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Intensive Soul Transformation, part3

34. Satisfaction
As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God. While many of God’s people are running to and froe trying to satisfy their cravings; God says ‘Walk in the Spirit.” Because they are trying to fulfill their cravings in things, they can not be satisfied. Human cravings are infinite and only an infinite God can satisfy it.
If God’s people learned to walk in Him their cravings would automatically be satisfied; there is no other way to satisfy it. You have been made to live only in the fruit of the Spirit. Anything that is opposite to the fruit of the Spirit will make you unhappy; it will agitate you.
That which gives you peace and joy will also give you a bright future; it will also make your life beneficial to others. You will be able to face every trial and trouble with confidence. When things go wrong you know God has everything in control.
When your life in walking with God is so good, it is difficult to understand why people still seek satisfaction in things that can not satisfy. Why would people jeopardize their future on things which can not satisfy or deliver their souls?
Oh how the heart of God must greave when He sees His people trying to get their security through money, possessions, insurance, and etc. while they serve God a far off. They amuse themselves with sports, games, movies, and other things; but do little rejoicing in Christ Jesus.
My brethren I beg you set your heart on heavenly things. Worship God in the Spirit. Rejoice in Christ Jesus. Have no confidence in the flesh. Constantly keep everything before Jesus Christ; let Him direct everything you do. Let Him be your guide, your protector, yes even your closes friend.
Take up your cross daily. Crucify your flesh and its desires on that cross. Walk with Jesus Christ. Forsake all that is of the world. Do not follow the world’s fashions, desires, entertainments, or any other part of the world.
Do only those things that please God. Do not say, “I can not always be pleasing God; you can please Him to the level you are in right now. Keep raising the level at which you praise and believe Him.
O how God’s heart must greave when His people do not believe Him; it causes Him great suffering. Pride and unbelief in a Christian causes Him more suffering than any other thing.
Consider all the things that are happening in your life to be God preparing you for the time to come. Much preparation is necessary to prepare you for the time to come. He must work on you every day. He must work on you all the time.
You must work together with Him. Everything that comes your way, praise Him and thank Him. Take the yoke of Jesus upon you. You have a part and Jesus has a part.
Thankfulness in the midst of trouble is like a healing balm. Thankfulness is a catalyst that turns your trouble into a great blessing. Keep your attitude right. Keep talking to God about your problem. God can not fail to deliver you. When you are delivered you will receive spiritual riches. Your praise and thanksgiving give you the right to ask of God.
Very many things must be done in our lives to prepare us for that job. Do not waste a minute, begin preparing yourself now. If we are diligent to submit ourselves to every working of God in our lives we should be ready when the time comes.
God could speak much plainer to us if He wanted to; but God is speaking to sheep and if they are sheep they will hear His voice. Goats go their own way and find their own pasture. In this day He is already starting to separate the sheep from the goats.
You do not need to understand what He is saying to be a sheep, you only need to hear. Sometimes what He says will go against everything you have believed or thought was God; but if you hear His voice you will receive what He says anyway.
It must certainly have been clear to Abraham that God did not desire human sacrifice; but Abraham was a sheep and heard God’s voice. The disciples knew by the law that they were not to eat human flesh or blood; yet because they were sheep they heard His voice; but the goats walked away. God is in this day going to again separate the sheep from the goats.
If Abraham or the disciples had been following a rule book they would never have been able to hear God’s voice; they certainly would have thought a demon was speaking instead.
If Jesus was following a rule book He would not have let His disciples harvest grain on the Sabbath. If He followed a rule book He would have sacrificed a lamb instead of Himself. Rule books can maintain some order in your life; but they will never cause you to walk in God’s will. You will never see Jesus doing anything because the law said so; He only walked in the Spirit; He only did what He saw His Father do.
Romans 8 says, “Only those who walk in the Spirit are Sons of God. They never do their own will or what they come up with themselves. Why do people keep going their own way today? There is little holy fear in the church today.
When people are brought into the presence of God they often fall as dead; Isaiah, Daniel, the apostle John and others all fell before the presence of a mighty God. The soldiers fell before Jesus in the Garden. Ananias and Sapphira fell dead before a mighty God.
Many revivals took place in the church in the past. Many of the old songs of the church reveal the depth of some of the revivals of the past. The song, “Fully surrendered Lord Divine, I will be true to thee. All that I am or have is thine. I will be true to thee;” reveals a deep commitment to God.
One of the manifestations that took place back then was people fell before the power of God. Charles Finney said early in his ministry he went into a factory to preach the word; many people in the factory fell as dead under the power of God and many people got saved.
Wherever the power of God is manifested people are awed by it. I am told that an estimated five hundred thousand conversions took place in that revival. Many of the people who fall today are just imitating the past; but little of the real power of God is present in today’s manifestations. It is not the activity but the power of God that is important.
When we substitute activity in place of the work of the Spirit it is idolatry. Wherever the Spirit of God is leading, you do not find leaders following patterns but the Spirit.
Many people are still being saved; but we bring them into a barren church. Many who are saved return to their vomit. Peter said, “It were better that they had they never known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
We will not receive the revivals and commitments of the past except by listening to God today the way they did it. If your body was responding to instructions sent by the head twenty years ago how confused it would be? If your body responded to instructions even ten seconds old you would try to find out what was wrong it.
Are you so foolish as to think that you can follow God that way and win this war? You must at all times have a fresh Word from God and you must respond quickly. Deep intimacy with God is absolutely imperative; it is more important than your daily food.
The Jews thought as long as they were the children of Abraham and had a temple to worship in that would protect them; but Jesus said if Abraham were your father you would do the works of Abraham. When the Jews did not repent God rejected them and their temple.
In Luke 3: 4-11 John said, “Do not say we have Abraham to our father; so I say do not say we are the church. God could call His church out of the stones if He chose to. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the fire of the great tribulation.
Jesus said the same thing in John 15. Paul said the same in 1 Corinthians 3; and 11 Corinthians 5. The writer of Hebrews also said the same chapter 6; He also said, “God would judge His people in chapter ten. If you do not bear good fruit you will be cast into the fire.
