of

In the name of Jesus Christ there is power. Acts Jesus Christ! We need to claim that power. Today’s
says that the man stood up and walked as the Church has never used the power of His name to any
disciple took him by the hand. great extent; and without using it, the Church can
never manifest power. In the name of Jesus Christ the
sick are healed. In the name of Jesus Christ devils are
Acts 3:16: cast out. In the name of Jesus Christ people are freed
And his name through faith in his name ... hath from mental bondage. What a wonderful privilege and
given him this perfect soundness in the presence power the Church has.
of you all.
Philippians 3:10:
Paul used the mighty name of Jesus as recorded in That I may know him, and the power of his
Acts 16 to deliver another enslaved person. resurrection ....

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

What a joy it is to belong to the, Church. When we In other words, all your needs are guaranteed to be
belong to the Church, we belong to the greatest and supplied by Christ Jesus.
most powerful body in the world; there is nothing
like the Church anywhere. The Church has such great I Corinthians 6:11:
power that even the gates of hell cannot prevail And such were some of you: but ye are washed,
against it. That is why the devil cannot harm the but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the
people of the Church when they know the name of name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our
Jesus Christ and use that name, believing in it. Can God.
you see why our prayers must be answered when we
believe that Christ is in us? We can receive anything You have been washed and sanctified, and you
from God that He has promised in The Word if we have been justified in His name; but you must receive
only know and believe it. Everything that has been it before you will manifest it. Isn’t that wonderful!
revealed in The Word we can thank God for, and, if We have all power in that name. We have the power
we believe, it will come to pass. of attorney that when we use the name of Jesus
Christ, powerful, positive things must happen.
Colossians 3:17:
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in Hebrews 13:15:
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of
God and the Father by him. praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips giving thanks to his name.
Ephesians 5:20:
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and James 5:14,15:
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is any sick among you? let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over
Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
giving thanks always. Lord:

Philippians 4:19: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
But my God shall supply all your need the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Your Power of Attorney

Do elders in the Church have power? Elders have Now that you know you have the power of
power to move the very gates of hell! The Word says attorney, use it! What value is it to you to have
so. money in the bank if you do not know you have it?
It is the same situation as when we have all the power
I John 3:23: in the name of Jesus Christ and we do not realize it.
And this is his commandment, That we should We have Christ in us, so we have the power of
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and attorney. In the name of Jesus Christ activate that
love one another, as he gave us commandment. power and live the more abundant life.

We should love one another because of the name of

Jesus Christ.

The Church has the power of attorney, the right to

use the name of Jesus Christ. I have shown you the
Scriptural passages teaching of the name of Jesus
Christ, showing the power that is behind that name.

Ask yourself honestly, “Do I have the power of

attorney?” You do have the right, the God-given
authority, to use the name of Jesus Christ and see
things come to pass. Yet for years and years people
inside the fellowship of believers have seen but few
positive results. Why? Just to say the name of Jesus
Christ is not all that is necessary; you must believe
that when you are saying it things will come to pass.
All power is energized by believing and it is up to you
to operate believing. Believing is action. You must
know what the Word of God says, and then act upon
that Word. As you hear The Word and act upon it,
God will answer your requests.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

Key To Power
When God created Adam and placed him in the
garden of Eden, He gave Adam certain legal rights.
These legal rights were not Adam’s by nature, not
innate rights. These legal rights were conferred rights.
Whenever you receive conferred rights, you not only
have the privilege and opportunity of having them,
but also the possibility of their forfeiture.

God conferred upon Adam the authority and

power to rule the earth with all its creatures.* Thus
God limited Himself by giving that legal responsibility
to Adam. Among other legal rights which God con-
ferred upon Adam were the rights to perfect love, to
complete joy, to happiness, to perfect health. The
right of everlasting life was another conferred right.

Adam – or man in general – not only had certain

*Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

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A Christian’s Birth and Growth Key To Power

conferred rights, but he also had natural rights. These enticing offer to sin; however, through freedom of
natural rights cannot be forfeited. Unlike a natural choice, he took his conferred rights, the rulership of
right, you can use a legal right in whatever way you the earth, and gave them to Satan. With that decision
choose though you do not have the moral right to do man lost the legal rights God had given him, forfeiting
so. The legal right to use that which is conferred upon these rights to another.
you is absolutely yours. If I conferred upon a person
a college degree having certain rights and privileges, The original sin of man had legal consequences.
the person could take the power that is latent in that Adam had the right to transfer the authority and the
degree and use it for good or for evil, use it to benefit power and the dominion he had because God had
man or to harm man. conferred it upon him. But Adam committed treason
in doing so. Transferring to Satan, God’s archenemy,
This truth may be further illustrated by thinking in the power which God had originally conferred upon
terms of a court of law. A legal will wherein is Adam, was treason. Since that day, Romans 8:22
stipulated that a certain sum of money has been given records that “... the whole creation [earth] groaneth
to you is read in court. Would you then say that the and travaileth in pain together [even] until now.”
sum of money is yours? Yes, you would, because it
has been legally conferred upon you. After it has Sin and the consequences of sin were upon man
been conferred and you receive that sum of money, from that day when Satan received the legal right to
you may spend it wisely or foolishly, whichever you rule over man and over all the earth. Satan has a legal
choose. right now to rule over the unsaved men and over the
entire world. Thus when Adam sinned, Satan, who
Anything which is conferred upon man may be was the supreme enemy of God, obtained absolute
used well or poorly. When God gave Adam all the control over all that which God had originally given
privileges mentioned in The Word, God also conferred to Adam.
on Adam certain legal rights which in turn gave him
absolute control over the privileges granted him. The redemption of man from this fallen state was a
Adam took those legal rights and transferred by his most unique act. We must always remember that God
own willful decision the authority and power of those is absolutely just. When He makes a legal commit-
rights to Satan. Adam could have refused Eve’s ment, He honors it. When God conferred upon Adam

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certain legal rights and Adam transferred them to tried to frustrate the legal redemption plan by having
Satan, God had to recognize the transferred legal Herod execute a decree that all children two years
rights. and under throughout the entire province were to be
killed. Satan knew that if Jesus were to live and grow
God, being just, must of necessity redeem man on up, He would reclaim what man had lost and which
legal grounds to be just to Himself, to man and to were now the legal rights of Satan.
Satan. In order to accomplish this complete justice,
the Redeemer had to come to earth. This Redeemer Every step that God took through Jesus Christ was
had to be a man because it was man who had com- a step on legal grounds. Man’s redemption is on legal
mitted the original sin. grounds. Jesus met the just demands of God by being
human, yet believing perfectly the will of God. He
In order to complete all the requirements of met the demands of a just God for all sinners for all
justice, the Holy Spirit brought about the conception time. Hebrews 4:15 says that the Son of God “... was
of Jesus, who was to be the Christ. The child was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
born of a woman. He was absolute man, but the
power of Satan had no authority over Him for there Redemption included His crucifixion as I Peter
was no death within His body because the life in His tells us.
blood was sinless or pure and, subsequently,
incorruptible. I Peter 2:24:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body
At various places in the New Testament we read on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.* live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye
It could not cleanse had it not been clean, were healed.

The child Jesus was not a subject of death nor a Jesus paid the full legal price for man’s sin and the
subject of Satan. Satan knew God’s purpose and he consequences of sin.* He descended into hell (the

*1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have *Hebrews 9:1 2: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
cleanseth us from all sin.” eternal redemption for us.”

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grave), and sometime between the resurrection and On the grounds of Jesus’ complete victory, the
His appearance to Mary, in His resurrected body, He sinner today has a legal right to salvation, If Jesus
preached to the imprisoned spirits.* He legally broke Christ had not completed that just victory by being a
the chains of authority and power of Satan. Jesus man and defeating Satan and his power, there would
bought back what Adam had legally transferred to not be a person reading this book who could claim
Satan. Since the time of Christ’s resurrection and the salvation on legal grounds. Christ’s completed victory
giving of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, gives the born-again Christian legal rights.
Satan’s power and dominion over man are broken.
There is absolutely no control that Satan has or You have a legal right to eternal life because of
legally holds over any saved man. what Jesus did. You have a legal right to victory over
all sin and the consequences of sin. Everything that
man lost in Adam, Christ has legally redeemed for
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and took with mankind. You have a legal right today to a home in
Him the tokens of His victory over the devil. heaven. You have a legal right to use the authority of
the name of Jesus Christ in prayer in order to get
Ephesians 4:8-10: results.* You have a legal right to the Father’s pro-
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on tection, care and guidance. You have a legal right to
high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto be a son of God, a friend of God, an heir, yes, a
men. joint-heir with Christ Jesus in the family of God.†
You have a legal right to receive the indwelling
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he presence of the holy spirit. You have a legal right to
also descended first into the lower parts of the be changed at the second coming,** if you are alive
earth? at that time. You have a legal right to an immortal

He that descended is the same also that ascended *Philippians 2:10: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
up far above all heavens, that he might fill all of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.”
†Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-
things.) heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together.”
*I Peter 3:19: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in **I Thessalonians 4:17: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be
prison.” caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
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body * You have a legal right to an inheritance in go to God as sons appropriating, by believing, our
the new heaven and the new earth. This is only a legal authority and right. When I go to God in prayer,
portion of the legal rights because of what Jesus I know the promises of God and I believe God. God is
Christ did. He bought back and delivered to God faithful to His promises and I claim my legal rights
the full redemption of man. Jesus Christ pur- before Him as a son.
chased you, and His purchase was full and complete.
By His purchase we have legal rights which are a gift The moment a person confesses Jesus Christ as
of grace. Lord in his life, believing in his heart that God raised
Him from the dead, he becomes a son of God, being
Christians have a delegated authority today which born of His Spirit.* If we are sons, we are heirs.
God in Christ has given. But the Church has failed to According to Romans 8:17 we are joint-heirs with
claim and appropriate its just rights. The Church has Christ. We have a legal right to everything that Christ
not claimed its rights, power and authority because had, if we will believe. Everything Jesus did while
Satan has talked us out of it. My friend the late Rufus here upon earth we may do, and more, if we believe.†
Mosley used to say, “God is all the time trying to do This is a gift of God’s grace.
the best He can for you and the devil is all the time
trying to do the worst for you; the way you vote God will do what He said He would do. We have
determines the election.” believed so many things which Satan has said, but we
have believed so little of what God has said. How
There is only one good power in the world – the often God makes a promise in The Word saying He
power of God. Satan also has power, but only will do so and so, but we do not believe a word of it.
destructive power which he can use when people A friend makes us a promise and we believe every
permit him to rule them. word; but when God gives us promises in the Bible,

Because of our legal rights in Christ Jesus, we do *Romans 10:9,10: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
not approach God like a beggar asking for food. We the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
*1 Corinthians 15:52,53: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at salvation.”
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised †John 14:12: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me.
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” he do; because I go unto my Father.”

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we say, “Oh, no, that cannot be true. That was all Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
right for the spiritual men like the apostles, but not robbery to be equal with God:
for Christians like me.” Chapter and verse please to
back up such a statement! But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made
Christ has delegated His authority to the believers in the likeness of men:
who make up the Church, the saints of the household
of faith. If the Church fails to assume its respon- And being found in fashion as a man, he
sibility and its delegated opportunities, God’s power humbled himself, and became obedient unto
and authority are paralyzed. God has moved in Jesus death, even the death of the cross.
Christ. Jesus Christ moved to regain legal rights for
man Now it is man’s move in the authority and Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
power delegated to him by Jesus Christ for Satan has and given him a name which is above every
no legal rights over the converted, born-again man. name:

Romans 6:14: That at the name of Jesus every knee should

For sin shall not have dominion over you .... bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth;
Satan, however, still has definite legal rights over
the sinner. The unconverted sinner legally belongs in And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
body and soul to the devil. But Christ has broken that Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
power for us who are born of His spirit and know His
power within us. I Corinthians 3:21 and 23:
... For all things are yours.
Note Christ’s authority and power.
And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Philippians 2:5-11:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ If I Corinthians 3:21 and 23 are true, then rise up
Jesus: like men of God and claim your believer’s delegated

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authority! The power and authority of Christ is deliverance from all the powers of the enemy. If you
delegated to us through the name of Jesus Christ. It is have one thousand dollars in the bank, you have the
His wonderful, matchless, powerful name, when legal right or authority to write a check for one
named from our heart and on our lips, that cancels thousand dollars. It does not take faith to do so. It
the forces of evil. We have a delivering Christ and His takes action and boldness.
authority is our authority to act in His name through
the Church He established. Unless we claim with action and boldness our
delegated rights we are tying God’s hands. God is
The words in Mark are true for every believer. limited to the extent of a man’s believing and
obedience. May I urge you to study God’s Word
Mark 16: 17-20: diligently so you will know what are your legal rights
And these signs shall follow them that believe; in Christ Jesus. This is the key to power.
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.

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them,

he was received up into heaven, and sat on the
right hand of God.

And they went forth, and preached every where,

the Lord working with them, and confirming
the word with signs following. Amen.

A believer’s delegated authority is the legal right of

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 CHAPTER SIX

Fellowship Is The Secret

The principle key in a successful Christian life is

fellowship with the heavenly Father. Christians
manifest the more abundant life in direct proportion
to the fellowship they keep with Him. But before a
person can have fellowship he must have sonship. We
cannot have fellowship with the Father until we have
become His sons. Sonship makes us righteous before
God and starts us out in perfect fellowship with our
Father; but sustained fellowship depends upon the
renewing of our minds according to His Word.*

What happens when a person becomes a child of

God and is born into the family of God? At the time
of rebirth, the believer is made absolutely and com-
pletely righteous – as righteous as Jesus Christ

*A believer has both standing and state In the household of God. His
standing remains constant – he always stands as a son. But the state of
this believer varies directly with his behavior, that is. his living in fellow.
ship according to The Word.

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Himself. Our righteousness is the righteousness of shall not come into condemnation; but is passed
God. This is given to us by the Father Himself. from death unto life.

II Corinthians 5:21:
This verse tells us what happens to believers
For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin
now – not what happens when we die. We have
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
everlasting life now,
the righteousness of God in him.

As believers, we have the righteousness of God. I was called to the hospital a while ago to see a
This is too marvelous to comprehend. Our standing as man supposedly dying of heart trouble. He was in an
Sons of the Father means that we are clothed in the oxygen tent with his life rapidly waning. The man
righteousness with which Christ Jesus clothed us, not was unsaved; but God is so great in His mercy and
of our works lest any man should boast, but of God’s grace that even the unsaved are healed. I ministered
grace and by divine favor. to him in the name of Jesus Christ for his physical
deliverance. The next day this man said, “If God is so
good to heal me, when I have done nothing but live
Oh, that we might believe and see! So many against His will and for the devil’s glory, I want that
Christians maintain that they have to wait until they God.” He accepted Jesus Christ as His personal Lord
die to find out if they have made heaven. The Word and Savior. The moment he confessed with his mouth
says that there is no waiting. Believers are righteous the Lord Jesus and believed in his heart that God
now. They will not come into judgment or con- raised Jesus from the dead, that moment this man was
demnation. saved and received eternal life. God gave him
righteousness which is remission of all sin thus placing
John 5:24: the delivered man in the “family of God” and in
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth fellowship with Himself,
my word, and believeth [hearing is not enough,
it must be accompanied with believing or cor-
Romans 8:1:
responding action] on him that sent me [the
There is therefore now no condemnation to
Father], hath [already has] everlasting life, and
them which are in Christ Jesus
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God, through Christ, has made us legal heirs with Fellowship with God as our Father is the secret to
Jesus Christ and sets us in perfect fellowship. Job spiritual happiness and power in our day-by-day walk
33:26 says, “... He restoreth unto man his righteous- on earth. Without fellowship we cannot bring forth the
ness” (literal translation). Thus a child of God at the fruits of the righteousness which we received
time of rebirth is restored in the Father’s presence from God. Fellowship makes the family life a happy
with the Father’s own righteousness. In the family of one. Broken fellowship does not break the family
God every believer has the legal standing of a son. To relationship, but it takes the happiness out of the
say, as sons, that we are unworthy or unfit or to not relationship. If your son disobeys you, he is still your
forgive ourselves when God has forgiven us, to con- son; it is the fellowship between the two of you
stantly confess our weakness and inability, to deny which has been injured.
our perfect righteousness in Him, is to deny God, His
Word and His power. Many believers are denying Fellowship is the one thing that makes for a happy
what they received when they believed, and thus are situation both in a human and in a spiritual family.
critically limiting the ability of God in themselves. Fellowship with God by way of the renewed mind is
This is one of the major tricks Satan tries to work in the key to power; it is the only way to manifest the
every believer. more abundant life or to manifest that we are “more
than conquerors.” The mind, renewed according to
The believer is righteous according to the Word of The Word, may stay in fellowship with God and
God, but the believer must, as I John 1:7 says, express the results of the union. John 15:5 says, “I
“... walk in the light, as he [God] is in the light ...” to am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in
maintain the fellowship, not the relationship, of a me [renews his mind according to The
son. The believer must walk in the light, walk as God Word] ... bringeth forth much fruit ....” Not renewing
leads, bring his body and soul into subjection to The the mind, which is not living as The Word directs, is
Word by way of renewing his mind. Renewing the broken fellowship. Broken fellowship does not break
mind to The Word and thereby living as God’s Word the family relationship between God and His son, but
says we should keeps us in fellowship. Our sonship it clouds and mars the relationship, robbing it of its
cannot be challenged because it is dependent upon blessings and powers.
God and His finished work in Christ Jesus. But our
fellowship depends upon our walk before God. When a son is out of fellowship with God, he is not

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able to get prayers answered. God is not unwilling to me, who can be against me?” So, he talked to Father
answer His son’s request, but the broken fellowship saying, “God, you helped me to design this radio, you
on the part of the son leaves his confidence in God gave me the desire and the thoughts; therefore, I also
shaky and uncertain. now surrender the production to you, I relinquish my
hurt feelings regarding it and I am sorry I have been
I John 3:21,22: so negative.” Within two days the newly-designed
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have radio was in production. The result was amazing. The
we confidence toward God. usual number of rejects in the first 1,500 radios is five
per cent or more; however, this particular production
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him .... had fewer than four per cent on the first 1,500 radios
and less than two per cent by the time production
Whenever and wherever sons fail to get prayers had reached 3,000.
answered the cause is broken fellowship, either from
not knowing or not living The Word. God is faithful When a son of God is out of fellowship with his
who has promised and He will bring it to pass; thus, if heavenly Father, nothing will work; but when fellow-
it does not come to pass it is due to a flaw on the ship is restored, things begin to operate.
man’s part.
Broken fellowship takes the zest out of Christian
A radio-design engineer employed by one of the living. When a son is in fellowship with his earthly
larger manufacturers of radios told me about his most father, he will enjoy rights and privileges; but when
recent experience in believing God. He had designed he is out of fellowship, he will be miserable and
a new radio and had given instructions for its produc- defeated. Likewise, a son of God out of fellowship
tion when one of the prominent men of the company will be miserable and defeated.
came to him saying, “You certainly don’t know much
about designing radios if you think that new design We must maintain fellowship if we want the power
will work in production.” This upset my friend and of God manifested in our day-by-day living. The more
for seven days he was negative and resentful, and the abundant life – our deliverance from the power of
production of the new design was at a standstill. Satan in this world – depends upon keeping the
Finally, he came to himself and said, “If God is for established fellowship with God.

