If you change positions, you will see things from a different point of view

We here at Greater Works have been in an intense "study" in the book of Revelation for a while now and it has been very illuminating. To some people it is a book with frightening information because they are looking at it with a natural mind. But to those who are reading and studying with a spiritual mind, it's not frightening at all. It is actually revealing the total of Christ in the church and the church totally in Christ!

The position from which one views a situation will determine the outcome of what he sees. If you change positions, you will see things from different view points so that you can see the overall picture. We must view it from John's stand point in the sense of when he got this great truth! He was shown what was then, what had been, and what was to come! John was looking at what God did in the beginning in creation: (Gen.1:1) "In the beginning God created" and he also saw how things were fulfilled in Jesus Christ: (Rev.1:1)"The revelation of Jesus Christ!"

Remember earlier in the definitions, I explained by the Word of God that the BEGINNING was Christ. Well everything started in Him, and everything is fulfilled in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by JESUS CHRIST and hath given unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit (to know) that God was IN CHRIST reconciling the world unto himself and not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Verse 20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ!" So the book of Revelation is a TAKING OFF OF THE COVERS of the philosophies and traditions of men so that we can SEE CHRIST as HE IS!! Paul's prayer for the people of God in Ephesians was "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of WISDOM AND REVELATION in the knowledge of him: The EYES of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the GLORY of his INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS." (Ephesians 1:17-18).

This inheritance is not to be obtained "up yonder" beyond the blue, but God wants us to have it RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!

- Pastor Gracie Perry

The Devil is Bidding for Your Soul

Many Christians today live as if they don't have anyone to answer to! A true born-again Christian no longer lives unto himself. He or she lives unto the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 5:15, the truth tells us that we should not henceforth live unto ourselves but unto him (Jesus) who died for us. Because we are accustomed to our formal lifestyle, we have to be taught how not to walk in the flesh or according to the course of this world (Ephesians 2:2).

You can't live unto Jesus unless you first have a teachable spirit. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 “learn of me”. Learn of the new life that we are to live and follow the instructions that are given to us from the truth (Psalm 32:8). The divine instructor is always willing to teach us how to live unto him. This way of life we know not of. But are you willing to let the Lord guide you by his Holy eye?

Let's face it unless the Lord builds the house, you labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). You are trying to establish the laws of man in a house that is supposed to be governed by its owner. Is the scripture a reality to you: “… for ye are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). The devil is very much aware of your attempts to live according to your thinking and to do things according to your own abilities. This only motivates him to continue to bid for your soul. Don't be fooled into thinking that the devil doesn't know the truth. He knows that as believers, you are to live unto a holy God. He is persistently looking for a wrong angle in your walk with God, refusing to give up his bidding.

According to Job 1:6, the devil was present when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord. Contrary to what we may believe, he wasn't just hanging around for the fun of it or for his health. He made his presence known with accusations! He came to sentence and bring a sense of unworthiness for those that had and have the right to enter into the presence of God. Mind you, the devil goes to and fro in the earth watching you! Yes, he's watching YOU!

The devil has the right to falsely accuse. Your feelings regarding his action aren't enough to stop him. You are to know beyond thinking whether or not what he has said is true or false. Unless we are willing to renounce all hidden sin in the heart, then we can't contend with him. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

Hidden sin in the heart causes one to come in agreement with the master of lies. According to John 8:44, “when the devil speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”. When we fail to acknowledge the presence of sin in our heart, the devil immediately bids for our soul. There isn't one opportunity that he doesn't leap at to gain authority over us.

It's not in God's will for the devil to regain control over you in any area. God makes known to us in some ways where we are falling short. As believers we are to continuously examine ourselves according to the Word of God so that our lifestyle can bring honor and glory to God.

I put you in remembrance of an earlier statement that I made. It is important that you renounce everything that is not pure and holy. We have been given power to overcome all the power of the devil (St. Luke 10:19) yet we can't defeat an enemy who we have something in common with.

I remind you that an awesome sacrifice was paid for your soul. Jesus laid down his life and shed his blood.

Be blessed with this truth:
Hebrews 9:13 “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (v. 14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

AS LONG AS YOU WALK UPRIGHT BEFORE THE LORD, THE DEVIL WILL LOSE THE BIDDING. JESUS PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE!

- Minister Linda Lawrence

Heaven

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus The Christ!

