HOW TO USE YOUR AUTHORITY: Part 2.

by John Reynolds.

I was strongly impressed the other day to talk again about authority and what Jesus has given us:

As Christians, we seem to suffer many things.. and then we pray and get God involved and He picks up the pieces and puts us back together again..

BUT.. and it's a BIG BUT..

I don't believe this is God's best for us.. He's what Jesus said.. "In the world you shall have tribulation (tests and trials).." We seem to stop there and say.."ok, we are going to suffer some things.." BUT Jesus went on to say.. "but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" Another translation reads .. "I have overcome the world and deprived it of its power to harm you"

I believe God's best for us it NOT to go into those things in the first place..

Let's look at the Apostle Paul. He suffered a lot, yet on many occasions, he didn't have to.. One time, he was on his way to Jerusalem when a Prophet of God came to him, picked up his belt and basically said "the man who owns this will be bound by it" He didn't say whether the person should stay, or go. He just said what would happen if he went.. Paul chose to go to Jerusalem.. The brethren tried to stop him but he loved his people (the Jews) so much, he chose to go to them, despite knowing what was to come to pass. God warned Paul by sending the prophet to him.. but the decision was left to Paul..

Many times, Paul got in trouble because of the Jews.. He wasn't even sent to them.. Peter was! God told Paul.. "I will send you to the gentiles" (non Jews) Peter was sent to the Jewish nation.. Paul kept going to the Synagogues and talking to his people.. and this was one of the main cause of his persecutions..

Paul deeply loved his nation (even to the point of saying he wished himself accursed from Christ!) and despite it all, went to them and even won a lot of them to the Lord! There is no record of God ever telling him off and Jesus still managed to get Paul to where He wanted to get him.. "love is the greatest of all.. and love never fails" So whilst it wasn't God's perfect will for Paul to go to the Jewish people, Because of Paul's great love for them, He constantly delivered him.. and saved them through him.. 'out of it all the Lord delivered me..' Paul said.. and God got him home in the end..

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit.. "He will show you things to come" (John14) I want to talk to you about this.. You must remember, Jesus never wasted words! It seems one small statement, yet the power of it is awesome. "He will show you things to come" ~ Why? ~ What's the purpose of that? Well, one of them is so you won't have to suffer some things, like the devils traps he has laid for us..

In my 25 years with the Lord, the Holy Spirit has shown me many 'things to come' These are future events.. The language of the Spirit is in, Dreams, Visions and Revelations. "I will pour out My Spirit and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams" ~ "What will it profit you brethren if I come speaking in tongues, except I speak by revelation" 1Cor14.

1) Things to come concerning the world:
In 2001, I was 'in the Spirit' when I had a visitation from the angel of the Lord and was shown a tragic event that was soon to come upon the earth. (Read The Visitation) I saw a huge city, devastated by a massive.. and I mean massive earthquake.. as far as the human eye could see was huge mountains of grey rubble.. The Apostle John was 'in the Spirit on the Lords day and was shown things that were shortly to come to pass upon the earth by an angel as well" (Rev1:3) These are not that common at all and serve as warnings and encouragement!
Another example was when we were very recently ministering in a church. It was during praise and worship, when the word of the Lord came as clear as day! He said. "There is coming an event that will shake the worlds financial systems" I don't know when it was to be but the fact that He said it, usually means it's not far off. (I am not a doom and gloom preacher by the way) and I ONLY say these sort of things when I really KNOW.. (not believe or think) This type of vision doesn't happen very often to me.. The reason for it? To tell people to prepare for it.. This was not a 'pray that it won't happen' one. ~ The apostle John was shown some things in Revelation, that 'were shortly to come to pass upon the Earth" These were events that were going to happen. He was told to write them down.. for us, the church.. to warn us..

