THE MYSTERY AND POWER OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

There are seven major sacraments, but apply the words sacred mysteries corresponding to the Greek word, μυστήριον (mysterion), and also to rites that in the Western tradition are called sacrament is and to other realities, such as the Church itself. But we shall be dealing with only one in this teaching.

Holy Communion, known also as the Lord’s Supper, represents the greatest expression of God’s love for His people.

Two items are used in the Holy Communion—the bread which represents Jesus’ body that was scourged and broken before and during His crucifixion, and the cup which represents His shed blood.

When Jesus walked on earth, He was vibrant, and His body was full of life and health. He was never sick. But before Jesus went to the cross, He was badly scourged by the Roman soldiers, and His body was torn as He hung on the cross.

At the cross, God also took all our sicknesses and diseases and put them on Jesus’ originally perfect and healthy body, so that we can walk in divine health. That is why the Bible says by His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24).

In Luke 22:20, Jesus tells us that the cup is the “new covenant in My blood”, and the apostle Paul tells us that the blood of Jesus brings forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:7).

WHY DO BELIEVERS PARTAKE OF THE HOLY COMMUNION?

Besides being born again in Christ, a healthy body and mind are the greatest blessings anyone can have. And the Holy Communion is God’s ordained channel of healing and wholeness.

On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus ate His last supper with His disciples. And knowing what He would accomplish through His sacrifice, He instituted the Holy Communion (Luke 22:19–20, 1 Corinthians 11:24–25).

His loving instruction is that we are to remember Him as we partake of the Holy Communion. Jesus wanted us conscious of how His body was broken for our wholeness, and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. And whenever we partake in this consciousness, we “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Today, when we partake of the bread, we are declaring that Jesus’ health and divine life flows in our mortal bodies. And when we partake of the cup, we are declaring that we are forgiven and have been made righteous. Jesus’ blood gives us right standing before God, and we can go boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16). When we pray, we can be sure that God hears us!

HOW DO I PARTAKE OF THE HOLY COMMUNION?

Before you partake, remember that the Holy Communion is not a ritual to be observed, but a blessing to be received.

Because it is not a ritual, there is no prescribed bread or special drink required. In the Last Supper, Jesus used whatever He had at the table—bread was commonly eaten at supper, and whatever they were drinking.

TO PARTAKE, HOLD THE BREAD IN YOUR HAND AND SAY:

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You and remember all that You have done for me on the cross. Thank You for loving me so much, You gave up heaven for me. Thank You for allowing Your body to be broken so that mine might be whole. As I partake, I receive Your resurrection life, health, and strength. By Your grace, I shall be completely strong and healthy all the days of my life. My eyes shall not grow dim, nor shall my strength be abated. No sickness can remain in my body because the same power that raised You from the grave flows through me. By Your stripes, I am healed. [Now eat the bread.]

NOW HOLD THE CUP IN YOUR HAND AND TELL HIM:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious blood. Thank You for washing me clean of all my sins. I stand before You completely righteous and forgiven. Your blood has redeemed me from every curse, and today I can freely receive all the blessings that crown the head of the righteous. Amen! [Now drink.]

THE IRREVOCABLE RATIONALES OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

1: The Simple Act of Eating Can Make All the Difference

Doctors may have told you there is no hope. You may have lived with a medical condition for so long, you’ve given up on ever being free of it. Perhaps something you’d overcome has come back with such a vengeance that you’re thinking, Maybe this time, it can’t be beaten.

Whatever sickness you’re confronted with today, please know that it is not from God. Disease and death were not part of His plan for man. They were released into the world when man sinned by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

But there is good news for you today: Just as disease and death came through the simple act of eating, God has ordained for another act of eating to restore the health and wholeness that man lost in the fall. It is the Holy Communion—and it is easily accessible and available to you today.

Every time you partake of the Communion, you are proclaiming Jesus’ death at the cross that reversed the curse brought about in the garden of Eden. Every time you partake of the Communion, you experience the very power of Jesus’ redemptive work released into your body—especially healing and health!

2: God Wants You Completely Well

Maybe you’ve received a bad report from the doctors. Maybe they told you that your condition is chronic or incurable. With all due respect for doctors who have dedicated their lives to alleviating pain and suffering, they don’t have the final word in your life. God does. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last (see Rev. 22:13).

And His desire is for you to be completely well.

That might be easy to believe on good days when the pain subsides and you feel your strength returning. But what about days when the symptoms hit? What about days when you go back to the doctors and find that your condition hasn’t improved? On days like these, it’s easy to stop believing that God wants you well. It’s easy to start wondering, “Is this sickness from God? Is He trying to teach me something through this?”

My friend, nothing could be further from the truth. Your heavenly Father loves you deeply, and He wants you, His beloved child, to be healed, healthy, and whole.

How can you be sure?

Let’s look at Jesus in the gospels. He went about “doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). When great multitudes followed Him bringing their loved ones who were sick, He “healed them all” (Matt. 12:15, 15:30). No exceptions. Not once did He say to anyone, “Come here. You are too healthy. Receive some leprosy.” Not once did He say to a sick person, “My Father is chastising you. That’s why you are sick.” You see, God does not give sicknesses and diseases. He gives healing.

Beloved, don’t ever let the lie come in that sickness is part of God’s will. May this truth burn in your heart now and always: “God wants me well!”

3: Surely, Not Maybe

I’d like to share with you today the certainty of your healing declared in God’s Word.

“Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, and our pains—he hath carried them.” —Isaiah 53:4 (YLT)

Isaiah 53 does not say, “Maybe our sicknesses he hath borne.” It says, “Surely our sicknesses he hath borne.” This scripture is indisputable proof of how completely Jesus has purchased your healing at the cross!

Beloved, your health is so important to Jesus that He paid the terrible price for it. Isaiah 53 goes on to describe how He bore the punishment for our sins in His body because He knew that it would bring us peace and total well-being. He was scourged and striped—so that “by His stripes, we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). That is how completely, fully, and surely your healing has been secured.