Abide in Christ and you will bear fruit; but seek to bear much fruit. In the mount of God there are no limits to the heights you may climb. In the mount of God there is lots of grief; but the rewards are great. In climbing the mount of God I find myself rejected everywhere; but none of these things move me.
35. The Unseen World
Paul said in 11 Corinthians 4: 18, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The human tendency is to look at the things that are seen. Many scholars interpret the Bible as literal as they are able to; some want to spiritualize as much as possible.
When Paul said, “He looked at the unseen world” he was looking at things only God could explain. Interpreting thing literal is not being real and spiritualizing is not being spiritual. Looking at what God says about a thing is the only thing that is spiritual. If we could come up with a formula Jesus would not have said, “Without me ye can do nothing.”
If you would like to know the root of what is going on around you; you must be taught it by God Himself.
Everything around us is enormously affected by spirits both good and bad; there is not only a demon behind every bush, but angels as well. Though our lives are enormously affected by spirits; yet we are responsible for what we do for God has given us the power to conquer them.
If you choose to obey God; demons can only reveal what needs to be changed in you and boost you to a higher level in God. Put on the whole armor of God and stand against the devil.
To put on God’s armor; spend much time with Him and read books and think thoughts that build up your faith. To defeat the devil you must be very diligent.

36. The Demon World
We do not seem to realize how much influence the demon world has in our lives. I have had numerous experiences that I could relate; I would like to talk about a few.
When I was twenty years old I was talked into joining a church that thought they were the only true literal church on earth. When I was in that church it opened my mind to demonic oppression; my mind was greatly disturbed. When I came out a few mounts later it was like I had come out of a terrible storm and into a calm peaceful bay.
For a period of a year later; at times in the evening I would hear a faint buzzing in my ear which became louder and louder. I would immediately call out to God and it would go away. I knew Satan was trying to make me go insane; had I not called out to God I probably would have gone insane.
I wonder how many insane people are only demon oppressed or possessed. Certainly the man that Jesus cast a legion out of at Gadara had a demon problem.
I fell away from God and was away from God for about ten years. During that time I became an ultra liberal. I voted for Eugene McCarthy in 1972.
I came up with what I thought was a new moral law. I believed that anyone could do what ever they wanted to as long as they did not violate any one else’s right to do the same. Later I found out it was only secular humanism and that it was around for thousands of years.
While my law allowed Christians to believe in God; I could not help hating them. I could not explain why I hated Christians so much; I did not want to hate them. It was only after I came back to God that I realized it was not me that hated Christians; but the evil spirits that I was entertaining in my life.
I also discovered why I was perfectly at home in nude night club; but very uncomfortable in a church. The spirits in my life made me uncomfortable when I was in a place that was against their nature.
Even as a Christian I used to spend a lot of time watching television. Since I got rid of my television; I no longer desire to sit and watch that thing. I now am horrified when I think of the television programs I used to watch. This tells me that much of the time I consumed doing the will of demons I now use to do the will of God instead.
Every aspect of our lives is influenced by spirits good and evil. Spirits are involved in everything we do: What kind of car we drive; sports, movies, television programs, music, church, restaurants, night clubs and etc.
Each spirit tries to get us to do what is in its nature to do. When you do something that is different than the nature of the spirit that is in control of your present mood; that spirit will make you very uncomfortable. A demon of lust will try to get you to lust. A holy spirit will try to get to do right things.
There are demons of murder, adultery, pornography, hate, alcohol, tobacco, and other sins.
Sometimes only one of the demons is dominant. A dominant demon will exert very powerful influence on your personality. When there are many dominant demons: they call it multiple personality disorder. The movie “The Three Faces of Eve” is a good study of this problem.
When a demon is strong enough to control a person’s whole personality we call that person demon possessed; being demon possessed does not mean he owns the person nor does it mean that person is going to hell; it only means the demon controls the person’s faculties or personality. Demons can be strong enough at times that the person will become insane.
A person may find that he hates a person for no apparent reason; this could indicate the presence of a powerful demon. Jesus said, “If you do not forgive your brother the Father will turn you over to the tormentors. (I am not trying do diagnose real medical problems.)
Some believe that because that the Bible does not record any instances of the early church casting demons out of a Christians that it is unbiblical. First I would like to point out to you John says, “If all the things Jesus did were recorded he supposed the world would not hold all the books. The fact is that all the works of either Jesus or the apostles did could not be recorded.
Second The Bible says, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God.” Note it does not say, “As many as do only what the early church did; they are the Sons of God.” You could not record in a book very much of God’s leading. If God led you to your wife certainly you will not find in the Bible that God wants Paul to marry Sue. While God’s leading certainly must agree with the Bible; yet the actual leading is separate.
Third I would like to point out to you that Peter says, “There is a salvation that will be revealed in the last day; so God still has revelation yet to be revealed.
Forth if we are to follow the early church why than do we need to be taught of God? (See chapter six).
Fifth if we are to follow the early church we must get out our history books to see all that they did; this is impossible.
If you can show where it says that we must not do anything the early church did not do then I would capitulate to you; but if not then I say you have just come up with another of your own doctrines. God would say to you what He said to the Jews in Jeremiah’s day, “We will see whose word will stand yours or mine.”
Man is made up of spirit, soul, and body. A born again believer has God’s nature in his spirit and no demon can touch it; but his soul and body are not saved and that is where the demons can get in. I deal with this more completely in “God’s Purpose for Mankind on Earth”. If a demon can get you convinced he can not be there you have no way to be delivered; that is a very dangerous place to be.
God has put the power in every Christian to cast such demons out. When a demon is in such control of a person that he can not respond to God in obedience it should be cast out. When a person is in control of his faculties he should defeat the demons by walking in the Spirit and by obedience to God; but never be ignorant of its presence.
Many things can be learned about demons by studying Job, King Saul, King Ahab as well as other places in the Bible.
