Our Hope of Glory - The Body of Christ!

THE GENEVA BIBLE AND SIX PRIOR BIBLES BEFORE KING JAMES USED THE WORD " A DEPARTING" OR "DEPARTURE" INSTEAD OF A "FALLING AWAY" IN 2THESS2, SEE BELOW (2THESS2:3)
 GENEVA 1587 BIBLE:
 2Th 2:1 Nowe we beseech you, brethren, by the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, and by our assembling vnto him, 2Th 2:2 That ye be not suddenly mooued from your minde, nor troubled neither by spirit, nor by worde, nor by letter, as it were from vs, as though the day of Christ were at hand. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition, 2Th 2:4 Which is an aduersarie, and exalteth him selfe against all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he doeth sit as God in the Temple of God, shewing him selfe that he is God. 2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I tolde you these things? 2Th 2:6 And nowe ye knowe what withholdeth that he might be reueiled in his time. 2Th 2:7 For the mysterie of iniquitie doeth already worke: onely he which nowe withholdeth, shall let till he be taken out of the way. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that wicked man be reueiled, whome the Lorde shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall abolish with the brightnes of his comming, 2Th 2:9 Euen him whose comming is by the effectuall working of Satan, with all power, and signes, and lying wonders, 2Th 2:10 And in al deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes, among them that perish, because they receiued not the loue of the trueth, that they might be saued. 2Th 2:11 And therefore God shal send them strong delusion, that they should beleeue lies, 2Th 2:12 That all they might be damned which beleeued not the trueth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes. 2Th 2:13 But we ought to giue thankes alway to God for you, brethren beloued of the Lord, because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and the faith of trueth, 2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. 2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast & keepe the instructions, which ye haue bene taught, either by worde, or by our Epistle. 2Th 2:16 Now the same Iesus Christ our Lord; and our God euen the Father which hath loued vs, and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in euery worde and good worke.
NOTE "A DEPARTING"COMES FIRST, "AND THAT THAT MAN OF SIN WILL BE DISCLOSED". DON'T FORGET IT ALSO SAYS “NOW YOU KNOW WHAT WITH HOLDITH" AND "HE WHO LETS SHALL LET TILL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY." WHAT OR WHO DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY? IT MAKES ALSO MAKES NO SENSE THAT PAUL WOULD TELL A VERY NEW AND SMALL CHURCH IN THESSALONIA, THAT A SIGN OF BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION WOULD BE A FALLING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH WHEN THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MANY CHRISTIANS THERE TO FALL AWAY. ALSO HE WAS REFERRING TO SOMETHING HE HAD TOLD THEM ABOUT BEFORE. WHAT HAD HE PREVIOUSLY TOLD THEM? 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE HE TOLD THEM ABOUT “A DEPARTING OR DEPARTURE” THEN A FALLING AWAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT PAUL DID NOT DESCRIBE “A GREAT FALLING AWAY” AT ALL AND ACTUALLY SAID IN 1TIMOTHY 4:1 THAT ONLY “SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH” 1Ti 4:1 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; SO ALTHOUGH HE BELIEVED EVEN THEN, THE TIMES WERE EVIL, HE DID NOT EXPECT A GREAT FALLING AWAY OF BELIEVERS BUT THAT THE EVIL WOULD GET WORSE. 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. AND TO THE CORINTHIANS PAUL SAID THIS: 1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS THAT USED DEPARTING OR DEPARTURE. The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are: the Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608).

Bible study to bless the saints of the "Body of Christ".
Be sure to look at all of the verses in this study.

The Body of Christ will not go through Israel’s tribulation. To begin with, Israel and the Body of Christ are not the same. Neither are God’s plans for them. God’s plan for Israel concerns Christ returning to earth in a spectacular event called the Revelation – to inaugurate His Kingdom in Jerusalem (Matt. 24-25; Rev. 19-20. This plan was “spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21; see Luke 1:70). God’s plan for the Body of Christ is completely different. It concerns our heavenly inheritance, not an earthly kingdom. Jesus revealed this program to Paul only as a mystery “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25; see Eph. 3:3-9). In that it began as a mystery, it will likewise disappear in a mystery called the Rapture; an any moment event whereby Jesus returns for us in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17), snatches us from earth, and takes us back to Heaven with Him as He promised (John 14:2-3) – when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25). Then comes “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; see Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15) – aka tribulation. The tribulation - as it is most commonly known (Moses: Deut. 4:30; Jesus: Matt. 24:21, 29; John: Rev. 7:14) - is part of God’s earthly program for Israel. It is also called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15), Daniel’s Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:26-27), and “the hour of temptation” (Rev. 3:10. It has no bearing on the mystery Body of Christ, which will be gone before it begins. From the beginning it was prophesied to Israel (Deut. 4:30), and thus is primarily for Israel (Jer. 30-31; Dan. 12:1, Zeph. 1:15; Matt. 24:21, 29). Its purpose is to punish sin and sinners (Jer. 30-31; Zeph. 1; Joel; Rev. 6-19), and prepare earth and Israel for the Revelation of the Messiah and the Jewish (Millennial) Kingdom promised to David in perpetuity through Covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-16), and sealed with an oath (Psa. 89:3-4, 20-37; see Luke 1:31-33). While the prophets revealed the tribulation as a horrific but integral component in the Day of the Lord (Isa. 2:12, etc ), it was Daniel’s prophecy where its duration was revealed as the final week of seven years in his seventy week prophecy for Israel (Dan. 9:24-27; see Rev. 11:2-3; 12:14). To wit, while we can easily find Israel and the anti-Semitic Gentile nations on earth during “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15), the heavenly Body of Christ - which has been promised deliverance from this divine punishment (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; 2 Thess. 2:5-7;) - is conspicuously absent (Rev. 2-19). There isn’t a prophecy or a single verse anywhere in the Bible conclusively identifying the Body of Christ on earth during Israel’s tribulation without pulling from context and redefining the words “saints” and “elect” - which in Daniel, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation specifically refer to Israel. In lieu of these factors and others we are convinced that the Body of Christ will not go through Israel’s tribulation!

The Mystery

So what is this Age of Grace, this Administration of the Mystery, this time in which we live? What is so special about it? What sets this administration apart from all the others? Corinthians has some intriguing information.


1 Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:


The princes of this world refers to the god of this world and his devil spirits. We don't speak their horseshit, like climate change and homosexuality, because the wisdom of this world comes to nothing.


1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:


Here we find a reference to the mystery, often referred to as the great mystery or the hidden. A mystery is something that is hidden. If something is hidden, we don't know about its existence. From this we also learn that the mystery was ordained by God for our glory, it was for our benefit.


1 Corinthians 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


Had the god of this world and his devil spirits known the mystery, they would not have murdered Jesus Christ. They didn't know anything about it because it was hidden. God kept the mystery a secret. No one knew anything about it, not even the god of this world. No one knew anything about it until God revealed the mystery to the apostle Paul.


Romans 16:25,26
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:


Peter refers to the Administration of the Mystery, the age of Grace in one of his epistles.


1 Peter 1:10,11
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched [exereunaō] diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.


