Understanding the Whole Armor of God

Let us recapitulate what we have discussed in our introductory messages concerning Spiritual Warfare (Satan's Dwelling Place; The Authority of Satan; The Army and the Bride). As representatives of God's Kingdom here on earth, all believers are involved in an all-out war with a highly organized opposing kingdom ruled by Satan. This is a kingdom of evil spirit beings (persons without bodies) whose headquarters (dwelling place) are in the heavenlies.

The Battle ground on which this war is being fought is the minds of humanity. Satan has built up strongholds of prejudice and unbelief in the minds of the members of the human race to keep them from receiving the truth of the Gospel. Our God-given task is to break down these mental strongholds, thus releasing men and women from Satan's deception, and then bring them into submission and obedience to Christ.

Our ability to achieve this God-given task depends mainly upon two factors. First, that we see clearly from Scripture that on the cross Jesus totally defeated Satan on our behalf and that it is now our responsibility to demonstrate and administer the victory that Jesus has already won. Second, that we make proper use of the necessary spiritual weapons which God has provided us. These spiritual weapons fall into two main categories: Weapons of defense and weapons of attack.

Weapons of Defense and weapons of Attack

Paul said, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ..." (Eph. 6:10 - 17, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:


1. The reason why we must put on the whole armor of God is to enable us to stand against the wiles of the devil.


2. The whole armor of God is a spiritual armor because our enemies are not flesh and blood, but are spiritual enemies - Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


3. Paul emphasized the importance of the "whole armor of God". He mentioned it twice.


4. Another reason why we must put on the whole armor of God is to enable us to withstand the "evil day".


5. In the context, I believe the "evil day" does not mean the Great Tribulation or some prophetic disaster that is going to come on the world (although I do believe there may be such disasters). It refers to something that every Christian will go through. A time will come when the Christian has to confront the forces of evil when his faith is going to be challenged, when every kind of opposition and problem will be let loose against him. Paul did not question that we would have to face the evil day - it is not an option and it is a certainty. Some of us facing the evil day now! Because we will not escape the evil day, we have to be prepared to go through it. It the light of what Paul said, we have to put on the whole armor of God.


6. Paul took his picture from a Roman legionary of his day and listed six pieces of equipment that a legionary would normally wear:

1. The girdle (or belt) of truth
2. The breastplate of righteousness
3. The shoes of the preparation of the Gospel
4. The shield of faith
5. The helmet of salvation
6. The sword of the Spirit

If we put on all these six pieces of equipment, we will be fully protected from the crown of our head to the soles of our feet with one exception - there is no protection for the back.

My next message, the Lord willing, will discuss in some details, each of these pieces of equipment. In the meantime let us look at what the Scripture says about the first Person who wore the armor of God and became the Whole Armor of God!

A Prophetic Word from Isaiah about Jesus

There is a prophetic word from Isaiah about Jesus. He was the first one to wear the "armor of God" described by Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians.

"He (the Lord) saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therfore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak" (Isaiah 59:16, 17, emphasis added).

I believe Jesus needed the armor of God because He had divested Himself of His heavenly privileges and was living out His life on the earth in human, bodily form, encountering the same type of circumstnces and situations that you and I are facing today. As a man, Jesus chose to be clothed with the armor of God in order to live out His life in obedience and victory on the earth. How much more so, then, do you and I need this same armor?

Jesus is the Whole Armor of God

Not only Jesus wore the armor of God, He was (and is) also the Whole Armor of God!

Paul said, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:14).

In my opinion, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ means to take Him as a pattern and guide, to imitate his example, to obey His precepts and to be like Him.

Jesus is our truth (The belt of truth)

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No oe comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

Jesus is our righteousness (The breastplate of righteousness)

The Lord said, "In His (Jesus') days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jeremiah 23:6).

Jesus is our peace (The Gospel of peace)

Paul said, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ..."(Eph. 2:14).

Jesus is the author of our faith (The shield of faith)

The writer of Hebrews said, "... looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus is the Rock of our salvation (The helmet of salvation)

The psalmist said, "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation" (Ps. 95:1).

Jesus is the Word of God (The sword of the Spirit)

John, talking about Jesus, said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1, 2).

Putting on the "whole armor of God", then, is in reality putting on the "whole of Jesus". It is appropriating who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us. We need to put on Jesus so that He can work, in and through our lives. We have Jesus in us, Jesus works through us, because Jesus is for us.