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The Epistle of I John dramatizes a son’s relation- ship], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
ship and fellowship with God: How to maintain in us [in our minds].
fellowship and what to do when fellowship is broken
and needs to be reestablished. If we confess our sins [broken fellowship], he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins [broken
fellowship], and to cleanse us from all
I John 1:3-2:2: unrighteousness [every sin is unrighteous].
and truly our fellowship is with the Father,
and with his Son Jesus Christ. If we say that we have not sinned [broken
fellowship], we make him a liar, and his word is
And these things write we unto you, that your not in us [in our minds].
joy may be full. [Fullness of joy in a Christian’s
life depends upon keeping the fellowship with My little children, these things write I unto you,
God unimpaired.] that ye sin not [it is God’s will that we do not
get out of fellowship]. And if any man sin
This then is the message which we have heard of [breaks the fellowship], we have an advocate
him, and declare unto you, that God is light,
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
and in him is no darkness at all.
And he is the propitiation for our sins [broken
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and
fellowship]: and not for ours only, but also for
walk in darkness [out of fellowship is walking
the sins [broken fellowship] of the whole
in darkness], we lie, and do not the truth:
world.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, God’s will for every believer is set forth in I John
we have fellowship one with another [because 2:6 where it is written, “He that saith he abideth in
we as believers are in Christ], and the blood of him [God by Christ Jesus] ought himself also so to
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin walk, even as he [Jesus Christ] walked.”
[wherever we are out of fellowship].
The deeper we get into The Word and the deeper
If we say that we have no sin [no broken fellow- The Word gets into us, the richer and fuller becomes
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our fellowship. To walk in fellowship is to walk in CHAPTER SEVEN

love for “God is love.” Fellowship is our continued
relationship with God. Sonship is God’s permanent
relationship with us. Fellowship is maintained only
by renewing the mind according to His Word.
According to Romans 12:2, “... Be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind.” Philippians 2:5 says,
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ What is True Worship?
Jesus ....” Also Colossians 3: 16, “Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly ....”
I am sure that you have asked yourself many,
To the extent that The Word richly dwells in us we many times as you’ve observed different religious
have fellowship with God. To the extent that we groups, different churches, different denominations,
believe and act according to God’s Word, our lives just what is worship? Some churches have altars, they
will be full, rich and fruitful because our fellowship have candles, incense, holy water; other denomina-
with God is strong. We then have confidence toward tions have no symbols at all. You have certainly
God. When we know and live His Word we are doing noticed so many variations that you have thought
His will. many times, “If that’s the way they worship, why
does another group worship so differently?” Each
group may have a kernel of truth, but such diversity
of religious ritual among Christian believers cannot all
be in alignment with The Word.

What is true worship? The verses that are critically

important to understand are spoken by Jesus in
John 4.

John 4: 22-24:
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what
we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
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But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true The question is not what anybody thinks, but what
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit does The Word say? There have been so many ideas
and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to brought to Christianity that it is often difficult for
worship him. even Biblical scholars to distinguish between that
which is genuine and that which is counterfeit. In
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must other words, it is hard to separate that which is truly
worship him in spirit and in truth. Christianity from that which is religion. Religion is
what man has introduced. There is much religion in
so-called Christianity, but Christianity does not
Jesus said, “Ye worship ye know not what . ..” I
literally have one ounce of religion in it. Unless you
believe that is true for most people. Everybody
know the difference between religion and
worships. The question is: Are we worshipping
Christianity, you will become very confused.
rightly? Do we know what, how or why we worship?
Christianity, in a nut shell, is what God wrought in
Christ. Christianity is Christ in you, the hope of
Jesus said about worship that “the hour cometh ... glory.
when the true worshippers shall worship the Father
in spirit [The word “in” is the same Greek word The Bible teaches that God is Spirit and that we
translated “by,” “by spirit.”] and in truth.” Worship are to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Jesus told
the Father how? You shall worship Him not by this truth when He spoke to the Samaritan woman. In
candles, not by altars, not by Bible reading, not by John 4:20 the woman said to Jesus, “Our fathers
singing, but by the spirit. “... In spirit and in worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in
truth ...” is the figure of speech hendiadys: two nouns Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
used but one thing meant. “Spirit” is a noun and Jesus replied in verse 21, “... Woman, believe me, the
“truth” is a noun, the double noun being used to hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain,
doubly emphasize that it is spiritually true, or truly nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” How then
spiritual. The Father seeketh a true worshipper to shall He be worshipped?
worship thus – in spirit and in truth. If we can find
out what it is to worship God by the spirit, we know Philippians 3:3:
how to truly worship. For we are the circumcision, which worship God

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in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have God’s Spirit, whose children are they? God’s! In
no confidence in the flesh. God’s sight they are equally precious.

This is true worship. The called-of-God are those There are many things going on under the guise of
who “worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Christianity which are nothing more than having
Jesus.” “confidence in the flesh.” But we truly have our
confidence in what God wrought in Christ Jesus.
We rejoice in Christ Jesus, not in Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus made us presentable to worship God.
There is a great difference. We do not rejoice in the
humiliated one, Jesus, but in the glorified Christ. Our Colossians 1:12:
rejoicing, our worshipping is in the resurrected Christ. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made
Our rejoicing is not in that Jesus who was spit on or us meet [adequate] to be partakers [to share
slapped or persecuted or derided. We rejoice that He fully] of the inheritance of the saints in light.
was more than a conqueror, that He overcame and
ascended up into heaven, that He is seated at the right Matthew 15 gives an account of worship, but again
hand of God and that on the day of Pentecost He it is not true worship.
sent “... forth this, which ye now see and hear,” as
stated in Acts 2:33. Rejoice about Christ Jesus, the Matthew 15:6-9:
humiliated one who has been resurrected and has Thus have ye made the commandment of God
ascended into glory. of none effect by your tradition.

To worship is to rejoice in Christ Jesus for what He Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you,
did, not what we do because the flesh is weak. Do not saying,
judge men by the flesh. Have no confidence, trust,
reliance nor believing in the flesh. The flesh is so weak This people draweth nigh unto me with their
that John 6:63 says, “... the flesh profiteth mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but
nothing ....” When we have confidence in the flesh, their heart is far from me.
we may assess one man to be better than another on
the basis of appearance. Yet, if men are born again of But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men.
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Did their worship look genuine? Did they go And he said unto them, Full well [with full
through religious ritual? Judging by the flesh, we knowledge] ye reject the commandment of
would have given them the stamp of approval. But God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
what did the Lord say? “In vain they do worship
me.” Why did they worship in vain? Because they What kind of worship is this? Vain worship. Simply
were “... teaching for doctrines the commandments performing the traditions of men, a hollow act.
of men.”
Romans 1:25:
Another example of vain worship is recorded in Who [people] changed the truth of God into a
Mark. lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator
Mark 7:5-9:
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why They worshipped man more than they worshipped
walk not thy disciples according to the tradition God. Vain worship has been going on for a long time.
of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen The children of Israel wandered from God and
hands? worshipped in vain. In Acts 7 and Revelation 9 the
children of Israel rejecting the preaching of their man
He answered and said unto them, Well hath of God, Moses, and worshipping devil spirits is re-
Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is corded.
written, This people honoureth me with their
lips, but their heart is far from me. Acts 7:40-47:
Saying unto Aaron, [the children of Israel said
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching to Aaron], Make us gods to go before us: for as
for doctrines the commandments of men. for this Moses, which brought us out of the land
of Egypt, we wot [know] not what is become
of him.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye
hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots And they made a calf in those days, and offered
and cups: and many other such like things ye sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works
do. of their own hands.

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Then God turned, and gave them up to worship of their hands, that they should not worship
the host of heaven [devil spirits]; as it is written devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass,
in the book of the prophets, O ye house of and stone, and of wood: which neither can see,
Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and nor hear, nor walk.
sacrifices by the space of forty years in the
wilderness? Worshipping the devil and devil spirits and every-
thing related to them is worshipping in vain. Satan
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and tried cajoling even Jesus Himself into worshipping in
the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye vain.
made to worship them
Matthew 4:8,9:
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the Again, the devil taketh him [Jesus] up into an
wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all
Moses, that he should make it according to the the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
fashion that he had seen. them;

Which also our fathers that came after brought And saith unto him, All these things will I give
in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
whom God drave out before the face of our
fathers, unto the days of David; The greatest victory for the devil would have been
to have Jesus worship him. As human beings, we have
Who found favour before God, and desired to two, and only two, alternatives of worship – the true
find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. God and the devil. If we worship the true God in. spirit
we rejoice in Christ Jesus, we have no confidence in
But Solomon built him an house. the flesh. If things surrounding us look black and so-
ciety seems worse and worse, do not get excited, but
Revelation 9:20: stand on the promises of God and worship God in
And the rest of the men which were not killed spirit and in truth. No good end can come to those
by these plagues yet repented not of the works who worship anything but the true God.
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Revelation 19:20: I Corinthians 14:2:

And the beast was taken, and with him the false For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue
prophet that wrought miracles before him, with speaketh not unto men, but unto God ....
which he deceived them that had received the
mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his Speaking in tongues is speaking the “wonderful
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of works of God.”
fire burning with brimstone.
Acts 2:11:
This destruction can easily be avoided; we must Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in
worship God. our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Speaking in tongues is “magnifying God.”

Revelation 22:9:
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I
Acts 10:46:
am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the
For they heard them speak with tongues, and
prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of
this book: worship God. magnify God...

Speaking in tongues is praying perfectly.

How are we going to worship God by the spirit if
we are not born again of God’s Spirit? It is impos- Romans 8:26:
sible. If we are born again of God’s Spirit, filled with Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
the power of the holy spirit, we can worship the true for we know not what we should pray for as we
God by the spirit. And to worship by the spirit we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
must operate a manifestation of the holy spirit. The for us
manifestation of the spirit which produces true
worship is speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is giving thanks well.

When we worship God by way of speaking in I Corinthians 14:17:

tongues, it is “speaking unto God.” For thou verily givest thanks well ....

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Speaking in tongues is worshipping “in [by] Spirit CHAPTER EIGHT

and in truth.” Speaking in tongues is true worship.
God who is Spirit is communicating to his gift of holy
spirit which is His new creation in me. In other
words, God’s Spirit speaking to my spirit as evidenced
by speaking in tongues is truly worship. How
beautiful and yet how misunderstood worship has
become.
The Believer’s Responsibility

Believers during all eras of history have had the

opportunity and responsibility of witnessing to
the Word of God. We of the Church Age have
our specific “assignment” too. In Philippians 2 the
Apostle Paul reveals to us what the condition of the
world is and what our responsibilities toward it are.

Philippians 2:15,16:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons
of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the word of life ....

This passage is addressed to the Church. Believers

are able to live blameless and harmless lives because
they are the sons of God.
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What circumstances does God say surround His believer’s opportunity and responsibility to hold
sons? They live “in the midst of a crooked and forth The Word in a crooked and perverse world.
perverse nation.” As believers, we are right in the
middle, set like a hub, with every opportunity to In order to effectively hold forth the Word of Life,
shine as lights in a contorted and distorted world. we as believers must first know and then practice the
knowledge told in II Corinthians 5.
In order to shine as lights, we must first know the
light which is found in Christ and in the knowledge of II Corinthians 5:17:
God’s Word. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
John 12:46: things are become new.
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever
believeth on me should not abide in darkness. I was taught to believe this Scripture meant that
when Christ came within a man then that person was
Christ was that light but now we are as shining a new creature. This is not at all what verse 17 of
lights holding the Word of God forth as it is in truth II Corinthians 5 says. Read it again. “Therefore if any
the Word of Life. You need not ask a person if he is man be in Christ [in Christ] ....” This verse does not
saved. The Word says to simply hold forth the Word say anything about Christ being in a man, as does
of Life that they may see. The Word is in itself the Colossians 1:27: “... Christ in you [in you], the hope
witness. of glory.”

Think of the privilege that is ours even to reach The miracle of the new birth means Christ in you.
one person in a lifetime with the gospel of Light. The However, Christ in you does not automatically put
person we reach may be a key person in a community Him in your mind, you in Christ, you in fellowship.
or in a whole area. The person you reach for Christ Romans 12:2 states that we ourselves have to put on
may be the one person who will in turn win hundreds Christ and God’s Word in our minds: “be ye trans-
of thousands. Someone once witnessed to and won formed by the renewing of your mind.” Philippians
the great religious saints of all times; yes, someone 2:5 stipulates, “Let this mind be in you, which was
who was holding forth the Word of Life. It is a also in Christ Jesus.”

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II Corinthians 5:17 is speaking about the believer And all things [when we have renewed our
who has renewed his mind, who has been transformed minds, when we are in Christ] are of God, who
by the renewing of his mind according to the Christ hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,
who lives within. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of recon-
he is a new creature.” It is one thing for God to abide ciliation.
in you, it is quite another thing for you to abide in
Christ. When you are in Christ, when you have put
Christ in your mind, then you have power in manifes- We are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ. We lost
tation. our spiritual connection with God by way of Adam.
Because of Adam’s disobedience, sin passed on to all
John 15:7: men for all are dead in trespasses and sin. But Jesus
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, came and repaired the broken line; Jesus made the
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done proper connection again. “All things are of God, who
unto you. hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and
hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
You become a new creature as you renew your
mind according to The Word. “Old things [in the
mind] are passed away.” Old desires, old longings and Once we are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ,
old temptations disappear. “Behold, all things are then God gives to us the ministry of reconciliation.
become new.” Then our job as believers is to reconcile.

II Corinthians 5, after telling us as believers to What does the word “reconcile” mean? It means to
renew our minds, tells first of our being reconciled to bring back together that which has been separated.
God and then of our responsibility to witness to all God has given to you as a believer that ministry of
men. bringing back to Him those people who are removed.
Our responsibility is to tell of the great opportunities
II Corinthians 5: 17,18: every man has in Christ Jesus. We are to simply show
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new forth the love of God; show people that Jesus Christ
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all died for them and was resurrected over nineteen
things are become new. hundred years ago. We must demonstrate the power
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of God, manifest what a believer has in Christ, show God laid all our sins and all the sins of every other
how great Christ is. That is the ministry of reconcilia- person on Jesus. The believer’s great responsibility is
tion. What a ministry we have! the ministry of reconciliation – putting back
together that which has been broken or separated –
II Corinthians 5:19: between God and man. We are to hold forth the
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the Word of Life to all, for all have gone astray. We have
world unto himself, not imputing their tres- already been reconciled to God; now it is our
passes unto them; and hath committed unto us responsibility to hold forth His Word “in the midst of
the word of reconciliation. a crooked and perverse nation.” When we hold forth
the Word of Life, we shine as lights in the world. This
When Christ abides in your heart, you have the is our ministry of reconciliation. This is our
ministry of taking His Word and reconciling people to responsibility.
God.

Isaiah tells of the dire need of people to be brought

back to God.

Isaiah 53:6:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

“All we like sheep have gone astray.” Everyone at

one time is lost. Reason: “We have turned every one
to his own way.” We lost the way because we have
turned to our own way. God had to do something
about the dilemma into which we got ourselves so He
reconciled us to Himself through Christ Jesus. How?
By “laying on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.”

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 Part III

A Christian’s
Power Base
 Part III
A Christian’s Power Base
In a previous chapter entitled “What is True
Worship” we studied briefly what Part III, “A
Christian’s Power Base,” looks at with more detail.
With a power base we as Christians don’t have to
settle for life’s “pot luck”; we can appropriate the
desires of our hearts by exercising the potential
power which God has given.

But before we can outwardly manifest that power,

we have to activate it. And the key to transforming
our potential power into active power lies in our
worship, specifically in our speaking in tongues.

The first chapter in this part explains and shows us

from the Bible what speaking in tongues is. Then the
explanation is followed by the do-it-yourself chapter,
“How to Speak in Tongues.” A full understanding of
the power of speaking in tongues comes in the
tremendous study of “Filled to Overflowing.” That
chapter is a Biblical study of two Greek words –

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pl‘roÇ and pl‘thÇ. The Word of God in a thrilling CHAPTER NINE

way tells us that we are not only filled to the brim
with the power of God, but we are filled to over-
flowing. Now is the time to tap into this power,
strength and abundance which can overflow into
every facet of our lives.
Speaking in Tongues

No one can go any further than he himself has

been taught, and a teacher can teach no more than he
knows. If you want to help someone else, first you
yourself must be helped; otherwise, the blind lead the
blind and they both stumble around. One of the
darkest spots of understanding in the Bible concerns
the Holy Spirit, both the Giver and the gift of holy
spirit. Let us no longer be blind. Let us study God’s
Word to understand His will.

First of all let us clarify that God is Holy Spirit.

When a person is born again, God gives to His new
son a gift. And since God is Holy Spirit, He can only
give what He is – holy spirit. To help distinguish
between God the Giver and His gift, the Giver, Holy
Spirit, is always capitalized while His gift, holy spirit,
is not.