This Greek word exereunaō is only used once in the bible. Thayer defines it as to search out diligently, while Bullinger defines it as to explore, to search diligently. As it is only used once in the bible, we really need to look at ancient Greek literature to get a taste for the word, and there we find it used in reference to dogs sniffing out game. Dogs are used to flush out birds such as grouse and pheasant. The dogs sniff around and follow scent until they flush the birds out. That's this word exereunaō.

The old testament prophets, such as Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and Isaiah, sniffed through the scriptures on the scent of this hidden mystery. They searched the scriptures diligently and prophesied of it, knowing there was something between the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. They knew there was something missing and they searched diligently through the old testament scriptures to try to flush it out. However, they didn't find it because it was hidden. Peter tells us that in addition to searching they also enquired about it, they asked God about it. Here's the record of Moses doing just that.


Exodus 33:18,21-23
And he [Moses] said, I beseech thee [God], shew me thy glory.

And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.


The back parts of God here refers to the understanding of the old testament scriptures, while his face refers to the hidden time period of the grace administration which Moses knew was sandwiched between the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Moses knew there was something hidden and asked God to reveal it to him, but God told him that knowledge was not available. In the context of the mystery being hidden, look what Corinthians says about it.


1 Corinthians 2:8,9
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.


The knowledge of the mystery was not seen by any eye, it was not heard of by any ear, in fact it never even entered into the wildest imaginations of man's heart. The revelation of the mystery, the revealing of what it actually is, was something Jesus Christ discussed with his disciples.


John 16:12,13
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he [it], the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.


Jesus Christ told his disciples that the spirit of truth was coming and that when it came, it would guide them into the all truth. The spirit of truth is a reference to the gift of holy spirit which came on the day of Pentecost. This prophecy regarding the all truth was fulfilled when God revealed the mystery to the apostle Paul. Before God revealed it to Paul, it was not available to know about it because it was a mystery, it was hidden. Even angels wanted to look into it.


1 Peter 1:12
Unto whom it was revealed [the mystery] ... which things the angels desire to look into.


So what is the mystery? Well, we know that if the devil and his ruling spirits had known about it, they would not have murdered Jesus Christ. So whatever it is, it must be something astonishing. As the mystery has now been revealed in the all truth given by revelation to the apostle Paul, let's discover what it is. Moses and all the other old testament prophets couldn't find it, but it's there for us to discover.


Ephesians 3:2-4
If ye have heard of the dispensation [oikonomia - administration] of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge [sunesis] in the mystery of Christ)


The revelation of the administration of the grace of God was given to Paul, which he mentioned previously in few words back in Romans 16 which we've already looked at. It is only by reading Paul's epistles that the understanding of the mystery comes. You can read the old testament scriptures exhaustively and you will never find the mystery in them. Why? Because it was hidden from old testament eyes. God had to keep it a secret so the devil wouldn't know of his plans. Had the devil suspected anything about it, he would not have crucified Jesus Christ.

This word knowledge, sunesis in the Greek, is defined by Thayer as a running together, a flowing together with, and it was used in Greek literature of the confluence of two rivers, the place where two rivers joined and flowed together. As we read Paul's epistles with a background understanding of the old testament scriptures, knowledge will flow together in our minds as the two meet.


Ephesians 3:5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;


The knowledge of the mystery was not made known to anyone before this administration. The old testament prophets searched diligently for it, but it was hidden, it was a secret, it was a mystery. God revealed it to Paul and here it is written in Ephesians.


Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:


This is what the mystery is, a concise definition of it, but it encompasses everything within the gift of holy spirit and what it means to us. To be fellowheirs with Christ, of the same body, and partakers of the promise encompasses being born again, having the seed of God born within us, having the gift of holy spirit, having eternal life. It is everything being God's child means. It is the ability to walk by the spirit with Christ as our head. In this administration it is available to become a new creation, a child of the creator with his spiritual incorruptible seed born inside us. And it is not just exclusively available to Judeans, it is also available to Gentiles, to anyone anywhere on earth regardless of ethnic, cultural, religious, or educational background.


Ephesians 3:7,8
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable [untraceable] riches of Christ;


The mystery was unsearchable, untraceable, untrackable through the old testament, but it was revealed to Paul, and he revealed that information to us in his epistles which make up the all truth spoken of by Jesus Christ.


Colossians 1:25-27
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation [administration] of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:


It is the Christ in you, the Christ in me that was hidden, and of which the devil suspected nothing. In the old testament, men and women had no spirit, they were dead. In this administration, men and women can be raised from the dead with power to operate the gift of holy spirit, walk with Christ as their head, and raise more people from the dead.


Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.


Every time we get someone born again, we raise them from the dead. These are the greater works that Jesus Christ referred to back in John 14:12. We really can do greater works than Jesus Christ did. Jesus Christ could not raise anyone from the dead and give them eternal life. We can.

When the devil and his spirits orchestrated the murder of Jesus Christ they had no idea what was coming. If they'd had even an inkling, they would not have crucified him. When Jesus Christ was alive and had the full measure of the spirit that was available then, he could only be in one place at one time. Now, in this Age of Grace, the Administration of the Mystery, everyone who is born again has Christ in them. The god of this world would rather have had Jesus Christ the son of God on earth by himself than have you and me walking around raising people from the dead. Man, the power and authority we have if we only knew it.