This is what the Holy Communion is all about. When we hold the bread and the cup in our hands, we are remembering what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross (see 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Please let me take some time to explain the significance and meaning of the Holy Communion elements to you.

+ The bread: 

Jesus would have used Jewish Matzah bread when He first introduced the Communion to His disciples. The Matzah bread is burnt, pierced, and striped—reminding us that Jesus was burnt by the fire of God’s judgment, pierced for our transgressions, and striped by scourging so that we would be healed.

+ The cup: 

Jesus would have used wine on the night He first took the Communion with His disciples. To get wine, grapes have to be crushed—reminding us that Jesus was crushed and His blood was shed so that we could be forgiven of every sin in our lives. Because we are forgiven, there is no failure in our lives that can disqualify us from receiving healing from the Lord.

My friend, this is why the Holy Communion has nothing to do with what you need to do, and everything to do with having a revelation of what Jesus has done for you.

4: Partake Continually

If you woke up with sickness or pain in your body today, the Lord has made a way for you to partake of the healing that He has purchased for you at the cross. He has prepared a meal by which you can eat your way to life and health. It is the Holy Communion.

When you hold the bread and cup in your hand, you are holding the greatest expression of the Lord’s love for you.

This love made Him subject His body to be beaten, bruised, and broken so that yours can be whole today.

Beloved, can I encourage you to partake of the Communion continually? Our Lord Jesus said, “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:25). Notice how He said “as often” and not “as rarely” or “as infrequently.” In our church, we partake of it every last Sunday of the Month. The early church partook of it daily (see Acts 2:46). The Lord lets you decide what “often” means for you. If you want, you can even take it several times a day with your medication.

Many people have written to me to share how they received their healing breakthrough as they partook of the Communion regularly and with the revelation of the Lord’s love and finished work. I am believing with you that you will be next!

5: Little by Little

If you can still see or feel the symptoms of the condition you’re trusting God for healing for, I want to encourage you in this: You don’t need to have an instantaneous manifestation of healing or feel something tangibly happening in your body to know that God is healing you.

While God does heal instantly, He also heals incrementally.

Most of the people who have written to me to share their healing testimonies were healed gradually by the Lord as they partook of the Holy Communion.

Beloved, each time you partake of the Holy Communion, you are getting better and better, stronger and stronger. God says in His Word, “Little by little I will drive [your enemies] out from before you until you have increased, and you inherit the land.” (Exod. 23:30). Little by little, that sickness, that disease, that condition, is being driven out from your life. Little by little, you are receiving your healing.

Whatever you’re battling in your body today, don’t be discouraged. The symptoms might still be there even though you have partaken of the Communion, but keep partaking in faith. Your healing is already taking place. Don’t give up!

 6: No Exclusions

Even as you partake of the Communion in faith and wait on the Lord for your healing to manifest, there can be moments when discouraging thoughts creep in. Thoughts like, “My condition is so rare it’s almost unheard of. Maybe it’s not covered in the Bible.” Thoughts like, “It’s a new strain of disease I’m battling. Maybe what Jesus accomplished at the cross more than 2020 years ago doesn’t cover it. Maybe that’s why the Holy Communion isn’t working for me.”

If you’ve ever had doubts like these—that your condition might somehow be excluded from God’s healing power—I have good news to share with you:

It doesn’t matter how rare, obscure, or even new to medical science your condition is. There are no exclusions whatsoever in the finished work of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus left nothing out when He bore our diseases at the cross. We can be sure of this because the curse He bore in our place includes “every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law” (Deut. 28:61, Gal. 3:13). This means that every physical condition—even the ones that aren’t mentioned in the Bible or didn’t exist back in Jesus’ time—is covered! Whatever you’re going through, whatever the name of the sickness you’re fighting, Jesus had it on His mind when He went to the cross for you.

A powerful way for you to stay faith-filled as you partake of the Communion and wait for God’s healing to manifest in your body is to read inspiring testimonies. As you read them, notice how personally God comforts, encourages, heals, and restores people going through different health challenges through the Holy Communion.

What God did for them, He can also do for you.

 7: Revelation Brings Results

While I have encouraged you to partake of the bread and the cup regularly, please know this:

The Holy Communion is not about rules, routine, and regimentation. It is all about relationship, revelation, and receiving the redemptive work of Christ.

If Communion was about following a strict set of rules to see results, then it would be like any other diet plan that relies on your effort, discipline, and willpower. But the Communion has nothing to do with what you need to do, and everything to do with having a revelation of what Jesus has done for you!

When Jesus first introduced the Communion to His disciples, He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor. 11:24). The Hebrew word for “remembrance” encompasses much more than sentimental recalling. It also conveys the idea of reenactment, of going through an event again. This means that when you partake of the bread and the cup, the Lord wants you to reenact all that He went through for you so that it becomes fresh in your mind—not just a historical event that happened 2022 years ago.

How do you do that? As you partake of the Communion, see Jesus before you, as though you are right there at Calvary. As you break the bread in your hands, see His body being broken for your wholeness. As you drink of the cup, see His blood being shed for your complete forgiveness. Meditate on this amazing truth: It was for you that the King of kings suffered!

Beloved, the more you partake of the bread and the cup with the sense of His love for you and the revelation of His redemptive work, the more you will receive the benefits of the Holy Communion—especially divine life and health.

It is well with you.

Hallelujah!!!

Your Partner,

Dr I. D. Samuel

The Primate Metropolitan of God's City Nigeria 

TOTAL DOMINION

 

Dominion is about knowing who you are in Christ.

Unfortunately, dominion is a topic that many of us talk about but a few of us possess. According to the Word of God, we are made to have dominion in life.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion  .......over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” - Genesis 1: 26

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the livestock and all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” - Genesis 1: 26

Dominion is a topic that many of us talk about but few of us possess. Dominion is power, authority or control over something or someone. It is the ability to request or command and expect to fulfil the end of that appeal. To have dominion is to rule, to be in charge.