A person receives the holy spirit when he confesses

Jesus as Lord and believes that God raised Jesus from

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the dead, as Romans 10: 9,10 directs. The gift of holy These different usages of speaking in tongues must be
spirit has nine parts or manifestations. I Corinthians kept distinct from each other. We must learn how to
12 lists these manifestations: (1) word of wisdom, operate speaking in tongues, and bring it forth
(2) word of knowledge, (3) faith, (4) gifts of healing, accurately from The Word.
(5) miracles, (6) prophecy, (7) discerning of spirits,
(8) tongues and (9) interpretation of tongues. In this Let us consider speaking in tongues inside the
study we want to specifically look at the manifesta- Church. The “Church” in the Word of God refers to
tion of speaking in tongues — when one speaks in the born-again Sons of God, filled with the power
tongues and why one speaks in tongues. from the Holy Spirit, and operating the manifesta-
tions of the spirit. In the Church speaking in tongues
A believer operating the manifestation of the spirit with interpretation by a believer is a message from
called tongues will be edified spiritually, spiritually God or for God to the body of believers to edify the
built-up. He can operate this manifestation in two group of people by way of exhortation and comfort.
situations: in public and in private. (1) The bulk of a “To exhort” means “to encourage to a more worthy
believer’s speaking in tongues is in his own private endeavor.” “To comfort” is “to give a quiet serenity,
life. As such, speaking in tongues in private will be a peacefulness and an acquiescence to the greatness of
prayer or praise to the Father and, therefore, is never the things God has to say.” Speaking in tongues with
interpreted. This prayer and praise is spoken of as its interpretation edifies the Church by encouraging
“praying in the spirit.” (2) A believer can speak in them and/or by comforting them.
tongues publicly in a believers’ meeting. When a
person publicly speaks in tongues, he must always This edification, this building up of the body of
interpret. A public message is never a prayer however; believers by means of speaking in tongues with inter-
it is a communication from God meant for the people pretation, is a direct message from God as if God
present. Both public and private speaking in tongues Himself is in the believers’ meeting. God is speaking
are called speaking to God. to His people. As we speak in tongues and interpret in
a believers’ meeting today, we receive God’s message
When you pray silently in the spirit you are to that particular gathering. What He wants for us
speaking in tongues. When you speak aloud in a tomorrow, we will find out tomorrow. We do not
believers’ meeting, you are also speaking in tongues. know now what the specific message is for the future,

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but we do know what the message is for this parti- in their private life and some even speak in believers’
cular day if we have ears to hear. meetings, but they do not believe to interpret.

Speaking in tongues privately and speaking in If these “unbelieving believers,” who do not
tongues plus interpreting publicly have two distinctly believe to interpret, spoke in tongues in the Church
different ways of edifying. The private message is a their spirit would be edified under such circum-
prayer which edifies the spirit of the speaker. The stances. Their speaking would not be a message from
public message is a communication which edifies the God to the people because if it were, it would have to
minds of the people present, including the speaker. be interpreted.
Now, is a person who speaks in tongues and interprets
in a believers’ meeting edified in his spirit? No. The
speaking in tongues in a believers’ meeting by one To understand this, you must understand the fore-
who also interprets does not edify that believer in the knowledge of God. Does God know before I speak in
spirit for the spoken message is from God to the tongues in a believers’ meeting whether or not I am
people, and the interpretation, in the language of the going to interpret? God knowing that I am going to
body of people present, is for the edification of the interpret when I speak in tongues gives a message to
body of believers. A public message with its inter- the people. Vice versa, God, knowing that I am going
pretation does not nourish the spirit of the speaker to speak in tongues but not interpret, inspires a
but rather edifies the minds of the congregated prayer, again, to edify the speaker’s spirit.
people.
In the body of believers, speaking in tongues with
The Word of God explicitly teaches that when a interpretation is always a message from God or for
person speaks in tongues in a believers’ meeting, he God to the people, and its interpretation will edify,
must interpret to edify the minds of the Body. How- build up, the body of believers in their renewed mind
ever, there are children of God who speak in tongues by way of exhortation and comfort. Not only are the
in a believers’ meeting but their believing or their minds of the believers encouraged and comforted, but
knowledge is not sufficient to inspire them to I Corinthians 14:22 tells that the given message is a
interpret. They are what I call “unbelieving sign to the unbeliever as well. These unbelievers are
believers.” They know that they can speak in tongues not the unsaved unbelievers, but rather the unbe-
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lieving believers. The word “unbeliever” is apistia.* I Corinthians 14:2:

The unbelieving believer needs this sign of hearing For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue
someone speak in tongues to know that there is speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no
power in believers, that believers do speak in tongues, man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he
and that believers do interpret. speaketh mysteries.

Praying privately to God in the spirit or giving a

message in tongues with interpretation in a believers’ The speaking is an unknown tongue to the speaker.
meeting are both called speaking in tongues. The The word “unknown” is in italics and need not be
reason for confusion of the two usages is that people there at all as it is redundant. “Tongues,” by previous
are looking for a way to break God’s Word. Why definition, means “unknown language.” “For he that
don’t we look for a way to build The Word rather than speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but
to tear it to pieces? We should believe in the unto God: for no man understandeth him ....” The
integrity of The Word and let The Word speak. Then word “him,” again, is in italics and, again, should be
we harmonize our lives and our believing with the deleted because “him” makes the Bible inaccurate.
record in The Word. We search The Word to see how Acts 2:6-11, telling of the twelve apostles’ receiving
the whole Word fits together precisely. the gift from the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,
says that the apostles spoke in tongues as the Spirit
In the Church, speaking in tongues must be done gave them utterance. The unconverted who heard
by believers who believe to interpret or it is not being them speak understood the tongues these twelve
used for the designed purpose which God intended. apostles were inspired to speak. The listeners reported
Those Christians who speak in tongues but who do not that these apostles were speaking “the wonderful
believe to interpret in a believers’ meeting are works of God.” Therefore we know that the speaking
simply speaking a prayer. These people are not to in tongues was understood on Pentecost – not by the
speak aloud in the Church but are to pray silently in men speaking, but by those who heard them speak.
tongues to themselves and to God.

*Apistia – unbeliever – having had some instruction and teaching but

What you say when you speak in tongues is God’s
not sufficiently to fully believe. business, but that you do speak is your responsibility.
Apeitheia – unbeliever – having been fully Instructed and taught but On the day of Pentecost, as always, what the speaker
refusing to believe. spoke was an unknown language to himself, but not
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A Christian’s Power Base Speaking in Tongues

necessarily to the listeners. On Pentecost a group of I Corinthians 14:4:

listeners understood Peter, another group understood He that speaketh in ... tongue edifieth
Matthew, and another group understood John, and so himself ....
on with the other apostles. The possibility for a
listener to understand the tongue is there, because In a believers’ meeting I do the speaking in
God giveth the utterance. The Holy Spirit, God, gives tongues, but as I speak God gives the utterance. Then
it, but you by your own will must do the speaking. I give the interpretation from God which will edify
the minds of the believers.
I Corinthians 14:2:
For he that speaketh in ... tongue speaketh not There are two basic ways whereby you may edify
unto men, but unto [Whom?] God your mind: (1) Study The Word and let it dwell
richly in your mind; and (2) Be in a believers’ meeting
where the speaking in tongues is interpreted, for the
Another point in this Scripture is that speakers interpretation will give knowledge to your mind that
speak to God. This does not negate the truth that the will exhort and comfort.
total message – tongues with interpretation – is
going to be a message from God or for God to the
people. Some may say that it is the man talking to When I bring forth a message in tongues with its
God only. Let me ask you a question. When you say interpretation, is my spirit edified? No. But, my
you spoke to the President on the telephone, what do mind, as well as the minds of other people present, is
you mean? You mean that when you spoke to him, edified. The mind of the Christian must be edified
he also talked to you. You did not do all the talking. because the mind – the thinking – makes a person
This truth here in The Word is the same. Speaking to what he is. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “For as
God is a two-way street. You talk to Him and He he thinketh in his heart, so is he ....”
talks to you. That is the essence of it.
When a man of body, soul and spirit speaks in
tongues in his private prayer life or in a believers’
Now, a point which must be studied and under- meeting and he does not believe to interpret, his
stood is that speaking in tongues in one’s private speaking in tongues will be a prayer or praise to God,
prayer life edifies the speaker. and it will edify the spirit of the man who speaks.
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That is why verse 4 of I Corinthians 14 stipulates, I Corinthians 14:5:

“He that speaketh in an ... tongue edifieth him- I would that ye all spake with tongues, but
self ....” When we speak in tongues without inter- rather that ye prophesied
pretation, we edify the spirit that is in us which is
called the inner man.
This is usually where people stop reading in order
to say that speaking in tongues in the Church is not
Now the problem that we run into is that some say very important. They would rather have a believer
the spirit of Christ in you is perfect, therefore, how prophesy. Most of the people who put forth this
can this speaking in tongues edify the spirit? Why argument never prophesy either. Do you see the
does the spirit in a Christian need edifying? The spirit trickery of Satan? He wants to belittle The Word,
is just like a baby which though perfect, still needs chop The Word to pieces. There is nothing that equals
nurturing. So it is with the spirit in you, you feed it speaking in tongues in your private life. This will
by speaking in tongues. build you up spiritually, whereas speaking in tongues
with boldness in a believers’ meeting with its interpre-
tation builds up the body of believers.
The underlying law involved in this whole matter
is that God is Spirit and can speak to spirit only. I Corinthians 14:5:
Almost every group confuses flesh and spirit because I would that ye all spake with tongues, but
they do not keep their Biblical principles straight. I rather that ye prophesied [in the Church]: for
know that the spirit is perfect. But Christians them- greater is he that prophesieth than he that
selves become spiritually stagnant. They do not keep speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that
refreshed because many do not edify their spirits by the church may receive edifying.
speaking in tongues. In your private prayer life your
spirit is edified, it is built up, it grows by speaking in
When the believer speaks in tongues and interprets,
tongues – not by interpretation, not by prophecy.
the Church receives edifying. In the spirit? No.
Where? In the mind. The interpretation is always in
Interpretation and prophecy build up the body of the language of the body of people present. This is
believers, not in their spirits but in their minds. why I Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophet-
sieth speaketh unto men ....” Why? Because
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prophecy is in the language of the body of people CHAPTER TEN

present. So if the congregation were German, the
prophecy would have to be in German.

I Corinthians 14:3:
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to
edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
How to Speak in Tongues
Therefore, when you speak in tongues and
interpret or prophesy, you and the other believers
present are edified by way of exhortation and Now that you know why one speaks in tongues
comfort. In your own private life who has to be and when one speaks in tongues, I know that you
blessed? You, the individual believer. In a believers’ would like to receive into manifestation the power of
meeting, however, everyone must be edified. the fullness of the Holy Spirit. I know that you
would like to speak the wonderful works of God and
I Corinthians 14:12: magnify God. To do this there is one thing you must
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of do and that is to believe God’s Word. Surely you do
spiritual gifts [things or matters], seek that ye believe God’s Word for what He has promised He is
may excel to the edifying of the church. not only willing to perform, but He is able to
perform. I can assure you upon the integrity of God’s
The word “gifts” is in italics and should be deleted. Word that when you speak in tongues you will be
The word “spiritual” is the word pneumatikos speaking the wonderful works of God and magnifying
meaning “things of the spirit.” We must be zealous God.*
for things of the spirit, whether privately for our own
selves spiritually or publicly for the minds of the entire Before you can tap any of God’s resources you
body of believers. Let all things be done unto must know, first of all, what is available. You know
edifying!
*Acts 2:11: “Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our
tongues the wonderful works of God”
Acts 10:46: “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify
God ....”
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speaking in tongues is available because the Word of Remember Acts 2:4 says, “And they were all filled
God says all born-again believers have the holy spirit with the Holy Ghost, and [they] began to speak ...”
within them, which is the ability to speak in tongues. They, the people, did the speaking.
Next you must know how to receive it, which is set
forth in the following paragraphs. Have you ever thought through the mechanics of
speech? You with your own vocal organs have to do
Let me unfold the keys to you and shortly you too the speaking. The same mechanics that are involved in
will be speaking the wonderful works of God. Acts speaking English or any other known language are
2:4 says, “And they were all filled with the Holy involved in speaking in tongues. For instance, if I say,
Ghost.” They were all filled, nobody was missed. “I love the Lord Jesus Christ,” what did I mechani-
Nobody ever gets missed if he has heard The Word cally do? I moved my lips, I moved my tongue, I
and if he believes it and then acts upon it. God is moved my throat, I made the sound and I had to
always faithful and nobody then can be passed over, think. All this is involved in the mechanics of speech.
Do exactly what I tell you to do down to the most
minute detail. You say audibly, “I love the Lord Jesus Christ.”
What did you do? You moved your lips, your throat
Paul in I Thessalonians 2:13, thanked God that and your tongue to speak. You formulated the words;
“when ye received the word of God which ye heard you pushed them out.
of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it
is in truth, the word of God.” You too must follow The only difference between speaking in tongues
God’s truth as told in the Word of God. But if you and speaking in English is that when I say, “I love the
think this is just Victor Paul Wierwille writing or Lord Jesus Christ,” I have to think. When I speak in
speaking to you, you will never receive. If you know tongues I do not think the words I speak. God gives the
that what I am saying to you are words which the words to my spirit, and I formulate them on my
Holy Ghost has spoken and is speaking to you by me, lips. I do not think the words, but they are there
then you too will manifest the greatness of the power when I move my lips, my throat, my tongue.
of God. If you will literally do what I ask you, then
you can manifest the fullness of the abundance of Believe to be very natural and at ease. You have to
God, the wonderful power of God. move your lips, your throat, your tongue; you push

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the air through your voice box to make the sounds. baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
You have to formulate the words, but the words you Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
speak, as in Acts 2:4, are as the Spirit gives you receive [lambanÇ,* ye shall manifest] the gift of
utterance. What you speak is God’s business, but that the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion].
you speak is your business. I make the sounds, but
This is for the Church Age in which you and I live.
the words that I speak are given to my spirit. God
When you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
gives the utterance, and they are words that magnify
and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you
His Name; they are speaking the wonderful works of
have the remission of sins.†
God. This is the greatness of the manifestation of
speaking in tongues. The Word says, “ye shall receive.” You are to
manifest in the senses-world the proof that you have
If you understand the mechanics of speaking in received spiritually. As you manifest, you speak the
English or in any other language that you know, then wonderful works of God; you magnify God.
you understand the mechanics of speaking in tongues.
If you are born again of God’s Spirit, the power is in John 7 tells us a great truth that you and I need to
you, but you have to do the speaking – not understand when we manifest forth the power of the
God – you do it. You will have no difficulty with Holy Spirit.
God; the only difficulty you will have is in your own
John 7: 37,38:
mind and your understanding of what you have to
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
do. You, not the Spirit, move your lips; you move
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
your tongue; you move your throat; you give the
words sound by the power of God that is in you. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
Thus you are speaking forth the wonderful, wonder- said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
ful works of God. How simple and beautiful it really water.
is.
*There are two Greek words for “receive” used in relation to receiving
the holy spirit. Dechomai means “to receive the inherent power and
Acts 2 is the order of action for the Church. ability.” LambanÇ means “to receive to the extent of outwardly
manifesting.”
†Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Acts 2:38: Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

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The word “belly” stands for the depth of the soul father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a
of a man. “Out of the innermost being of that man fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
shall flow rivers [not little streams] of living water.”
When you receive into manifestation the power from Suppose you had a son who was hungry and you
the Holy Spirit, you do not receive more spiritual had bread in your house, if he asked for it, would you
substance; you just receive into evidence, into give him a stone? I am sure you would not.
manifestation in the senses-world, what you already
spiritually have within. Manifesting the holy spirit Luke 11:12,13:
does not mean you have been given something new; Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a
you are simply manifesting to your senses what you scorpion?
have within. The gift is already in you. God gave you
the ability to speak in tongues when you were born If ye then [as fathers], being evil, know how to
again. The act of speaking in tongues is your respon- give good gifts unto your children: how much
sibility; you already have the potential. If you don’t more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
speak in tongues, it isn’t because God hasn’t given Spirit to them that ask him?
you the ability. God through His Son promised, “out
of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
The word “ask” is the same word as “demand.” Do
This is what Jesus Christ spoke and what He told you know why you can demand payment on a check?
the apostles before He ascended. Out of their belly, Because the money behind it is already in the bank.
out of their innermost being, would flow rivers of All you have to do is walk up to the cashier’s window
living water. So when you begin to speak in tongues, and ask for the money for that check. “How much
you formulate the words, you speak forth the words more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
and let them bubble, let them flow freely, not trickle. to them that ask [demand it of] him?” Why can we
When you start speaking in tongues, let it flow with demand the holy spirit? Because it already has been
one sound right after the other. That is what The given to us.
Word says and that is what it means.
Luke 11:11: I want to call one more thing to your attention.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a The fullest cargoes of life come in on quiet seas.
When the oceans are rough, the ships lay out in the
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deep; but when the oceans quiet down, the great breathe in. He opened His mouth wide and He
cargo ships come into the harbor. The greatest breathed in.* In a moment I want you to open your
cargoes of our spiritual life come in over our quiet mouth wide and breathe in.
inner seas. One of the things that the Word of God
has done to me is to give peace to me on the inside so While you are sitting, follow this instruction. Open
that I can receive the abundance of the power of the your mouth wide and breathe in. You are not going
fullness of God. to receive anything more spiritually; you are now
going to manifest the spirit’s presence. Just breathe
Galatians 3:5: in. Open your mouth wide. While you are breathing
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, in, thank God for having filled you with the fullness
and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by of the power of His holy spirit. Don’t beg Him; thank
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Him for it.