 All before Darby (and I am still researching more): Irenaeus (130 A.D. - 202 AD) Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp who learned his Christian faith from the apostle John, who wrote the Book of Revelation.  Both Polycarp and Irenaeus knew John personally. Irenaeus also believed in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church.  In  "Against Heresies 5:29" he wrote:  "And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, "There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be."  Irenaeus' used "caught up."  - the exact same Rapture terminology used in 1 Thes 4. Cyprian (200 AD - 258 AD) Cyprian taught his followers that, "God has not appointed us to wrath, but salvation..." and joyfully encouraged his church to expect to be "taken away" before the Tribulation began. Victorinus (300AD) "And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is rolled up." For the heaven to be rolled away,that is, that the Church shall be taken away. "And every mountain and the islands removed from their places intimate that in the last persecution all men departed from their places; that is, that the good will be removed, seeking to avoid persecution." Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373AD) “All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.” Brother Dolcino (1307AD) Dolcino and his followers believed they would be transferred into Paradise, in which are Enoch and Elijah. And in this way they will be preserved unharmed from the persecution of Antichrist. And that then Enoch and Elijah themselves would descend on the earth for the purpose of preaching [against] Antichrist. Balthasar Hubmaier (1480-1528AD) “Although Christ gave us many signs whereby we can tell how near at hand the day of his coming is, nevertheless, no one but God knows the exact day. . . . Take heed, watch and pray; for you known either the day nor the hour." John Calvin (1509-1564AD) “[Jesus] wishes [the disciples] to be uncertain as to his coming, but to be prepared to expect him . . . every moment.” “Today we must be alert to grasp the imminent return of Christ.” (Nothing needs to happen first.) Cotton Mather (1639-1723AD) Mather was the first President of Harvard College. This Puritan scholar taught "that the saints would be caught up into the air beforehand, thereby escaping the final conflagration (tribulation)." Peter Jurieu (1687AD) In his book "Approaching Deliverance of the Church " He spoke of a secret Rapture prior to Jesus' coming in glory and judgment at Armageddon. John (Gill) Asgill (1748AD) "Jesus will stay in the air, and His saints shall meet Him there, and whom He'll take up with Him into the third heaven, till the general conflagration and burning of the world is over, and to preserve them from it...." Thomas Collier (1674AD) Frank Marotta challenged a two-stage Second Coming taught by Collier. This reveals again that such a view was in circulation hundreds of years ago. It is apparent that Collier certainly considered the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture." Philip Doddridge (1738AD) The term Rapture was used by Philip Doddridge in his New Testament commentary, with the idea that believers would be caught up prior to judgment on the earth and Jesus' Second Coming. Bernard Lambert (1738-1813AD) Pierre Jean Agier, a French jurist, argued with Bernard Lambert's teaching and the published conclusions of Lacunza that taught the Second Coming of Christ had to occur in two-stages. His first return is to gather His people and His second return is to commence the Millennium. Morgan Edwards (1742-1744AD) Edwards was the Founder of Brown University "The dead saints will be raised, and the living changed at Christ's 'appearing in the air, but will he and they abide in the air all that time? No.They will ascend to paradise, or to some one of those many 'mansions in the Father's house." James McKnight (1763AD) and Thomas Scott (1792AD) taught that the righteous will be carried to heaven, where they will be secure until the time of judgment is over. Joseph Mede (1586-1639AD): "I will add this more, namely, what may be conceived to be the cause of this Rapture of the Saints on high to meet the Lord in the Clouds, rather than to wait his coming to the Earth. What if it be, that they may be preserved during the Conflagration of the earth and the works thereof, 2 Pet. 3. 10. that as Noah and his family were preserved from the Deluge by being lift up above the waters in the Ark; so should the Saints at the Conflagration be lift up in the Clouds unto their Ark, Christ, to be preserved there from the deluge of fire, wherein the wicked shall be consumed? " Peter Jurieu in his book Approaching Deliverance of the Church (1687AD) taught that Christ would come in the air to Rapture the saints and return to heaven before the battle of Armageddon. He spoke of a secret Rapture prior to His coming in glory and judgment at Armageddon. Philip Doddridge's commentary on the New Testament (1738AD) and John

Gill's commentary on the New Testament (1748) both use the term Rapture and speak of it as imminent. It is clear that these men believed that this coming will precede Christ's descent to the earth and the time of judgment. The purpose was to preserve believers from the time of judgment. James Macknight (1763) and Thomas Scott (1792AD) taught that the righteous will be carried to heaven, where they will be secure until the time of judgment is over. Frank Marotta (1674AD) a brethren researcher, refutes Thomas Collier's reference to a pre-tribulational Rapture, which proves his awareness that such a view was being taught in the late seventeenth century.

Speaking in Tongues and producing The Fruit of The "spirit"- The Christ in US!

 As born-again believers, God gave us the gift of holy spirit, making Him constantly reachable and easy to access. God is such a loving heavenly Father that He supplied our need to communicate with Him. Because God gave us the gift of holy spirit, we can pray to Him not only with our understanding but also in the spirit.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This is accurate capitalisation of pneuma, highlighting the difference between God and his gift. It is important that we recognise and understand this difference when reading the bible.
I Corinthians 14:15:
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

To pray with our understanding is to communicate to God in our own vocabulary. To pray in the spirit is to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is one of nine manifestations of the gift of holy spirit, and it has many benefits and purposes. Here are a few: to pray perfectly (Romans 8:26,27), to edify you (I Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20), to magnify God (Acts 10:46), to open your heart to the Father (Romans 8:14,15), and to give thanks well (I Corinthians 14:17).

God as our Father gave us the gift of holy spirit so that we can reach Him. As children of God, we have access to Him by praying with our understanding and praying in the spirit.

God is not only the Creator of the heavens and the earth; He is not only the Almighty God—He is our heavenly Father. Many of us know that we can seek out God in times of great challenge or deep sorrow. Yet we can also seek Him in the routine matters of life as well. Whether the need is great or small, to God it is all the same. We can go to Him with boldness and confidence.

 Speaking in tongues is an overflowing of spiritual power. It is not being filled with God, nor is it a religious outpouring of some devilish emotion. It is the manifestation of the holy spirit within us. This spirit which we freely received at the time of the new birth is ours to energize. It is up to us whether or not we speak in tongues. We do the speaking. It is something we choose to do, something we believe to do, and it is something we control at all times.

THE GIVER and HIS GIFT -- The Holy Spirit is God(Jehovah) our Creator(Elohim). The God and the Father of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the offspring of God, only begotten, physically, by Divine conception of God, the Giver; Holy Spirit! God's gift is holy spirit, which is power from on high. We are baptized by this gift from God, the Giver.

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49.
"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Acts 1:4-5.
"endued with power from on high" Luke 24:49.
EQUALS
"the promise of the Father" Acts 1:4.
EQUALS
"ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit" Acts 1:5.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8.
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Acts 2:1-4.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."
Acts 2:38-39.
1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.


When you pray in tongues, your spirit prays but your understanding is unfruitful. In other words your mind gets nothing out of it. Praying in tongues and speaking in tongues does absolutely nothing for your mind. Your understanding is unfruitful, it furnishes nothing because you don't understand a word you're saying. Speaking in tongues edifies your spirit.

Speaking in Tongues is NOT a learned language, it is not linguistic ability, not a translation of a language! Few realize this truth! It IS, as the spirit within gives the utterance(Acts 2:4); inspiration of the spirit of God within the believer. The speaker does not understand the utterance; otherwise it is not tongues, but rather, a known language to the one speaking. This is not a "learned language". Your spirit prays and God gives the words!

SPEAKING IN TONGUES - (defined):
The manifestation of Speaking in Tongues
is your operation of the God-given ability
whereby you may
(at any time in your private prayer life
or in a believers’ meeting, if interpreted) show forth,
by speaking in an unknown tongue,
(unknown language to you),
the external manifestation in the senses world
of the internal reality and presence
of the power of the holy spirit.

How to do it:
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God gave us the gift of holy spirit and he gave us his word to teach us
about it. Now it is up to us to believe and manifest it. God isn't going
to make anyone manifest anything. It is as we will. When we believe to
operate the gift of holy spirit then God energizes within us and his
power is manifested. This is true spiritual power.
You must speak forth the words, as God gives them, to your spirit! That you speak is
your business; what you speak is God's business!
Tongues is speaking a language, unknown to the speaker.
It is either a known language on earth, or a language of Angels; 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Chapter 14 gives instruction on how the manifestations are to be conducted, in a church
setting. Tongues must always be interpreted "in the church".
Two or three speak forth and each one must interpret their own tongue.
This is by inspiration(in spirit action). All things MUST be done, decently and in order; verse 40.

Ask questions, that you may understand these truths much better.