As children of God, understanding dominion is crucial to this walk with God. A lack of understanding in this area could cost you spiritually and naturally too.

Meanwhile, Spiritual dominion is not arbitrary rulership. It is not about going around commanding and demanding at your discretion. Spiritual dominion falls under the auspices of God. It is only effective and effectual when it submits totally to the will of God.

What Walking in Dominion means

Dominion is about knowing who you are in Christ and understanding that in you, through Him is the power to lay hold onto the promises of God and possess them until the day of Christ.

Dominion is understanding that you can do what God said you can do, have what God said you can have and be what God said you can be

What Dominion Means

There’s a phrase Bishop Emmanuel doesn’t like.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard it too, usually in drawn-out, religious-sounding tones when circumstances seem to fall short of what God has promised us in His Word.

“Well…God is sovereign.”

Of course, without question, God is sovereign. But what people are saying behind that statement is, “You never know what God is going to do.”

The problem with that view of sovereignty is it releases us of all responsibility. After all, if God is sovereign, He will do what He wants to anyway, so we might as well go watch television and forget about it, right? Wrong.

According to Psalm 8:6, God Himself put mankind in charge, gave us dominion, and put all things under our feet. He doesn’t intervene in the affairs of the Earth whenever He wants. He respects the dominion and authority He has given us.

Are all things under your feet today?

If not, it’s time to take a closer look at what dominion means.

1. Dominion Means Operating In the Anointing

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for he has anointed Me.” –Luke 4:18

Dominion is a God-given gift to His people that requires His supernatural Anointing. It belongs to you, but it isn’t automatic. It takes faith, walking in love, and operating in the anointing.

The word anoint means “to pour out on, put on or smear on.” That’s why we anoint with oil—it represents the pouring on of the Spirit of God.

Operating in the anointing is what gives you the ability to take dominion over every area of your life—to do things you’d never be able to do otherwise. The anointing is what gave Samson supernatural strength and the ability to overcome his enemies. The anointing is what enabled David to kill Goliath. And the anointing is what allowed Joseph the knowledge to run a major estate for Potiphar with notable success.

That same anointing is available to you today. Expect to operate in the anointing if you want to take dominion!

2. Dominion Means Prospering Financially

“The LORD will open for you His good treasure house, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.” –Deuteronomy 28:12 (AMP)

Dominion is what sets you apart from the rest of the world—especially financially. As a believer, you should always be the head of every situation—not the tail. That means you have money in abundance to take care of your own needs and to be a blessing to those around you. It means you’re the lender, NOT the borrower.

People should be able to see THE BLESSING of the Lord on you. They should see that you prosper in every situation, no matter what your job is or the state of the economy. It’s a testimony of the goodness of God!

What about you? Do you feel like you have financial dominion and authority over your finances? Or do bills, debt and work-related troubles seem to rule you instead?

Start seeing yourself as having dominion in the area of finances. When an unexpected financial situation comes your way, take your seat in the place of authority instead of falling into a victim mentality. When you start with the right mindset, you’ll respond with the right actions.

The right actions are believing in victory, speaking victory, and reaching out and taking what belongs to you. They involve resisting the devil, putting him under your feet, and refusing to accept anything less than God’s best.

3. Dominion Means Excelling to the Highest Place Possible

“And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down.”—Deuteronomy 28:13 (ESV)

To excel in the spirit of the Word is to prosper financially, physically and relationally. That’s the result of THE BLESSING.

Physically, that means you don’t settle for aches and pains, allergies, sickness, disease, or age-related setbacks. You excel to the highest place possible, which is a long life in a strong, healthy body.

Relationally, it means you don’t settle for strife in your home, a broken marriage, an unfulfilled desire for family, or rebellious children. You excel to the highest place possible, which is a family most people only dream of. Dominion looks different from the world. Our families should look different, as a result.

Financially, it means you don’t settle for lack, low pay, being stuck in the same job year after year, taking out loans, or living paycheck to paycheck. You excel to the highest place possible by continually INCREASING in your pay, your savings, your investments and your giving.

The very first thing a human ear ever heard was, “Be blessed!” That’s a mandate. It’s time to fulfil it.

4. Dominion Means Expecting to Be Blessed In Famine

“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year [during a famine] reaped a hundredfold because the LORD blessed him.” –Genesis 26:12 (NIV)

Maybe you’re good at expecting dominion and blessing…unless something like COVID-19 or an economic downturn shows up. Then, you’re afraid of losing your job or watching the stock market fall like everyone else.

But dominion means you expect to be blessed even in famine.

The story of Joseph prospering in prison and during a famine isn’t just a nice story that is supposed to entertain us. No! It’s an example of how we are to expect to live ourselves—a call to live in dominion.

Thriving in Famine

Dominion means expecting to be blessed in famine. It means when layoffs are happening all around you—you’re expecting to increase anyway. When the stock market is fluctuating, you have peace, and you trust in the anointing to guide you and protect you.

Dominion means you aren’t subject to the times—the times are subject to you. And you know it!

5. Dominion Means Expecting to Be Healed

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” –Luke 10:19 (NLT)

You have dominion over the devil. The devil is the author of sickness and disease. Therefore, you should EXPECT to live in divine health all the days of your life because you have dominion!

Take dominion over symptoms and negative doctors’ reports. Don’t for a minute let yourself feel like a victim. You have authority. Take it in the Name of Jesus. Speak it by the power of the blood of Jesus. You’re redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.

Every sickness and disease is under your feet. Expect healing to come to you, and then expect to live in divine healing all the days of your life.

6. Dominion Means Destroying Every Yoke

“…when thou shalt have the dominion…thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”

—Genesis 27:40 (KJV)

Enemies, depression, the weight of sin, oppressive attempts of the devil. These are all yokes that must be destroyed. The devil wants to hinder your promotion, growth and increase. He wants to STOP what God has already set in motion in your life.