When you begin to speak in tongues, move your

How do I minister the holy spirit to people? Do I
lips, your throat, your tongue. Speak forth. When
do this by the hearing of faith? Yes! I do not do this
you have finished one sound, speak another. Do not
by the works of the law.
pay any attention to what you are thinking. You
formulate the words; you move your lips, your
I am ministering the holy spirit to you, teaching
throat, your tongue; you say it. You are magnifying
you exactly what to do. After you have read my
God no matter what the words sound like to your
instructions, I want you to close your eyes and sit
ears. It is your part to speak in tongues; it is God’s
quietly. Remember that when I have ministered the
part to give the utterance.
holy spirit to you, I want you to move your lips, your
throat, your tongue. You make the sounds. Keep moving your lips, your throat and tongue.
Formulate another sound. You have to formulate the
Sit quietly and do exactly as I instruct. Remember sounds differently on your lips. God has given them
the Word of God says in Job 29:23, “And they to your spirit. They are in your spirit coming on your
opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.” To tongue; you have to speak them out. You are
drink you have to open your mouth. In John 20:22 speaking the wonderful works of God; you are
Jesus instructed the apostles before the ascension to *See page 127 explanation of John 20:22.

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magnifying God; you are speaking in tongues. The You are speaking the wonderful works of God; you
external manifestation is your proof in the senses- are magnifying God. You have the proof now in the
world that you have Christ within. Get bold in it; let it senses-world that you have Christ within, that you are
flow out; let it effervesce. “Out of his belly shall flow a joint-heir with Him.
rivers of living water.” Keep on speaking. God is
giving the words to your spirit; your spirit is bringing In a moment I want you to speak again; to speak
them up to your throat, and you are bringing them once more so that you become fluent and confident
out. from experience. To learn another language by using
your mind would take months; but to speak in
“Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ and by the unknown tongues happens instantly. God knows the
power of God that is within me, I now minister the tongues, so He gives them to your spirit and you
fullness of your holy spirit into manifestation in this speak them forth.
believer’s life.” Breathe in deeply and now begin to
speak in tongues as I have just instructed you. Anybody who knows even the slightest bit about
languages knows that “beep, beep, beep, hoop, hoop,
hoop” would not be speaking in tongues. Speaking in
tongues is speaking a developed language. Now once
more I want you to speak in tongues. Just get quiet.
Move your lips, throat, and tongue, and start speaking
again. Keep on speaking. You are speaking the
wonderful works of God, magnifying God. You now
have proved to your senses that Christ is in you and
Isn’t God wonderful! that you have the power of the holy spirit. This is the
greatness of God’s wonderful power to you as a
If you can speak one word, you can speak ten believer.
thousand words; because if you can speak one word,
you have the power, the God-given ability, to speak
more. Every time you speak remember that you are
edifying yourself spiritually, building yourself up.

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 CHAPTER ELEVEN

Filled To Overflowing

Just before Jesus Christ ascended, as recorded in

John 20, He instructed His disciples about a new
dimension of their glorious walk which would come
to pass on the day of Pentecost.

John 20:22:
And when he had said this, he breathed on them
[The word “them” is incorrectly supplied in the
King James Version and should be deleted. The
word “on” is the word “in.” He breathed in]
and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
[The Greek text uses the words lambanÇ
pneuma hagion,* “bring into manifestation holy
spirit.”].

*The Giver is pneuma hagion, Holy Spirit; the gift is pneuma hagion,
holy spirit. For a detailed study of the usage of these two Greek words
in the Bible, as well as the Greek words lambanÇ and dechomai, read
pages 10-18 and 219—295 in the book “Receiving The Holy Spirit
Today,” Fifth Edition, by Victor Paul Wierwille (The Way, Inc., New
Knoxville, Ohio).

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At the first hour of prayer on the day of Pentecost Luke 1:57:

when the apostles “breathed in,” they confessed with Now Elisabeth’s full [pimpl‘mi, pl‘thÇ] time
their mouth the Lord Jesus believing God had raised came that she should be delivered; and she
Him from the dead, and thus were born again of brought forth a son.
God’s Spirit, and spiritually filled to capacity. The
word “receive,” lambanÇ, indicates that the apostles Elisabeth was plethÇ for she delivered the
manifested the gift they had just received spiritually child – the delivery is the overflowing.
in all of its overflowing fullness.
Colossians 2:9:
To be born of the Spirit – to be born again or to
For in him [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness
be born from above – is to be spiritually filled to
[plerÇma, from pl‘roÇ, full to capacity] of the
capacity (pl‘roÇ), while the fullness in manifestation of
Godhead bodily.
that birth is to be filled to overflowing (pl‘thÇ).
Salvation brings pl‘roÇ, a capacity fullness; mani-
Christ was filled to capacity with the fullness of the
festing the holy spirit brings pl‘thÇ, overflowing
Godhead. The fullness of God overflowing out of
fullness. This study is basically focused on pl‘roÇ and
Jesus Christ made it possible for Jesus to say, “He
pl‘thÇ which describe every facet of knowledge
that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Jesus Christ
available to us regarding the new birth.
declared the Father; He made known God. Jesus was
Pl‘thÇ is a later form of the word pimpl‘mi, a overflowing with God’s presence, power and Word
derivative of pleos. Both pl‘roÇ and plethÇ are and thereby declared God.
derivatives of the basic root word, pleos, which means
“filled.” Pimpl‘mi meant “to fill to capacity and Another example dealing with “being filled,”
overflow.” In Greek literature, pimpl‘mi is used of a besides the two Greek words pl‘roÇ and pl‘thÇ,
river overflowing its banks. It is also used in should help to clarify our subject.
describing the full moon when it is overflowing in all
of its brilliance. Pl‘roÇ means “to fill only to normal Matthew 5:6:
capacity,” like a river filled in its natural or normal Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
flow; pl‘thÇ means “to fill to overflowing in abun- after righteousness: for they shall be filled
dance.” [chortazÇ].

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Matthew 14:20: be baptized with [in] the Holy Ghost [holy

And they did all eat, and were filled spirit, the gift] not many days hence.
[chortazÇ] ....
The “baptized with holy spirit” is the filling of the
The word “filled,” chortazÇ, is the Greek word new birth, pl‘roÇ, filled to capacity.
used in both instances in Matthew. This kind of
“filling,” chortazÇ, has variations depending upon the Acts 1:8:
appetite of the individual being filled. But ye shall receive [lambanÇ, you shall over-
flow, pl‘thÇ, manifest] power, after that the
There is an illustration that teaches the new birth Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye [then]
and the manifestations very beautifully. Assume that shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
a glass represents the natural man; the liquid inside and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
the glass represents spirit. When the spirit comes in uttermost part of the earth.
(when a man confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus
believing God raised Him from the dead), this man of The overflow comes with the operation of the
body and soul is filled (pl‘roÇ) to normal capacity in manifestations of the spirit.
his whole being. This is the new birth filling, “he
breathed in.” Then “Receive ye [lambanÇ, receive to John 7: 38,39:
the degree of manifesting]” is to be filled (pl‘thÇ), He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
which is the overflowing fullness. Biblically, the said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
filling with the new birth (pl‘roÇ) is always to be water.
associated with the overflowing (pl‘thÇ) in manifes-
tation. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that
believe on him should receive [lambanÇ, receive
On the day of the ascension Jesus spoke to the into manifestation]: for the Holy Ghost was not
twelve apostles. yet given; because that Jesus was not yet
glorified.)
Acts 1:5:
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall The word “belly” in verse 38 is the figure of

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speech, metonymy,* meaning “innermost being.” And they were all filled [plethÇ] with the Holy
The word “flow” is reusousin from the root word Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
reÇ. The obsolete form of reÇ meant “to speak.” as the Spirit gave them utterance.
From this same root comes the word rh‘ma meaning
“that which is spoken.” “Out of his innermost being The word “filled” in verse 2 is pl‘roÇ, meaning
shall be spoken rivers (not trickles) of living water.” “filled to capacity.” As the disciples breathed in, the
sound of their breathing filled to capacity, pl‘roÇ,
This relates directly to the fullness (pl‘thÇ) of the the temple. The disciples were filled to capacity,
holy spirit as seen in verse 39. The giving of the gift, pl‘roÇ, as they breathed in because verse 4 says they
the new birth, the filling with the spirit, Christ in were all filled, pl‘thÇ, and began to speak (the over-
you, was on the day of Pentecost. flowing), one of the nine manifestations of the spirit.

The historical events of Pentecost, including the

If language would permit, God could have taken
new birth with its various overflowing attributes, are
the first four verses of Acts 2 and condensed them
recorded in Acts 2.
into one, for the new birth and the manifestations are
to be as one. The filling of the apostles of verse 2 is
Acts 2:1,2 and 4:
pl‘roÇ, the inherent, new birth filling; the filling in
And when the day of Pentecost was fully
verse 4 is pl‘thÇ, the external manifestation or the
[sumpl‘roÇ] come, they were all with one
overflowing of the inherent filling. The manifes-
accord in one place.
tations of the spirit are the overflowing power in the
life of the believer which in turn produces the “fruit
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven
of the spirit” of love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
as of a rushing mighty wind [heavy breathing†],
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temper-
and it [their breathing in] filled [pl‘roÇ] all the
ance.
house where they were sitting.

*This figure of speech Is used when the container is put for the Beginning on Pentecost and effective thereafter,
contents – “belly” used for “innermost being.”
†A New Translation from A Revised Text of the Greek original Second believers immediately upon being born again by
Edition, Revised. London: G. Morrish, 24, Warwith Lane, Paternoster God’s Spirit were to overflow. They were to not only
Row, E.D. Pno‘s is not “wind,” but “as of a hard breathing.” have the natural, normal filling to capacity, (pl‘roÇ),

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but also the overflowing, (pl‘thÇ). The Apostle Peter that the believers were refilled. There is never a
demonstrates such an example. leaking out of the spirit or a need for a second filling.
The believer is always filled (pl‘roÇ) to normal
Acts 4:8: capacity; but the filling to overflowing (pl‘thÇ)
Then Peter, filled [pl‘thÇ] with the Holy begins when the believer initiates the manifestations.
Ghost [the gift of holy spirit] ....
Acts 8 contains the first record in the history of
Peter was filled to overflowing, expressed by the the Christian Church of new Christians’ being born
usage of the word pl‘thÇ rather than pl‘roÇ, again without immediately manifesting the holy
operating all nine of the manifestations. Thereby spirit. Because this Samaritan group did not manifest,
Peter knew all those matters recorded in Acts 4 which Peter and John were summoned from Jerusalem. Acts
are a continuation of the activities recorded in Acts 3. 8 tells of the course these two apostles pursued to
remedy the situation.
After Acts 4:8 documents that Peter was filled
with the holy spirit, Acts 4 continues by telling of Acts 8:15:
events that occurred to Peter and John. Who, when they were come down, prayed for
them, that they might receive [lambanÇ,
Acts 4:31: manifest] the Holy Ghost [holy spirit, the gift].
And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; The believers in Samaria were filled (pl‘roÇ), but
and they were all filled [pl‘thÇ] with the Holy they were not filled (pl‘thÇ) to the end that they
Ghost .... were manifesting the holy spirit.

The assembled people were filled to overflowing. Acts 8:16:

Because of the manifestations of the spirit, namely (For as yet he [holy spirit] was fallen upon
speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, and none of them: only they were baptized in the
prophecy, that prayer meeting was genuinely power- name of the Lord Jesus.)
ful and edifying to the believers, all of whom were
exhorted and comforted. It does not say in Acts 4:31 To be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus has

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nothing to do with water but everything to do with hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy
being filled (pl‘roÇ), having Christ in you the hope of sight, and be filled [pl‘thÇ, overflow] with the
glory, which is the new birth. Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the
gift].
Although the Samaritans had received the new
birth, they had not as yet been filled to overflowing. Paul confessed the Lord Jesus as his Savior on the
The usage of the phrase “as yet he was fallen upon road to Damascus, but he did not overflow, he did
none of them” means grammatically and Biblically not receive, lambanÇ, into manifestation. When
that the spirit was not overflowing in manifestation. Ananias came into the house of Judas to minister to
Paul, he called Paul “Brother Saul,” indicating that
Acts 8:17: Saul was a spiritual brother. Ananias’ purpose for
Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on visiting Paul was “that thou mightest receive thy
them, and they received [lambanÇ, they sight, and be filled [pl‘thÇ] with the Holy Ghost.”
manifested pneuma hagion] the Holy Ghost Paul was born again (dechomai, pl‘roÇ, filled to
[the gift, holy spirit]. capacity), but he was not filled to an overflowing
abundance (lambanÇ, pl‘thÇ) until Ananias
With this, the gift started overflowing, running over ministered to him. Paul soon overflowed with the
on the outside. manifestations of the spirit, however, for I Corin-
thians 14:18 says of Paul, “I thank my God, I speak
Another example of “salvation fullness” coming with tongues more than ye all.”
before “manifestation overflow” is recorded in Acts 9
in the account of young Saul (whose Greek name is Acts 10 informs us about Peter’s ministering for
Paul). the first time to a Gentile household – the house of
Cornelius in Caesarea.
Acts 9:17:
And Ananias went his way, and entered into Acts 10: 44-46:
the house; and putting his hands on him [Paul] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that Ghost [pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the gift] fell
appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, on all them which heard the word.

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And they of the circumcision which believed Acts 19:6:

were astonished, as many as came with Peter, And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the
the gift of the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion]. gift] came on them; and they spake with
tongues....
For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God Again, this is a fullness to overflowing by people in
the church, born again of God’s Spirit.
The overflowing, indicating the operation of the
manifestations, is evidenced by the words “poured Ephesians 5 contains an interesting usage of the
out.” The last verse quoted specifically informs us word pl‘roÇ. Again it refers to that depth of quiet-
that the overflowing was manifested by speaking in ness to which we are to be filled.
tongues: “For they heard them speak with tongues.”
Ephesians 5:18:
Acts 11 contains Peter’s defense of his actions in And be not drunk with wine ... but be filled
going to the house of Cornelius and there presenting [pl‘roÇ] with the Spirit.
Christ and His gospel to the Gentiles for the first
time. This verse indicates to us that “filled with the
Spirit” is the new birth, Christ in you the hope of
Acts 11:15: glory. Be filled, pl‘roÇ, in the innermost part of you,
And as I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Ghost which is Christ in you, to capacity.
[pneuma hagion, holy spirit, the gift] fell on
them, as on us at the beginning. Let us observe the usage of the Greek word pl‘thÇ,
filled to overflowing, in a few other Scriptures which
Just as we saw earlier in John’s and Peter’s experi- do not deal specifically with the new birth.
ence in Samaria, according to Acts 19, Paul had the
same experience at Ephesus. He found disciples who Luke 1:41:
were born again, who were filled to capacity (pl‘roÇ) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard
spiritually, but lacked the overflowing, (pl‘thÇ). the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her

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womb; and Elisabeth was filled [pl‘thÇ, over- were full to overflowing and sinking.
flowed] with the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion,
holy spirit]. There can obviously be no overflow until a vessel is
filled to capacity. We note in Acts 6:3 that when
Elisabeth was “filled to overflowing” demonstrated seven men were elected from among the disciples,
by her giving a word of prophecy, as the following The Word says, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out
verses in Luke 1 disclose. among you seven men of honest report, full
[pl‘r‘s – adjective form of pl‘roÇ] of the Holy
Luke 1 also tells of Elisabeth’s husband, the father Ghost [pneuma hagion].” They were men filled to
of John the Baptist. capacity. Acts 7:55 says, “But he [Stephen], being
full [pl‘r‘s] of the Holy Ghost,” filled to capacity.
Luke 1:67:
And his father Zacharias was filled [pl‘thÇ, over- Acts 5 also gives an account of the apostles
flowed] with the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion], teaching in Jerusalem.
and [he] prophesied
Acts 5:28:
Zacharias was filled to overflowing. He prophesied. Saying ... behold, ye [the apostles] have filled
[pl‘roÇ] Jerusalem with your doctrine
On the lake Gennesaret, Luke 5 records that Jesus
told Simon to let down his “nets for a draught.” The apostles’ doctrine had penetrated Jerusalem to
the point that the city was “filled to capacity” with
Luke 5:7: The Word.
And they beckoned unto their partners, which
were in the other ship, that they should come Colossians 1 contains a wonderful prayer for
and help them. And they came, and filled believers – to be filled to capacity.
[pl‘thÇ, overflowed] both the ships, so that
they began to sink. Colossians 1:9:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard
They had so many fish in the boats that the boats it [your love in the spirit], do not cease to pray

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A Christian’s Power Base

for you, and to desire that ye might be filled

[pl‘roÇ] with the knowledge of his will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Be filled to full capacity. This is my prayer for you

and all of God’s people. I desire it to be your prayer
for me also that we might be filled to full capacity
“with the knowledge of his will” and then over-
flowing with the abundance thereof.

The only way we can have a knowledge of God’s

will is to know God’s Word. Filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
Part IV
understanding is first and primary for every believer.
Then the overflowing will be a mighty blessing. This is
how the teachings of the apostles penetrated all of
Jerusalem. The whole city became filled to capacity
with the Word of God because the knowledge of
The Church
God’s Word was dwelling within the apostles, and
they overflowed [pl‘thÇ] as they spoke that Word of
God with boldness, operating the manifestations of
the spirit, especially speaking in tongues.
Today

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 Part IV
The Church Today

The Church of Grace since its founding on the

day of Pentecost has been endowed with the power
of the holy spirit. Yet the first century Church was a
church on the move, something we have not seen in
our lifetimes. The Bible says that God does not
change. If God hasn’t changed, then why the differ-
ence between the early Church and the present
Church? “The First Century Church in the Twentieth”
studies the early Church so that we can apply its
strengths to the twentieth century Church and, like it,
also prosper.

An obvious weakness in the current church is its

lack of unity. “Why Division” examines this aspect of
the modern church to see where we are limiting God’s
power because we are not of one mind.

The Church of Grace regardless of time is made up

of the members of the Body of Christ. No building or

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The Church Today

denominational label qualifies as a church in God’s CHAPTER TWELVE

eyes.

Only as the called-out ones band together on the

accuracy of God’s Word and fully mature by fol-
lowing the accurate Word can we ever hope to help
ourselves and help others, and thus live the more The First Century Church
abundant life. in the Twentieth
The first century Church had tremendous power
because Christians believed that when they were saved
they received the power from the Holy Spirit, and thus
could operate the nine manifestations of the spirit.
Besides having such internal power, the early
believers studied the Word of God and acted on it as
being the will of God.