 Fruit of The Spirit - "The Christ in US!
1 Corinthians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agapē],
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Does this verse say that speaking in tongues is just making a noise like brass instruments and cymbals? No, it does not. It says those who do not walk with agapē, the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, are just making noise when they speak in tongues. Those who put phileō love before agapē love can speak in tongues all they want, but it is of no profit to them, they are just making religious noise.
If you want your life to be spiritually meaningful, to have spiritual value, you will have to love God first before people, which means you speak up when he wants you to speak up, and you act when he is working within you to will and to do of his good pleasure. This is the walk of anyone who wants to be a disciple, and it is axiomatic that we must first learn to operate the gift of holy spirit properly and accurately for that is the immediate context of this chapter.


1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.


Listen, I know you're wonderful and you have a heart for God and want to know his word and do something for him, but really, anyone can run away from confrontation. That takes no ability or courage at all. If we're going to walk with the love of God we will have to deal with situations when God is working in our hearts to do so. That is walking with the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation and that takes courage. This isn't about being nice to everyone and smiling inanely at them. Jesus Christ wasn't nice to everyone. Do you see how this fits within the context of 1 Corinthians 12 and 14? Unless we're walking by the spirit, properly operating the manifestations of holy spirit, chapter 13 is a world away from where we are, and all our talk about love is just noise.

The love of God is not an alternative way to walking by the spirit, it isn't an excuse to not walk by the spirit. The truth is, the only way to learn to walk with the love of God is to first learn to properly operate the manifestations and learn to walk by the spirit. That's the context here. One builds upon the other. This is further corroborated in Galatians, where agapē is listed as a fruit of the spirit.


Galatians 5:22,23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love [agapē], joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


Fruit of the spirit is not fruit of the good works of man. You can't produce spiritual fruit by doing anything in the senses realm, which includes manifesting human phileō love. You can manifest phileō all you want, you can be the most phileō loving person on earth, but it will never produce fruit of the spirit. You can only produce spiritual fruit by manifesting the gift of holy spirit. This fits perfectly within the context of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. Agapē is only attainable by first manifesting the gift of holy spirit accurately and faithfully according to the instructions given in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14.

If we lose this truth and attempt to manifest human love to everyone, we are walking by the senses and not by the spirit. We are attempting to perfect the flesh. Once these truths are lost regarding walking by the spirit, we have lost the meaning of the resurrection and the whole point of the Grace Administration.


Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.


Now yes, once we're walking by the spirit, and we recognise God's still, small voice and we decide to be courageous, get involved and deal with situations when God works within us, it doesn't mean losing our temper and shouting at everyone. Sure, God wants us to deal with situations kindly, with love. Walking with the love of God isn't being horrible to everyone all the time, it's being courageous by doing God's will. Every situation is different and that is why we must first be walking by the spirit before we can be effectual ministers walking with the love of God.


1 Corinthians 13:4,5
Charity [agapē] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;


Was Jesus Christ long suffering and kind? Sure he was. He was long suffering and kind even when he was pissing off the religious leaders by calling them whited sepulchres and vipers. That's what the religious leaders were in Jesus Christ's day and they're no different today for the most part.


Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.


Jesus Christ took the religious leaders on so he could be kind and long suffering to God's people. Is that so hard to figure out? Are fathers loving and kind when they fight to protect their wives and children? Sure, they are. Love is not weak. Not even human love is that weak. Not even animal love is that weak! It takes strength, courage, and a sense of duty to live with this kind of love. Religious love isn't love at all, it's a disease.


1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity [agapē - the love of God].

 If you're born again and you don't speak in tongues, you need to get started immediately. Whether you speak in tongues or not is entirely up to you. God has made everything available in Christ Jesus, now it's our job to believe and learn to walk by the spirit.
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God gave us the gift of holy spirit and he gave us his word to teach us about it. Now it is up to us to believe and manifest it. God isn't going to make anyone manifest anything. It is as we will. When we believe to operate the gift of holy spirit then God energises within us and his power is manifested. This is true spiritual power.
You must speak forth the words, as God gives them, to your spirit! That you speak is your business; what you speak is God's business!
Tongues is speaking a language, unknown to the speaker. It is either a known language on earth, or a language of Angels; 1 Corinthians 13:1. Chapter 14 gives instruction on how the manifestations are to be conducted, in a church setting. Tongues must always be interpreted "in the church". Two or three speak forth and each one must interpret their own tongue. This is by inspiration(in spirit action). All things MUST be done, decently and in order; verse 40.

Spiritual Warfare - "Our Spiritual Competition"! Part 4- "TWO" Gods!

"TWO" Gods:
Among many of God's people there is a little known truth; there are two Gods. There is the God and Father of the lord Jesus Christ and there is the“so-called" god of this world.
Both are described and defined by different names and titles.
Our father meant for us to fully understand what was going on in the spirit realm.
The One True God is the God of light in whom is NO darkness at all...no variableness...he does not even have a shadow of turning. He is who He says He is...always. He is not a schizophrenic who is good one second and devours the next.
The lord Jesus said that there was none good but God. Knowing him, that is quite a statement.
He only and always works for our good. He is the God of all grace and the Father of mercies.
He only speaks the truth; he is not a man that he should lie. He can be trusted, believed and we should have confidence in Him.
He is a God of His Word.
The other god does not keep his word. The lord Jesus called him, the father of lies. He is called a serpent in Genesis 3 by the figure of speech Hypocatastasis, the strongest figure of comparison in the human language.
A serpent is known for its ability to conceal itself in its environment; he is crafty. We have an expression,
"He is like a snake in the grass."
Revelation 12:9 aptly reveals him to us.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old [ancient] serpent, called the Devil and Satan, that deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
His one distinguishing characteristic is that he "deceives the whole world". He is so good at it that most people think he is a fictitious character.
Both gods are spirit. You cannot see spirit, hear, smell, taste or touch it. You can only see the manifestation of it.
Jesus Christ said that the devil came to steal, to kill and to destroy.
God sent Jesus Christ to make Him known both by his words and his works. He always did His Father's will.
He came so that we might have a more abundant life.
Who are you going to believe: the God of all truth or the liar; the deceiver? God's Word allows us to separate truth from error; to understand spiritual matters so that we are not ignorant. That is why He instructs us to,
"Study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The One True God reveals Himself in His Word so that we can't miss Him; no darkness in Him, AT ALL!! The God of love, light, grace, mercy, deliverance, forgiveness, etc.
The other one is” the father of lies” and “the deceiver”; “the accuser of God’s people”. He uses God's Word against God's people. He has his ministers wrongly divide it and use it against God’s people to enslave them.
He kills, steals and destroys them.
Heeding devil spirits of worshiping Jesus; and you as much as carry this heresy to the extreme, by actually making and professing him as God himself. Attributing evil to God AND Jesus Christ. Burning souls(they are never immortal) extremely and eternally. Confessing that the dead are alive, rather than fully unconscious. Denying the great and ONLY hope for the believers. Heeding assorted doctrines of men, which blind you of the doctrine of the only true God. Deny the operation of the gift of holy spirit; replacing this with human emotion and feelings, and attributing this possession to God. Diminish free will or disregard it fully. Earnestly expecting God to control you! NEVER! but the adversary will possess you in a heartbeat, if you open yourself up to the offer of it. The devil is seriously in the business of blinding, in order to trick and possess. I offer THE(only) WAY out via my Google+ page - Jesus Christ is the WAY to God! Take an exhausted look, and believe God, unto deliverance. Thanks, Tom.
God says in Hosea that His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. He is not talking about knowledge from the latest periodicals; He is speaking of His Word.
It is high time we woke up to the truth.
"It is written" should be our motto!
Why would God tell us that we wrestle with a spiritual adversary if it were not true?
Ephesians 6:10-20 KJV
10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 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.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit(Speaking in Tongues), and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Who are you going to believe?