Dominion means destroying every yoke by tapping into the yoke-destroying anointing that is at your fingertips.

It’s time to get tough and break loose from bondage. Command failure, poverty, addiction or any other yoke to leave you NOW in Jesus’ Name. You have dominion.

Now that you know what dominion means, it’s time to exercise and demonstrate it so others can witness it and become citizens of God’s kingdom themselves. Break off every yoke, get out from under every burden, and take your seat in THE BLESSING. Live a life of dominion!

ABOVE ONLY

 Does that describe you? Does it describe your health, your money, your job, your relationships?

It should. Deuteronomy 28 says God’s people should expect to be at the top. Not sometimes—ALWAYS. Yet, far too many Christians have accepted less. They may believe in seeing a victory now and then, but being at the top in everything, always?

There’s a purpose for God wanting us to always be on top—to be above only and not beneath. For one, Jesus paid a high price to break the curse and give us an easy yoke and a light burden. When you were born again, you were appointed to be the lender and not the borrower, the head and not the tail, to be on top and never at the bottom. To be well and not sick, prosperous and not in lack. The Name that is above every name has delivered you and set you above and not beneath.

And second, He wants you living above only and not beneath because it is a witness to the world around you that the people of God are blessed. It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom—Glory to God! 

If you aren’t on top in every area of your life, it’s time to get there. Here’s how you can begin to live above only and not beneath.

1. Look Up, Not Out

“Set your mind on things above…” –Colossians 3:2, NKJV

It’s easy to do.

Financial demands, physical symptoms or disappointments are right there in front of you. Focusing on them and allowing them to be your reality is the natural thing to do. But we aren’t called to be “natural.” We’re called to look up, not out. We are called to set our minds on the things above.

How can we do that?

By remembering that while our natural circumstances shout the loudest, they aren’t in the majority. They’re far outnumbered by the new reality that became ours when we became His.

Jesus said we’re to be in the world but not of it. That doesn’t just mean that we are to separate ourselves and behave differently, it also means we are to see things differently—victoriously. It means we are to live above only—always—and not beneath—ever.

That means when it looks like we’re moving to a beneath position in our finances, we look up and remember what God has said about our money. He says we’re blessed, called to live in abundance, never to lack. He says we’re the head of our finances, not the tail. (See confessions based on scripture for victory in finances HERE).

It means when symptoms of any illness try to come on us, we immediately look up and remember what God says (see healing scriptures HERE). And we say, “Nope. Not today, Satan. Not ever! You’re not putting that on me. I’m healed by the blood of Jesus!”

2. See Yourself as the Head, Not the Tail

“The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail...”—Deuteronomy 28:13, NIV

It’s hard to live above only and not beneath if you don’t see yourself that way. A spirit of rejection, inferiority or low self-esteem is all enemies of living at the top as God intended. When we let our past experiences or what others have said about us impact how we see ourselves, we cancel out how God wants us to view ourselves.

If you come from a long line of people who deal with health issues, you’re going to have to reprogram your thinking to see yourself as a strong, healthy and above disease only, not beneath it. If you come from a family that has struggled with poverty, you need to get a new vision of abundance and wealth on the inside of you. If you come from a family that has been plagued by divorce, you’ve got to renew your mind to succeed in your marriage and expect to be married forever. The same is true for any other area where you are in the habit of seeing yourself on the short end of things, rather than standing on top of a mountain as more than a conqueror.

Your lineage here on earth does not define you. When you were born again, Jesus overrode every programming of the curse in your life.

It’s time to start seeing yourself as the head and not the tail—when it comes to money, health, relationships, your job, your ministry, your business and everywhere in-between.

3. Keep the Commandments

“If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”—Deuteronomy 28:13, NIV

Did you read the last part of that verse? ALWAYS at the top. NEVER at the bottom.

At the beginning of Deuteronomy 28, we are given a list of Blessings that come upon those who fully obey God and follow all of His commands. And that list is long. THE BLESSING covers everything you could ever need or want. It is a bought-and-paid-for benefit of being a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a gift, but just like salvation, we have a part to play.

To live above only and not beneath—at the top and never at the bottom—we must live according to the Word of God. That means, if you’re lying, cheating, stealing or living in sexual immorality, you’re not going to be living at the top. Complaining, gossiping, refusing to forgive—not top-dwelling behaviour.

Living above only and not beneath is God’s will for you—but it is conditional on your obedience. When Israel served God with her whole heart, no enemy could stand before them. All of their needs were met, they were well in their bodies, and God did whatever it took to keep them above and not beneath. But when they began to grow slothful and became unfaithful, things changed.

If there is an area of disobedience in your life, get it right. Then fully expect to live above only and not beneath—ALWAYS.

4. Talk Like You’re Above Only, Not Beneath

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” –Proverbs 13:3, NIV-84

If you’re living more like the tail than the head in any area of your life, it’s time to consider your words. When it comes to being in debt, what are you saying about your situation? Selah.

Even if you’re up to your eyeballs in debt right now, you can start turning your situation around with your words. Do as Abraham did, and call things that be not as though they were. Say, “I am debt free in Jesus’ Name! Glory to God! Thank You, Jesus, that my cars are paid off and my house is mine—free and clear.”

Then, don’t say anything else. Don’t turn around and tell your husband how long it’s going to take to pay things off or how you feel like you’ll never get that credit card paid off. Talk like you’re above only, and not beneath. It’s a game-changer!

Do the same thing with your job. Don’t go around saying, “Well, you know they never do promote people from within.” Or “They never do promote people from this department.” You’ve already positioned yourself beneath when God said you never had to. People don’t get to place you above or beneath—God does.

We’re blessed coming in and blessed going out.  Blessed in the city.  Blessed in the field.  And everything we set our hands to prospers.  Every bill is paid.  Every need is met.  And every debt is cancelled, in the Name of Jesus!