The first century Church, as the record in the book

of Acts indicates, made tremendous progress. It moved
with an anointing such as we have never seen. The fact
that they progressed beyond the point which the current
Church has achieved cannot be accredited to God
because God has not changed. When some people talk
about God pouring out a special anointing in these last
days, it simply is not true. The Word says He sent His
gift on the day of Pentecost. His gift is here. The early
Church obviously was more alive and dynamic, not
because God was more powerful, but because it
operated more effectively.
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The Church Today The First Century Church

The early Church, the Body, as recorded in the up. They had the potential spiritual ability which
book of Acts and the Church Epistles, developed a became kinetic in a most wonderful and dynamic
pattern for its growth in various localities: way. Within one generation the early believers
changed the whole spiritual and moral climate of that
1. Each person was responsible to witness with part of the world. We do not know how many Chris-
boldness to the Word of God. When a person tians really walked on the Word of God in the first
accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord, “older” Christians century and witnessed to the then-known world, but
continued to nurture and shepherd him until the new we do know that according to Acts 19:10, in two
Christian was grounded well enough to stand and years and three months “... all ... Asia [currently
walk alone on that Word. known as Asia Minor] heard the word of the Lord
Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
2. Small supervised meetings, called churches, were
held in private homes with a head elder or pastor This feat certainly could not have been accom-
overseeing each home unit. plished, and was not accomplished, by one man. But
under Paul’s ministry and teaching the original
3. Personal revisits and written communications “... about twelve ...”* men (households) were
were kept up with each group, each church, by apos- inspired and learned to walk on the Word of God and
tles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. share it with others. All Asia Minor heard this won-
derful Word of God as it spread out from Ephesus
4. Christians were not to be side-tracked by mate- because each believer endeavored to win one, and
rial possessions. Thus they sold their unneeded pos- nurtured that one until the new-born Christian was
sessions in order to further the work of the ministry. strong enough to stand and walk on the Word of God,
operating the manifestations of the spirit. All this was
The early Church was born into a society which accomplished without the modern aids of radio, tele-
was just as indoctrinated and hardened as any society vision and printed matter.
has been at any time. The Romans were governmen-
tally in control and paganism was rampant. Yet the One of the earliest accounts of a believer winning a
firstcentury Christian Church turned the world up-
sidedown – which means they turned it right side *Acts 19:7: “And all the men were about twelve.”

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friend is found in John 1:40 and 41. This is the “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all
record in which Andrew first found his brother Peter the words of this life.” So they went back into the
and brought him to the Lord. Temple to teach.

As in our day, not everyone in the first century The high priest soon came also to the Temple and
believed and was saved when a Christian witnessed. called the Sanhedrin together to bring the prisoners
When you preach the Word of God and share it with before it; but the apostles were not in the prison.
an individual or with a group, you will discover that When the high priest, the captain of the Temple and the
the response will be as in Acts 28:24, “And some chief priests (according to Acts 5:24) heard what
believed the things which were spoken, and some God was doing and how He had released these men
believed not.” from prison, they were disturbed. They did not want
the growth of this new movement. It took great
In the unbelieving group, of course, were those courage on the part of the apostles to go into the
who according to Acts 17: 32, when they heard the Temple again and teach the people, knowing ahead of
Word of God regarding the resurrection of the dead, time there would be trouble when they spoke the
“... some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee true Word of God. According to verse 29, “... Peter
again of this matter.” and the other apostles answered and said, We ought
to obey God rather than men.”
The early Church leaders, including Peter and the
other apostles, were very bold in the presentation of After they had been ruthlessly interrogated, the
the Word of God; and because of their boldness, apostles were beaten and commanded not to speak in
multitudes of both men and women were added to the name of Jesus. Yet the apostles persevered, for
the Church as Acts 5:14 tells, “And believers were Acts 5:42 says, “And daily in the temple, and in
the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men every house, they ceased not to teach and preach
and women.” However as the record in Acts 5 con- Jesus Christ.”
tinues, the high priest and the Sadducees laid their
hands on the apostles and put them in prison. Yet as Those in the synagogues could not tolerate them,
soon as the Christians were released, God told them, even as the true believers on the Word of God in

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many places cannot be tolerated in the organized and This meeting, again in a house, was characteristic
established churches today. This necessitated the of the early Church.
second point in this study, namely, small supervised
meetings, called churches, in the homes. I will give Acts 16 tells of Paul’s and Silas’ ministering in a
you the Scriptures I have noted so you can read house immediately after God had released them from
exactly what is written in the Word of God concern- prison. The keeper of the prison spoke in Acts 16:30,
ing such meetings. “... Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

In Acts 5 we read that the apostles went from Acts 16:31,32:

house to house talking to the people about the Word And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
of the Lord. This is the first record demonstrating and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
how the apostles declared the Word of God very early
in the age of the Church to which you and I belong. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord,
and to all that were in his house.
Later, in Acts 8:3 we read that Paul (whose
Hebrew name was Saul), before being saved, entered This is a significant verse of Scripture in that the
“... into every house, and haling men and women precedent is set for witnessing to entire households at
committed them to prison.” It was necessary to go one time. We are not to attempt to win just one
into the houses to find the Christians since these were person out of a household for the Lord Jesus Christ,
their meeting places. but we should endeavor to win the whole house:
father, mother and all the children.
Acts 10 is the first record of a Gentile household
coming into the experience of the new birth and The culture of the East differs from the culture in
receiving the power from the Holy Spirit into mani- America, but we can at least apply the principles of
festation. The Word. If we can convince father and mother, I
feel confident that the younger children can be won,
Acts 10:2: especially if the father and mother are taught the
A devout man [Cornelius], and one that feared accuracy of the Word of God concerning their respon-
God with all his house .... sibility toward God and their families.

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Acts 18:8: expounded and testified the kingdom of God,

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of
believed on the Lord with all his house; and the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and morning till evening.
were baptized.
And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own
The head of the house was converted; he was hired house, and received all that came in unto
taught the accuracy of the Word of God, and in turn him,
the entire household was brought into the household
of faith, receiving the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
Another example of a house as a meeting place is those things which concern the Lord Jesus
recorded in Acts 21. Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding
him.
Acts 21:8:
And the next day we that were of Paul’s com- This is the record of the early Church in the book
pany departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we
of Acts, which is the historical presentation of the
entered into the house of Philip the
founding and growth of the Christian Church.
evangelist ....

Philip’s house had become a meeting place for the Turn to Romans 16:3 and 5 and note that Paul sent
believers. Paul’s lodging place in Rome also became a word to the Romans saying, “Greet Priscilla and
meeting place for the extension of the Word of God
Aquila ... greet the church [the local Christian group]
and the teaching of it in the early days of the Chris- that is in their house ...”
tian Church.

Acts 28:23,30,3 1: I Corinthians 1:11:

And when they had appointed him a day, there For it hath been declared unto me of you, my
came many to him into his lodging; to whom he brethren, by them which are of the house of
Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
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I Corinthians and Colossians give other examples of Since these verses which I have shared with you are
local Christian groups meeting in a house. the Word of God concerning the early churches meet-
ing in houses under proper supervision, this must be
I Corinthians 16:19: God’s method of winning men and women to the
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Church and sustaining them. If you say the times
Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the have changed, then I would like to say the Word of
church that is in their house. God has not changed. When the churches met in the
homes, the small groups made possible participation
Colossians 4:15: by everyone, as well as the giving of attention and
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and help to the individual.
Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Inside the home or church group there must be
A verse in I Timothy ought to be read very leadership. The work of the Lord cannot be done
carefully. haphazardly. I believe we could meet in homes, in
groups of six to possibly twenty people or so, de-
I Timothy 3:15: pending on the size of the room. Then we could take
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how care of the believers in every particular area. No one
thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of would need to drive very far and yet the people
God, which is the church of the living God, the would hear the wonderful Word of God. Our children
pillar and ground of the truth. could meet in a separate room with an adult teaching
them the Word of God, or they could sit with the
The homes in which the churches met were called adults. Hearing the Word of God properly explained
houses of God. These homes were the pillars of the and the manifestations operated would be the
Church for these fellowships were built on the foun- greatest thing that could be done for them. Remem-
dation of truth. ber, it is the churches, the fellowships of believers,
that we are concerned about; nothing that man has built
Philemon, verse 2: will suffice.
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our
fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house. Regarding elders or pastors for each unit, let us

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look at Paul’s example in Ephesus as recorded in Acts among the overseers themselves. There would be
20. Paul calls the elders of the Ephesian church splits in the churches which were held in the homes
together to admonish them. because people were full of pride and wanted to draw
away disciples after themselves and not after the
Acts 20:28,29: Word of God. Therefore strong, accurate leadership
Take heed therefore unto yourselves [which is was essential.
the first requirement of any leader], and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath And this leadership was not determined by chance.
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, The overseer was chosen by the man of God who was
which he hath purchased with his own blood. led by the Holy Spirit.

For I know this, that after my departing shall Titus 1:5:

grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou
the flock. shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had
The “overseer” refers to an elder who was the ruler, appointed thee.
the leader, the supervisor in the house, the church.
These elders were pastors for the local units, some- The elders were told how to behave in I Peter.
times called bishops. The overseers must be very, very
careful as to what goes on in the house where the I Peter 5:2,3:
church, the fellowship, is meeting. Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,
but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
Acts 20:30: mind;
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but
them. being ensamples to the flock.

In other words, Satan would trick some from Now, regarding the revisits by the apostles,

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prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, the book ships, which made up the Church, the Body. These
of Acts constantly tells of Paul’s starting fellowships letters were then read in the various homes where the
at various places and then revisiting them. We see Christians were meeting. This is how the early Church
other men – Timothy, Titus, Sylvanus and received instruction and grew. You will note that
others – revisiting churches, fellowships. As we study I and II Timothy specify the entire procedure and
the missionary journeys, we note that Derbe, conduct for the leaders in relation to the Church. We
Caesarea, Antioch of Pisidia, Tarsus, Iconium, cannot read these epistles too carefully because in
Pessinus, Ephesus, Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, Amphi- them we find the truth which we need to know to
polis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and accurately manifest the greatness of God’s Word.
Corinth were among places revisited.
The fourth point in accounting for the rapid
In Acts 20 we have the record of Paul’s return visit growth of the early Church was that Christians gave
to Ephesus where he called the elders of the church all material possessions which they did not need to
together. The reason there were elders (plural) in the the furthering of the Christian ministry. But before
church is that there were many houses where the looking at this specific point, let us build up to it in
people met, each house being under the supervision Acts 4 to see the other “growth elements” which
of an elder. Paul is speaking in the following verse to came before Christians gave up their excess material
the elders in Ephesus. possessions.

According to Acts 4 Peter and John had just min-

Acts 20:20: istered healing to a man who was more than forty
I kept back nothing that was profitable unto years old, for which deed they were imprisoned and
you, but have shewed you, and have taught you charged not to speak at all and not to teach in the
publickly [that is, in group meetings in large name of Jesus.* Upon their release from prison, how-
houses] , and from house to house. ever, Peter and John immediately began preaching
The Word again.
The Apostle Paul not only went from house to
house to teach the wonderful Word of God, he also
*Acts 4:18: “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at
wrote letters to the scattered churches, local fellow- all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

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Acts 4:29: obstruct our efforts, we must be doing something

And now, Lord, behold their [the synagogue worthwhile. If our goals weren’t worth anything,
leaders’] threatenings: and grant unto thy ser- Satan wouldn’t bother to intrude. He fights because we
vants, that with all boldness they may speak thy are battling him.”
word.
Notice that the disciples prayed, “...Grant unto
Isn’t that a wonderful prayer? This is the first thy servants ....” These men were sons of God in their
recorded prayer of the early Church. The apostles had heavenly relationship; but in their earthly responsibil-
been incarcerated, humiliated, hurt and threatened ities, they were to serve God, and thus they were
for their teaching and for the way in which they called servants.
ministered healing. Yet, when Peter and John
returned to the group of believers – instead of asking Acts 4:31,32:
for a vacation – instead of asking for an easier place And when they had prayed, the place was
to serve – they prayed, “Lord, behold their threaten- shaken where they were assembled together; and
ings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all bold- they were all filled with the Holy Ghost
ness they may speak thy word.” Speaking The Word [pneuma hagion], and they spake the word of
got them in trouble to begin with, but only their God with boldness.
perseverance would further their mission.
And the multitude of them [The text is “every
The early Church always preached The Word and one of them.”] that believed were of one heart
nothing but The Word – no private opinions. They and of one soul: neither said any of them that
spoke The Word with boldness; and often when they ought of the things which he possessed was his
spoke The Word, they got into trouble; the question own; but they had all things common.
is, are we teaching The Word?
Think of this in the early Church! All persons who
When we really present the Word of God and walk were born again of God’s Spirit and filled with power
in the light of the Word of God, we may get persecu- from the Holy Spirit were of one heart and of one
tion here and there. But this should not deter us. We soul. They had The Word and they agreed on The
should simply say, “Well, if Satan is trying so hard to Word. This is what gave the early Church power.

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In studying “they had all things common,” there are “greed,” but “need.” There were people in the
three words translated “common” from the Church who had more than they needed of food,
critical Greek texts. The word used here in verse 32, clothing and shelter. Therefore, they sold their plural-
means “to the end that in their believing and in their ity – that which they did not need – to help some-
action they were commonly united.” None of the one else in the Church who had a need. Suppose there
things – the plurality – which a person possessed was a young couple in the Church dedicated to the
were really his own. The plurality that he possessed Lord, who loved His Word and wanted to start farm-
was common as far as need was concerned. ing; they had a need. The Church was to help the
couple get started.
When the early Church began to move, all plurality
that the members possessed was common among In verse 34 carefully note the words “as many as
them. If a member had a need, the plurality was used were possessors.” When these people who were pos-
to meet that need. sessors of lands (plural) and houses (plural) were born
again, what did they do? They sold their plurality.
Acts 4:33-35: They sold that which they did not need. Plurality is
And with great power gave the apostles witness greed, not need. If we want the Church to move
of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great under the anointing of the power from the Holy
grace [divine favor] was upon them all. Spirit as the early Church moved, we must be obe-
dient to the Word of God and conquer our greed.
Neither was there any among them that lacked: Excesses weight us down and Christians are not to be
for as many as were possessors [plural] of lands bogged down with matters of this world.
[plural] or houses [plural] sold them, and
brought the prices of the things that were sold, God never asked a man at any place in the Bible to
sell or dispose of that which he needed for his live-
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and lihood. They sold that which they did not need, their
distribution was made unto every man plurality, and brought the money to the apostles who
according as he had need. distributed according to the need of the individual
believer. One man’s need may be more than another.
Notice that the last word in Acts 4:35 is not Every person must determine his need within himself,

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according to the renewing of his own mind after property which he should never have owned, and he
being born again. brought the money therefrom and laid it at the apos-
tles’ feet.
You may ask, “Well, who would you trust with the
collected possessions?” Whom did the early Church Now we have in a nutshell some idea of how the
trust with it? The apostles. If you as a Christian do first century Church operated and, thereby, pros-
not trust the person or the group or the organization pered so that many were won to the Lord Jesus
to use your gift properly, you ought to give it some- Christ and manifested His power. Time and again we
where else – to something and to someone whom see these principles:
you will trust to use it as it is supposed to be used.
The apostles distributed the goods. 1. Each person was responsible to witness with
boldness about the Word of God and then
stand by those new-born Christians until they
Acts 4:36,37: could walk forth and, in turn, witness on their
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed own.
Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son
of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of 2. The Church prospered when small groups
Cyprus, (churches, fellowships) gathered in homes and
ministered under the supervision of capable
Having land [singular], sold it, and brought the overseers.
money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and
teachers kept in continual contact with each
We just read that the early Christians sold only group by revisitations and written com-
their plurality. Yet, here is a man who sold his land, a munications.
singular possession. Why? He was a Levite. According
to the Old Testament a Levite should not own any 4. Christians contributed to the welfare of the
property. Joses whose name was Barnabas from Church and its members by giving to the com-
Cyprus, understanding and believing the teaching, was mon need, in contributing the plurality of their
converted and saved. Therefore he sold his singular material possessions.
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By reading Acts and the Pauline Epistles, one CHAPTER THIRTEEN

quickly notes the numerical growth and spiritual
prosperity of the first century Church. The twentieth
century Church obviously doesn’t compare in its
vitality. Thus we have everything to gain by following
the early Church’s example. God hasn’t changed. And
since we still have His power, we can surely adapt the
techniques of the early Church and couple it with the Why Division
power of God within each of us as Christians. We are
the ones who must apply these principles and this
power and the apostles’ boldness to make the twen-
tieth century Church stronger and more vital than the Somewhere in our thinking, many of us have erro-
Christian Church has ever been. This is our opportu- neously embraced the idea that when God moves,
nity and challenge. Herein we must stand fast. peace and tranquility prevail. This concept was suc-
cinctly stated in a radio broadcast when the minister
explained it thusly:

Frequently we are mixed up when it comes to

defining a movement of God. We think that
confusion of any sort indicates that the whole
thing is of Satan. Nothing could be further from
the truth. A move of God always upsets the
equilibrium of established order. For a time it
seems to bring chaos into orderly lives and
churches. The smug, complacent, and self-
satisfied are tremendously disturbed. It is
quoted that ‘God is not a God of confusion but
of peace.’ This is true, but only in the Church
will this peace be found. In the world, as well as
in the ‘merely professing’ church, there is to be

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found confusion and every evil work. The move of Did the attitude of the unbelievers stop Paul and
God upsets everything carnal, fleshly, selfish Barnabas from ministering? Not at all.
and devilish.
Acts 14:3:
Long time therefore abode they speaking bold-
In the fourteenth chapter of Acts we are told of a
ly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the
movement of God. It took place in Iconium, and the
word of his grace, and granted signs and
evangelists were Paul and Barnabas. What happened
wonders to be done by their hands.
was not just an isolated instance; such events seemed
to have been much the pattern wherever Paul and
How could they cease preaching when God con-
Barnabas preached. Arriving at Iconium from Antioch
tinued to do great signs and wonders under their
in Pisidia, they witnessed the same sort of con-
ministry? But despite these marvels of grace, there
fusion as had transpired elsewhere.
were those who would not believe.