Paul says in Ephesians 6 to defeat them with the armor of God. In 11Corinthians 10 Paul says, “We have powerful spiritual weapons that can tear down strong holds; this means that they build strong holds in your mind. God has given us every spiritual weapon and defense we need to defeat them; we need to use them.
God also sent holy angels to minister to us. We see them ministering to Jesus in the desert and in the garden. We see them ministering to Paul just before the ship wreck. We see them ministering to Cornelius the Roman centurion telling him to call for Peter. Many other examples are in the Bible.
God sent angels to minister to the heirs of salvation. Jesus indicated that every child has an angel that beholds the face of the Father. I believe the operation of angels in our lives is very comprehensive indeed.
Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure; yet He needed ministry from angels. God is all powerful; yet He needs us to do our assigned work. The knowledge and plan of God is infinitely higher than any wisdom we can come up with.
Returning to the work of evil spirits; let us investigate them further. When Paul said, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood:” he showed us that our arguments are never with people; but with the demonic world.
In checking out the unseen things it is important to know whether they good or evil.
When we are on the highway unseen forces are at work. Some people are zipping in and out of traffic. Some people are just lazily going along. Some are driving at a high rate of speed. Some people are cutting others off trying to gain the advantage. In all those things spirits both good and bad are involved.
Even though spirits are involved; yet each person is responsible for what they do. We do not have time to talk about responsibilities right now; but know that we can not blame the spirits for God has given us the power to defeat them. If you are in full control of your faculties and can respond to God; than I say, “Keep God ever before you and walk it out.”
When you are doing a thing and you feel a little check; investigate it immediately to see if it is God or an enemy trick. God is always trying to lead us; but the enemy will try to imitate Him. You must try the spirits. Learn to hear God’s voice.
Do not go recklessly on. If you do go recklessly on the time will come when you call to God but you will not be able to hear Him. You have the time now to learn to hear His voice. Be diligent.
Satan will try to give you a check like God’s check; learn to know the difference. Satan will give you an uneasy peace to go with it; but when you learn to know God’s voice you will detect the difference.
It is very necessary to deal with the demonic world; but do not spend any more time on them than necessary. Jesus had to deal with the devil forty days; but He never neglected the time with His Father. When you deal with the demonic world, do not get your eyes off of the Father.
To understand the things that are seen you must look at the unseen world. All things we see going on around us have their roots somewhere in the unseen world. In the millennium there will be many unsaved people; but none of the troubles we see in today’s world. God has to turn the devil loose at the end to reveal who the unsaved are and to judge them. God already knows who they are; but the world does not.
Right now God to some extent restrains evil; but the day is coming when Satan and his demons will be turned loose and only those who are prepared will stand. Paul says in Ephesians 6, “Put on the whole armor of God so we can stand in the evil day.” In that day when everything that can be shaken will be shaken only what is of God will stand.
God has given us everything we need; but if you do not learn how to use it you will not be able to in that day. The time is short and the battle is large; we must begin now so we will have time to prepare for that day. If you begin now and give it all you have; you will be ready when the time comes. The enemy is certainly preparing himself; he is absolutely serious about defeating you.
Paul told Timothy to, “To endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Do not deny Jesus Christ in words or works. “If we deny Him He also will deny us.” Now is the time to prepare for the tribulation; so we do not hear Him say He never knew us.
In Vietnam we tried to appease the nations around us; if we would have been serious about it we would have quickly won that war. We now are making the same mistake in Iraq. Never fight a war unless you give it all you got. The nations around you will never agree with you; do not try to appease them.
Christians are constantly making the same mistake. Always fight to win. Never seek man’s approval. All you will do that way is to through away the lives of those who die fighting. In the end you will have less approval. Generals are trained to win; politicians always mismanage a war.
Whatever Jesus tells us we must believe with all our hearts; then prove it with our works. The problems we are preparing for are huge and we must not treat them lightly. We are basically preparing to conquer the whole kingdom of evil and replace it with God’s Kingdom. All the killing, stealing, adulteries, lies, and every other kind of sin and vise will be removed from the earth by the Sons of God.
What manner of persons need we be to accomplish such a great a work? Do not allow yourself to be entangled with the affairs of this life. There is an enormous battle in the unseen world for the souls of men; but the church is asleep. Everyone is concerned about comfort, opinions, money, security, and other things of this life.
Understand that everything in your life is a contest of good against evil. Whether God wins or Satan in your life is in your hands. I am now talking about things of enormous importance.
We are living in a life where even preachers have little absolute truth to be secure in. When we do not realize that we can be taught of God and go about to work up our own doctrines or accept those taught by others; we have lost the security that only God can provide.
Are your doctrines able to endure the great shaking of the end time? If your foundations are shaken what will you do? Do you have doctrines you think are not essential; or are you on the side of absolute truth? Every other doctrine is from the enemy. Jesus only operates in absolute truth; if you operate in anything less you are to some extent working with the enemy. Many Christians have joined the Philistines against Israel. Many Christians do not even know what side they are on.
If I did not tell you the truth you would have no sin; now that you have heard the truth you will have no cover for your sin. We are in a great battle and you must quit halting between opinions and choose which side you are on.
When Jesus entered into battle with the forces of evil He recognized the enormity of the battle. You can read about the many facets of His battle in the book “Scenes Beyond the Grave.” You can order this book in the bibliography below. We are facing the same kind of battles (though on a lower scale) as Jesus fought.
Put on the armor of God. Do not go to battle with a sword of clay mixed with steel. Make sure the sword is made of the very finest steel. Make sure that every part of the armor is made of the very finest materials. If you have even a little bit of inferior materials (self) in the armor Satan will find it and brake through. Every vestige of self must be removed if we are going to win in this battle.
If a doctor or lawyer spent as little time to learn his profession as we do spiritual things he would require more than a life time to achieve it. This work is of cataclysmic importance we must spend all our time on it. Get in touch with God in the morning than seek His input in everything you do through out the day. Treat everything you do even your sleep as part of the battle for the soul.
