Equal with God

It is important that we realize the gifts of the Spirit are of God. They are given by Him and operate only at His discretion. Furthermore, the gifts of the Spirit are the manifestation of the presence of God on the earth. The excellence of the power is of God and not of us. Thus Paul spoke to the church at Philippi on this basis.

Philippians 2:5-6

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

The operative term here is “equal with.” The Greek word used here simply means, “to agree with, being alike in character and authorized deeds.” Jesus walked in the power of the Holy Ghost because He never disagreed with the will of the Spirit. He understood the Holy Spirit to be the presence of the Father living within Him. He completely submitted to the purpose and method of the Spirit. He never sought out an alternative to doing the will of the Father.

He never despised the route or method by which the Father would use Him to accomplish His will. Thus, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God in character and will. He often rehearsed this disposition with the disciples, telling them,

“The words that I speak are the Father’s”, or “I came to do the will of the Father.” This mind made Him equal with God through authorized deeds. He was able to work miracles and all manner of signs and wonders; once again acknowledging the fact that He could do nothing without the Father, “. . . the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (John 14:10)

The operation of any gift is by the authorization of the Father. The Father is always accurate; therefore the gifts of the Spirit are never faulty. If we walk in the Spirit, then the gifts of the Spirit are without human effort. Our discerning of people and situations should also be without human effort, because the Holy Ghost is a discerning Spirit by which the Father has promised to lead and guide us.

Therefore, if we are in the dark in our dealings with people and situations, it is because we do not discern the ministry of the Holy Ghost. Without discerning the ministry of the Holy Ghost as we interact with the people of God and the world, our authorization to work ministry becomes null and void.

We are blind, deaf and dumb as it relates to the true disposition of the people we are sent to serve.

How do we perfect the people of God in character, if we do not know what their true character is? How do we counsel a saint if we are ignorant of the fact that they have consciously employed the wiles of Satan to deceive, manipulate, influence and control the minds of other saints as well as that of leaders? The truth is, ministers have been rendered totally inoperable by their lack of discerning, which really means they are not hearing or seeing through the eyes of the Spirit.

The question we need to ask is, “Why?” It is time to deal with the truth regardless as to where we find ourselves in it. I am talking about leaders and saints who are born again being totally deceived, influenced, controlled and manipulated by other saints and leaders who are born again. I know that I may not get many brownie points from the leaders in the Body for daring to expose these ugly truths, but it is what the apostolic mantle does.

“Why are saints and leaders alike, so easily deceived, influenced, manipulated and controlled by other saints and/or leaders?” First of all, we know that these attributes are definitely not of Christ. The simple truth is both the deceived and the deceiver are walking after the flesh. Consider the following as a true schoolmaster forecasting the end result of a ministry in which sin and deception go unchallenged.

Jeremiah 9:2

2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

It is the sadness of a disillusioned prophet who has been called to a nation that has departed from the ways of God. He expresses a vexation with the people of God and simply wants to depart from them. The word treacherous used here carries a multiplicity of synonyms: unfaithful, disloyal, deceitful, false, untrustworthy, double-crossing, perfidious (lying, dishonest, base or low) and underhanded.

The Spirit needs us to see as He sees and to know as He knows. Instead we have attached our own “phraseologies” to the unrighteousness in the Body. But our lack of acknowledging and challenging the evil men adopt as doctrine or lifestyle has led to churches filled with sin and treachery.

Jeremiah 9:3-4

3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

This is an interesting phrase, “to walk with slanders.” It describes those who are eager to speak false and malicious statements that damage someone’s reputation. In the world one can be held legally accountable for slandering or making false statements that damages the reputation of another. However, in the kingdom of God, one is spiritually accountable for making statements whether true or false with the intent to damage another’s reputation.

The fact that James said, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16) leaves us with the implication that even if one does not confess or if their faults are revealed some other way, those receiving the revelation are instructed to pray and seek healing from the Father. Never are we instructed to damage or slander one another.

Jeremiah 9:5

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

This, too, is an interesting statement; they teach themselves to lie, and they wear themselves out working iniquity. It is indeed sad when an individual is obviously wrong in character and deeds, but when confronted will draw on the wiles of Satan to lie and manipulate people or the situation. They do this just to keep from humbling themselves, acknowledging their wrong doings and grabbing hold of the horns of God’s altar with a repentant and contrite spirit. Instead they would rather falsely implicate others in an attempt to take the spotlight off themselves. This is evil without conscience.

Am I implying that these born again believers are suddenly now without conscience? Well beloved, I am saying the same thing Paul said:

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

This is the indictment of the Holy Ghost. He has not only determined the disposition of the offender, but also the route he took to get to that disposition. They depart from the faith, submit to satanic, seducing spirits and solicit the wisdom of the devil. They become lying hypocrites who blot out the truth in their conscience as with a branding iron.

The Holy Ghost uses these terms because this is a very severe operation. We do not like to think of our friends and loved ones as evil enemies of God and Church, but the Holy Ghost has no problem labeling such. But because we do not discern the Holy Ghost’s assessment of such matters, we deal in situations as deaf, dumb and blind leaders.

Jeremiah 9:6

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

Notice the Word used here. They refuse to know me. This again is the assessment of the Holy Ghost. He has concluded that those who walk in such deception have consciously chosen not to know the bliss found in the fruits of righteousness. They have become even as the men of old:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them (Romans 1:18-19)

Once again, they wear themselves out doing all manner of evil while seeking to avoid acknowledging the truth. But there is always a consequence when one does not do that which is righteous. This too is the work of the Holy Ghost and must be discerned as such. You must perceive that God is a severe God.

Things do not happen to the children of the Most High without His knowledge and approval. Just as our call to salvation is by election, our consequences for disobedience are by selection of the Father. It is the Holy Ghost who knows the mind of the Father. He will, however, pass that mind on to us if we stand pure in heart. For it is written, only the pure in heart will truly see (know and experience) the depths of God.

It is the mind of Christ that allows us to prophesy (to those who are off course) according to knowledge.

Jeremiah 9:7-9

7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

The Lord is faithful to avenge all that vexes His soul. This too is something the Holy Ghost wants us to discern. God will not change because of our refusal to change. He does not convene the moment. The above scriptures reflect the fearful end of a people among whom the leadership and saints are blind and ignorant to the wiles of Satan operating in their midst.

This lesson is an attempt to open your eyes to the truth about people and situations according to the discerning of the Holy Ghost. We have sought to be equal with God in healing the sick and raising the dead, however, it is imperative that we be equal with Him in truth, thought and emotion.

We must know, accept and express God’s mind concerning sin and iniquity in the Body of Christ. As we walk in the Spirit, the Holy Ghost provides us with the knowledge of satanic operations and spiritual dispositions that seek to deceive and manipulate leadership. If we do not accomplish this equality, then truly sin will never be purged from the Body.