Acts 14:4:
Acts 14:1:
But the multitude of the city was divided: and
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went
part held with the Jews, and part with the apos-
both together into the synagogue of the Jews,
tles.
and so spake, that a great multitude both of the
Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
Here was division and confusion. Not just a home
or a church was divided, but an entire city. The
There was a mighty turning to God among the tension did not subside, but rather became worse.
Jews and the Gentiles; but all was not sweetness and
light. Acts 14:5:
... there was an assault made both of the Gen-
Acts 14:2: tiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, use them despitefully, and to stone them.
and made their minds evil affected against the
brethren. Here was riot and violence. Some people will say,
“Surely if this was of God, all of this would not have
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happened.” Yet this is what did happen and still does The number of us who would like to have a part in
happen when truth is taught. The powers of darkness, such a movement as this is probably infinitesimal, and
even though religiously garbed, will fight. There must yet this was a movement of God. Experiences of this
always be an exposure and destruction of evil when- sort could be related by the score, both in apostolic
ever and wherever spiritual revival comes about. days and ever since.

Not the trouble, but the signs and wonders that

accompanied Paul and Barnabas testified to the fact The Lollards who were organized by Wydiffe in
that God had called them, and that they indeed the fourteenth century were instructed “to go about
brought about the move of God. Signs follow those and preach to the poor in their own tongue, working
sent by the Lord. They speak with new tongues. They in harmony with the clergy if they would allow them,
cast out devils in His name. When men of God lay but against them or independent of them if they were
hands upon the sick, they arise whole for with God hostile.”
there “is no variableness.” He answers needs
constantly.
The leaders of the spiritual movements in the
These saints of God, Paul and Barnabas, barely Church have always been ridiculed and maligned. The
escaped with their lives from Iconium, but they confusing element in the entire situation is that it is
moved on into Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra the the religious people, those who are deeply sincere,
people wanted to make gods of Paul and Barnabas, who cause the division. The world appears to evince
and the priest of Jupiter could hardly be restrained little initial interest regarding a movement of God and
from offering sacrifices to them. But Paul and his pays virtually no attention. As Acts 7 points out, it is
companion would have none of this activity. They the religious element who are the persecutors and
intervened among these idolators and succeeded in resisters.
halting the entire proceeding. As a matter of fact,
Paul and Barnabas were so successful that the tide
Acts 7:51,52:
changed against them and in a short time the people
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and
attacked and stoned Paul and dragged him out of the
ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your
city supposing him to be dead.
fathers did, so do ye.
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Which of the prophets have not your fathers

persecuted? and they have slain them which
shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of
whom ye have been now the betrayers and mur-
derers.

The Pharisees would not accept Jesus as the Christ.

The Jews stirred up the multitude against Paul and
Barnabas. The religious people of the day stoned
Stephen. Division always frustrates Christian efforts. Part V
May God deliver us as the Church from being
contentious and difficult, from maligning our breth-
ren, from bickering and quarrelsomeness, from divid-
Living
ing the Body of Christ by our lack of enlightenment.
There is too much division outside the Church; our
solidarity is imperative to give us strength to move
forward in spite of the opposition. May the Father in
The Word
heaven, for the sake of the only-begotten Son, bless
us with such an abundance that we may cease to be a
part of the problem and become a part of the answer.
May we as members of Christ’s Body become so filled
with love that we may be teachable and have our
hearts opened to His Holy Word. And may we receive
of Him and carry the blessing to all we meet, that
they may see us and know we are His.

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 Part V
Living The Word

In a step-by-step manner the overall structure of

this book builds knowledge relating to the new,
dynamic Church, the Church of the Body. After
establishing the difference between the church of the
bride and the Church of the Body, we studied God’s
plan for us as members of the Body of Christ.

As God’s children, God put in us His investment of

eternal life and the manifestations of the holy spirit.
All of this latent power we received when we con-
fessed Jesus as Lord of our lives and believed that
God raised Him from the dead. “A Christian's Power
Base” showed how to activate that latent power and
manifest God’s presence and power in the world of
the senses.

After understanding the relationship of God and

each of His sons as individuals, we briefly looked at
His Sons acting collectively as the Church. Certain

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patterns of organization and behavior were CHAPTER FOURTEEN

established by the dynamic early church which we
can apply to the called-out of our times and get
effective results for the twentieth century Church.

The culmination of all our knowledge of God’s

Word comes with our day-by-day living as mature The High Calling
Christians. To walk in fellowship with the power God A Study of Philippians 3
gave to us, we must study and know God’s message
for His sons during the Age of Grace. The final part
of “Living The Word” is an enlightening study of In the first verse of Philippians 3, Paul by revela-
several chapters from some of Paul’s epistles. These tion says, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the
studies, “The High Calling,” “The Christian’s Joy and Lord....” A person cannot rejoice until he has first
Crown” and “The Answer,” give us knowledge, en- experienced joy. Rejoicing is a repeat performance of
couragement, correction and all things necessary to joy. We rejoice in the Lord; if we rejoice in anything
live the type of life which God wants for and expects or anyone else we are going to be let down.
of His sons who make up the Church of the Body, Philippians 3:1:
the new, dynamic Church. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To
write the same things to you, to me indeed is
not grievous [irksome], but for you it is safe
gives certainty, reinforces].
What “same things”? The things he had already
told them through his helper Epaphroditus.
Verse 2:
Beware of dogs,* beware of evil workers [those
with evil intent], beware of the concision.
*“Dogs” is the figure of speech called hypocatastasis. Its usage here
means “back-biters.”

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“Concision” is an interesting word in this Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him
particular instance referring to the mutilation of in spirit and in truth.” To worship Him in spirit can
physical bodies. Christ was the end of the law, but only be by speaking in tongues. If The Word means
legalistic believers continued to teach that one who what it says and says what it means, then these truths
believed in Christ had to be circumcised in order to are fabulous. The Word always causes us to joy and
be a Christian, even as things are taught today, per- rejoice.
haps having substituted other legalistic practices.

Verse 3: The last part of Philippians 3:3 says, “And rejoice

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have “The flesh” refers to body and soul. Those of us who
no confidence in the flesh. are born again by the Spirit of God have a third
part – spirit. The spirit should be the foremost in-
We who worship God in spirit are the circumcision. terest in our total being.
The literal translation according to the critical Greek
texts and Aramaic Peshitta text is: “We are the cir-
cumcision who worship by the spirit of God” or We are the circumcision, the chosen, who worship
“... who worship God via the spirit.” by way of the spirit. We can rejoice in Christ Jesus
because we at one time experienced joy in Christ
To “worship God in the spirit” does not mean to Jesus. Rejoicing in Christ Jesus is only possible by
worship by contributing to the collection plate. There renewing the mind and focusing on spiritual
is only one way we can worship God “in spirit” and matters – trusting in things spiritual rather than trust-
that is by speaking in tongues. To worship in the ing or having confidence in the flesh. We do not go by
spirit, a person must have spirit; all other ritual is part what the senses promote; we abide in The Word and
of the senses realm. We cannot worship God by the the revelation of the spirit.
senses for He “dwelleth not in temples made with
hands.”* As John 4:24 pointedly declares, “God is a Verse 4:
Though I might also have confidence in the
*Acts 17:24: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath
that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with
hands.”
whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

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Verse 5: Verse 9:
Circumcized the eighth day, of the stock of And be found in him, not having mine own
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the righteousness, which is of the law, but that
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; which is through the faith of Christ, the right-
eousness which is of God by faith.
Verse 6:
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; If righteousness were achieved by one’s own efforts
touching the righteousness which is in the law, and good behavior, then a person could not glory in
blameless. Christ. The glory would belong to himself. But right-
eousness is not achieved by works or by keeping the
Verse 7: law. Righteousness is through, or by way of, the faith
But what things were gain to me, those I of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all who believe.*
counted [declared] loss for Christ.
Verse 10:
What things were personal gain to Paul? He just That I may know him, and the power of his
listed seven personal gains in verses five and six. resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death.

Verse 8: The word “know” means “to know by personal

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for spiritual experience” which is possible only to those
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus who are righteous. “That I may know Him experien-
my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of tially as my Savior and the inherent power [the
all things, and do count them but dung, that I dunamis] of His resurrection.”
may win [gain] Christ.
“And the fellowship” refers to baptism into Christ
Paul considered all his previous academic training Jesus. This means that we were buried with Him, and
and social and religious positions but excretion in
*Romans 3:22: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of
comparison to “the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
Lord ... that I may win Christ.” difference.”

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raised up from the dead, now to walk completely in the just and the unjust as noted in Revelation 20:5
this new life. Legally when He died, we died with and 13; he is concerned with an “out resurrection.”
Him; when He was buried, we were buried with Him; The “out resurrection” is spoken of in I Thessa-
when He arose, we arose with Him.* Being with Him lonians 4:16 and 17: “... the dead in Christ shall
in “the fellowship of his sufferings” we were “made rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall
conformable [like He was] unto his death.” be caught up.” Paul did not care to die; he wanted
to be changed through the “out resurrection.” This
“That I may know him [experientially as my “out resurrection” or exanastasis should literally be
Savior] and the [inherent] power [the dunamis] of translated “out from among.” “If by any means I
his resurrection, and the fellowship [of His death, might reach out towards the coming of the Lord.”
burial, resurrection] of his sufferings, being
[therefore, we are] made conformable [like He was] Verse 12:
unto his death.” Not as though I had already attained [Paul had
not arrived at that “out resurrection” yet.],
Verse 11:
either were already perfect: but I follow after, if
If by any means I might attain [come] unto the
that I may apprehend [attain to] that for which
resurrection of the dead.
also I am [was] apprehended [attained] of [by]
“Unto” is the Greek word eis which is always used Christ Jesus.
with the accusative case. In mathematics this word
eis, “unto” of verse 11, is the movement towards an He was appointed by Christ Jesus to live this life,
object with the intent of reaching the object. That is to carry out the ministry, to believe, to know that he
its literal usage. “If by any means I might come was crucified with Him, to know that he arose with
toward the objective with the intent of reaching it.” Him.

The word translated “resurrection” is the Greek Verse 13:

word exanastasis which means “out resurrection.” Brethren, I count not myself to have
Here Paul is not concerned with the resurrections of apprehended [attained]: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and
*Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are reaching forth unto those things which are
risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath
raised him from the dead.” before.

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Paul says that he is forgetting his ancestry: Hebrew further with the Lord than just being pledges or
of the Hebrews, his education at the feet of Gamaliel, neophytes or carnal Christians. “Let us therefore, as
and other reasons for earthly acclaim. Paul now is many as be perfect [initiated], be thus minded” – be
reaching for those things which are ahead. If we intent on reaching the finish line. “And if in anything
would only do this – forget about the past – we ye be otherwise minded,” – if you have any
would profit. other goal – “God shall reveal even this unto you” by
a continued accurate study and right dividing of The
Verse 14: Word or by revelation,
I press [“follow after,” as in verse 12] toward
the mark [finish line] for the prize of the high Verse 16:
calling of God in Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,
let us [all] walk by the same rule, let us mind
In a race or in a track meet, the finish line deter- the same thing [with the same minds].
mines the winner. Paul says he will press toward the
finish line which will culminate in the prize of the Verse 17:
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
them which walk so as ye have us for an
ensample [example].
Verse 15:
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus Verse 18:
minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise (For many walk, of whom I have told you often,
minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. and now tell you [again] even [with] weeping,
that [those people who so walk] they are the
The word “perfect” means “initiated ones,” those enemies of the cross of Christ.
who have been brought into the inner secrets of the
great mystery, that mystery which was kept secret Brothers in Christ should be examples, not coun-
from the foundation of the world and was first made terfeits. The people in verse 18 looked sincere and
manifest unto the Apostle Paul as recorded in Ephe- religious, yet The Word says they were the enemies of
sians 3:3. Paul here is talking to those who know that the cross of Christ because they were not walking
mystery, the initiated ones, those who have gone according to the revealed Word, with the same mind.

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Verse 19: All we do is look with expectation for this “out

Whose end is destruction, whose God is their resurrection.” “We look for the Saviour, [who is] the
belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who Lord Jesus Christ.”
mind earthly things.)
What about the teaching that we are to build the
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their kingdom of God upon earth, that we are to bring
belly.” The word “belly” is the figure of speech Utopia to this world? The Bible tells that the earth is
called a synecdoche, meaning that one part or mem- going to become progressively worse. The only one
ber represents the whole. The enemies of the cross are who is ever going to get the world out of the turmoil
their own god, “whose glory is in their shame, who which man has made of it is the Lord Jesus Christ. We
mind earthly things.” Earthly things are fleshly must focus our undivided attention upon the Lord
things, things of the senses. They are obedient to Jesus Christ, looking for Him.
things of the senses, they have confidence in the flesh
rather than in the things of the Word of God. Verse 21:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be
Verse 20: fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
For our conversation [citizenship, politeuma] is to the working [ability] whereby he is able even
in heaven; from whence also we look for the to subdue all things unto himself,
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Our physical bodies have the nature of death
written into them; that is why Philippians 3:21 calls
Do we pray that the Lord may return? No, we just
them vile. Our death-prone bodies will “be fashioned
look for the Savior; we cannot influence His return.
like unto his glorious body.” Who will change our
Man had nothing to do with Christ’s first coming for
bodies “like unto his glorious body”? The Lord Jesus
the Bible says in Galatians 4:4, “... when the fulness
Christ will “... according to the working whereby he
of the time was come, God sent forth his [only-
is able to subdue all things unto himself.” When we
begotten] Son ....” Likewise, when the fullness of
have a body fashioned like unto His glorious body,
time comes again, Acts 1: 11 reveals that “... this same
we will then know even as we are now known. In the
Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall
meantime, we joy and rejoice in Him because we have
so come in like manner as ye have seen him go ....”
the certainty of His presence and power within.
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The Christian’s Joy and Crown

A Study of Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1:
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and
longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in
the Lord, my dearly beloved.

The first word in Philippians 4 indicates that some-

thing has gone before. “Therefore” is a conjunction,
and in order to understand what “therefore” con-
eludes, we must turn back two verses.

Philippians 3:20,21:
For our conversation [politeuma, citizenship] is
in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be

fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able even to sub-
due all things unto himself.

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As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven and we With the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, those
can look forward to Christ’s return when our bodies whom Paul had taught, those who were his hope, joy
will be like His resurrected body and when Christ will and crown, will appear before the Father, “... even ye
subdue all things – therefore, because of this knowl- in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his
edge, we, “dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and coming.”
crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
The words “stand fast” used in Philippians 4:1 in
Men and women should want to stand fast in the
the phrase “so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly
Lord because of what Christ has done for them and
beloved” are the same usage as in Philippians 1:27:
because He is coming back.
“... that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith [family faith]* of the
gospel.”
According to the first verse of Philippians 4, who
are the joy and crown of the Apostle Paul? The ones “Stand fast” literally means “to remain strong.”
to whom he taught the Word of God. To those saved When we stand together, we are strong. If I am strong
under his ministry Paul said, “You are my joy and in the Lord and you are strong in the Lord, together
crown; you stand fast.” Twice he refers to those we move ahead. The ministry of the Apostle Paul as
whom he has taught as “dearly beloved.” Clearly, recorded in Acts 19 is an example of people who
Paul has a strong attachment to these people. were strong in the Lord and, thus, they bore fruit.
Acts: 19 says that Paul took those strong in the faith
In I Thessalonians Paul again points out that his and discussed the Word of God at the school of
brothers in Christ – those who had become brothers Tyrannus. Two years later all Asia Minor had heard
because of his ministry – were his joy and crown. of the Lord Jesus.
It was simply miraculous how the Word of God
I Thessalonians 2:19,20:
was spread throughout the country. Yet, notice that
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
II Timothy 1:15 records that all Asia forsook Paul.
rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our
Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? *The “common” faith of Titus 1:4 and the “household” of faith
in Galatians 6:10 make up the “family” faith because Christianity is a
For ye are our glory and joy. family affair: the Father with His family, His children; God is our
Father, we are His children.

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Paul’s “joy and crown” apparently did not “stand mind in the Lord.” These two men disagreed, they
fast” very long and thus their spiritual muscles be- were of different minds; therefore, they could not be
came flaccid. The “joy and crown” became so weak strong in the Lord. If we are strong in the Lord we
that even before Paul died the greatness of the revela- cannot have two opinions regarding truth. There can
tion which God had given to him had already been be two opinions regarding facts, but not regarding
lost. And, for the most part, this knowledge is still truth. The moment we begin having an opinion about
lost today; very few people know about the mystery truth, we are already wrong. Truth is truth; it is “thus
of “Christ in you the hope of glory.”* saith the Lord.” What we think does not make any
difference. The reason we have opinions is that we do
The Word says that all Asia heard the Word of the not “rightly divide”* The Word. If the Word of God
Lord Jesus; yet later, all Asia had left Paul This is rightly divided, we have the true Word; when it is
reminds one of the Lord Jesus Christ who had the wrongly divided, we have error. When we wrongly
multitudes following Him because of signs, miracles divide The Word we are working for Satan. Whenever
and wonders. However, when the time approached The Word is rightly divided, it again means, “Thus
for Him to be crucified, all fled and the rabble cried, saith the Lord.”
“Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Paul implored Euodias and Syntyche saying, “If
Only when we as believers stand fast in the Lord you want to stand fast in the Lord, you must be of
will we be witnesses to the greatness of The Word. the same mind.” One cannot be pulling one way and
another the other way, and expect to be strong in the
Philippians 4:2: Lord. Philippians 2:2 corroborates the truth that
I beseech [implore] Euodias, and beseech strength comes with being of one accord: “Fulfil ye
Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
Lord. being of one accord, of one mind.” Paul’s joy was
fulfilled when they walked in the same mind. To have
Paul said, “I implore you two to be of the same the same mind is to be of one accord, to have unity
of purpose.
*Colossians 1:27: “To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ *II Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
in you, the hope of glory.” workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.”