And you do the same with your health and your relationships. You get things in line with God’s way when you say what the Bible says. You keep saying, “I’m the head and not the tail.  I’m above and not beneath. It is not God’s will for me to be the tail.  It’s God’s will for me to be the head.  It’s not God’s will for me to be under the thumb of the world and the world’s system.  It is God’s will for me to be above, so I operate above.”

And what do you do when the devil comes? Gloria Copeland says this, “What do you do?  You resist him.  You don’t give him a place to live.  You resist him and tell him, ‘No you’re not getting that from me.  I believe I’ve received it.  It’s too late, devil, I’ve already received it.’  He’ll say, ‘Yes, but you don’t have it.  Where is it? You’ve been believing for so long.’  Don’t even pay any attention to him.  Just say, ‘I’m having the last word here.  I bind you from my thoughts.  You’re not getting my thoughts.  You’re not getting my words.’”

These are the ways you live above only and not beneath. God wants you at the top. Not in some things, in all things. Not some of the time, but all of the time. Don’t give up on the dream you have in God. He’s made a way for you to live like no one else. All you have to do is believe it.

God Of Wonders

 

GOD OF WONDERS

Exodus 3:20. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that, he will let you go

Exodus 11:9. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

Job 9:10. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Psalms 77:11. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

Psalms 77:14. Thou [art] the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. The one true God is a God of wonders. 

The Bible is replete with accounts of the great acts God has performed for His people. Over and over the book of Psalms recounts the wonderful deeds the Lord has accomplished. Among His most wondrous achievements is the act of redemption. When we say that God is a God of wonders, we mean that He is a God who carries out miraculous works. The Lord’s wonders declare His absolute control over events, people, and powers, and reveal His presence among His people.

Both the Old and New Testaments showcase God’s wondrous acts. In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words are translated “wonder” in English: morphed and pala. Morpeth means “a splendid or remarkable work” or “miracle.” The term is often associated with the “signs and wonders” God performed through Moses during the exodus from Egypt: “So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders” (Deuteronomy 26:8).

Pala means “wondrous works” or “marvellous deeds” and frequently appears in the psalms: “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds” (Psalm 75:1, ESV). These marvellous works by the God of wonders are unique displays of divine power that go far beyond human ability and power.

The New Testament also gives reasons why God is called the God of wonders, using the Greek words thaumasios, megaceros, and teras. In Matthew 21:15, the miracles of Jesus are called “wonderful things” (thaumasios). In Acts 5:12, Luke speaks of many “signs and wonders” (megaleios) performed by the apostles. And in 2 Corinthians 12:12, the marks of a true apostle include “signs, wonders [teras] and miracles.”

God’s wonders reveal His omnipotence. The plagues—each one directed at one of Egypt’s false gods—revealed Yahweh’s absolute power over all other gods: “When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 7:5, NLT). Not only did the Egyptians encounter God’s supreme power, but the Israelites also received assurance that their God was fully capable of defending them against the Egyptians.

Through divine actions, the God of wonders reveals His character, His purposes, and His power on earth. In response, people who witness His miracles are filled with awe and wonder: “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk 1:5, ESV).

The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the miraculous power of the Lord Most High. The wondrous deeds he experienced included a dream that was revealed and interpreted, three Hebrews being delivered from a fiery furnace and the loss and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and kingdom. In response, Nebuchadnezzar enthusiastically praised the God of wonders: “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Highest God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is eternal; his dominion endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:2–3).

God’s wonders reveal His love and protection. The Lord led His people through the wilderness with a miraculous pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21–22). He fed them with manna (Exodus 16). He provided water from a rock (Exodus 17). Through it all, the God of wonders showed the people of Israel His limitless care and protection.

God’s wonders carry out acts of judgment. When Aaron’s sons offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, God consumed them with fire (Leviticus 10:1–3). When Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against Moses, they were swallowed up by the earth, and their supporters were destroyed by the Lord’s fire (Numbers 16:1–35).

God’s wonders reveal His kingdom. In the New Testament, the God of wonders authenticated His presence at a critical point in the history of salvation. God, Himself entered human history in the Person of the Son, made incarnate. Jesus Christ is the greatest wonder of all. Through His ministry, which was accompanied by wondrous miracles, He confirmed the presence of God and the nearness of His kingdom.

God’s wonders are supernatural acts beyond human understanding. Through extraordinary signs, the God of wonders demonstrates His limitless power, His inescapable presence, His divine protection, and His sovereign purposes. In each instance, God’s wondrous works are designed to draw people to Himself. Through His most stunning of all miracles, the God of wonders revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, overcame the power of sin and death, and redeemed His people for all eternity

Lesson 6. 14 Tips to Make Your Woman Love You More. Dr I. D. Samuel

Keeping the love alive and passionate means you want it to last forever. If you’re in a relationship and want to make it work, it’s worth putting some thoughts into action so you could take the next step to make your woman love you more.

1. Be Yourself. 

Don't be Someone you are not because when the truth eventually comes out, your woman will not be happy. You want her to love “You”, and not someone you’re pretending to be. So, simply be open and honest, appreciate who you are, be confident, and don’t aim to please others. It's common for men to lie but please, don't lie to a woman in your life, it will break her heart when she finds out.

2. Show Her Real Appreciation.

Instead of focusing only on appearance or giving compliments for the obvious things. Try paying attention to her strengths; compliment her on things she is most proud of. Also, don’t forget to appreciate the simple things she does for you by saying “Thanks for bringing in the paper”, or “Thanks for always being there for me.” After a while, you will develop an appreciation habit.

3. Be Kind.

Just as you offer a smile and hold the door open for a stranger, you must also remember to develop this habit in your relationship. Try doing simple things like, patiently listening to her, avoiding an angry reply, or apologizing for the nasty things you said. Your kind words and actions will bring out kindness in your woman and will make her love you even more.