Jesus said, “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light; by now that should really begin to make sense to you. Remember everything you do is a battle for the soul. There are normal human desires in everyone. You have a desire for food, shelter, transportation, sleep, a spouse, and etc. Satan will try to get you to use the wrong method to fulfill each one. He will try to get you to eat food that is bad for your health. He will try to get you buy the most expensive house, car, clothes, and lose your sleep over frivolous fun.
He tries to get a person connected to the wrong spouse. Satan often gets an otherwise strong Christian to go with an unsaved friend. He tries to get married people to leave their spouse for another one. You can damage the rest of your life if you do not get this one right.
A man who rode with Hell’s Angels told me some years ago that when they wanted to have fun they did not seek out bar girls; but looked for a church that was just leaving out. They would ride their Harleys into the parking lot and race their engines; they soon had a crowd around them. When the girls asked for a ride they would take them to a wood and have sex with them then return them to the church; they would laugh as they left the girls whose lives they had just ruined.
I’m sure the girls thought that if they could get them saved that they would have what they wanted; they did not realize they were dealing demons of darkness. I am sure the demons also laughed at their ruined lives.
Brethren this life is serious. Do not look at the world you can see; but at the unseen world. This whole world is waiting for the Sons of God to deliver it.
37. An Uneasy Peace
I really should not watch this program; I have things to do and it keeps my mind on earthly things. My boss does not know I am not doing everything he wants me to. I really should be in church this morning but I am tired. I almost got eight hours in so I will just call it eight. I am just going five miles per hour over the speed limit. I almost stop at the stop signs. I dart back and forth in the traffic because I am in a hurry.
When you have many ifs and almosts in your life your peace is very uneasy. The absolute of the Word of God escapes you. When your life is made up of such things you can not understand one who walks in the Spirit. The absolute peace of one who walks in the Spirit always seems beyond reach; and you can not believe that Jesus really means “Be ye perfect as the Father.” It is hard to understand one who always stops and investigates when he feels a check; when your own life is full of unheeded checks.
When you see that God accepts you in spite of your uncertain life; you may think your life is still O K. Know this that for all of these things God is going to bring you into judgment.
What you need is obedience. Do not disregard the checks God brings into your life. If He keeps calling you and you do not answer one day you will call and He will not answer.
I realize that obedience to laws carries no merit of its own; but it protects God’s good Name before the world. The even greater purpose is for you to learn to hear God’s voice through the checks and balances. When you feel a check about what you are doing and you stop you are learning to hear God’s voice; you are changing from a goat to a sheep.
Satan and his demons also give checks so it is important to see where it came from. If you make it a practice to always stop and investigate when you feel a check, you will learn to do it better as time goes on.
Often times Satan will try to give you an uneasy peace. Remember when you were born again Satan said, “It was not real;” “You did not say the right words;” You were not sincere enough;” or “You sinned to badly this time.”
How did you overcome his darts? You put on the helmet of salvation. Whatever darts Satan fires at you God has an armor to protect you. Whatever process you went through to defeat him you can use to defeat all his wiles.
How can I know the difference between Truth and untruth or contaminated truth?
1. First you must be fully surrendered to God. God only reveals His Truth to surrendered people. You may otherwise receive accurate words; but they will contain no life.
2. Second you must not be influenced by the thinking of any other person. Jesus said, “How can you know the Truth who receive honor from one another?” Truth can only be taught by God.
3. Examine any word that you hear by the Scripture. All Truth will agree with the Scripture. God never requires you to blindly receive anything; He says, “Prove all things.”
4. Next reject all teachings that disturb your peace of mind. False teachings and leadings will always disturb or disrupt your peace; some will only make you feel uneasy.
5. Sometimes you may feel an uneasy peace is from Satan; but if you begin to have problems getting through to God recheck your uneasy feeling, it may be God giving you your uneasy peace. Do not trust your own perception without checking it out.
6. Approach all problems honestly and sincerely with a real desire to know the Truth. God can not fail to meet the need of one who is honest with Him.
If you choose to follow men rather than God; you are a sheep of those men; but not God’s sheep. God calls all the sheep of men, “Goats.” God’s sheep only hear His voice and will follow no other.
Obedience to men or demons will not give you real peace. Obedience to God only gives you real peace. As you continue to obey you soon begin to feel His manifest presence; continuously doing His will, will make you perfect.
Never leave an uneasy feeling unresolved it will only get more complicated and you will lose valuable time. God’s work gets done by people who know what God says; they are people of real faith.
Jesus said, “The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. The children of this world will go to great lengths to prepare for the future; while the children of light are more likely to join the enemy.
The children of this world will spend eight to twelve hours a day to get a good education; but the children of light spend ten or fifteen minutes in the morning, some only Sunday at church or nothing at all. The children of this world will spend much time with their boy or girl friends; how much time do you spend with Christ?
When the children of this world go on a trip if their plans were full of ifs or almosts they would not even expect to get there. The children of this world will try to get the latest and very best information; while the children of God go back to their forefathers for their instruction.
If your body would depend on instruction from the head given twenty years ago; you would say it had Alzheimer’s disease. If your body responded to instructions just twenty seconds late you would go to the doctor to find out what is wrong.
Why are God’s people content to live in an uneasy peace for years and years? God’s people do not even realize that there is anything wrong.
Book learning will never take the place of an intimate relationship with the Almighty. We must consistently receive a fresh Word from God. The Word of God is sharper than any two edged sword, it divides between the soul and the Spirit. When God speaks it is sharp and clear there is no flesh in it. The Word of God put a clear distinction between what comes from the Spirit and what is only of your mind or soul.
If the word spoken is not sharp and clear and does not divide between soul and Spirit it is not the Word of God. God’s Word is available to all who are fully surrendered to Him; why would we speak anything else? If it is not the very Word of God do not teach it. We will be judged for how we have instructed our brethren. The sharp clear Word of God will judge you and those you misled in the last day.