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Philippians 4:3: If we know what we have in Christ, then we should

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help rejoice in Him.
those women which laboured with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my Verse 5:
fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of Let your moderation [forbearance or patience
life. or self-control] be known unto all men. The
Lord is at hand.
This is the only place in the Bible where the word
“yokefellow” is used. Women also worked with the The word “known” is a very unique word. There
Apostle Paul in spreading the Gospel. Why, then, are five different Greek words for “to know”; it is the
should people say that women have no right to little differences of meaning that illuminate the
preach, teach or share The Word? accuracy of The Word. “Known” here is “to know by
having learned or experienced.”
When The Word says, “whose names are in the
book of life,” the book of life means a living, spiritual “Let your moderation be known unto all men”
record of events which belongs to God. This is not a does not fit into The Word. Why should our moder-
literal book, but rather a figure of speech. Our ation be known to all men? It should be nobody else’s
parents did not need a paper book to write down our business. No man should be judged in meat, in drink
names in order to know that we belonged to them; or in respect of an holy day. No man is to be our
neither do we need a book to keep a record of our judge. When these words are accurately understood,
children’s names and works. Just living is the record. the verse literally says, “Learn by experience
So also are we in the mind of God. The Word says forbearance toward all men.”
that He knew us from before the foundation of the
world. God knew who would believe on His Son and “The Lord is at hand” means “the Lord is always
would therefore be part of His family. at hand.” This statement has nothing to do with the
second coming. It simply exhorts the believers by
Verse 4: reminding us that we have Christ in us. He is watching
Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, over us, so let us be mindful of this. Verse 5 says,
Rejoice. “Learn by experience forbearance toward all men for
Christ is in us.”
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Verse 6: Isn’t this a wonderful verse? There are two points

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by made in this verse: one is salvation and the other is
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let fellowship. “The peace of God, which passeth all
your requests [special petitions] be made understanding, shall [absolutely] keep your hearts
known [declared] unto God. ....” The seat of your spiritual life remains in God’s
keeping because it is seed; this is eternal life. There-
Verse 6 begins with the clause, “Be careful for fore, because this is true, we keep our thoughts in
nothing.” These words do not fit into The Word in Christ Jesus and we are of one mind walking accord-
the way a modern reader understands them. The ing to the .Word of God. Paul says, “Then you are my
word “careful” means “anxious.” The statement lit- joy; my crown.”
erally means, “Do not be filled with anxiety regarding
anything.” We should be careful when it comes to the Verse 8:
Word of God, but not worried and anxious because Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
Christ is in us. whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
The key to “prayer and supplication” is in being things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
specific regarding one’s need and want. “Specifically, report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
let your needs be declared unto God with thanks- praise, think on these things.
giving,” that your mind may be renewed in what you
have in Him. Think! What we mentally dwell on we are going to
manifest. We never rise beyond what we think, The
Verse 7: Word of God says that our thoughts are to be in
And the peace of God, which passeth all under- Christ Jesus. If our thoughts are in Christ Jesus, then
standing, shall [absolutely] keep your hearts we think that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely
and minds [thoughts] through [in] Christ Jesus. and of good report. It is just as easy to think good as
it is to think evil except that the influence of our
When we declare our requests with thanksgiving, society is so negative that we must purposefully work
the peace of God, which passes all understanding, to keep our thoughts positive. We must willfully
shall keep our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. determine whether we are going to think as The Word
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says or think as the world does. cannot lack anything. Therefore, in every situation
we are more than conquerors, we are self-sufficient
Verse 9: because we are complete in Him.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and
received, and heard, and seen in me, [you] do: Verse 12:
and [if you do] the God of peace shall be with I know both how to be abased, and I know how
you. to abound: every where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be hungry,
Verse 10: both to abound and to suffer need.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at
the last your care [thinking] of me hath flour- When Paul had little he was still self-adequate. “I
ished again; wherein ye were also careful [mind- am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both
ful], but ye lacked opportunity. to abound and to suffer need.”

Verse 11: The meaning of “instructed” in the text is “to be

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have initiated into the secret,” the secret being how to be
learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to self-sufficient or self-adequate whether we lack or
be content. whether we have abundance — “feast or famine.”
Paul had been “initiated into the secret” of how to
Paul said he was not complaining about his needs live.
for he had learned that in whatever state he was, to
be self-adequate, not “content” as the KJV says. The Because some have never been initiated into the
text literally reads: “I learned in whatsoever state I secret, they stay in poverty. If they ever had an
am, I am self-adequate.” “Christ in you” makes you abundance, they wouldn’t know what to do with it.
self-adequate. Are you lacking anything according to We might paraphrase Paul’s statement thus: “I have
the Word of God? The Word says, “Ye are complete been initiated into the secret. When it comes to
in Him.”* If we are complete, we are complete; we having physical or material needs, I move on; when I
abound in material and physical possessions, I move
*Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power.”
on also. In every situation, I am self-adequate.”

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Verse 13: not experienced “the fellowship of necessities.” Paul

I can do all things through Christ which was saying that the believers in Philippi understood
strengtheneth me. because they themselves had at one time suffered lack
and at another time known abundance.
Paul was talking about how to live with an abun-
dance, and how to live on a shoestring; in either Verse 15:
situation we are self-adequate. Why are we self- Now ye Philippians know also, that in the begin-
adequate? Because we have strength through Christ ning of the gospel, when I departed from Mace-
who strengthens us. donia, no church communicated with me as con-
cerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
Many people use this Scripture in regard to
giving up chewing tobacco, smoking and other non- Verse 16:
beneficial habits. This verse does not relate at all For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again
to such things. It deals specifically with having or not [twice] unto my necessity.
having a sufficiency in material matters.
Verse 17:
Verse 14: Not because I desire [seek] a gift: but I desire
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did fruit that may abound to your account.
communicate with my affliction.
Paul was not seeking a gift from the Philippians
In other words, “Ye have well done, having had because he did not ask them for material things; but
fellowship with my affliction.” Most people believe Paul desired that fruit might abound to their account.
that “affliction” means “sickness.” The word “afflic- Every time these people communicated with the ne-
tion” is explained in the last word of verse 16, “ne- cessity of the Apostle Paul, each time they gave to his
cessity.” Paul said, “Ye have well done, having had material needs, God set the good works to their
fellowship with my necessity.” This verse is most account.
easily understood if we ourselves have been in the
same situation. If we have always had an abundance Verse 18:
of material things, and never suffered need, we have But I have all, and abound: I am full, having

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received of Epaphroditus the things which were Verse 20:

sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a Now unto God and our Father be glory [our
sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. knowledge of Him] for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse 21:
All they did was to communicate with the neces- Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren
sity of the Apostle Paul, and Paul taught that this was which are with me greet you.
well pleasing and acceptable to God, and was set to
their account. Their generous actions had nothing to
do with their salvation; good works were simply This verse admonishes us to greet every believer in
credits to their walk and reward. Christ Jesus. The Word never says a believer is in
Jesus. That would not be accurate because the name
Jesus is always associated with His humility. When-
Verse 19: ever people wanted to humiliate Him, they called
But my God shall supply all your need according Him “Jesus.” Even the devil spirits never called Him
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. “Christ” in The Word; they always said “Jesus.” The
name “Christ” means “anointed” or “anointing.” In
John 1:41 is the same word, “Messias, which is, being
In context you will understand this verse. “God interpreted, the Christ [the promised, anointed
shall supply all your need” literally refers to material one].” According to Acts 2:36, “God hath made that
things, not to spiritual things. The Philippians had same. Jesus [the humiliated one] ... both Lord and
given of their material things to the Apostle Paul, Christ.” According to Acts 10: 38, “God anointed
they ministered to his necessity. Paul is saying, “Now Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost.” This anoint-
that you have communicated toward me, God will now ing made Jesus the Christ, the promised anointed one
supply all your need according to His riches in glory (Messiah) to Israel. We are in Christ Jesus and not in
by Christ Jesus.” Again we see the law at work: give Jesus.
and receive. This law works with reliability. God shall
supply your material needs “according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.” By His foreknowledge He Verse 22:
knows our need before we ask. All the saints salute you, chiefly [especially]
they that are of Caesar’s household.
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It is interesting to note the Word of God at least
touched the high government circles in the early days.
Here we are told that the gospel had reached into
Caesar’s household.

Verse 23:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all. Amen. The Answer
Every Christian is to “stand fast in the Lord” in A Study of I John
their day-by-day walk, for as we walk we have the joy
and peace found in the “one mind,” and we have the
physical and material blessings needed for the more The Church of Grace was founded on the day of
abundant life now. We do have “all sufficiency for all Pentecost and with its founding began a new admin-
things,” and as sons of God we are in every situation istration. John addressed his first epistle to those
self-adequate. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is newly-born into the fellowship to inform them of
with each of us. Amen. their position, rights and responsibilities in the sight
of God. When the words “from the beginning” are
used in the first verse, it does not refer to the “in the
beginning” as in Genesis 1:1. “The beginning,” is
found seven times in this epistle; six times it refers to
the beginning of this administration, the period of the
Church of Grace; the seventh time it refers to the
time of beginning when iniquity was found in the devil.

I John 1:1:
That which was from the beginning, which we
have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands
have handled, of the Word of life.
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Hearing, seeing and handling are in the realm of the Verse 4:

five senses. The Word can be known to the natural And these things write we unto you, that your
man through his five senses — he has no other way by joy may be full.
which to become knowledgeable.
Joy is also a fruit of the spirit as mentioned in
Verse 2:
Galatians 5:22 where it says, “But the fruit of the
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen
Spirit is ... joy....” The fruit of the spirit does not
it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that
include happiness. A man may have happiness from
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
the material things around him; an abundance of
manifested unto us.)
things may make him happy. But joy is an inside job.
Joy is a spiritual quality. The revelation in I John is
John is informing the people that he is going to
written that the born-again believer may not only
make known his revelation concerning this “Word of
have joy within, but that his renewed-mind joy may
life.”
be full.
Verse 3:
That which we have seen and heard declare we Verse 5:
unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with This then is the message which we have heard of
US: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and
and with His Son Jesus Christ. in him is no darkness at all.

A child cannot have fellowship in an earthly family If God is light, then there can be no darkness in
until after his birth. This is true of God’s spiritual Him. Everything negative, evil, harmful, sinful and
family also. We must be born again of God before we death-provoking must be from a source other than
can have fellowship with God in His family. John is the true God of light.
writing not to the unbelievers but to those who are
sons, to those who are born again so that they may Verse 6:
have fellowship with God and with the other If we say that we have fellowship with him, and
believers. walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

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After a person is a son in the household of God, he He effected by His death and are thus logically
can have fellowship in the family as he follows The associated with it. The word “cleanseth” denotes
Word as his guidebook. If we as sons say that we have cleansing through and through, leaving no imper-
fellowship with God, and yet do not follow the fection or impurity.
rulebook and walk ungodly, we lie. When we stray
outside the guidelines, we are out of fellowship, yet
Verses 8-10:
we remain sons in the household. We must clearly
If we say that we have no sin [broken fellow-
note the difference between fellowship and sonship.
ship], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
To “walk in darkness” does not break the Father-son
in us.
relationship; it breaks the fellowship.

Verse 7: If we confess our sins [broken fellowship], he

But if we walk in the light, as he [God] is in the [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
light, we have fellowship one with another, and [broken fellowship], and to cleanse us from all
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us unrighteousness.
from all sin.
If we say that we have not sinned [broken
Walking in the light gives us fellowship with God.
fellowship], we make him [God] a liar, and his
When we are out of fellowship, we walk in darkness
[God’s] word is not in us [in our minds].
which is sin, since all broken fellowship is sin. How-
ever, when we confess our broken fellowship, the
blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us, makes us without No man can live in fellowship with God if he lives
blemish. “The blood” is a figure of speech referring according to any other principles than those of God’s
to Jesus Christ’s giving His life. It is the figure Word. When we walk in other paths we sin, which is
metalepsis which includes synecdoche. “Blood” is put unrighteousness. If, when we are out of fellowship,
by the figure synecdoche for “blood-shedding” we confess our sins to God, God is true to His
indicating the death of Jesus Christ as distinct from promise to provide legal justice. God is able to
His life. Then it goes beyond His death as an act, absolve us of all broken fellowship, a sin of which all
indicating the merits He accomplished for us which sons are guilty.

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I John 2:1,2: know [perfect tense — by an initial meeting, salva-

My little children, these things write I unto you, tion, with God] ....” What are His commandments?
that ye sin not [that you do not break fellow- To do those things which He has just instructed – to
ship]. And [but] if any man sin [breaks fellow- walk in the light. We are to hold forth The Word after
ship], we have an advocate [a defense attorney] our minds have been illuminated by it.
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Verse 4:
And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation [pay- He [the man] that saith, I know [by a personal
ment] for our sins [broken fellowship]: and not acquaintance] him [God], and keepeth not his
for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
world. him [the man].

Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins, If a person is not born again, the truth is not in
meaning that He not only paid for them but He also him spiritually. But if a born-again believer says that
wins us back into favor with God when we break he knows God intimately and does, not observe the
fellowship. Our confession of sin brings forgiveness of commandment to walk in the light, the truth of The
our broken fellowship. God can remit our sin only Word is not in that man’s mind. The truth remains in
once and that is at the time of salvation. Remission of the .believer’s spiritual being, but that person has not
sins is for the unsaved sinner; forgiveness of sin is for put on the truth in his mind.
the saved sinner who is out of fellowship with God.
Verse 5:
Verse 3:
But whoso keepeth his [God’s] word, in him
And hereby we do know that we know him
[the man] verily is the love of God perfected:
[God], if we keep his [God’s] commandments.
hereby know we that we are in him [God by
Jesus Christ].
We are to prove to ourselves that we know God.
The two Greek forms for “know” in verse 3 are used
To keep God’s Word is to live according to His will.
with precision as follows: “We do know [present
We do the keeping of His Word, and in the keeping of
tense – by being well-acquainted personally] that we
it, the love of God is perfected in us. Love, agap‘ in
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Greek, comes with spiritual birth. “Love [agap‘] of the darkness is past, and the true light now
God” is outwardly manifested when we walk in the shineth.
light. Having the spirit from God in us plus walking in
His love makes possible the perfect fellowship. A newly-made precept is now given. The whole
transaction of God was made genuine and applicable,
Verse 6: and therefore is, and can be, manifested in the senses-
He [the man] that saith he abideth in him [God world. The darkness is past because God in Christ in
by Christ Jesus] ought himself also so to walk, us is light. This light cannot be seen by others, how-
even as he [Jesus Christ] walked. ever, unless we manifest it, show it forth by our walk.

Anyone who says that he is abiding or continuing Verse 9:

in the presence of God, must have his mind renewed He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his
according to The Word and walk with this renewed brother, is in darkness even until now.
mind as Jesus Christ did. The born-again believer can,
because of freedom of will, choose to live according to Hate is possible only when someone is born of the
this world; but, to be in fellowship, a believer must seed of the devil, just as agap‘ love is possible only
choose to renew his mind and act according to the when someone is born of God’s seed. The two Greek
Word of God. words for “hate,” miseÇ and sturg‘tos, must be
understood by their usage in the context. They may
Verses 7,8: mean “dislike,” or “dislike issuing in the absolute hate
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto of the devil.” This hate, the opposite, of agap‘, is a
you, but an old commandment which ye had spiritual quality brought into a person when he is
from the beginning. The old commandment is born of the seed of the serpent.
the word which ye have heard from the begin-
ning. Verses 10,11:
He [the man] that loveth his brother abideth in
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, the light [walking in the renewed mind accord-
which thing [entire transaction of word and ing to The Word], and there is none occasion of
deed] is true in him [God] and in you: because stumbling in him [the man].

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But he that hateth [dislikes] his brother is in Verses 13,14:

darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth I write unto you, fathers, because ye have
not whither he goeth, because that darkness known him that is from the beginning. I write
hath blinded his eyes. unto you, young men, because ye have over-
come the wicked one [Satan]. I write unto you,
If we keep our minds renewed on God’s Word, the little children, because ye have known the
love of God is perfected in our minds, and we give no Father.
opportunity to the flesh to dislike or slight a brother
in Christ. He who slights or dislikes his brother has I have written unto you, fathers, because ye
not renewed his mind on God’s Word. Satan con- have known him [God] that is from the
stantly tries to dissuade us from walking in the truth beginning. I have written unto you, young men,
of the light and thus causes us to walk in darkness. In because ye are strong, and the word of God
order to continue steadfast in the light, a believer abideth in you, and ye have overcome the
must have a knowledge of God’s Word. Without such wicked one [Satan].
knowledge, a believer is uprooted and is easily swayed
into darkness because of ignorance. The Word of God can only dwell in men after they
are born again and have eternal life. Believers abide in
Verse 12: The Word as they renew their mind according to that
I write unto you, little children, because your Word. This is the only way to overcome the wicked
sins are forgiven you for his [God’s] name’s one.
sake.
Verse 15:
Love not the world, neither the things that are
A person cannot be a child of God until he is in the world. If any man love the world, the love
born again of God’s seed. A man’s sin, broken of the Father is not in him.
fellowship, is forgiven on account of God’s name’s
sake, because the man is in God’s family. Literally, If the love of the Father is not in a person, that
all sins were laid on Jesus Christ when He made His person does not have eternal life. If a man truly loves
sacrifice. the things of the world (which refers to Satan who
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rules and legally owns the world), the love of the Verse 19:
Father cannot be in him. They went out from us, but they were not of us;
for if they had been of us, they would no doubt
Verse 16: have continued with us: but they went out, that
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, they might be made manifest that they were not
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is all of us.
not of the Father, but is of the world.
The antichrists, those born into the household of
Lust (desire for more than one needs), possessive the devil, wanted to separate themselves from the
desires (“lust of the eyes”) and boastings (“pride”) believers, those of the household of the true God.
are all qualities of men in whom The Word does not
abide.
Verses 20-24:
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and
ye know all things [because we have His written
Verses 17,18:
Word].
And the world passeth away, and the lust there-
of: but he that doeth [practices] the will of God
abideth forever. I have not written unto you because ye know
not the truth, but because ye know it, and that
no lie is of the truth.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have
heard that antichrist shall come, even now are
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the
there many antichrists; whereby we know that it
Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father
is the last time.
and the Son.

Any person who is born of the seed of the serpent Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not
is called “antichrist” because he is in opposition to the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the
Christ. Son hath the Father also.

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Let that therefore abide in you [in your mind], The anointing which we have from God is the
which ye have heard from the beginning. If that anointing of holy spirit. It is receiving the fullness of
which ye have heard from the beginning shall the gift from the Holy Spirit who is God. We need
remain in you [in your mind], ye also shall no man to teach us because we have The Word and
continue [to walk] in the Son, and in the Father. the power and manifestations of the holy spirit.

