Ask For the Rains

 

"The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Deuteronomy 28:12

Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Jeremiah 6:16

The power of God manifests in various degrees in people’s lives. Some are just saved and enjoying the well level. Others are filled with the Holy Ghost and are at the river level. While yet others are pressing into the anointing of the Holy Ghost and are enjoying the rain of the Holy Ghost. When you get born again, you operate from a spiritual dimension that could be likened to a well of water. Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:14: "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

The water here represents the Holy Spirit. In John 7:38-39, Jesus, speaking on the day of the feast said: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

Jesus was speaking here of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. At salvation, the Holy Spirit is in you at a well of water level. At baptism, it graduates to a river level. You cannot compare a river to a well. A river can generate hydroelectricity, provide you with an irrigation system, and you can also fish in it. A well can’t produce all these for you. It is highly subject to climatic conditions. If the condition gets too harsh, the water dries up! But whatever condition that will dry up all the water in a river, will make life almost impossible in such an environment.

When a man or woman is not filled with the Holy Ghost he or she lacks the resistance required to ward off all attacks of the enemy. But the river level is not the end. God’s Word gives us an understanding of yet another dimension of power, likened to rain.

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." Zechariah 10:1

In Acts 4, the apostles were praying, and the Bible records that where they were praying shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. This is not the river dimension of power, it is the rain! The only way to fill up a river is by a rainfall. We can therefore see the Holy Ghost clearly in three dimensions:

    *    The well of water level (at salvation)
    *      The river level (at Holy Ghost baptism)
    *      The rain level (which is what we also refer to as the anointing).

Even if you are not baptised in the Holy Spirit and you attend an anointing service, you will find yourself feeling refreshed. You must not mistake this for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When rain falls, both the well and the river are equally replenished, but a well will never become a river because rain fell. In hydroelectricity supply, you will find out that when the water level is low, the power supply is also reduced and power is therefore rationed. The amount of water in your river determines the amount of power you will generate as a believer. You must understand that these things don’t just happen, they are made to happen.

For you to enter into the well water level of power, you need to consciously repent and be born again. This is what will establish your well of water. For you to be baptised in the Holy Spirit, you need to believe. Prayer won’t do it. Jesus said:  "He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)

This is the reason Cornelius’ Family didn’t have time to pray before the Holy Ghost fell upon them. As they heard the Word, they believed it and were instantly baptised (Acts 10:44-45).

As for the rain level, which is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter into it without prayer. Many might be telling themselves, "What next? We are baptised in the Holy Ghost, we are full of power!"

POWER CHANGED HANDS

When Jesus rose from the dead, power changed hands. All power in heaven and earth was handed over to Jesus. There is no more power left in the devil. He is full of tricks. But the light of the gospel will always expose him.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:16

It is time for you to stand strong on what the truth of God has revealed concerning Satan, and you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil. Satan has nothing left but tricks, and only the truth can expose these. Only light can expose darkness!  Devils are not permitted to be out on the streets. They have been reserved in everlasting chains, until the great day of judgment. Tell them that they don’t belong here. When a prisoner escapes and you catch him, you just put him back in prison. When Jesus rose from the dead, all demonic forces were held hostage and tied down right inside hell.

Satan and all his forces that rebelled against God, have been reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, until the judgment of that great day (Jude vs 6). They have no legal right to be out here on the streets. It is clearly evident that Satan is judged. He has been pushed out of business! Satan has no power to harass you! You are of God! You are a child of light! The time has come for you to hear the sound of defeat in the camp of the enemy. Everything that rises up against you from today shall fall for your sake!

Two thousand years ago, evil was eternally judged. The personalities behind evil were given eternal imprisonment. Satan is no longer your problem! You can handle him! When a case is between you and him, the judgement is sealed. You have been declared the winner. You are light, he is darkness. In every conflict between light and darkness, light naturally, automatically, unquestionably, is the winner!

Friends, tears can’t give you victory over darkness, hatred or love, won’t give it to you either. Once you carry light, darkness must respect you. Even if everybody loves you and you don’t have light, darkness will still dominate you. If you must walk in power over the forces of evil, the principal requirement is light. It is time to stand strong on the Word and quench all the fiery darts of the devil.  Satan can’t stop your destiny, he can’t stop your fountain from flowing, nor your life from flourishing. All you need is to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

God is not going to deliver you, He has already delivered you!

The power of darkness mentioned here is nothing but deception.

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9

The devil has nothing but deception, and understanding is what shatters it. When light comes darkness gives way. God has delivered you from the power of darkness, which is deception— for unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Darkness can’t handle you anymore. You now have unlimited access to light. It is time to make use of this, to frustrate the kingdom of darkness. Once you are born again you are translated from the earthly places to the heavenly places.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:4-6

You have been taken from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Old things are now passed away, and all things have become new. Your citizenship has changed. You were once earthly, but you are now a citizen of heaven.

Where you are seated now is above all principalities, power, might, dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come. Friends, you are in charge!

Satan must take orders from you. You have been placed far above him, he must obey you. You now have the final say on every issue of life. What you say is final.

Satan has no ability to prevail in heaven where you are seated, his will has no power to come to pass. He prevailed not, neither was there place found for him anymore in heaven. (Rev. 12:7-12)

Legally, there is no more place found for the devil where you live. You are in heavenly places, while he is in hell, reserved in everlasting chains under darkness. He has no place in your Family, ministry and spiritual life.

Friends, live in heavenly places! The earthly places are too dangerous to reside in for now. Escape for your dear life!

