Up to the last two newsletters, we
have seen where the real fight that born again
believers have lies. That is, with spirit beings
who compromise of the 1/3 angels that fell with
satan. They are the principalities, powers,
rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual
wickedness in high places and devils mentioned
through the New Testament. In the last letter
especially, we saw how they operate and how
influencial and organized they are. It would
make any non-believer afraid. However, I'm
persuaded better things of you and this letter
will show you why; it's taken from the
manuscript "The Voice..." under the chapter
Justification.
WE ARE HIGHER THAN
THEM
Born-again believers are of the
highest spiritual excellence and/or
righteousness. Actually, though this maybe
shocking, born-again believers are more
righteous than "angels".
How?
Jesus was “made so much better
than the angels, as he hath by inheritance
obtained a more excellent name than they” (Heb
1:4). In other words, this right or status is
gained by inheritance. We like Jesus, would have
inherited it. The Psalmist David hinted at this
in the 17th Psalms verse 15, “As for me, I will
behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be
satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.” So,
it is after we put off this mortal flesh we
shall truly see it.
You might say Heb 1:4 was only
talking about Jesus! Well this verse says other
wise and includes all born again believers:
“For both he that
sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all
of one” (Heb 2:11).
Meaning, the same righteousness or
holiness that Jesus has, who is far above all
angels and powers, is the same exact holiness we
as born-again believer posses. In fact, this
verse made it even plainer, “Of his own will
begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits
of his creatures” (James 1:18).
“Creatures” here mean man, angels, cherubim,
seraphim and all other creature. I also checked
out the Greek word used for “firstfruits,” which
is ‘Aparche.’ Did you know that it means
“persons superior in excellence to others of the
same class.” In other words, born again
believers are far higher, not only than angels,
but all creatures being second to God!
Even further, I heard Bishop Eddie
Long expounding on this text and it sanctioned
what I just said, “Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he
is” (1 John 3:2). He said that in the language
it was translated from, the word “shall” was
added for clarity. It should then read, “it doth
not yet appear what we be: but we know that,
when he appears, we be like him.” In other
words, it’s a now action already enforced, but
clearly seen when Christ appears the second
time. We are already have that status of
superiority, but being plagued with finite
understanding we cannot attain to it until the
finite (flesh) is taken off.
When I first realized this I was
so blown away, I was behind the computer doing
the research with crosswalk.com and suddenly
exasperated so loudly that the school librarian
probably looked at me with disdain. But I
thought, me, greater than the angels; you got to
be kidding.
No wonder the devil wants to keep
born-again Christians in ignorance.
Mrs. Lewis, my former History
teacher (very adept), taught us that the
abolition Act of 1833 freed the slaves
throughout Great Britain’s Empire, but only
education could secure it; which actually did
happen. Reason being, they were free but unless
they knew how to secure their freedom, their
former masters would manipulate them into being
"freed bondman;" or, non-coersive slavery. While
doing tertiary studies a K.C, I learnt many
things concerning slavery that is not taught,
much more not know. Many people still think
slavery was abolish because of humanitarian
reasons, but both in America and Great Britian
we had undisputable learnt that it was for
economic reasons.
After 1833, the ex-slaves, had to
reprogram their minds (education) that they
weren’t inferior livestock, but are human beings
just as their former masters, regardless of
whatever state they’re in. Likewise, a
born-again believer has to now reprogram his or
her mind that he or she is no longer inferior to
angels, spirit, imps and devils, but in fact,
higher than them through Jesus Christ. In
reality, we are second to God.
He “is gone into heaven, and is on
the right hand of God: [all] angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto
him” (I Pet 3:22). We are there too, by faith
(Heb 2:11); Christ being the first example.
YOUR PRAYERS ARE
HEARD
One of the best things about this
is to know that one is right next to God. So
anything one says, he hears and ‘will’ do; “And
this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask anything according to his will,
he heareth us: And we know that we have the
petition that we desired of him” (1 John
5:14).
The prayers of a born-again
believer, in both petitions and commands, will
always be answered, as long as it is in God’s
will. Having the knowledge of this increases one
faith tremendously. Wouldn’t you pray more and
take authority over every situation if you knew
you were heard and backed by God himself?
After full assurance, faith and
knowledge of Justification, one will be
glorified as an authorized son or an authorized
"agent" of God. Without it, a born again
believer cannot function effectively in any
capacity of ministry, though possessing the
power and probably an outward show.
JUSTIFICATION
One bible teacher noted, “A
believer that is lacking this understanding
[Justification] is like a jumbo jet on the
runaway with no gasoline – he has all the
equipment but is going nowhere” (J.M).
That
is why it is elementary that one develops faith
and knowledge in justification/sanctification
before one becomes an authorized user of the
word of God. Baker’s evangelical dictionary of
bible theology had this to say,
...The generic meaning of
sanctification is "the state of proper
functioning." To sanctify someone or something
is to set that person or thing apart for the use
intended by its designer. A pen is "sanctified"
when used to write. Eyeglasses are "sanctified"
when used to improve sight… things are
sanctified when they are used for the purpose
God intends. A human being is sanctified,
therefore, when he or she lives according to
God's design and purpose....