Spiritual Warfare - "Our Spiritual Competition"! Part 3

 Confess the Word List:
Confessing the Word of God as you believe that Word in your heart results in receiving from God.
 1.  I will confess that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13) rather than confessing that I can't.
2.  I will confess that my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) rather than confessing that I lack.
3.  I will confess that God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) rather than confessing fear.
4.  I will confess that God is the strength of my life (Psalm 27:1) and that they who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11:32) rather than confessing weakness.
5.  I will confess that greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4) rather than confessing the supremacy of Satan over my life or living in peaceful co-existence with him.
6.  I will confess that God always causes me to triumph in Christ (11 Corinthians 2:14) rather than confessing defeat.
7.  I will confess that Christ Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30) rather than confessing that I lack wisdom.
8.  I will confess that by Christ's stripes I was healed (1 Peter 2:24) rather than confessing sickness.
9.  I will confess that I am carefree and that I am casting all my cares upon him who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7) rather than confessing worries and frustrations.
10.  I will confess liberty for where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17) rather than confessing bondage.

Take Up the Shield of Believing
Dearly beloved, we now stand in Christ Jesus as righteous, holy and without blame before our Father. We are accepted in the Beloved. Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Take up the shield of the right way of believing!
We are now free to live as dead men who were raised to life again. God gave us the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and we are sealed for the Day of Redemption when we will acquire the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Stand in the liberty wherewith Christ made us free!
Our adversary does not want us to know, much less believe these wonderful realities. He does not want us to understand our exalted position in Christ. He wants us blind, ignorant, deceived, and living in denial of these truths. Instead, arm yourself with the shield of the right way of believing with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts he throws at you. Believe the full measure of who you are in Christ, beloved.
We are complete in Christ and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us; take up the shield of believing.
The old serpent is the father of lies. He is the deceiver, the tempter, the accuser of the brethren, and the condemner. He attempts to torment us by bringing up our past sins, he plagues us with deadly doubts of unworthiness, and haunts us with the shortcomings of our flesh. He is the accuser of God’s children, but beloved, new things have come! We are in Christ now, we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus on the basis of his accomplishments.
Don’t listen to the adversary any longer, utilize the shield of believing, and quench these attacks.
Stand against the adversary by believing who God says you are in Christ, beloved. Our Father, by His exceeding great grace, has freely given us all things with Christ.
Romans 8:35, says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
Whether the adversary orchestrates situations that afflict us with vice-like mental pressures (tribulation), or he sets up extremely distressing situations that put us between a rock and a hard place (distress), they cannot separate us from the love of Christ.
Whether our enemies constantly hound us (persecution), or whether we are destitute and suffer severe lack at times (famine or nakedness), or whether we are hit head-on with dangerous situations designed by the adversary to paralyze us with fear (peril), they cannot separate us.
Whether we are the victims of the cutting words of character assassination by the accuser and his minions, or whether we face death itself (sword), nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!
None of the adversary’s assaults can separate us from Christ’s love for us. These are his attempts to burden, obstruct, depress, discourage, and intimidate us so that we faint in our minds; “take up the shield of believing, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the wicked one.”
If we are to overcome these challenges we must be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; lift up your shield.
Romans 8: 38 and 39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Whether in life or even in the grave; no spiritual power – whether angel, spiritual principality, or power; nothing in the dimension of time – whether past, present or future; nothing in the dimension of space – whether on earth or in the heavenlies; no created thing can separate us God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord . . . in whom we are more than conquerors.
We are “more than conquerors” because our victory in Christ Jesus is not only during the fleeting period of this life – it is over death itself!
In Christ Jesus, we are not only “more than conquerors” today, but throughout eternity!
In Christ Jesus, we are “more than conquerors”, not only in the senses realm but also in the spiritual realm. Our Father delivered us from the power of darkness. Nothing in the spirit realm is as powerful as the spirit of God that dwells in us. Beloved, God gave us the power to tread over all the power of the adversary; believe it!
The reality that “we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” is a greater reality than any obstacle we may face! Lift up the shield of believing and use the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. On guard, beloved!


'Putting On The Full Armor of God -We Win'
We win in the spiritual competition by thinking and acting on God's Word, therefore, we are strong in the Lord. By The power of Jesus Christ who won the victory over the adversary setting us up to win in the spirit competition. -We win day by day.
Ephesians 6:10,11: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
"Finally" is in conclusion of the pervious directives. We can determine to act on the truths of the great mystery recorded in Ephesians 3, and we can decide to walk worthy of the vocation in which we are called of Ephesians 4. In Ephesians 5 we are exhorted to become followers of God walking in love, light and to be circumspect. Here we delve into Ephesians 6 "Being Strong in the Lord and in the power of his might."
God also tells us we are to put on all the equipment of God in order to stand against the methods of the devil. We put that Word of God on "just right," as headgear and we keep it on to win in the spiritual competition.
In Ephesians 6:12: 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 (from on high).
Our competition is a mental competition against an already defeated ruler of darkness and spiritual principalities and powers. That's why we need to keep the Word of God on in our minds, like headgear in sports. Our competition is not against people- "flesh and blood" but, of the adversary and his regime.
The adversary rules the devil spirit powers referred to in Ephesians 6:12. He knows he's already been defeated by Jesus Christ. However he does not want born-again believers to know it and to claim the victory. If the Adversary can help it he'll try keep the believers ignorant of his defeat and laying distractions in order to prevent us from putting to mind, God's Word. The Words of God have power against the adversaries' realm when fitly spoken.
Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour (the complete equipment) of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day(the evil one), and having done all, to stand.
"Wherefore" could be rendered "because of this." We wrestle in our minds against the spiritual realities of verse 12 in the spiritual competition, we need to take into manifestation the complete equipment of God. He has given to us in the Bible, He has written His Words for us to believe and the manifestations of the spirit for us to utilize to win against the spiritual competition. We have everything we need and every reason "to stand" in victory over our adversary, the devil.
Ephesians 6:14: Stand therefore, having your loins girt (our commitment center) about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The phrase, "having your loins girt about with truth" in verse 14 can be understood as committing ourselves to the truth of God's Word. The expression, "tighten up your belt a notch" gives a present day understanding.
The way we stand is to commit ourselves to believe and live the rightly presented and handled truth of God's Word.
This verse also exhorts us to have on the "breastplate of righteousness." The "breastplate" refers to the heart of our renewed mind. We renew our mind to what God via His Word, His Will says about our righteousness spiritually. In (2 Corinthians 5:21:) tells us as believers of Christ, we have the righteousness of God. Will you stand on what God has done for us in Christ Jesus?! Yes- we as committed believers of Christ we do!
Ephesians 6:15: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The "gospel of peace" is referring to the good news of the Gospel. Once we put on God's Word in our hearts and minds, remaining strong in the Lord we hold forth the gospel to others. This is a vital part of winning in the spiritual competition, speaking the truth in love!
Ephesians 6:16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The "shield of faith" can be rendered as discus of believing. Just like a well trained athlete, an olympian is skillful hurling a discus with all their might in the right direction, we commit with all our might to believing in the right direction what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. " The wicked" is referring to the evil one, the adversary. We quench the fiery darts of the wicked, which come at us at times from the fives senses realm.
These fiery darts can be a form of corrupt communication which contradicts truth of God's Word.
That's why we hold our mouths in subjection to the instruction of God's Word such as only speak words of grace and which are of edification or, building up someone. The opposite from tearing someone down. As it is written, Life and death is in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21:)
Also we guard our minds from words spoken to us which are to break us from the holding the Truth of God's Word in our minds. (Proverbs 4:23) tells us to guard our minds because, our thoughts run our life.
Ephesians 12:17:And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
By the Athletic understanding, the "sword of the spirit" could more practically be render the javelin of the spirit. A well trained javelin throwers hurl the javelin to make their mark to win in their competition. Our javelin is the fittly spoken Word of God. We win in the spiritual competition by properly utilizing the words inspired by God via, His Word in every aspect in our lives hitting our mark as we have that God in Christ in us in operation to go the distance.
Our aim has always been as seen in (Ephesians 6:10-17:) how each believer can win in the spirit competition of life. These truths from Ephesians shows us how to keep winning as we discipline our minds like athletes utilizing the gift of holy spirit moment by moment.
Just as Jesus Christ did in defeating the adversary and exposing his regime of devil spirits -we have also, the instruction in the Bible. When he would cast them out of people and healed them. "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:" (Matthew 8:16:)
We stand against the methods of the devil, by believing God's Word, operate in the gift of holy spirit, and prevailing over any discouragement -One thought at a time.
As we remain strong in the Lord and the power of his might. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10) God will meet our every need as He has fully equipped us in all aspects of life.
We are exhorted and enabled to win daily in the spiritual competition by continuing to stand and utilize all the equipment of God; when we do, we win!