The resurrected Lord has imparted His power upon the Church and the time has come for us to tap into this virtue. Power changed hands when Jesus went to the grave – He took over so we can be in charge today.

Satan is no longer in charge. Once upon a time he was, until the greatest regret of all history for him, when he laid hands on the Son of God. He thought he crucified Him, not knowing he finished himself! (1 Cor. 2:8)

Thank God that this error was committed and your liberty was sealed. The keys of hell and death are no longer in the hands of the devil. He no longer has power. Jesus has delivered all this power to His Church. Today, the Church by destiny is in charge on the earth. Since you are a member of the Church, you are in charge here. Satan cannot Lord it over you anymore. Now you are free from sickness, sorrow, poverty and failure. Your liberty has been delivered to you. You are free forever!

It is one thing to be in charge, and another to know that you are. Everyman that has ever done exploits for God was aware that he was in charge. When I talk to sickness or the devil, I talk to them as the one in charge. I am so conscious of it that it has become my lifestyle.

RESURRECTION POWER

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Philippians 3:10

Any day, anytime, anywhere, resurrection power is always in charge! Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) What He used at the grave of Lazarus was resurrection power.

Jesus was a lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Before Adam was created, the Lamb of God had been slain. Jesus was the resurrected Messiah, the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. This is why He was innocent, though in the flesh. It is absolutely impossible to be free from error while in the flesh. From childhood to adulthood, Jesus did not need forgiveness. He knew no sin. He was a spiritually resurrected personality.

So much has been said about the anointing, but men need to understand the power that is inherent in the resurrection. Resurrection power is supreme! This was where Satan met his waterloo!

Friends, it is time to be conscious of the power in you. This is why Romans 8:11 says that if the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in you, it shall quicken your mortal bodies. Sin shall have no more dominion over you. (Rom. 6:14). It takes a resurrected body to be free from pollution and corruption.

Jesus engaged the resurrection power to bring Lazarus out of the grave after he had been there, stinking, for four days! Resurrection power will bring you out of every physical, social or financial grave. Whatever area of your life had been declared dead and stinking, the resurrection power will renew it for you now! Jesus took charge and put us in charge. Therefore we must not disappoint Him.

"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet" 1 Corinthians 15:12, 25

The power mentioned here is coming from the reality of resurrection. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. We are going to toy with it until Jesus comes. Isaiah 11:9 says:

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

The Church is getting to a level of power that nothing shall hurt on all her holy mountains. It will then be impossible to see a Christian fail in anything he does. Two thousand years ago, power was delivered to the Church. Every time the resurrection power is embraced, manifestations become unstoppable and irresistible.

"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." Acts 4:33

Great power was made available unto the disciples, as they declared the power of resurrection, and great accomplishments, great releases, were delivered unto them. Resurrection power is power in reality! It will handle any seemingly hopeless case, and give you justice. Lazarus was dead and stinking! Resurrection power brought him forth. (John 11). The time of your coming forth has come. Everybody may have been looking at you as one that is smelling, but now the time for them to shout your hosanna has come.

"For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him." 1 Corinthians 15:27

Only God is above the resurrection power. Any devil can be tormented, any sickness can be humiliated, every story of failure can be re-written! Friends, you can see clearly now that you are in charge!

Every time a man says, "Lord Jesus save me!", resurrection power is deposited in him. All he then needs to do is to become conscious of this fact by knowledge, get into it by faith, and operate it as a warrior. Then the gates of hell shall be lifted up.

Psalm 24:7-8 says: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

Every time you carry the resurrection power, closed doors and gates are opened unto you. From now on, no door is permitted to remain closed against you anymore! When Jesus took the power, He took the position of a warrior, He was not a beggar. Today that same power is on your inside.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power..." John 1:12

No gate is permitted to be shut against you anymore! Whatever area of your life that does not prove that you are a son of God, I command such to bow to you today in Jesus name! From now on, you will be identified as one of the humiliators of sickness, disease and death! The resurrection power is still the same today, no matter what men say!

We are in the era of power, when the enemies of God must surrender. As we begin to manifest the greatness of His power, every kind of abuse against redemption must bow. The devil is no longer in charge, the Church is!

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: "...I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

What God is simply saying here is, "I will let loose my power, the gates of hell will be lifted up as my Church advances. My Church will become a forcefully advancing Church, unstoppable and irresistible!"

I don’t play with sickness, we are not friends. I don’t sympathize with failure or poverty, I react against them as a fighter ready to conquer. You can’t afford to be afflicted, and allow the power of liberty to lie fallow on your inside. Receive strength in the name of Jesus! From now on, you’re a shining star! You will no longer stink! The resurrection power will quicken your mortal body (Rom. 8:11), to give life to the dead parts. It will make your life blossom, and cause your business to come alive, while others are closing down. This same power will also make your spirit alive to God, and your body dead to sin.

You belong to the group of people who walk in liberty and have abundance, by reason of the resurrection. It is time to shout against failure, sickness and frustrations. You are in charge! Satan’s activities over your destiny are cursed eternally! The blood of Jesus is over your life, Family, spiritual life, your children, the works of your hands, your ministry, in Jesus precious name!

All men shall see the resurrection power at work in your life. Whatever is dying around you, as you touch it, it shall live! Nothing will die in your hand anymore! because when the resurrection power came into physical force, Jesus said, "I live for evermore."  Whatever you touch shall live! Wherever you are, death will be disgraced! Whatever was stinking around you, shall become a thing of glory, in the name of Jesus!