...About Prayer

The scriptures admonish us to try every spirit to see whether it be of God (I John 4:1).

Because we have entered a dispensation where the Lord is restoring the government and order to the Body of Christ, as in the days of the early Church, there are many voices that claim to be that of God’s apostles and prophets, those to whom the revelation of the mystery of Christ is given first. As commanded by the Master, I am listening to the voices of what is becoming to be known as a “prophetic word.” The word that is coming out of the mouths of prophets must be judged as to whether it is in line with the proper perspective of God’s purpose in the earth.

However, only those who are spiritually interactive with the Father can judge such things, for some of these so-called prophetic words are delivered with a slant. These “words” that are supposedly coming from God are subtly pointing the Church towards a ‘dominion-ship now’ doctrine. This doctrine makes all the saints of God wealthy and in control of the goings on in this world. This doctrine is being cleverly disguised and cloaked inside a call to righteousness. Therefore, we see the clergymen doing a balancing act to make wealth and the riches of this world fit inside the righteousness of God.

Because many preachers have made it to what they call the top (which is nothing more than the acquisition of things), when they hear the “Perfection Message”, they have to acknowledge that it has so many truths that cannot be refuted. But their want for things, recognition and power over people is so strong; they must find a way to bring some balance to the Word that is now coming out of the heavens.

The result is to agree with the perfection message and add to it dominion now. In other words, the inference is that because the saints of God are brought to perfection they are now qualified to receive the riches of this world. Nevertheless the truth is still the same. Jesus told us to take no thought for your life(St. Matt. 6:25). Our meat is to do the will of our Father (St. John 4:34).

It is really upsetting to see how the erroneous perspective of scripture and the utterances from many prophets are outside the boundaries of what the Bible teaches. There is only one explanation for this.

Many of the true prophets of God have become infected by the ability of the mighty dollar. They have become diseased with lust and greed. Therefore, their hearts are no longer pure and they cannot clearly see the Kingdom of God. The bottom line is that they have been seduced by the love of money and the pleasures of this world.

One such example of this seduction of the Body is in the coming forth of a prophetic word in the lives of those who are quite comfortable in their lifestyles due to their economic situation. Many business people are grasping the purpose of God for their lives and all they want to do is down size so as to have the time to devote to serving the Lord. Many have the call of spiritual government in them and they are burning with the desire to come out of the workings of business to pursue their calling. But then they receive a word that says God is going to multiply their business and increase them financially so that they may become financiers of the ministry. This all sounds good but is it truly the will of God for those who want nothing more than to sanctify themselves for servitude without the distraction of managing a striving business?

This is not to say that this word is not real for some who are called to the ministry of helps. But I am cautioning the Body to be careful that Satan does not use ministers to prophesy things that rekindle a lust for the things of this world.

Prayer is being offered in this vein as well. In essence, the saints are instructed to take dominion over Satan and take back all the things he has stolen from them. Of course the things Satan took were all materialistic. Although some are claiming husbands and wives and promotions, nevertheless the focus of the Sons in prayer has become a joke to God and the angelic host. The mockery we have made not only of prayer, but also of our very existence is unreal.

Where does it appear in scripture that the Church is spoken of as being the head and not the tail? It is spoken of in the Millennium. That is when the saints of God will inherit the earth. This present Church began in persecution and will end in the same. If the doctrine of “Dominion Now” is true, then why did the apostles and the members of the early Church not accomplish dominion? The answer is simple. It is the reward given to those who endure to the end.

The things God allows the saints to possess now are for the furtherance of the Kingdom in the earth. God will not feed our vanity. We have only been given power and authority to perform the Word of God. If we have complete dominion in this world, then we would be able to suppress all the forces of evil and we would not allow any persecution or hindrance to our cause.

The error in these teachings began with man’s interpretation of scriptures such as the following:

St. Luke 10:19

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The key words here are “power over all the power of the enemy.” From this men have more than suggested that having power over all the power of the enemy means the ability to rule over and take back all that Satan has done. They think of it as a restoration. But need I remind you of the conversation Jesus had with His disciples just before His departure to heaven?

Acts 1:6-8

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

As confirmation consider the following passages:

Revelation 1:3-6

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is not the time for the Sons of God to reign or have dominion on the earth. They are to rule and reign with Christ when He comes back to set up His Kingdom. How indeed is it possible for us to reign without the Kingdom and the King being installed? No saints, we must wait for that day when the Master returns and restores all things.

Consider these truths:

The old patriarchs were not concerned about materialistic gain but were waiting on the promise of the Spirit. They were excited about being released from the burden and weight of sin. They were excited about the possibility of receiving eternal life. They longed to walk in the righteousness of God, not the glory of this world.

Finally, my friends, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” If we live in the Kingdom then our authority is in the Kingdom of God. That authority can only be exercised in this world according to the purpose and glory of God. God will not feed our vanity.

St. Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Let us endeavor to walk in this perfect way.

St. John 19:11

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…

Since Pilot had the authority to crucify Jesus or to release Him, the mindset of the Church would place him in the category of an enemy to be rebuked and/or fought in spiritual warfare. But Jesus suggests that it is the Father that gave His captors power over Him. Therefore, it is futile to enter into any form of prayer other than that of agreement with what the Father has done.

Acts 3:12

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Peter confirms that the power to heal is of Christ. But he also confirms that the holiness that provides the power is of Christ. It is not our holiness but His we must walk in.

Acts 4:7-16

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

It is not far-fetched to think that even as the Lord moved in the days of the early Church, He will do the same today. There is a need to establish the real Church in the world today. That is not to say that such a Church does not exist, but is simply not readily visible to the world. It is not the intent of the Father for the Body of Christ to be clandestine in nature. It will be exalted that all may see and have the opportunity to choose between good and the evil of this world.

This is what the Father says:

I will work many miracles and do marvelous works among the people and they shall behold my glory. The name of my Son Jesus will be exalted in the earth and men will know that I sent him into the world.

Acts 4:17-23

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

The Father further explains:

It was the sayings of the council that provoked Peter to pray as he did. But their response to the council had already revealed their true heart. Therefore when Peter came to Me and asked Me to open other doors of utterance, I knew I could trust Him to walk through them regardless of the disposition of men or the jeopardy he would stand in.