When Jesus was twelve the Pharisees were held in honor as leaders; but when they rejected His Word just eighteen years later they became hypocrites. Both they and their followers were judged just thirty or forty years later in the destruction of Jerusalem.
When you hear the truth you are responsible to accept it. When the Word of God goes forth those who accept it will save their souls; but those who reject it will be cast into the great tribulation.
I warn you do not live in an iffy realm; save your souls. You can have God’s absolute peace; why would you want anything less?

38. Wasted Years
When I was a young married man (about thirty five years old); I was sick so my wife was ministering to me as she loved to do. I loved when she did that; then God gave me a vision: He opened my heart and showed me what it was I was doing. I looked at what He was showing me and it was so horrible I could not stand to look at it. I said, “God take it away I can not stand it.”
Now before the vision I did not even know that it was wrong. For the next twenty five years I still could not figure out what was a wrong with it; only over the last year have I begun to understand what was wrong with it.
What God told me is that I glimpsed a portion of the root of what Satan uses to cause sickness and disease through out the world. When a person receives ministry in self pity, Satan is wrapping his tentacles around that person and as he gets older it will only get worse.
This root is first received in childhood. Mothers have a deep love for their children and love to minister to their needs. This is not wrong in itself; but care must be exercised that they do not develop the roots of self pity.
When I was a child I would sometimes get up with a little sick feeling. When that happened I would say, “O good! I can stay home from school today.”
I would lie down and mom would minister to me. If I was really sick I would stay in bed all day; but if it was only superficial I would get up when the danger of being sent to school was past.
What I did not realize back then was that Satan was wrapping his tentacles around my soul and body to destroy them.
What God showed me was a root in my life so horrible that I could not even bear to look at it; I see this root of sickness manifesting all around me.
I see people who do not really need them trying to get handicap permits. People try to get the closes parking places. People pray that God would give the doctor wisdom instead of an outright healing. These things may not be wrong in themselves; but we must not substitute them for developing real faith.
If you have the strength pick a farther parking place if not push your self as much as you can. Trust God to give you more strength. Trust God to help you overcome the spirit of self pity.
We must understand our lack of faith while we are developing our faith; this is why it is so important for us to develop faith now so we have it when we need it. You can live a life of luxury, ease, and fun and get to heaven; but you may not have what you need when the really big problems arise.
If you want to have what you need for all occasions you must endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If you are going to conquer the enemy you must endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If you do not pay the price you will not get the goods.
If you are sick unto death and even the doctors can not save you if you have the faith you will be delivered; but if you did not pay the price only a miracle can save you.
Satan’s tentacles are about as deeply entrenched in Christians as in the world. God gave us the power to conquer Satan when we were born again; but we must break the shell of the flesh if we are ever going to see it work. Christians will succumb to sickness just like the world till they take up their crosses and crucify the flesh. All the promises of God are to the spirit and none to the flesh.
When we hear the word “God blesses overcomers” it tastes like honey in our mouths; but when we begin to face the suffering of sickness it feels bitter. If you stand firm in the Word God gives you it will be sweet again when you win. Keep putting on the armor of God. Keep standing firm. Do all God tells you; till you can defeat everything Satan throws at you.
The power to defeat Satan will take a lot of preparation; so you must practice now while the tests are small. No one passes the big tests without mastering the small ones.
About thirty years ago someone gave me a song. She said, “God gave it to her in a dream the night before. The song went like this:
Would you take my place love?
Would you suffer long?
Would you climb this mount of grief,
To sit upon my throne?
There’s no fortune and no fame,
To come by this way.
All the things of this world are but dung.
This song has been a guiding principle in my life over the past thirty years. I have faced times of grief so great I thought they could not be born. I have seen people step in and help during those times of intense grief. They bore my burdens with me.
I thank all the people who stepped in and helped me to bear my burdens; I know God will reward them greatly. I especially want to thanked God (who sent them) and also brought me through those times.
I also thank God for every trial He sent; they provided much needed lift to His throne. I intend to destroy every tentacle that Satan has wrapped around God’s people. I will not quit till Satan is driven completely off this earth. God is going to have an earth that will be completely in His Kingdom.
Whatever the price I intend to sit next to Jesus on His throne. His throne is large enough to seat millions if they only will pay the price; come and join me.
It seems most in the church not only will not rule with Christ; but they do not want Him to rule over them. God sent me into many churches: He said, “Do not try to be anything just bring me with you.” I came to those churches bringing Jesus; but He had no natural beauty (Isaiah 53) so they rejected Him. If I had come agreeing with them they would have received me.
They said by their actions “Don’t bother me with the truth we have our own beliefs and we don’t want to change. They are sending a message to God, “We will not have this man to rule over us.”
God is right now separating the sheep from the goats. The goats get their word from others and their forefathers; but the sheep only listen to the Shepherd. I am not the Shepherd; but I will bring the Shepherd to you and you to the Shepherd.
While Jesus has no form or comeliness and no natural beauty; yet I say He is the most beautiful of all beings. Right now He speaks in a still small voice. We must be very quiet before Him if we would hear Him. One day His voice will thunder in judgment.
The pictures and words in magazines, books, catalogs, television, movies, and etc. scream out in a deafening roar; we will not be able to hear Jesus’ still small voice and that of the world at the same time. Shortly it will be too late to learn to hear His voice. Call upon Him while He is still near.
Young people are growing up with such hopes for the future that they have no time for Jesus.
Middle age people are so busy making their future they have no time for Jesus.
Older people have spent so much time on themselves they no longer can hear Jesus; they waste away what is left of their lives in fun, relaxation, and or in despondency. A whole life that was so full of promise wasted away; If God did not provide a fire to rescue them only their spirits could make it into heaven.
Why would anyone want to waste away their life when Jesus has plenty of room right beside Him on His throne? Only Jesus has the things that people have been looking for and could not find in other things. How awful that such potential is going to waste.
People everywhere are going to the grave having known only a little of the deep inner peace that only Jesus can give; some having never known that deep inner peace. Jesus was just outside their door with more than their hearts could wish for or even desire.