Therefore, when we are born again we have our armor on. Conversely, when we are not born again we are not equipped to do any Spiritual battle. Although we are born again believers in Christ and Christ is our whole armor of God, we still have to make our armor effective as weapons of defense. This is how we do it:

By praying always

The final word in this passage from Ephesians following "the sword of the Spirit" is:

"Praying always with all prayer and suppliction in the Spirit, ..." (Eph. 6:18).

The above suggests we put on the whole armor of God by "all prayer and supplication in the Spirit". Basically, "prayer" means asking and entreating God, while "supplication" simply means desperately calling out to God for mercy.

We are to pray with all types of prayer in understanding (in English ory any known language) and of the Spirit (in an unknown tongue). Since we are to "pray always", which also means we have to put on the whole armor of God always - or at least on a daily basis.

This will enable us and empower us to walk in victory every day. I believe the devil is laughing because many Christians are walking without their spiritual clothes on. Can you imagine a young soldier going off to war wearing his pajamas; or a marine storming the enemy's beach in his swimsuit?

As the Lord's army we dare not be that casual or foolish either, as we prepare for battle in the spiritual realm.

Peter said, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, ..." (1 Peter 5:8, 9).

We are to be sober, be vigilant, be watchful and be on guard. We resist the devil by standing steadfastly on our faith. Never allow ourselves to be moved from our position of strength in the Lord's might. Be fully dressed for battle. Have our shield in the "ready" position. Have your hands firmly clasped on the sword and be prepared to march into battle!

Receiving God's Kingdom by force

Jesus said, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

Jesus also said, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).

There is an apparent paradox here - God wants to give us the Kingdom and yet, at the same time, the Kingdom can only be taken (by us) by force. I believe there is only one way to receive what God wants to give, and that is by force - not force over men, not force over religious institutions, not force over denomination affiliation. Why? God expects us to take the Kingdom He has for us by using an all-out force over our enemy - evil spiritual power, principalities and rulers of darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12). Someone is trying to keep you from receiving the Kingdom that God wants you to receive, and force is required to overcome that enemy! That is the reason of Spiritual Warfare!

Walking in Victory

The days are over for complacent Christians, living some nice little life, going to Church on Sunday morning (or any time and day of the week), listening to a "good" sermon, giving a good testimoy on how the Lord has blessed him, but not having any apparent struggles with forces of darkness. I wonder why you don't encounter much Warfare praying in prayer meetings in the Local Church today. But one thing I know is that the devil has a plan for your life and it is a lousy one! It is one that is meant for your despair, sickness, death and destruction. He has a terrible plan for breakdowns in you life - your family, your finance, your job, your ministry and your Church.

Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Therefore you will either walk in victory or you will have demons hanging all over you and your family. You will either be an overcomer or you will be overcome. You will either be in the winner's circle or you will be utterly wiped out. So the time has come to stand tall, clothed with the whole armor of God, and move forward and to be committed to fighting the good fight, to the end!

Understanding the Blood Covenant

The Bible is made up of two covenants called the Old Testament and the New Testament. "Testament" means "covenant". All of God's dealings with men have revolved around these two covenants. The entire redemptive plan of God hinges upon them. God established the first with Abraham, and the second covenant He established with Jesus. The word "covenant" comes from the Hebrew word "bawraw" which means "to cut". This suggests there is a flow of blood. Therefore both covenants were established with blood.

The Significance of the Blood Covenant

History tells us that primitive people from the beginning of time have practiced blood covenants in some form. They were common among the Indian tribes of America, and the custom is still practiced in many parts of the world today.

There are many reasons for a blood covenant. To those who practice it, there is no covenant more sacred. In a partnership, it is used to make sure that neither partner will take advantage of the other. Between friends, it is a symbol of love, devotion, and loyalty.

The covenant between Stanley and the chieftain

Henry Stanley, and explorer, went to search for David Livingstone, the first missionary to Africa, who overstayed his time in the jungles. Stanley's interpreter told him he need to cut a covenant with those hostile tribes for the sake of their own safety.

The chieftain of the tribe chose a substitute to represent him and Stanley chose his interpreter to be his substitute. These two substitutes came together before a priest who cut the wrist of each one just enough to drip a few drops of their blood into a glass of wine. The wine was stirred and the bloods mixed and both of them drank part of it, thereby both parties were sealed in a blood covenant. Stanley and the chieftain became blood brothers. The main significance was that what belongs to Stanley belongs to the chieftain and vice versa. It was a perpetual covenant that could not be broken.

God's Covenant with Adam and Eve

When God created Adam, he was a perfect being. He had a magnificent mind that enabled him to name every animal and also to remember their names. Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with God. He walked with them in the cool of the day. They had perfect fellowship, and they knew God intimately.