2) Things to come in your personal life:
Most times, these have come whilst praying in the Spirit.. (HE is the One Who will show you, Jesus said) One time, I was at my desk, when suddenly I had a vision (It's like watching a small TV.. my eyes were open and I could see the natural world, yet there was like a mini movie that was playing off to the right hand side of me) When you 'see' something.. it's like it's SO real. There is never any doubt.. It's like the 'movie' is alive and it get's your attention! You are drawn to it.. I saw 'me' in a car crash.. I was being violently tossed around as you would be in a serious crash. I was wearing a seat belt and I recognised my car. This lasted some 10-20 seconds, then disappeared. This is the Holy Spirit showing me what was to come.. Why? So I could do something about it! (This is ALWAYS the reason you are shown something from God!.. ALWAYS.. ALWAYS..)

So I immediately started to pray in the Spirit (Romans8:26) to obtain the help I needed.. and kept going until I got the victory, and overcame the potential disaster by His grace.. Jesus said many times in the Book of Revelation to the Church.. "To him who overcomes.." (That also means.. 'gets the victory') When the 'JOY' came, I knew I had the victory! I rejoiced and gave thanks to the Lord.. then He spoke clearly and said "It's ok son, it has passed you by!"

Wonderful Jesus! What grace! Now I could have done nothing and maybe I wouldn't be writing this letter to you! The Holy Spirit showed me what was to come.. and then enabled me in prayer to avoid the tragic event! What He does for one, He will do for all. He is NO respector of persons.

Jesus told me a few weeks ago:

The Holy Spirit is as passionate (willing) to help you, as Jesus is to save you"

None of us would doubt for a moment about the Lords passion to save us from sin, yet we wonder about His help after He has saved us.. Jesus said "I will send you another Helper" (John14) The word 'another' is the Greek word 'alos' It means 'another of the same kind, or the figure stamped'.. Like 2 identical coins. He is JUST like Jesus and will do everything Jesus purchased for us. Jesus said "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father" How come? Because they are exactly alike.. They have different personalities (much like identical twins) but are united in deed and purpose.. So is the Holy Spirit..

The Lord said:
"The Holy Spirit has no greater joy than to help you through the trials of this life son"

Selah ~ (or Pause and think about this for a bit)

3) Things to come in the lives of others:
God won't even think about starting to show you things about others, until He can trust you! (and He will 'try you' as well to see if He can..) He is NOT a gossip! and the ONLY.. I repeat.. ONLY, reason, He will show you, is because He wants you to do something about it. Either to pray, or to go and see them. I was praying about a matter in the Spirit one time, when I 'saw' a woman committing adultery. I watched (again, like a mini movie) as I saw her do this. I knew her too! She was a friend of mine and went to the same church I did. I wanted to get rid of this one and tried to talk myself out of it! but it was as real as if I was there. So, after I had finished praying (don't go anywhere unto you do!) I went to see her. We talked for a while and I (very) slowly got around to the subject. I told her that the woman I saw in the vision was her. She sat quietly and then she said.. "Yes, it is me.. I wonder why God showed you?" The reason He showed me, was that He trusted me.. first.. NOT to to tell anyone.. and secondly, to do something about it. He's in the restoring business remember. The woman repented of it and years later, is now going on strongly in the Lord..

The Lord said:
"The Holy Spirit will help you receive from the Lord son"

We need His help if we are accomplish much for God! and it comes through the Spirit.. "God is a Spirit.."(jn4:24) He is not a mind, or a body,.. He is a Spirit being and His primary way of communication to us is to our spirits.. either by a 'Rhema' or 'spoken Word' or by revelation of the 'Logos' or the written Word.... Even the Lord Jesus Christ never did anything until He was baptised in the river and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.. He then commanded His disciples 'not to go anywhere until they too had received Him" (Acts 1:8) Why on Earth do we think we don't need Him?? We desperately need.. "You shall be empowered from on High, after that the Holy Spirit is fallen upon you" ~ "The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you"

Look at the transformation in Peters life!.. As the apostle Paul wrote to the church.. "I would that you all spoke in tongues" and again.. "I thank my God I speak in tongues more than you all!' (1Cor14:21)

He has guided me, preserved me and enabled me to do the will of God.. I would be dead if not for His help..

No wonder Jesus said "It is better for you if I go away, for if I do, I will send the Comforter (Helper, Standby, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener) to you"

I pray that you would get to know and co-operate with Him Whom the Lord sent us.. God Bless

John

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