Can you see my tears and sorrow to see such waste? Why do people wait for God to do what only can be done by us and Jesus yoked together? Why do the shepherds say “Salvation= Jesus plus nothing?” Where do they find that in the Bible? Why do the shepherds listen to the wrong voice and lead God’s people astray? Do they not know there is a judgment coming?
We constantly hear an easy gospel, they recommend more diligence; but if not do not worry you will still be whisked away while the world suffers.
While Jesus plus nothing sure sounds good no supporting verse can be found in the Bible. Jesus and you yoked together is found in almost every page of the New Testament.
I tell you they themselves do not believe Jesus plus nothing. When you read Romans 10: 9 it says “You must believe in your heart and confess with your mouth;” you can see even your initial salvation requires both yoked together.
There are certainly many things Jesus had to do alone; but there also many things only you can and must do. Salvation can only be a joint affair.
Why do God’s people go to the enemy’s camp for fun, relaxation, entertainment, security, and etc.? Is God’s hand so short that it can not meet their needs? What is the enemy giving you that is worth throwing away your future for?
Is it maybe that the enemy will just let you while away the days doing nothing? Is it that God’s will requires you to do a lot of hard rowing? Is it that God’s blessings require you to overcome; while the enemy will let you go to sleep and just float down stream? What will you do when you come to the falls?
Satan’s way always leads to destruction. Joining the philistines may seem easier now; but it will eventually lead to destruction.
Join God’s team and fight with Him no matter how much smaller His army may seem to be right now; it will absolutely win out in the end. God’s way may seem difficult and you may be despised; but the rewards will be out of this world.
39. Perfection
The word perfection is used a lot in the book of Hebrews. In 5: 8, 9 it says that, “Jesus learned obedience through suffering and was made perfect.” In 6: 1 it says that, “We should leave the foundation doctrines after we have learned them and go on to perfection.” Verses 4-12 warn us what will happen if we do not. Is the word perfect for Jesus different than for us?
Hebrews 7: 11 says that, “The old levitical priesthood could not take us to perfection.” Verse 19 says the law could not do it either. Verse 28 says that, “Jesus is perfected forevermore.” In Hebrews 11: 40 it says that, “The cloud of witnesses could not be perfect without us.”
Jesus said in Matthew 10: 25, “It is enough for a disciple to be as his master.” Does this not tell us that the perfection referring to Jesus is the same as the perfection referring to us? Paul sure thought it was; in Ephesians 4: 13. He says, “To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5: 48, “Be perfect as the Father.”
Be not faithless but believing. If you are one of His sheep you will believe what He said. Jesus does not expect you to look within yourself to see if it is possible; and say, “I believe He meant something different.” Why would you live in unbelief?
God says in Hebrews 3: 15, “Today if you will hear His voice harden not your heart as in the provocation; the day of temptation in the wilderness.” If you want to enter His rest you must believe what He says. I have heard numerous preachers trying to get around the teachings of Jesus: Some said, “It was Old Testament”; some said “It was transitional”; some said, “It was for the millennium”; few received it for us now. When Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again”; was that for a different time then the Sermon on the Mount or was it transitional?
My brethren these teachings can do you no good until you accept their full force in your life today. Until these things are full force in your life now; you can not prepare for the evil day. This is what Jesus meant at least in part; “Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you.”
Many preachers have no trouble accepting what their professors said; but reject or change the words of Jesus; they are bowing their knees to their professors instead of to Jesus Christ. Before this thing is over they will throw those idolatrous teachings to the moles and to the bats. Every knee will bow to Jesus in the judgment; it will do no good to tell Jesus you meant well.
Jesus said in Luke 13: 24-30, “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many I say unto you will seek to enter and shall not be able.” The Master will rise and shut the door; if you are still a worker of iniquity at that time you will not get in. If you think this applies only to the Jews remember Paul says that “We have become one man.”
Look at it this way; there is a stairway to heaven. Those who keep the law are on the first step; those that are born again are on a higher step. Obedience by faith takes you on to higher steps; but we are all one body and going up the same ladder to heaven. If you decide to stop on a lower rung God will put a fire under you that will get you going. Do not be deceived God is not going to let you stay where you are.
When Jesus said to the rich young ruler; “To receive eternal life keep the commandments; but to be perfect sell all and give to the poor” is still as true today as it was then. You must keep working out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Some will point out Jesus said, “It is finished.” His work may be finished; but ours is not. All through the New Testament it tells us how we are work out our salvation. It also tells us in Hebrews 7: 25 that Jesus is still working as our intercessor.
I say to you again, strive to enter the narrow gate; strive to enter God’s rest; work out your salvation with fear and trembling; constantly keep putting off the old man and put on the new; put on the whole armor of God and be prepared for the evil day; do not let the grace of God to you be in vain.
I know God has spoken to you many times I also have pointed you right to Him if you still go your own way you will be without excuse. I have put before you a straight stick all crooked sticks put beside mine will be easily seen to be crooked. I hope you will chose to carry a straight stick. Believe and obey all that God says and your stick will be very straight.
40. Hell
Proverbs 6: 27 calls, an adulteress a fire. Proverbs 7: 27 says, “The adulteress’s house is the way to hell and death.” Job 31: 11 says, “Her way leads to destruction.” Habakkuk 2:5, says, “Alcohol increases the desires of hell.” James 5: 3, says, “Riches (gotten corruptly) shall eat your flesh like fire and will witness against you; it is heaped together for the last days. James 3: 6 says, “The tongue is set on the course of nature and the fires of hell. Hosea 7 says, “The heart of God’s apostate people is an oven…..and burns with flaming fire.
I have partially quoted these scriptures to show what the Bible calls hell fire. You may take your Bible and read the rest of the verses.
Brethren the fires of hell are very attractive. The fires of hell can be likened to a maelstrom. If you get caught in a maelstrom and get to close to its center it will take you to destruction. If there is a flood and the water gets higher than a culvert or sewer it goes in a circle into the hole; this is called a maelstrom; in its grip you could be sucked into the hole and drowned. Hell is like that maelstrom.