4. Respect Her.

Respect in a relationship means upholding the basic right that every person has to make their own choices and feel safe in their own daily lives. Hence, be that person who’ll value her feelings and needs, talk to her honestly, build her up, compromise, and support her interests. Remember, she is not your younger sister, she is not your daughter and she is not your steward. Petition Note: She is your woman.

5. Give Her The Gift Of Understanding.

When you think she’s feeling down or upset, listen to her, put yourself in her shoes, and offer support rather than trivializing her feelings. Remember, if release the seed, you won't escape harvest.

6. Make Time For Fun.

In your busy lives, having fun together is essential to keep the glow going in your relationship. Talk about what each of you finds fun and try new things. You can visit new places, discover things together, embark on a memorable adventure, or simply realize any of your relationship goals.

7. Give Her Freedom.

You don’t have to be together every day. Although she is your wife or girlfriend, you still don’t have the right to control her in any way. Give her the freedom to be alone, to spend time with her family, encourage her to hang out with her good influence friends, and respect her time when she’s at work.

8. Be Faithful And Trustworthy.

A girl will love you more if you continue to believe in her and do the things that will also make her continue to believe in you. So don’t just trust her but also make her trust you. Be a man of your words and keep your promises, don’t lie to her, keep your eyes only to her, be honest, and be authentic.

9. Be Her Support System.

Every girl needs someone she can turn to when things do not go her way or even when things go right. Be that guy, who will be there for her when she needs a companion, ask what she needs, be a good listener, encourage her to pursue her passions, and offer your shoulder to cry on when she’s in pain.

10. Be Romantic.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend lots of money just to please your woman. Doing little things like, make her favourite meal, buying her favourite chocolate, bringing her flowers, giving her your jacket when she’s cold, carrying her bag, leaving her sweet notes, doing something for her without her asking you to do it. Those simple things will mean so much to her. And of course, learn how to touch, kiss, and so on.

11. Accept Her Flaws.

Loving someone means accepting the flaws of your significant other. Be that guy who’ll adore her make-up-free face, accept her irrationalities, understand all her complaints, and whatever imperfection she has. Nobody is perfect.

12. Make Her Laugh.

A woman's smile and laugh are a sign that you’re doing right. Humour makes things comfortable for her. Your jollity can make her happy and have a great time with you. So, if you’re going to add the ability to make your woman laugh, make sure to use circumstances around you to say something funny, you can also tease her, and tell funny stories.

13. Learn To Love Things And People Important To Her.

Learn to value those things and the people she treasures the most. If she loves to stay in a coffee shop and read books, be with her. If she wants to spend time with her long-time friends, hang out with them and take time to know them personally because aside from you, her friends/family are also her sources of happiness.

14. Put God First.

“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” —Proverbs 3:6

If you’re a believer, one thing to consider as a goal in a relationship is to keep God first. If your woman sees God in your heart and you let Him be the centre of your relationship, what else could she ask for? Thus, commit to place Him first in your life and your relationship, serve and give as He leads you, trust His promises, and enjoy the freedom that comes from trusting Him.

If you want your woman to love you more, don’t give her any reason to doubt you. Instead, be that guy who will make her believe in love and won’t give her any reason not to love you.

Lesson 5. 12 Ways To Make Your Man Fall In Love With You More

Getting a guy to be with you in a relationship is one thing, but knowing how to make him fall in love over and again is a different thing. 

There are reasons why you fall for a certain person and once you understand the rules of attraction, you’ll be the master of making your guy fall for you again and again.

1. Smile And Be Happy.

As much as possible, don’t forget to enjoy yourself and let it show. The happier you are, the more your man will be drawn to your positive vibes. Flash a genuine smile often, be enjoyable and outgoing, laugh at his jokes, and be optimistic. Guys generally love girls with a sense of humour who can make them feel good.

2. Be Kind And Considerate.

Always say “Thank You” in every little thing he does for you, compliment him, give him time, or lend him a helping hand. Showing your kind personality will increase your boyfriend’s affection for you. Kindly say sorry when you need to

3. Give Him A Physical Touch.

Physical touch is the most important part of love. Your touch would be incredibly exciting for the guy you love. Give him tight and long-lasting hugs, passionate kisses, or hold his hands in public. This will not only make your guy happier and feel loved, but it will also lower his anxiety, improve his mood, and relieve his stress.

4. Ask Him About His Day.

Asking your man how his day went shows how much you care about him, but listening to his response proves how much you love him. This only serves as a simple reminder to him that someone cares about both the big and small aspects of his day.

5. Be A Woman Who Appreciates Him.

A guy simply wants you to appreciate all his efforts for you. That’s not a lot to ask. So, if you want him to see the best in you and fall hopelessly in love with you more and more, the one thing you can do is to appreciate him and don’t ever take him for granted. As much as possible, compliment him, show him respect, encourage his outside interests, thank him, give him time, and remind him about small imperfections but focus on his good qualities.

6. Accept Him Just As He Is.

If you want your guy to keep falling in love with you, accept him whole for who he is right now. Do not treat him as some kind of project that needs to be fixed. Instead, just accept the fact that he is not perfect, he commits mistakes, and he has flaws.

7. Show Your Affection.

Sometimes, you have to show your love and adoration for someone through your gestures. You can do this by making a point to listen to him, doing something kind for him every day, making time no matter how busy you are, verbally affirming that you care for him, supporting him, and by remembering that physical touch can say a lot (same as what I’ve mentioned in #3).

8. Bring Out The Best In Him.

Guys want a girl who can encourage them to go for their passion. When you bring out the best in him, he’ll feel amazing and he’ll want to be around you. Focus on his strength, intelligence, wisdom, courage, and believe in him more than he believes in himself. If he is childish don't marry him, if he is foolish don't marry him. He may not change after all is said and done

9. Make Yourself Look Beautiful.

Looking your best will give him the attention that you need to make him keep falling in love with you. Most guys act on what they see. So, be aware of what you’re wearing, whether your hair is nice or dry, and if you are dressed appropriately. Just do your best to look as good as you can, no matter where you’re going. Your guy will love you for that. Please be trendy to the best of your ability.