I would like to share some things with you in relation to "HEAVEN". I was taught as a child that "heaven" was up yonder beyond the blue. That's all I heard preachers say. So I believed it and thought that you had to die to go there, but now that my Heavenly Father has taken the scales off my eyes, I realize that I can be in "heaven" right here and right now! Isn't that good news!! For Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1, 5, 6: "And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead (past tense) in trespasses and sins; by grace are ye saved; And hath (already now is) raised us up together, and made us sit together in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus"!

This sounds to me like one has to be ALIVE to accept Jesus Christ, and once you've done that you have moved into heaven in Christ Jesus!!

It doesn't matter whether you define it in the dictionary, hebrew, or greek, it is always a place above all else; a lofty place; elevation (in condition or character); the abode of God; happiness; power; eternity; specifically the Gospel! Briefly said, it is a HIGH PLACE!

To get into this place we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds! We must put on Christ's mind! (1Corinthians 2:7-14) Please read these verses. But verses 12-14 states: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world (arrangement of religious order), but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which MAN'S wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth; comparing SPIRITUAL THINGS with SPIRITUAL. But the NATURAL MAN receiveth NOT the things of the Spirit of God: for they are FOOLISHNESS unto him: neither can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED."

Now that God has and is revealing Himself to me, the new heaven and the new earth that Revelation 21:1 speaks of is happening for me and others the world over right now! Thinking with Christ's mind; learning to do things God's way and not my way or doing things your way; or presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God! When we do this, the first heaven (the one painted in my mind that I thought was beyond the blue) and the first earth (old man, old nature) pass away. If therefore any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW creature; OLD THINGS are passed away; behold, all things are BECOME NEW!!

(St.John 8:23)Jesus said to the Jews: "Ye are from beneath (downwards; under; hades or hell); I am from above (over; upon; top; on high): ye are of this world; I am not of this world." So you see, you don't have to be down in the center of the earth (ground) to be in HELL. It is a state or condition one is in. Just not be in HEAVEN, and you're in HELL!! Ignorance is HELL! Torment of the mind is HELL! A bad marriage can be HELL! Deliverance from it is HEAVEN!!
Now you can understand (Genesis 1:6-9) when God said "Let there be a FIRMAMENT in the midst of the waters (peoples, nations, multitudes, and tongues) and let it divide the waters (people) from the waters (people). (vs 7) And God made the FIRMAMENT, and divided the waters (people) which were UNDER the FIRMAMENT from the waters (people) which were ABOVE the FIRMAMENT: and it was so. (Vs 8) And God called the FIRMAMENT HEAVEN! "

The FIRMAMENT (raqi'ah) being an expanse: a "firm" place! That which is solid, unyielding to pressure or touch; steadfast and constant, strong and sure!! A place where we become unmoveable in our faith in the TRUE LIVING GOD!

In this place you're ABOVE everything that pertains to the flesh or that which the natural man yields to! (1 John 5:18) "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not: but he that is begotten (regenerated or regened) of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not"! The devil can't fasten or attach himself to you because you don't have anything in you that belongs to him! Jesus was all that God was in that flesh body! We, the body of Christ, must become all that Jesus was and function as priests and kings in the earth NOW! (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Jesus said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me" (St.John 14:30).

HALLELUJAH!! Jesus was in heaven (a high place) walking around on the earth, in a FLESH BODY! But his spirit, soul, and body had been brought into complete agreement, unison, harmony, or one unit because of his MIND set! He knew who he was! We must come to know who we are! We are not just mere men, we are SONS OF GOD!! God became a MAN! He ordained that MAN become GOD in the earth! Jesus was God, God was Jesus! "As he is, so are we in this world"! (1John.4:17).

When we let the mind (phrone'o) that Jesus had be in us, we can be in the same place he is in, HEAVEN, right now! This happens when we exercise our mind in relation to entertaining it with and thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report! (Phil.4:8). When we do these things, we are RAISED up into HEAVEN, "in Christ Jesus," not by the rapture, but IN CHRIST!! You don't have to sail off any where to go to HEAVEN. It has been made available to you right here and right now IN CHRIST JESUS!!

You can now understand why in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning (Christ), God created the HEAVEN (spiritually - a high place) and the earth (natural man). Because the FLESH MAN OR NATURAL MAN must be conquered by the SPIRIT MAN and brought into the high place so he can LIVE!! That's the NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH! Because the "old heaven" [one beyond the blue] and "old earth" [the body you think you'll have when you get up yonder] has passed away. You know that you can have it right now!! That's HEAVEN!! Elevated in condition, character, authority, thinking, power, dominion, knowledge, wisdom, understanding!! Hallelujah!!


- Pastor Gracie Perry