But the serpent was lurking in the garden and he deceived Eve and she ate the fruit of the tree (of "knowing good and evil") in the midst of the garden and she also gave some to Adam (Gen. 3:1 - 6).

When Adam and his wife yielded to the snare of Satan, the Scripture says, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings" (Gen. 3:7, NKJV, emphasis added).

The fact that they even tried to make clothes for themselves showed that they realized their need of a covering.

I believe the instant they yielded to temptation they lost God's consciousness and gained self-consciousness. In other words, their spirits were "dead" and they were unable to relate to God and know Him intimately. They were led by their soul life - intellect, will and emotion (Refer to my earlier message, "The Spirit, Soul, and Body of Man"). They had run from the presence of God and had lost His glory. They were naked and ashamed, attempting to cover themselves with leaves.

Then God did something marvelous. He initiated the first blood sacrifice.

"Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21).

I believe the animal had just been slain and that the skins were still bloody when God used them to cover Adam and Eve. This was the first Blood Covenant, initiated by God, between Himself and man. Notice that God's first sacrifice covered Adam and Eve's sin with the blood of animanls. It did not take away their sin; but merely covered it up. As we will see, His final sacrifice takes away the sins of you and me with the blood of His only begotten Son.

God said, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11).

The word "atonement" is Hebrew is "kaphar" which means "to cover". When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their close communion with God. But through the blood covenant, God was declaring that their sins were atone for. The blood one day (in the New Covenant) would bring back the fellowship and joy.

God's Covenant with Abraham

When God wanted to establish His covenant with man, He had to have a sacrifice to represent Him. God was (and is) a spirit being and so He needed somebody with two physical hands to take Him a sacrifice to be a substitute in His place.

He said to Abraham, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, ...." (Gen. 15:9).

Abraham did as God asked. Then God explained to Abraham how he was to enter into the blood covenant relationship with Him:

"This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of covenant between Me and you" (Gen. 17:10, 11).

The sign of the Abrahamic covenant was circumcision. Notice that God honored the covenant so that, even at his advanced age, Abraham was able to father a child named Isaac.

Abraham's Supreme Test

After the covenant was cut, God decided to test Abraham's allegiance to their covenant relationship.

God said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Gen. 22:1, 2).

God was giving Abraham the supreme test - Whom did he love more, Isaac or God? The next verse said, "So Abraham arose early in the morning ..." - indicating that Abraham never batted an eye but immediately did what God told him to do. I believe when the blood covenant is in effect in your life, and when God tells you to do something, you don't hesitate. You do it immediately!


Abraham had total faith in God for God said, "For in Isaac your seed shall be called" (Gen. 21:12). He believed that "God was able to raise him up, even from the dead" (Heb. 11:19).


In the end, a ram was provided by God for the sacrifice instead of Isaac. God did not require Abraham to sacrifice his son, but He wanted Abraham to be willing to give Him his best.


Abraham was called the friend of God (James 2:23) because God had found a man who kept his Blood Covenant!


God's New Covenant with Jesus


When God cut the Old Covenant He told Abraham to take Him a sacrifice. Later when God was ready to cut the New Covenant, and again He needed a sacrifice - a lamb. John the Baptist said, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).


The Old Covenant was sealed by the blood of Abraham and the sacrificial animal. The New Covenant is sealed "with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).


The first Covenant was imperfect. It did not take away sin; it merely covered it up. It did not give new life; it only gave the promise of it. The Old Covenant was like a promissory note which Christ cashed in on the cross of Calvary!


Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant


God spoke of the promises the New Covenant as taking the place of the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:8 - 12).



".... then He (Jesus) said, 'Behold, I have come to do You will, O God.' He takes away the first that He may establish the second" (Heb. 10:9).


Hebrew 9 clearly says that Christ entered into Heaven to appear before God for us as our Friend. he did not have to offer Himself again and again as the Old Testament high priests did here on earth when they offered animal blood each year. Christ died once and for all, to put away the power of sin forever by dying for us.


Christ was God's Lamb, and through Him God cut an eternal covenant with the human race. Hanging on the cross, suspended between Heaven and earth, Jesus took on Himself all the sins of the world, all the sicknesses, all the diseases, all the sufferings and all the heartbreaks. He experienced the curse and the horror of all these dreadful things for us.


Paul said, "... God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:19).


The good news is not that God will reconcile us, but that He has already reconciled us unto Himself. This is the wonderful message God has given us through the Blood Covenant. When they stabbed Jesus in the side like a heifer, and the blood gushed out, God Himself was cutting an everlasting Covenant with the human race.