Hell fire comes right out of our own belly; it is made up of the strong sinful desires that come out of our lower nature. These strong desires are like a maelstrom; they have a strong pull toward death and destruction.
The currents of our lower nature are so strong we need the power of God to break free from them. The world has provided numerous things to attract us: television, movies, alcohol, night clubs, and many other forms of entertainment. All the entertainment of the world is going to get worse and worse. We need to seek to break free from these things while we still have time. If you get pulled to close to the center of the maelstrom you may not have the power to escape.
God spoke in Hosea 7, “They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker.” “They made ready their heart like an oven… “In the morning it burneth as a flaming fire;” there you can see how the fire comes right out of their belly they were walking the broad road to destruction.
Jesus wants us to walk only on the narrow road to life (perfect obedience). You must remember that we only need to walk to the faith He has brought forth in our lives at this time; that faith will grow through much time with Him.
This is what Jesus meant when he told His disciples to enter the narrow gate. Jesus was already talking to saved people. This is not talking about the new birth; but putting off the old man and putting on the new man. If you Christian walk in the old man you are on the broad way to destruction.
The words of Jesus are the most pertinent in the Bible for present needs. Most Christians accept the new birth as pertinent; but put the Sermon on the Mount to another time; how foolish. When you add or take away from the scripture you bring judgment on yourself.
Isaiah 29: 13 God says, “For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me; but their heart is far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men, there wise men shall perish.” God wants to teach us Himself. When men teach they cause the people to perish; when God teaches it produces life, even the life of God.
When the tribulation hits do not look to the military, police, or any other law enforcement body as their flesh will also be out of control. That day will burn as an oven.
Take up your cross and crucify your flesh with its deeds now. Get on the narrow way. Put off the old man with its deeds; and put on the new man.
In Matthew 7: 24-27 Jesus says, “Anyone hearing His word and obeying is like a wise man who built his house on a rock; but those who disobey are like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. That wise man’s house will withstand the greatest time of trouble ever to hit this earth. Jesus is not talking about the new birth; but obedience. In I Corinthians 3 Paul says, “We can build with flammable or inflammable materials they are talking about the same thing the day of judgment.
In Isaiah 30 it says, “God is going to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity. It says God will put a hook in their jaws causing them to error. Paul says in 11Thessalonians 2: 11, “God will send strong delusions to those who love not the truth. Paul also says in 11 Thessalonians 3: 8 that, “They would be reprobate concerning the truth.” Romans 1: 28 says that, “They would have reprobate minds.
In 1 Corinthians 9: 27 Paul says, “He keeps his body under lest he become a castaway (reprobate).” Hebrews 6: 8 says if we bear thorns we are rejected (reprobate) and will be burned. Do not be deceived if you live after the flesh you will be burned; the fire will come right out of your own belly and destroy you. Do not get too close to the center of the maelstrom; you will not be able to escape.
I have gone on line on to Christian search engines and to some of the web sites and find some sell pornography. Some Christian websites sell books on getting the opposite sex in bed with you. I find some preachers teach nudism and Christianity side by side. God told the Jews not to bring the hire of a harlot into the sanctuary.
Many Christians openly support abortion of the innocent while turning criminals loose. I tell you that even evangelical churches have gone into deep apostasy; yet these same people believe they will escape the judgment. The fires of judgment in their bellies are already ignited and when the restrainer is gone they will flare out of control. This world will burn as an oven; all who live ungodly lives will burn.
41. Go Forward
Many churches have risen in the past. God spoke a word to a man and he many times overcame great hardships to bring forth a church based on what God told him.
Martin Luther went through great difficulty in starting the Lutheran church. He returned the people back to the fact that we are justified by faith. Martin Luther never seemed to go very far past that doctrine. He still believed in infant baptism and persecuted those who believed that a believer must be baptized on their confession of faith.
He apparently felt he had to save their infants from hell by baptism. He called those who baptized by faith only Anabaptists (You can read about many of these martyrdoms in a book called “Martyr’s Mirror).
John and Charles Wesley brought back the doctrine the new birth.
The revival at Azusa Street brought back the doctrine of the baptism with the Holy Spirit which only Jesus can do. John the Baptist said, “Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Some think it is the Holy Spirit; but all four Gospels say Jesus does it.
The latter reign move brought to forefront the gifts of the Spirit. All these moves had a common problem; they camped out around a set of teachings. God’s word to all of them is, “Tell my people that they go forward.”
I have believed in the doctrine of the perfection of saints for over thirty years. I knew Sam Fife personally one of the main proponents of that doctrine. I used to go to some of the churches and farms started by him. Except for an occasional visit I have had little contact with them in the last twenty five years. Recently I have read some of their sermons on the internet and see little growth in their doctrine since the nineteen seventies. I am saying to them what I am saying to all the rest it is time to go forward.
While on one of his farms in Meadowlands, Minnesota I had a dream: In my dream I was standing by a picnic table and Brother Sam walked up. On the picnic table were two plates containing two pieces of bread; one was fixed one way and the other was fixed another way.
Brother Sam asked, “Have you anything to eat brother and I said, “Yes! That one is for you.”
Brother Sam took his piece of bread and sat down with his back to me and began to eat it. I wanted to eat my piece; but I said to myself, “One piece of bread is not enough to satisfy him.” I wanted to eat my piece of bread so much that I took a bite out of it then he was done with his so I asked him if he was still hungry and he said, “He was;” so I gave him my piece and I was surprised that he took it; but he again sat with his back to me and ate it.
When he was through he stood up walked over to me and put his arm around me gave me a good word and walked off to a train station. Brother Sam died a little over a year later. I knew God was saying He was going to give me a different word than He gave to Brother Sam; but if he could have heard it he would have received it.
Satan’s biggest trick to overcomers may be to get them bogged down around past teaching. When preachers learn new ways to say what God said in the past they think they are receiving new revelation; but they are giving the people a pot of worms just seasoned a little different. The only thing that is really going to feed the people is divine revelation and wisdom.
