Page 9 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

“...BE STRONG IN THE LORD
AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
The fifth criteria that defines for us what is the race set before PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD,
us is this call to spiritual warfare, the necessity to take up all THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST
the armor of God. I stress the need for ALL the armor of God
if you are going to be able to withstand in the evil day. Too THE WILES OF THE DEVIL...
many of God’s people are “spiritual streakers” wearing only THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE
the helmet of salvation and their feet covered with the gospel
of peace. They are naked of armor in between. Leonard TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY,
Ravenhill pungently charged Christians with this portion of AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND.”
Paul’s words, “For we do not wrestle” (Eph. 6:12). James tells
us the complete package is, “Submit unto God and resist the Eph. 6:10-13
devil, and he will flee from you” (Jm. 4:7). Some of us are quite
good at submitting to God but quite negligent at resisting the “COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM
devil. As Leonard said, “we wrestle not.” AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD.
DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN...
The sixth criteria spelled out as part of running the race deals LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL
with the doctrine of sanctification (the means by which I am FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT,
set apart unto God). Most of God’s people are only taught the PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.”
doctrine of justification (the means by which I am made
righteous and innocent) The apostle Peter taught both: 2 Cor. 6:17, 7:1

“...REST YOUR HOPE FULLY UPON THE GRACE OF GOD THAT IS “BUT WE ALL,
BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST; AS WITH UNVEILED FACE,
BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR
OBEDIENT CHILDREN, NOT CONFORMING YOURSELVES TO YOUR THE GLORY OF THE LORD,
FORMER LUSTS, AS IN YOUR IGNORANCE; BUT AS HE WHO CALLED ARE BEING TRANSFORMED
INTO THE SAME IMAGE
YOU IS HOLY, YOU ALSO BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT.” FROM GLORY TO GLORY,
1 Pet. 1:13-15 JUST AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.”

Note that the call is to, “Come out from among them and be 2 Cor. 3:18
separate...” The word “Church” means “the called-out ones.”
It is also worthy to note the ongoing call to perfect holiness FIGHT THE FIGHT, FINISH THE RACE,
(“Hagamos-Sanctification”) in the fear of God. We did not get KEEP THE FAITH
it all when we got saved! REIGN OVER SIN

The seventh criteria necessary for running the race deals with NON-CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD
the subject of change. This word became a buzz word in the AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP-WALK PROPERLY,
political race. However, it isn’t Washington D.C. that needs to
be changed, it is God’s people. Political philosophy is to MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH
change the government while the people remain unchanged. PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IN ORDER
God, who says of Himself, “I am the Lord, I do not change”
(Mal. 3:6) calls His people to change while embracing a TO STAND IN THE EVIL DAY
perfect government (the Kingdom of God) that needs no BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF THE LORD
change. See how the thrust of politics is always in opposition
to God’s real Kingdom? The Christian is to be changed into COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM-BE SEPARATE-
the image of their everlasting “President” – Jesus Christ! Unto PERFECT HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD
this ongoing path of change God’s people are predestined:

“FOR WHOM HE FOREKNEW, HE ALSO PREDESTINED TO BE
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE

THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN.” Rom. 8:29

Today’s theology has changed God’s plan of predestination
into one of being predestined to be saved instead of being
changed after one becomes saved.

This last chart is a summarization of the highlighted points
of defining the race. Look them over carefully. This is what
God defines as the requirements for running the race for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This is
what it will take to be among those who God says:

“...I WILL GIVE IN MY HOUSE AND WITHIN MY WALLS A PLACE
AND A NAME BETTER THAN THAT OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS...”