Spiritual Warfare - "Our Spiritual Competition"! Part 2. Confusing The Enemy!!

       

Spiritual Warfare - "Our Spiritual Competition"! Part 2.

                                       CONFUSING THE ENEMY!!
Do you ever feel like you can’t quite put your finger on what’s going on in your situation? The circumstances seem daunting and the future looks bleak.
Guess what?? We need to remember that we are engaged in a spiritual battle and that the enemy is looking for opportunities to infiltrate and seize the victory!
Jesus came to declare who His Father was and to destroy the works of the devil.

John 1:18 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
No one has ever seen God. God’s only Son, the one who is closest to the Father’s heart, has made him known.
I John 3:8 (New American Standard) 
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

He also enabled those who now stand in the Body and in whom he now lives, with a true and real ability to perceive spiritual matters.

I Cor 2:14  (International Standard Version)
A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the things of God’s Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can’t understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. 
Eph 6:10-13 (Berean Study Bible) 
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.          

What can I do you may ask??
Many times we don’t even know what to pray for. I assume that is why God blessed us with the gift of holy spirit and specifically the ability to speak in tongues. Ultimately speaking in tongues magnifies God but in the process of doing so, it makes perfect intercession and says things to Him we could never verbalize in our native language. Let’s leave the purposes of the spirit to Him and stop trying so hard to direct God to what we desire.
It has been said that if we knew how powerful speaking in tongues was, we would do it all the time.
This is so cool!! So amazing!! So simple!! We have tremendous ability to pray perfectly and bring perfect praise to the Father.
Praise confuses the enemy!! Our adversary is thwarted when we take the opposite approach to his evil doings and set ups. Instead of falling into the trap of whatever scenario he is coming at us with, what do we do??
MANIFEST SPIRIT POWER!! Be proactive with the spirit and begin to PRAISE GOD perfectly when the attack is on!!
This is certainly one thing we can do to stay blessed and experience practical victory.

Speaking in Tongues is NOT a learned language, it is not linguistic ability, not a translation of a language! Few realize this truth! It IS, as the spirit within gives the utterance(Acts 2:4); inspiration of the spirit of God within the believer. The speaker does not understand the utterance; otherwise it is not tongues, but rather, a known language to the one speaking. This is not a "learned language". Your spirit prays and God gives the words! The unusual behavior of some when they speak in tongues, have led others to declare  that the act must be of the devil. Also, non-Biblical based movies and documentaries have shown speaking in tongues to be a matter of confusion. Then people quote the Bible to say that God is not the author of confusion: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints" (I Corinthians 14:33). When people witness the confusion of people speaking in tongues and rolling around the aisles, and being "slain in the spirit," they attribute this all to the works of the adversary. The tongues are genuine, but the foolish acts are influenced by the devil. I have experienced being in a church service, when all of a sudden people are babbling sounds and flopping about on the floor. This embarrassing scene happens all too often in certain churches that believe they are possessed by the spirit of God and give over their physical bodies to roll around and do all sorts of contorted movements. The true God never violates a person's free will. The True God and Father of our Lord and Savior performs all things decently and in order. He expects us to do so, as well (I Corinthians 14:40: Let all things be done decently and in order). God loves us and would never put us in awkward situations that would not bring glory to Him. When someone speaks in tongues, it is by the freedom of will of that individual. They start and end when they so choose. The evil one tries to trick people into giving over their minds and bodies to his control. That is why someone may be speaking in tongues and yet possessed by the devil doing weird things. This is due to either wrong teaching or devil spirit possession. As we operate this manifestation, our actions should be with the love of God. Satan has worked overtime to discredit speaking in tongues and make it look ridiculous. God has given us freedom of will, so we are responsible for how we act while speaking in tongues. We need to remember what I Corinthians 14:40 states, "Let all things be done decently and in order." The integrity of God's Word is always at stake. We must continue to be workmen of God's Word, rightly dividing it, in order to avoid causing a most awkward error to occur. The sad result is that this turns many people off from speaking in tongues, because they do not want to be associated with the devilish antics! These misconceptions and fears should not hold the believer back from manifesting speaking in tongues. Once someone recognizes that God desires to hear from you via speaking in tongues, you will simply walk out and do it. There is absolutely no fear once God's Word is fully known. At that point, nothing will inhibit you from speaking in tongues. God's Will is that each and every believer, speak in tongues, for our spirit prays, demonstrating the power of God forth in our prayer life! SPEAKING IN TONGUES - (defined): The manifestation of Speaking in Tongues is your operation of the God-given ability whereby you may (at any time in your private prayer life or in a believers’ meeting, if interpreted) show forth, by speaking in an unknown tongue, (unknown language to you), the external manifestation in the senses world of the internal reality and presence of the power of the holy spirit. How to do it: John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. God gave us the gift of holy spirit and he gave us his word to teach us about it. Now it is up to us to believe and manifest it. God isn't going to make anyone manifest anything. It is as we will. When we believe to operate the gift of holy spirit then God energizes within us and his power is manifested. This is true spiritual power. You must speak forth the words, as God gives them, to your spirit! That you speak is your business; what you speak is God's business! Tongues is speaking a language, unknown to the speaker. It is either a known language on earth, or a language of Angels; 1 Corinthians 13:1.  Chapter 14 gives instruction on how the manifestations are to be conducted, in a church setting. Tongues must always be interpreted "in the church". Two or three speak forth and each one must interpret their own tongue. This is by inspiration(in spirit action). All things MUST be done, decently and in order; verse 40.