10. Be Yourself.

Take your mask off and let him know that you accept yourself as you are. Especially if you are not married yet. Your boyfriend wouldn’t want to see the fake you. Besides if you do end up with that person for the rest of your life, he’ll eventually going to see the real you. So, if you want him to stay madly in love with you, be yourself right from the start. Your authenticity breeds deep intimacy, which is something both guys and girls crave. Don't fake your body curves if your relationship is heading to marriage.

11. Try To Be The Best Version Of Yourself.

In connection to #10, being true to yourself will make your man keep falling for you because of your honesty and humility in accepting your flaws. It will also give him the confidence he needs to trust you.

However, if you want him to constantly fall in love with you now and forever, don’t just be contented with being who you currently are, especially if you have negative habits and attitudes that might exhaust your patience in the future. Instead, show him that you are making efforts to grow as a person for your boyfriend and your relationship.

If he loves you, he will surely accept you for who you are despite your flaws and differences. However, if you want him to love you more and make your relationship last longer, strive to make yourself truly better. It will make your man realize that you are not just thinking for yourself, but you are also thinking for him and the future of your relationship.

12. Just Love Him.

Last but not the least, just love him from the bottom of your heart. Love naturally attracts love. So no matter what you do to make him fall in love with you now and always, you can never succeed if you don’t fall in love with him first. You don’t have to expect your man to fall in love with you in return. So just give your pure and tender love to him and it will naturally trigger his hidden or unreleased love for you.

Remember that you don’t have to be perfect to be the best version of yourself and make him fall in love with you always. You don’t also need to compete with other girls to catch your man’s love and attention. What you need to do is to compete with yourself – so you will grow as a person – so you will grow the love you are giving to him – so he will naturally keep falling in love with you more without expecting it – and so your love and relationship can become happier and stronger.

Lesson 3. The 12 Timeless Needs Of A Woman-Dr I. D. Samuel

If you're about to tie the knot? Or, even if you've been at it for 10, 15 years? You have to know each other at the core of your gender identity. Men and women have very different and specific needs.

10 Things Women Need In a Marriage

Do you know what the #1 need of a woman is? It is to know that she's significant and that you (I'm talking to you, husbands) treasure her.

You're a wise man if you can look into that every day because your spouse wants to know that she... is...valued. And you value your spouse ten different ways:

1. She needs to be number one. 

Your wife needs to feel that she is more important than your business or job, and especially more important than your mother, children, friends, sports, and hobbies.

2. She needs intimacy. 

When your wife is stressed out and overwhelmed from putting out fires all day while trying to meet that important deadline, she needs to know that you are willing to share an intimate moment of comfort without demanding explanations or giving lectures. In other words, don't fix her. Lend an ear, and let her proceed with her paper presentation.

3. She needs you to be vulnerable. 

Open or unobstructed communication is hugely important to the female gender, and that you can be emotionally available for her. As She is a talking being, you must be listening being 

4. She needs to be praised. 

Make it a habit to often acknowledge and praise her for her work accomplishments so she can feel like she's a valuable part of your life. Don't ignore her efforts.

5. Let her be part of your team. 

Your wife needs to feel free to help you and contribute to the things that matter to you without fearing retaliation and anger. Involve her in your business.

6. She needs you to protect and defend her. 

Not just from physical harm, but the criticism of others. She wants to know that you care for her and has her back. Even when she is wrong, take side with her in public then face her headlong in secret.

7. Make her feel like her opinion counts. 

She needs to know that her opinion is so valuable about your work or business that you will discuss decisions with her, and act only after carefully evaluating her advice.

8. Share your life with her. 

She needs to connect with you especially, so create margin so she can share her life with you in every area -- home, family, work, and outside interests. Don't shut her out.

9. Be a man of character, integrity and fidelity.

She needs you to be the kind of man her son can follow and her daughter would want to marry. If you cheat on her you won't like her reaction. She will deal with you recklessly and mercilessly.

10. Hold her often. 

She needs physical affection, to be tenderly held, just to be near you, apart from times of sexual intimacy. (don't worry men, I got you covered on the sex department in LESSON ONE.

NB: When it is time for SEX, do it with all your might

11. GIVE HER MONEY!!

12. GIVE HER MONEY!!

Click the link below for lesson 2.

https://idsamuelministries.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-4-timeless-needs-of-man-by-dr-i-d.html

THE ANOINTING MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him amid his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward…” (1 Sam. 16:13). 

Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint a king. Jesse brought his sons to the prophet one by one, but none of them was God’s choice for king. Finally, Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons.

Jesse admitted that his youngest son, David, was out in the fields taking care of the sheep. When he was brought in from the fields to stand before the prophet, Samuel knew David was the one chosen by the Lord, and he anointed David with oil, consecrating him to the Lord’s purpose. 

David’s life was never the same. The Spirit of the Lord was on him from that day forward. 

You see, the anointing makes the difference. 

It makes the difference between a boy practising his slingshot alone in a field and a hero taking down a giant. It makes the difference between someone overseeing a flock of sheep and a king ruling a nation. 

The anointing makes the difference in the church, in government, in business, in our schools, and our homes. The anointing isn’t just for ministers—it’s for everyone. 

Do you realize the difference the anointing can make in your life? God is ready to pour these three types of anointing into your life:

1. Saturating Anointing: “It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments” (Ps. 133:2). Moses poured the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and it flowed down Aaron’s hair, past his beard, onto his clothes, and down to his feet. He was drenched in the anointing. 

There is a need today for a drenching, saturating anointing. We aren’t fighting small things. We’re fighting bigger things than we’ve ever fought before. We need a big anointing. It’s time to ask God to saturate us in the anointing. 

2. Fresh Anointing: “…I have been anointed with fresh oil” (Ps. 92:10). We can become stale in our anointing, especially if we’re still trying to hang on to something that happened a long time ago. We’ve got to make sure the anointing is still fresh. 