Verse 28:
If that which we have heard from the beginning,
And now, little children, abide in him [in God
eternal life, is in us spiritually and we walk in fellow-
through Christ Jesus]; that, when he [Christ]
ship by renewing our minds, we shall continue in the
shall appear, we may have confidence [bold-
Father. Renewing our mind takes three steps: (1)
ness], and not be ashamed before him [God] at
know the Word of God, (2) put it into our mind and
his [Christ’s] coming.
(3) manifest it in actions. Salvation gives us sonship;
the renewed mind gives us perfect fellowship with the
At the return of Christ, we are going to be judged
Father.
and rewarded for our walk with God. If we live with
the renewed mind in manifestation and are in fellow-
Verses 25-27: ship with God, we will not be ashamed or feel
And this is the promise that he [God] hath dishonorable. Rather, we shall have confidence.
promised us, even eternal life.
Verse 29:
These things have I written unto you concerning If ye know that, he [God] is righteous, ye know
them that seduce you [cause you to doubt]. that every one that doeth righteousness is born
of him [God].
But the anointing [the new birth] which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not “Doeth” is the key word. It means to practice a
that any man teach you f instruct you]: but as skill such as a professional surgeon, painter or
the same anointing teacheth you of all things, musician. We are to practice in the senses-realm that
and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath which we have received in the spirit. We are righteous
taught you, ye shall abide in him [God]. because God made us righteous; but our righteousness

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is manifested to the world as we practice the will of as He will be in His resurrected body at His return.
God, and the will of God is known only from the When Christ returns, we shall be like Him because we
Word of God. are joint-heirs with Christ* and sons of the same
Father.
I John 3:1:
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath Verse 3:
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the And every man that hath this hope [Christ’s
sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us return] in him purifieth himself, even as he
not, because it knew him [God] not. [Christ] is pure.

The world will never understand our being “sons of We have hope for Christ’s second coming. Thus,
God.” Salvation is an internal, spiritual working and we who have this hope should purify ourselves by
natural men cannot understand spiritual matters. The renewing the mind. Our minds should be made as
world does not know God, for as I Corinthians 2:14 pure by us as our spirits are pure, the gift from God.
explains, “... the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto Verse 4:
him: neither can he know them, because they Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
[spiritual matters] are spiritually discerned.” law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Verse 2: The phrase “transgression of the law” is the Greek

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and [but] word anomia, “lawlessness.” One who practices
it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we illegalities, thereby not observing the law, is a trans-
know that, when he [Christ] shall appear, we gressor. To fulfill the law, man must follow the
shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. instructions given in Galatians 6:2 where it says,
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law
Starting with the words “and it doth not yet of Christ.”
appear” in verse 2 through verse 4 is a parenthetical
section dealing with Christ. Then in verse 5 we return *Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs, of God, and joint-
heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
to the subject, God. To be like Him [Christ] is to be glorified together.”

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Verses 5,6: Verse 8:

And ye know that he [God] was manifested [in He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the
Christ and shown to the world] to take away devil sinneth from the beginning. For this
our sins; and in him [God] is no sin. purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he
[Jesus Christ] might destroy the works of the
Whosoever abideth in him [God] sinneth not: devil.
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him [God],
neither known [beyond initial acquaintance] Every sin is due to the influence of Satan over the
him [God]. person committing the sin. Jesus Christ was mani-
fested that He might break the power of Satan. In His
first coming He did defeat the devil’s work; however,
Verse 6 is speaking of a believer abiding in God the total destruction is yet to take place with Christ’s
(fellowship), not God abiding in a believer (salvation). second coming.
A believer sins by breaking fellowship with God, not
in the spiritual life which he received when he was The Son of God has defeated Satan for those who
born again, for that life is perfect and cannot sin. If are born again and have renewed their minds accord-
one has a perfectly renewed mind, he does not sin ing to The Word. If a person does not renew his mind,
because he does not break fellowship. Satan is not defeated in that person’s life. In such a
case, Satan thwarts this person with diseases, worries,
Verse 7: fears and other satanic negatives.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he [the
man] that doeth righteousness is righteous, even The words “from the beginning” in verse 8 refer to
as he [God in Christ in you] is righteous. the beginning of iniquity found in Lucifer, the devil.
Note Ezekiel 28:15: “Thou [both Adam and the
devil] wast perfect in thy ways from the day that
No one can do righteousness until the person thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”
himself is righteous. Righteousness is of God and is
therefore included in the gift, spirit. Righteousness is Verse 9:
God in Christ within, which makes it possible to Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin
manifest righteousness without. [in the spirit]; for his [God’s] seed [Christ]
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remaineth in him [the man]: and he cannot sin Verses 13,14:

[in that of which he is born, the seed of God, Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Christ in him], because he is born of God.
We know that we have passed from death unto
In this seed of which a man is born again, he life, because we love the brethren. He that
cannot sin. It is perfect spiritual seed. loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Verse 10: The word “brethren” has the connotation of

In this the children of God are manifest, and “saints” as sons of God. We know that we have
the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not passed from death unto life when our deeds are
righteousness is not of God, neither he that motivated by the love of God. Our salvation is mani-
loveth not his brother. fested to ourselves and to the other saints as we love
with the love of God in our renewed minds. No one
Note the sharp line of demarcation between the has this agap‘ love until he is born again of God. The
two spiritual seeds. The children follow the pattern of natural man at best can only have phil‘s, human love.
their respective fathers.
In the last part of verse 14 the words “his brother”
Verses 11,12: are not in the oldest texts. “He that loveth not”
For this is the message that ye heard from the refers to the unsaved man. The unsaved person
beginning, that we should love one another. cannot love with agap‘ love and remains in darkness.

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and Verse 15:
slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer:
Because his own works were evil, and his and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life
brother’s righteous. abiding in him.

Cain was “of that wicked one”; he was born of the Some churches have taught that anyone who
seed of the serpent and manifested the devil’s hate commits murder, one who actually takes another’s
and evil works. life, does not have eternal life abiding in him. The

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Word of God does not say this. “Whosoever hateth that our primary responsibility is to our brothers in
[hate is of the devil and only the devil’s children can Christ.*
have it] his brother [in the flesh] is a murderer.” The
brother is not killed, but the man who hates, who is Verses 18-22:
born of the seed of the serpent, is causing his own My little children, let us not love in word,
death. “No murderer [who causes his own death neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth [Let
because he is born of the seed of the serpent] hath us love and not just talk about it].
eternal life abiding in him.” He cannot have eternal
life, he is born of the serpent. And hereby we know that we are of the truth,
and shall assure our hearts before him [God].
Verse 16:
Hereby perceive [understand] we the love of For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than
God, because he [Jesus Christ] laid down his life our heart, and knoweth all things.
for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren [saints]. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have
we confidence toward God.
We ought to lay down our lives, put our selfish
desires in subjection to our spirit, to help our fellow- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him
believers. [God], because we keep [in our minds] his
[God’s] commandments, and do [in our
actions] those things that are pleasing in his
Verse 17: [God’s] sight.
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his
brother [saint] have need, and shutteth up his
If our hearts are condemning us, we are out of
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth
fellowship with God. We have sinned by not walking
the love of God in him?
in the renewed mind. When we are out of fellowship,
We have frequently been taught that we are to help *Galatians 6:10: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good
the unsaved who are starving. This Scripture tells us unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

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we have no confidence toward God, and we cannot spirits whether they are of God: because many
get our prayers answered. false prophets are gone out into the world.

Verse 23: Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit

And this is his [God’s] commandment, That we that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus flesh is of God:
Christ, and love one another, as he [God in
Christ Jesus] gave us commandment. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
We can stake our very lives on the goodness which this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
God has provided for us if we practice His will. Here heard that it should come; and even now already
we have a command, not a demand; we should believe is it in the world.
on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the
firstborn, and we, His brethren, are to manifest the We are not to believe every supernatural manifes-
love from the Father within His family. tation but are to test the spirits whether they be from
the true God. To do this we need to operate the
Verse 24: manifestation of discerning of spirits. The spirit of a
And he that keepeth his commandments false prophet will not be able to confess that Jesus
dwelleth in him [God], and he [God] in him. Christ is come in the flesh. The same is antichrist but
And hereby we know that he [God] abideth in not the antichrist.
us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Verse 4:
The person who keeps the commandments not Ye are of God, little children, and have over-
only has sonship but also fellowship. We can know come them: because greater is he [God in
that God in Christ dwells in us by manifesting the Christ] that is in you, than he [the devil and his
spirit which He has given to us. devil spirits] that is in the world.

I John 4:1-3: God in Christ in us, the holy spirit, is greater than
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the the spirits of the devil in the world. When we be-

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lievers begin to practice our legal sonship rights with Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to
the use of the name of Jesus Christ, we will truly live love one another [with the renewed mind].
with power and will overcome the forces of Satan in
our lives. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love
one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
Verses 5-12: perfected in us.
They [antichrists] are of the world: therefore
speak they of the world, and the world heareth No man has ever seen God for God is Spirit. God’s
them. love is perfected in our walk as our minds are
renewed.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;
he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby Verses 13-15:
know we the spirit of truth [God], and the Hereby know we that we dwell in him [God],
spirit of error [a devil spirit]. and he in us, because he hath given us of his
Spirit [his gift, holy spirit].
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of
God; and every one that loveth is born of God, And we have seen and do testify that the Father
and knoweth God. sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of
love. God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

In this was manifested the love of God toward When God dwells in a man, he has received a new
us, because that God sent His only begotten Son creation, eternal life. When a man dwells in God, the
into the world, that we might live through him. man is walking in fellowship in the renewed mind.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that Verse 16:
he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitia- And we have known and believed the love that
tion [payment] for our sins. God hath to us. God is love [agap‘]; and he that

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dwelleth in love [agap‘] dwelleth in God, and Verses 20,21:

God in him. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother,
he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother
God’s love is perfected in our minds to the extent whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
that we dwell in God, and thereby manifest His gift he hath not seen?
to the world.
And this commandment have we from him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also.
Verse 17:
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may “To hate,” as in this Scripture, is “not to love.”
have boldness in the day of judgment: because The proof to ourselves and others that we love God is
as he [God] is, so are we in this world. to manifest the love of God to the saints.

As God is, so are we who are born again and who I John 5:1:
demonstrate love. We then have boldness and power Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is
in a time of crisis for we have put on the armor of born of God: and every one that loveth him
God. [God] that begat loveth him [Christ and the
brethren] also that is begotten of him.
Verses 18,19:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth Everyone who loves God in the renewed mind
out fear: because fear hath torment. He that loves the brethren for it is impossible to have the love
feareth is not made perfect in love. of God in the renewed mind without loving the
brethren. Both Christ and we are begotten of God
We love him, because he first loved us. Christ is our brother and we are all, along with Him,
God’s children.
God first loved us and gave us eternal life which
made it possible for us to love (agap‘). Now we ought Verse 2:
to renew our minds according to the Spirit, God, and By this we know that we love the children of
walk before Him in love. God, when we love God, and keep his command-
ments.
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We keep His commandments by renewing our belongs to us as we minister and operate the manife-
minds according to His Word. As we walk in this stations of the spirit.*
light, we prove to ourselves that we are the children
of God. Verses 6-8:
This is he that came by water and blood, even
Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water
Verses 3,4:
and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth
For this is the love of God, that we keep his
witness [with our spirit, the inner man],
[God’s] commandments: and his command-
because the Spirit is truth.
ments are not grievous [burdensome].
For there are three that bear record in heaven,
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
world: and this is the victory that overcometh these three are one.
the world [Satan], even our faith.
And there are three that bear witness in earth,
The word “world” refers to Satan throughout this the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and
epistle. The world includes all of Satan’s realm and these three agree in one.†
the things in it. We have the God-given ability to
overcome all oppression because “greater is he that is According to verse 6, Jesus Christ came by water
in you, than he that is in the world.” Our victory and blood. We know that Jesus was conceived in
comes with (1) our believing in the Word of God and Mary by the Holy Spirit. At the time of Jesus’ birth,
(2) renewing our minds according to it. the amniotic sac surrounding the embryo was broken

*John 14:12: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me,
Verse 5: the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall
he do; because I go unto my Father.”
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he
that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? †According to the critical Greek text the following words were first
added in verses 7 and 8 in the sixteenth century: “... in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And
Jesus overcame the world and the same power there are three that bear witness in earth ....”

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and therefore water came forth. Blood also comes When we believed on the Son of God, we received
forth at birth with the mother’s delivery of the child. the witness of eternal life within. “He that hath the
Thus Jesus “came by water and blood,” just as all of Son hath life,” according to the text. We do not earn
us do. this life given to us by God; we do not beg for it; we
cannot steal it; and we cannot lose it because God
I, too, by natural birth, was born of water and gave it to us as seed.
blood. But the spirit within me, which came at the
time of my spiritual birth, indicates that I am no Verses 13,14:
longer just a natural man for I have eternal life which These things have I written unto you that
is spirit. These three – water, blood and spirit – believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye
witness to the same God who was witnessed to when may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
Jesus was born. may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Verses 9-12: And this is the confidence that we have in him,

If we receive the witness of men [regarding our that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he
birth of blood and water], the witness of God is heareth us.
greater: for this is the witness of God which he
hath testified of his Son. However, by the same token, if we ask anything
which is not God’s will, we will receive nothing. We
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the must know His will in order to know what properly
witness in himself: he that believeth not God and rightfully to ask for.
hath made him [God] a liar; because he be-
lieveth not the record that God gave of his Son. Verse 15:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
And this is the record, that God hath given to us ask, we know that we have [present tense] the
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. petitions that we desired [past tense] of him.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath We have our requests before we have the manifes-
not the Son of God hath not life. tation of them. This is tremendous. Why? The Bible is

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the Word of God, and the Word of God is the Will of relative, brother or sister, who has not committed the
God. Therefore, if we know the Word of God, we unforgivable sin is a key which we can lay hold on for
know the will of God. If The Word says, “Pray for the members of our families who are not saved.
sick,” then we know that we are to pray for the
sick; we are doing God’s will. We need no longer pray Verse 17:
the pitiful “If it be Thy will.” Only someone un- All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not
learned or ignorant of the Word of God will pray “If unto death.
it be Thy will.” The man who knows the Word of God
knows what is God’s will.
Anything in thought, word or deed which is not in
Verse 16: harmony with God’s Word is unrighteousness. The
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unrighteousness of those who are born again is not
unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him unto death because God has promised forgiveness.
life for them that sin not unto death. There is a
sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray Verse 18:
for it. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth
not [in the spirit, inner man]; but he that is
The “sin unto death” is the unforgivable sin.* If a begotten of God keepeth himself, and that
man commits this sin, prayer will avail nothing for wicked one toucheth him not.
that man is born of the seed of the serpent. However,
if a brother in the flesh has not committed the If this verse were translated, “We know that that
unforgivable sin, God will give that brother eternal which is born of God within the believer sinneth
life if we ask. The word “brother” in verse 16 specifi- not,” people could understand more easily. “Who-
cally refers to a brother by birth. We can pray for soever is born of God” remains in fellowship with
salvation for a family member who wills to hear and God by renewing his mind. The believer with a
believe God’s promise. Praying for eternal life for a renewed mind cannot be touched by the wicked one.
The key to keeping ourselves is in living according to
*Wierwille, Victor Paul, The Word’s Way - Volume III, Studies in
Abundant Living (American Christian Press, New Knoxville, Ohio, God’s Word. By positive action we will allow no
1971), Chapter 4, “The Unforgivable Sin” opportunity for Satan to interfere in our lives. As

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Ephesians 4:27 admonishes, “Neither give place to be swayed from keeping our minds on God and His
the devil.” Word. Our victorious living, after receiving sonship,
comes in direct proportion with our remaining in
Verses 19,20: fellowship by thinking and acting according to the
And we know that we are of God, and the whole will of God, which can only be known by the Word of
world lieth in wickedness. God.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and

hath given us an understanding, that we may
know him that is true, and we are in him that is
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This, is the
true God, and eternal life.

The whole world lies, not walks or stands but lies,

helpless as a babe or a dead body, before the wicked
one, Satan. He is the prince of this world according to
John 14:30, and the god of this world according to
II Corinthians 4:4. However, we who are born again
have been enlightened for we know God, who is true.

Verse 21:
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Amen.

“Little children” is a term of endearment, as to

students from a concerned and loving teacher. To
“keep from idols” means to seek no help, guidance or
instruction from any source other than our heavenly
Father, who is the true and living God. We should not

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 About the Author

Victor Paul Wierwille has spent many years search-

ing, and seeking enlightenment on God’s Word from
men of God scattered across the continent. His
academic career after high school continued at the
Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary,
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he received his Bachelor
of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees. Dr.
.Wierwille studied at the University of Chicago and at
Princeton Theological Seminary where he was awarded
the Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology.
Later he completed his work for the Doctor of
Theology degree.

For sixteen years Dr. Wierwille served as a pastor in

northwestern Ohio. During these years he searched
the Word of God for keys to powerful victorious
living. Dr. Wierwille visited E. Stanley Jones and
studied his Ashram program. Such men as Glenn
Clark, Rufus Mosley, Starr Daily, Albert Cliffe, Bishop
K.C. Pillai and others were guests of Dr. Wierwille’s
local congregation. Karl Barth of Switzerland was a

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friend and consultant, as is George M. Lamsa, the
Aramaic scholar, as well as other European and Far
Eastern scholars. With these men Dr. Wierwille
quested for Biblical enlightenment. In 1953 he began
teaching classes on Power for Abundant Living. These
concentrated sessions are specifically directed to
unfold the Word of God as the Will of God and to
answer crucial questions regarding the holy spirit and
its present availability and efficacy in believers’ lives.
Leading men and women from all over the world into
receiving the more abundant life quickly consumed
Dr. Wierwille’s full time, so it became necessary for
him to resign his local pastorate. Since that time Dr.
Wierwille has devoted his entire energy to The Way
Biblical Research Center in New Knoxville, Ohio.
There, as elsewhere in the United States and foreign
countries, he continues to study, write and teach the
greatness of God’s Word.

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