The New Covenant is in Jesus


The Old Covenant was in Abraham; the New Covenant is in Jesus. When Abraham was circumcised, he "mingled" his blood with the blood of God's representive - a heifer. Jesus shed His blood on the cross, "mingled" the human and the divine. What God did in the Old Covenant was for the sake of Abraham. What He does for us today, He does it for the sake of His Son Jesus.


It is important to understand that the New Covenant is not in us. It is in Jesus. You see, God did not cut the Covenant with you and me. He cut it with His Son Jesus. All we need to do is, by faith, enter into the Covenant that God cut with His Son! I entered into the Covenant by the circumcision of the heart. I was a lost man. I loved the world because I had an old man living inside me. When I accepted Jesus, I was circumcised in my heart and the old man was cut away!


Salvation actually means entering the New blood Covenant that God the Father made with His Son Jesus Christ. As with all Blood Covenants, this New Covenant demands two-way commitment. If I am a convenant man, God has the right to ask me for anything. And I have the equal right to ask God for anything in prayer. The only condition is that I have to pray according to His will. Under the Old Covenant Abraham was called the friend of God; under the New Covenant all true Christians are called children of God. God demanded the best from Abraham - his son Isaac; He is likely to demand the best from us! That is the price we all have to pay for we are His covenant people.


Understanding the Holy Communion


The Holy Communion is a reminder to the Lord's Covenant people the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord Jesus when God the Father cut the New Blood Covenant with Him. To understand this is of supreme impartance.


Paul said to the Church in Corinth, "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep" (1 Cor. 11:29, 30).


The writer of Hebrews said, "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Heb. 10:29, NKJV, emphasis added).


Therefore, I believe only those who have been circumcised in the heart and those who are able to discern what Jesus had done for us through the Blood Covenant, should partake of the sacrament of the Holy Communion.


A Covenant of love


The Communion also emphasizes our covenant relationship with all of God's covenant people. When you take the communion, not only are you in loving covenant relationship with God but also you are in a loving covenant relationship with all your brothers and sisters in Christ who partake with you.


Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples (My covenant people), if you have love for one another" (John 13:34, 35, emphasis added).


Love is what the Blood Covenant is all about!

The Spirit, Soul, and Body of Man

Before we begin our series of discussion on Spiritual Warfare it is important for us to have a good understanding of how the devil can send his evil spirit to oppress, obsess, and if possible, to possess mankind. And in order to understand how demons and evil spirits can affect mankind, we need to understand the difference between the spirit, soul and body of man. We also need to understand that if you are born again by the Spirit of God (regeneration), your spirit is quickened and made alive by God's Spirit so that demons and evil spirits cannot affect you spirit. They can only trouble your soul and your body, but your spirit will not be touched by the devil because God's Spirit is in you.

Rightly dividing Man

The Bible clearly indicates that God distinguishes the difference between the spirit, soul, and body of man. And yet you do not hear much sound preaching in the Local Church concerning this very importand subject.

Paul said, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23, NKJV, emphasis added).

Paul was writing to Christians in the Church at Thessalonica. This is of great significance because for the born-again Christian his spirit is born again or recreated by the Spirit of God. And so Paul hoped that these Christians would be found blameless at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ if they are able to divide the whole man.

The writer of Hebrews said, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, emphasis added).

It is easy to distinguish between the body and soul of man because that difference is obvious - the body is visible but the soul is invisible. It is difficult to distinguish between a man's soul and his spirit because both are invisible. But the writer of Hebrews tells us only the Word of God can divide between the soul and spirit of man just as it divides joints and marrow of our body.

As you read on you will discover that man is a spirit being; he has a soul and he lives in a body. Very briefly, these are the functions of the spirit, soul and body of man.

1. The spirit of man relates man to the spiritual realm. It give man the ability to know and relate to God (1 Cor. 2:11, 12). Someone said the spirit of man is God conscious. The function of the spirit of the regenerated man is threefold - intuitive knowledge, conscience and communion with God. These three terms will be explained later on.

2. The soul of man relates man to the intellectual and emotional realm. Someone said the soul of man is self conscious. The role of the soul in man is to relate his inner, spiritual being to his body - his outer flesh and blood being. In other words, the soul incarnates man's spiritual life in bodily (material) form and expression. The soul also has a thressfold function - the mind, will and emotions.

3. The body of man relates man to the physical realm. It relates to the world with the five senses. Someone said the body of man is world conscious. It is also the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The Soul of Man

James said, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21, emphasis added).