Born of The "spirit-seed" of God!

Born of The spirit of God:

Once we are born of God's spirit we have incorruptible seed in us, which can not be revoked nor removed. Seed is always permanent. Your body and soul is the result of seed from your father, likewise with God's seed, but this seed is incorruptible and therefore eternal.
1 Peter 1:23
being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The seed of God is spirit!
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Body, Soul & Spirit
I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the beginning (Genesis 1:1) God created the heaven and the earth including all the elements that make up the physical body of man.
Soul is life. It is the life that all creatures that move and breathe (including man) have in common. Plants which grow have life. But plants do not have "breath life" that was created in Genesis 1:20. Soul life in man makes man an alive moving being.

In Genesis 1:27 God created man in his own image. The image of God is spirit according to John 4:24. Spirit is also life but it is on a higher plane; just as soul life is a higher life form that the growth life present in plants. When God gave man spirit he put man in His own category of life.
God's nature lost!
Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
God formed the body of man from the elements He had created in Genesis 1:1. God placed in man (breathed into his nostrils) the soul life He had created in Genesis 1:21 and thus he made man a living moving being.
The Word of God uses the word "create" when God brings something into existence for the first time. In the case of "spirit", which is the nature of God, the Word always uses the word "create" indicating that an act of God is necessary to create spirit in any individual. Spirit cannot be passed from person to person as body and soul elements are at birth. Only by an act of God can a man become a spiritual being. In the beginning this spiritual nature was created in man on a conditional basis:
Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
When Adam and Eve violated this condition they did surely die that very day. Spiritually they died. They no longer had the nature of God abiding within them. They were no longer three-fold beings in God's category. They still had life. They had growth life as do plants and they had soul life (moving breathing life) as do all living creatures. But they no longer had spiritual life. This was the fall of man. This was the event that left man in the state of needing a savior - a redeemer. Man needs spirit to be that which God intended man to be in the beginning: a spiritual being in God's category.

The promise of holy spirit
Throughout the old testament when God wanted to communicate with man or direct His chosen people He would place spirit upon a very limited number of individuals. The spirit was always conditional and was removed when a man or woman failed to walk with God. However, throughout this time God's promise of a redeemer and the coming of spirit on a permanent basis where all mankind would have the opportunity to once again be body, soul, and spirit beings in God's category was looked forward to by those who held the Word of God in esteem.
The promise of God was that a redeemer would come and that God would be able to pour out His spirit to all who believe unto salvation.
Jesus Christ came to redeem man and make spirit available. He reminded a Pharisee ruler named Nicodemus of God's promise:
John 3:5-7, 9-10 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [body & soul] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh [body & soul] is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit...Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Jesus was surprised that a Pharisee did not understand about the promise of spirit to come. The spirit that would be poured out by way of the accomplishments of Jesus Christ would be born within man. No longer on a condition - it would be seed born within a man or woman who believed. Jesus understood this and expounded God's Word to a woman drawing water from a well:
John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is [almost here!] when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus spoke to his disciples and those he taught about the coming of holy spirit:
John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost [spirit] was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [not conditional] Even the Spirit of truth [the true spirit]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] not many days hence.

FINALLY the day arrived!
Acts 2:1,4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place...And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted [talking about Jesus], and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,[holy spirit] he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Today the promise of holy spirit is available by believing Romans 10:9-10. When we confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead we too become, as God originally intended, BODY, SOUL, and SPIRIT.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation [wholeness - spirit is the missing part needed to be whole]: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Today the spirit of God is born in us when we believe. It is not conditional. It is incorruptible seed. It is eternal life! It is the nature of the living God born in us. We are once again in God's category: Spiritual men and women with eternal life!

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Speaking in tongues is true worship. It is prayer in the spirit and it is always in accordance with God's Word, so pray without ceasing and pray much in the spirit.
I Corinthians 14:14-15
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
There are two methods of prayer: in the spirit and with the understanding. Both are important and both are available to believers today. When we pray in tongues we do not understand the words but our prayer is spiritual. It is our holy spirit in direct communication with The Holy Spirit: God.
I Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
I Corinthians 14:18
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
The Apostle Paul prayed much in tongues in his private prayers to God.
Jude 1:20-21
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost [pneuma hagion - holy spirit],
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Praying in the holy spirit is praying in tongues.

THE NEW BIRTH GIVES A PERSON SPIRITUAL LIFE!
Man is dead spiritually, in trespasses and sins, until one is born again. See John 3:5-7 for how man acquires spirit.When Adam & Eve sinned they lost their spirit life, their connection to God, who is Spirit. This spirit can only be regained for a person, through the second Adam, Jesus Christ. See 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. This happens upon being born of the spirit.
Acts 2:38.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
How does a person know they have the gift of holy spirit in them?
Acts 10:45 & 46:
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Acts 2:4:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.

The evidence of the spirit within them was that they spoke in tongues. This is true with the Gentiles who got born again and the twelve apostles on the Day of Pentecost. Anyone who operates the manifestation of speaking in tongues, has the evidence that they will be in the Gathering Together, because they have the spirit of God within themselves.
As soon as someone does what it says in Romans 10:9, which is to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead, they are born again, they receive the gift of holy spirit.
This isn't talking about people receiving God, it's talking about people receiving the gift of holy spirit from God.
The key is to get peaceful, thank God for it, and you simply speak the words forth, God always makes sure that the words are there for you. It will sound foreign because it is a foreign language to you. Just speak forth whatever words are there. I recommend to say something to jump start and then you will see the words are available to speak. Let it flow and never mind thinking, just speak. Remember that you are not supposed to understand the words.
Let me know how it goes for you, and if you would like more help. Thank you.
You must speak forth the words, as God gives them, to your spirit! That you speak is your business; what you speak is God's business!
Ephesians 2:1.
And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
The FREE gift of salvation: It is by incorruptible seed - 1 Peter1:23 and Galatians 3:16. 1 John 3:9 the seed remains. It is a gift - Romans 6:23 and 1 John 2;25.
Ephesians 2:5,8. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) For by grace are ye saved [sōzō - made whole] through faith [believing]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Romans 5:15
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
The free gift refers to the gift of holy spirit, the Christ in you, the incorruptible seed that was born within us at the time of the new birth. Just as we suffer death because of one man, Adam, we now enjoy life because of one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:18.
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Justification is the legal side to righteousness. The Christ in us is incorruptible, it cannot sin, it cannot miss the mark. There is nothing anyone can do to make their spirit sin. It is impossible to corrupt it with sin. That is why it is eternal life When we are born again, God takes his gavel, slams it down and declares us not guilty, not because of our body and souls, not because of our old man, but because of the gift of holy spirit that is born within us. It is the spirit that makes us righteous. Righteousness and justification come wrapped up with the new birth. They are supernatural rights that come with the Christ in us.
Romans 5:19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.