If a born again believer knows
that he is higher than angels while walking in
justification, and remembers it, no devil or
demon can mishandle him or her in anyway.
Christ said, “Thinkest thou that I
cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than twelve legions [6000
or 6000´12] of angels” (Math 26:53). As Christ
is, so are the born-again believers (Heb 2:11)
and consequently our usage of authority.
Be very careful at this privilege
though, we can cause catastrophes. Christ had
this power on earth, but he limited himself so
that he might give unto men the same power to
overcome all things, including the
'unconquerable' sin and death. To the born again
believer, use it wisely, knowing that our
mission is to save souls as he did for us. In
fact, exercise all our authority only by the
leading of the Holy Ghost.
Because, “as Christ hath suffered
for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in
the flesh hath ceased from sin.” (I Peter 4:1).
However, “But and if ye suffer for
righteousness’ sake, happy are ye” (1 Peter
3:14).
AREN'T WE LOWER THAN
ANGELS?
Aren’t we made lower than the
angels (Psalms 8:4-5), how comes we are higher
than them?
Yes, but so was Christ for our
example. What God did for Jesus Christ the man,
is his intentions for every born again
believer.
Jesus was made lower than the
angels in flesh. But when he died (repented),
buried (water baptism) and ascended to the right
hand of God (baptism of the Holy Ghost) he
became higher than angels and all the heavens;
being only second to God in the form of a son.
In other words, “he was made so
much better than angels, as he hath by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than
they” (Heb 1:4). How? “By inheritance.”
All this is for our understanding,
that we might know what is the height, breadth
and width of our calling. We are sons of God, by
this sonship or inheritance we too have obtained
a more excellent name than they (angels). We are
direct sons of God. Meaning, as Christ is the
only begotten of the father, so is all who
follow him and become born-again.
In other words, we have the status
of the first born (birth right), though being
made last (Gen 1:26). We are now the first
executors of all of heaven, if we have his image
(born again).
Why?
Angels are sons of God too (Gen
6:4). But us, though being made last, have
attained the birthright; similar to the story of
Esau and Jacob (Israel/Gentiles type and
shadow), Joseph’s two sons and even Aaron and
Moses (Aaron was the eldest). As Paul confesses,
“such an high priest became us, who is holy…and
made higher than the heavens” (Heb 7:26-27).
A born-again believer might
exclaim, “Wow, we have inherited heavens birth
right, what status and what class”
It does sound spectacular, but
remember this quotation from one of the angels
in heaven, your brother;
“These are they which came out of
great tribulation” (Rev 7:14).
However, because of this hope we
can easily call this “great tribulation” “light
afflictions.”
Not that the troubles on earth are
light, but when a born-again believer thinks on
the inheritance that awaits them, everything
will seem light; and he or she, by the Holy
Ghost will strive to live righteously or “washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb” (Rev 7:14).
Though born-again believers are
last or made a little lower than the angels, by
inheritance we shall obtain a greater name. Our
brothers in heaven will help see to it and it’s
their joy to behold their little brothers, just
like Esau embracing Jacob on his return home
from Laban (Gen 33:4).
YOU ARE
PERFECT
This verse will help you
understand this hope that we have,
“Now, I
say that the heir, as long as he is a child,
differeth nothing from a servant, though he be
Lord of all. But are under tutors and governors
until the time appointed of the father” (Gal
4:1-2).
Christ being the first heir who
obtain a more excellent name and position than
that of angels, then we who follow in the
similitude of his suffering; “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 glorified
together” (Rom 8:17).
“Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (I John
3:1). In other words, it’s all based on
Christ.
The word “image” in Gen 1:26,
directly translated from the Hebrew, means
‘illusion’ and the word man in the same chapter,
directly translated means ‘phantom’. Both words
suggest a mirroring of God or the direct
replica, but not the actual thing. Similar
attributes, similar power, similar everything,
but we would only be a reflection; similar to
how the light from the moon is a reflection of
the sun.
This was God’s original intention
for man; it was lost by Adam’s fall and
fortunately regained by Jesus Christ, through
being born again.
In essence, we are the same as
Jesus, therefore the same as God the son.
Christ himself tells us, “It is
enough for the disciple that he be as his
master, and the servant as his lord”(Math
10:25).
Finally, Luke records, “The
disciple is not above his master: but every one
that is perfect shall be as his master”(Lk 6:4).
"And he hath perfected forever, them that are
sanctified" (Heb 10:14). In other words, you're
like Jesus and you are perfect too. Believe
it!
But remember, you are perfect,
holy, righteous and sit far above all beings;
being equal to them that are in Christ and
Chrst. Rejoice and fret not yourselves over the
multitudes of evil discussed in this series,
because, "it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he
is” (1 John 3:2).
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