Divine revelation and wisdom is available to all who surrender completely to God’s will. I say to those who feel that they are unfed and dead, “Surrender completely to God’s will and God will feed you.” If you are not eating well spiritually it will be your own fault; God will feed you if you will pay the price.
In Exodus 14: 15 it says, “Tell my people that they go forward.” When God spoke these words to Moses Pharaoh’s army was on one side of them and the Red Sea was on the other side. The Israelites must have thought they were certainly going to die this time. Moses himself was crying out to God to save them; but God said, “Tell my people that they go forward.”
I can tell you that even if you are dying of cancer these words are for you; God is only waiting for you to believe. Completely surrender your life and will to God and spend a lot of time with Him; that will bring more healing to you spirit, soul, and body than anything you can do.
The mighty general Patton was marching his army through Europe when his army stopped for days. He went to the front and asked what the hold up was; and was told that the German resistance was too great for them at that place. Someone told him that our seventy and eighty millimeter tanks were no match to the German eighty eights; he said “What do you mean were no match? We have the greatest army in the world, move forward.”
In the church we need leaders that will be bogged down in nothing; they will constantly get new revelation from God and always move forward. Without constantly receiving new revelation with the determination to do it the church will fall away and die; God longs for such a people. Do not look at the giants like the Israelites did. Look at God. God is able to do anything and He will perfect all those who will believe.
God said, “To the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” and that is exactly what He means. Believe all that God says and move forward. Just repeating a revelation will not bring it to pass; you must do what He says.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.” There is a work for you to do and a work that Jesus will do. I have laid out at least a portion of what God would have you do. Whatever He tells you to do, do it and you will receive. Do not sit waiting on God to do His part if you are not doing your part.
42. Conclusion
When I started to write these books I did not know where it would lead. When God told me to write; He came upon me in the Spirit of Inspiration and Revelation. I did not write what I came up with, with my own mind. If I come up with my own word or interpretation: it would only be an idol that I fashioned with my own hands; it would only be idolatry.
When the Spirit of revelation comes upon me I receive thoughts which I must fashion into sentences. I try to keep as much of myself out of it as possible; but I am sure sometimes a little of myself gets in. If you detect an error in any of my books God did not reveal that. If you would be so kind as to tell me or e-mail me a correction I would appreciate it; even if you are wrong I assure you I will not look down on you. If you try to correct me and I know you are wrong I will correct you only with the greatest love for your soul; isn’t it better if we receive correction that we may receive only the truth? I would like to be corrected no matter in what spirit you are in.
I write these things as accurately as possible; I do not soften them or change them; however I may make a mistake. Any corrections must be proven by the Word of God for I can not compromise with anyone. I only want to teach the very Word of God.
Beloved this is the last time and I choose to love only the very Truth; because it is the last time I do not have time to fool around with error. I count error as my enemy; I hate it with a perfect hatred. I sharpen my sword that I may destroy every last bit of error in my life that I find; if you can show me any error than you are doing me a great service my friend.
The Word of God must be exceedingly sharp and it must very keenly divide between what comes from the mind and what comes only from the Spirit. My mind can only produce what is of this world which is darkness; but the Spirit speaks only from the Eternal realm which is the only True Light.
The devil will till you Jesus is the Son of God; but it produces only darkness because it is only of this world. The Spirit will till you Jesus is the Son of God from the Eternal realm and it will produce only Life; the world produces death; but True Life is only found in God. The same words spoken from darkness that produces only death will produce life when spoken by the Spirit.
I will come against and destroy any error in the church as God gives me wisdom and direction. We will soon come to the time when we can not tolerate even the least little bit of error. I must be free of error before I can completely free others of error. Forgive me if I have any error in these books; I certainly want to correct any that can be found.
The Word we receive by revelation will become a stone cut out of a mountain without hands; this stone will become a mountain that will fill the earth. This stone is a shield for the righteous and will crush the wicked; it will grow till it destroys death itself. This Word is Jesus Christ.
The Word of God must be without error and it must not be developed by human minds if it is to crush the kingdoms of this world. If I developed this word with my own mind you need to not fear it, it can not harm you; but if it is by revelation of Jesus Christ, then you had better take heed to it.
God is going to rear up a people in this hour that will live in the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation: that perfect people and perfect Word and they will conquer the whole earth; yes they will destroy death itself. Conquer the world do not let it conquer you.
Anything less than what I presented to you is only idolatry; throw away those idols and follow Jesus wherever He goes. Let your life reflect the absolute truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus very much needs a people who will believe, trust, and follow Him.
God is all powerful, all knowing, every where present; yet He has needs to be fulfilled just like you and I. God created mankind because He needed someone who would overcome all odds to glorify Him. When you come into intimate contact with Him and go wherever He goes you fulfill His needs.
Sincerely in Christ
Frank Overholt

43. Bibliography
Recommended reading.
God Calling
Edited by A. J. Russell
Can be ordered from www.Christianbook.com .
Address:
Christian Book Distributors
Post office box 7000
Peabody, Ma., 01961-7000
Stock number: ww87774
ISBN: 1557487774
This book is a deep devotional book and should be used daily with the Bible in your quiet time.

Love not the World
By Watchman Knee
Can be ordered from www.Christianliteraturecrusade.com
Address:
CLC Ministries
Post office box 1449
Fort Washington, Pa. 19034
Stock Number: 787
ISBN: 0-87508-787-6
This book explains the world God hates and the need for baptism.

Scenes Beyond the Grave
The visions of Marietta Davis
Edited by Gordon Lindsey Can be ordered from www.cfni.org
Address:
Christ for the Nations Inc.
Post office box 769000
Dallas, Texas 75376-9000
This book gives understanding of the nature of heaven, hell, the infant paradise, and the crucifixion; and much understanding of how spirits both good and evil operate.

These books help in understanding my books.
In God’s Love
Frank Overholt

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