Has church become routine? Has personal worship become a chore? It shouldn’t be. When the power of the Holy Spirit brings the anointing, there’s a freshness to it, a quickening that changes the atmosphere.  

A fresh anointing makes the difference in your prayer, your praise, your spirit, and your house. God, give us a fresh anointing!

https://idsamuelministries.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-purposes-power-benefits-of.html?m=1

3. Anointing of Wisdom and Favor. “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (1 John 2:20). Anointing gives you direction. In moments of decision, the anointing brings a spirit of wisdom you know the right thing to do. 

The anointing also brings a spirit of favour. When you are walking in anointing, don’t be surprised when doors open. Don’t be surprised when you move from the back to the front. “For You, O Lord will bless the righteous; with favour, You will surround him as with a shield” (Ps. 5:12). God’s anointing brings with it God’s favour. 

The anointing makes all the difference. Nothing can take the place of the anointing. We can’t fake the anointing. 

We live in a time of substitutes. For every expensive name-brand item, there’s a fake substitute. But if we think we can substitute talent, or intelligence, or a charming personality for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are very much mistaken. Nothing can take the place of the anointing! We need real anointing from the Holy Spirit, not a man-made substitute.

When we are anointed, it shows in our lives. Acts 10:38 says, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” 

When we get anointed, we go about doing good. When we get anointed, God opens doors for us. When the anointing is on us, the anointing will make things happen that we could never make happen on our own. 

Press into the anointing. Seek a saturating anointing. Come back to God again and again for fresh anointing. 

Thank God we don’t have to struggle with trying to do His work in our limited human power. We can walk in the anointing, and the anointing makes all the difference.

The Purposes, Power & Benefits of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit

 

Summary:  What is the purpose(s) of the anointing of the Holy Spirit? It empowers the Spirit-filled believer for multiple, powerful ministries.

1 Samuel 16:12-13  So he sent and had [David] brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” [13] So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

•• In the Old Testament and the New Testament alike, the anointing spoke of a special action and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

 

•• The future king David was anointed with oil by God's prophet. That was the outward expression. But what happened inwardly was far more important. The power of the Holy Spirit came upon him to equip him for the future God had for him.

• So the question concerning the Holy Spirit’s anointing arises: anointed for what? Why does God anoint us and empower us with His Holy Spirit?

2 Corinthians 1:21-22  Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

•• First, let it be established that God anoints His people. “He anointed us” — King David, the apostle Paul, you, me, and millions more from then to now receive this Holy Ghost anointing from God.

• Again, for what purpose does He confer upon us this spiritual anointing, this "unction" of His Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:5,8  ...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... [8] you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

•• One purpose of the anointing of the Holy Spirit — which comes in the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4) — is to give us the power to “be [Christ’s] witnesses”.

• Many Christians fear witnessing because they think they have to do it with their natural abilities, their persuasive power, etc.

• No! — “You will receive power [to be His witnesses] when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” There are no powerless Christians when they are filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the anointing of God, having received their own personal Pentecost as the early disciples did in Act 2.

• The anointing gives you Holy Ghost power that makes you a good witness. You are not limited by your lack of skills or by your temperament. As Jesus promised, "you will receive power," enablement by the Spirit of God to minister for the Lord beyond your natural capabilities.

Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

•• In this verse five purposes of the anointing, five aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in us, are revealed:

(1) to enable you “to preach [the] good news” effectively. The news we share about Jesus is “good”. The anointing will enable you to share it with impact.

(2) to make you a Spirit-filled messenger, a “proclaim[er of] freedom for the prisoners” — freedom from the prison of sin, of drugs, of depression, of life-dominating habits.

(3) You are anointed to bring “recovery of sight for the blind” — both physical and spiritual healing, as Jesus did. Not only healing but other gifts of the Holy Spirit begin to flow from the powerful anointing of the Spirit of God in your life.

(4) You are anointed “to release the oppressed”. All around you are people oppressed by sin, sickness, demonic attacks, etc. You have a message of release for them.

(5) You are anointed “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” to people ignorant of the comforting message of God's grace.

Acts 10:37-38  You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached — [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.

•• The Holy Spirit anointing brings to you the power of God to go around “doing good”. Even our Lord Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit at the beginning of His ministry, and that sets a powerful example for us.

• This Greek word root for “doing good” occurs only twice in the New Testament, and its meaning is that of a philanthropist or benefactor.

• Vine’s defines it as “to bestow a benefit...” The heaven-sent power to do good in ways even beyond our natural abilities is one of the benefits of the anointing.

• The anointing is not just for healing, preaching, witnessing, delivering, and miracle-working power. Certainly, the anointing of the Holy Ghost does impart spiritual gifts into our ministries. But it is also to empower us to be benefactors, doers of good, to needy people.

• Mother Teresa must have had a powerful anointing!

•• On the spiritual side, the anointing gives you the Holy Spirit's power to break the devil’s yoke in people’s lives.

1 John 2:20, 26-27  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.... [26] I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. [27] As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.

•• Finally, the anointing empowers us to hear, discern, and hold to truth (vs. 20) — “You have an anointing ... and ... know the truth.”

• This does not nullify the ministries of God-anointed pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Rather, the context (26) is in contrast to false teachers.

• The Holy Spirit's anointing will help you sort out false teachers and false teachings.

• “This anointing teaches you” — the believer is properly encouraged to read the Bible for him or herself. As they do so, the Spirit of God brings illumination and clarity.

In sum, we are anointed for many important and powerful purposes, including:

• to have the power to be effective witnesses

• to enable us to share the Good News about Jesus Christ

• to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

• to bring recovery of sight for the blind

• to release the oppressed

• to proclaim the Lord’s favour and grace

• to be benefactors, doing good to needy people

• to break the devil’s yoke in the lives of bound-up people

• to teach us and help us know God’s truth versus error