Adam's disobedience made us all guilty of death, and so death was the penalty we all had to pay. That's why we were all born dead into this world, with no spiritual life. God didn't do that to us, the devil did. Man committed a sin so vile, it legally warranted the death penalty. Man died and the devil became the god of this world. Thankfully, God came up with a way to spring us from death, and that way was Jesus Christ, who died in our place to accomplish our redemption.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF GRACE- THE GREAT MYSTERY -"REVEALED"!

The Administration of Grace

Ephesians 3:2-5
If ye have heard of the dispensation [administration] of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The apostle Paul was given revelation regarding the administration of the great mystery. The word translated "dispensation" is the Greek word for "stewardship" or "administration." Just as we think of a president's administration as a time period in which certain procedures and rules are in effect that reflect the president's stewardship of the country, the apostle Paul was given revelation from God regarding the procedures and rules that are presently in effect during this administration of the grace of God.
In the Bible lands it was customary for the head of a household to engage one of his poorer relatives as his steward. When the steward was hired, everything pertaining to the affairs of the household was turned over to him. He could buy and sell property. He could sign deeds. He could lend money and forgive debts. He could do anything the head of the household could do. He was given the keys to all properties, the records, and the bookkeeping. He was also given the family signet ring.
The signet ring was engraved with the name of the owner or with some family emblem and was a symbol of authority used in the Bible lands to seal legal documents. A document without a seal would not be legal. A merchant's letters and bills had to be sealed. Even today, modern Egyptians and Eastern businessmen wear a seal-ring on the little finger of their right hand. The seal represents the owner and is used to indicate that sealed property belongs to him.

Ephesians 1:11-14
In whom [Christ] also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In this administration of the grace of God believers have received God's gift of holy spirit as a token of the inheritance that God has predetermined to give each of us at the day of redemption. Holy spirit is the "earnest" of our inheritance. Just as earnest money is given as a token when a property is purchased, God has given us a token of the inheritance that He has laid up for us to be claimed at the day of redemption when He also will claim His purchased possession (us!) We have an inheritance coming to us and God has an inheritance coming to Him at that day. We have been redeemed, bought with a price, from the world; yet we are still in the world. God has purchased us with the life of His son. He placed holy spirit in us as a SEAL indicating that we belong to Him. When He sends Jesus Christ back to claim that which He owns, we will be gathered unto Him and receive the fullness of our inheritance.
All those who have confessed with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in their heart that God raised him from the dead [Romans 10:9-10] have been SEALED with God's gift of holy spirit. It does not matter who you are, what you were, or what you might do in the future. If you have believed and received, then you are SEALED. This is the greatness of the mystery of the grace of God. We are all members of the body of Christ. We are individually SEALED with that holy spirit of promise. We belong to Him!

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

We belong to God. We have the SEAL of holy spirit as a token in our hearts that we belong to Him. There should NEVER be any question of our salvation or of that which God has predestinated to give us at the day of redemption for we have the proof. We have been given holy spirit as a SEAL of our sonship. We can speak in tongues. We know that we know that we know that we belong to Him.

Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

What is it to "grieve the holy spirit of God?" Well, to deny the greatness of the grace of God given to us would certainly be grieving. We have the SEAL of holy spirit. We will have it until the day God claims that which is His. To deny the gift, to deny the grace and power given to us is to grieve. God wants us to walk, utilizing that spirit that He gave us and renewing our minds to His glorious grace. God wants us to live like His sons because we belong to Him.

"When the first century believers failed to continue to act in the light of the great mystery as unfolded so magnanimously in the epistle to the Ephesians, they lost the true teaching concerning the mystery which is the center of all true Christian faith, the one body of Christ.
The immediate consequence of the loss of this truth of the great mystery produced glowing errors. It initiated the different so-called "bodies" with all the subsequent division and schism in the church body. Instead of rightly dividing the word of truth and recognizing the "one body" which God made (Ephesians 4:4), men set about making their own ecclesiastical bodies and sects.
The truth as to the believer's perfect standing before God in Christ was the next major loss. The truth as to what God made every believer to be in Christ, how every believer is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ and saved by God's grace was all basically lost. Failing to adhere to the truth the teachers began to propagate error regarding the Lord's promised return from heaven, the gathering together and the resurrection." Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille - The Great Mystery Revealed

ONE BODY BY GRACE

Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel;
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. . .
. . . I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God called us in one body, the body of Christ. He SEALED each of us with His gift of holy spirit - Christ in you! We have all that God has given by His grace. To teach, as some were in Galatia, that a believer needs to do some work or keep the law to be saved is to deny that which was accomplished in Christ. The gospel which these "believers" where promoting was a perversion of the truth designed by the adversary to trouble the body of Christ. The result was division and schism in the church. This is the first step on the road down. To lose sight of the mystery of the one body of SEALED believers with Christ as the head and to establish all sorts of divisions and "churches" is to turn away from the administration of the grace of God.

JUSTIFIED BY GRACE

Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

God paid the price to redeem us. He gave His son Jesus Christ. We have been judged righteous in Christ. We are justified. It is just as if we never sinned. And what did we do or can we do to earn our justification? NOTHING! We have it freely given to us by his grace! When believers turn away from the truth of the administration of the grace of God and that which we have received in Christ, they begin promoting works. They forget that they are SEALED. This is the second step down. We need to recognize the greatness of all we have received and will receive freely by his grace.

According to the riches of God's grace recorded in Ephesians we have:

Been chosen in him before the foundation of the world.
Been made holy and without blame before him in love.
Been predestinated unto sonship.
Been made accepted.
Been redeemed through the blood of His son Jesus Christ.
Been given the forgiveness of sins.
Been given wisdom.
Been given a knowledge of the mystery of his will.
Been promised that He will gather us together in Christ in the fulness of time.
Been promised an inheritance at the day of redemption.
Been made alive together with Christ.
Been saved.
Been raised up and seated in the heavenly places in Christ.
Been promised a show of God's exceeding grace in the ages to come.

GATHERED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST BY GRACE

1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savious; the Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The mystery of the gathering together of the body of Christ was first revealed to the apostle Paul as steward of the grace of God. Ten times in the above verses God indicates the things that SHALL absolutely happen at that day. To turn away from that which is revealed in the epistles written to the church regarding the gathering together is another step down. The great hope we have for the day of redemption, our inheritance, and eternity with God must NEVER be replaced by preparation for death, destruction, and fear of the wrath of God. We have been delivered from the wrath to come and given a glorious hope.

1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

We have freely received the gift of holy spirit by grace. We are SEALED until the day of redemption. We have been given the same responsibility as the apostle Paul in that we are to serve one another by ministering the SAME gift as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Let us never lose sight of the administration of the grace of God given to us. Freely we have received - Freely give!