James wrote his epistle to Christians - to people whose spirits had already been recreated when they were born again. But here James told these born-again believers that their souls were not born again yet; their souls would only be saved after they have the Word of God implanted (rooted or engrafted) in their souls. In other words, the Word of God engrated into the soul of man has the ability and power to change or "save" man's soul.

The saving of the Soul

According to James the implanted Word takes time to be rooted in the soul of man and therefore the saving of man's soul is an ongoing process throughout a person's walk with God.

The word "save" in James 1:21 comes from the Greek word "sozo" which also means to deliver, protect, heal, preserve and make whole. That means as you actively feed on God's Word, it saves, delivers, protects, heals, preserves, and makes whole your soul, which is one of your greatest defenses against Satan. That also means believers themselves have to do something about the saving of their own souls. This is confirmed by both Peter and Paul:

1. Peter wrote to Christians: "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ..." (1 Peter 1:22, 23, emphasis added).

Notice that after having been born again, the soul (mind, will and emotion) of the Christian needs to be purified (saved, renewed, protected, healed, preserved, made well and made whole) through (by receiving and by doing) the Word of God. That is the responsibility of the Christian if he wants to stop Satan from making an inroad to him through his own unsaved soul. As he undergirds his soul with the Word, Satan won't have an open door of access to him.


The major way a believer closes the door to the devil is to get his mind renewed with the Word and by practising the Word.


2. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1, 2, emphasis added).


The mind is a function of a man's soul. The Christian mind needs to be renewed, renovated or to restored. The only way to have the mind renewed is to "present the body as a living sacrifice" to God. God wants submitted bodies and transformed minds. And it is our duty to do that. when our mind is renewed by the Word, our thinking is transformed. When our thinking is transformed, our decision and action are transformed. When our action is transformed we (our entire life) are transformed. The result is the revelation of the perfect will of God. No one knows the perfect will of God without the renewal of the mind. If our mind is not renewed then we are likely to be conformed to the world and as a result we open the door of access to Satan.


The Spirit of Man


The role for the human spirit, restored by the new birth and empowered by the Holy Spirit, is to exercise rule and direction over the soul and, through the soul, over the body. The spirit and soul are immaterial aspects of man: that is, we do not see either of them. We know them only as we experience their functioning. I know my soul, not because I can see it or touch it, but because I am aware of its functioning as mind, emotion and will, In other words, when I put these in action - I think, I feel and I decide, then I am living out of my soul.


God wants us to live out of our regenerated spirit because He wants us to be led by His Spirit as His sons (Romans 8:14). Our spirit, like the soul, also has three different distinct functions:


1. Intuitive knowledge


The first function of the human spirit is knowledge, but it is knowledge of a particular kind. It is direct knowledge that comes intuitively - not as the result of rational, deductive mental process. It is important that we do not confuse this intuitive knowledge with the product of the mind. The apostle Paul puts it clearly:


"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? even so no one knows the things of God except the spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God" (1 Cor. 2:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).


The spiritual truth is, we understand with our mind (soul) but we know with our spirit. It is important to realize that our intuitive knowledge is not infallible because it is the human spirit that receive knowledge. Because we are finite and damaged by sin, we perceive knowledge imperfectly and often misinterpret what we perceived. The accuracy of our knowledge depends on how much we know God! Only Jesus knows God the Father perfectly.


2. Conscience


The second function of the human spirit is conscience. We are all familiar with its operation although we may not have recognized that it is not to be equated with the mind.


Paul said, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled" (Titus 1:15, emphasis added).


Notice that conscience is not a product of the mind. Conscience also is not the voice of God, although the voice of God speaks to our conscience. Conscience has been created with the ability to "see" general moral truths such as honesty and faithfulness. Most people are willing to pay the price of keeping our promise even it is inconvenient to do so because of their conscience.


Understanding conscience


To understand how conscience functions, we must distinguish its form and its content:


1. Form of conscience


This is the same for everybody, regardless of race, sex, age, background or culture. It tells us when we are doing right and when we are doing wrong.


Paul said, "... who (Gentiles) show the work of the law written their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them ..." (Romans 2:15, emphasis added).

Notice that Paul spoke about people (Gentiles) who are not born again.


2. Content of conscience


This is the basis on which conscience makes its judgment. It tells us what is right and what is wrong. But this varies with culture, age, background and learning, so that one man's conscience may condemn him for something that another man's conscience is neutral about, or even approves.


The work of the Holy Spirit


Any troubled or defiled conscience will be dealt with when the Holy Spirit awakens (or quickens) the human spirit which brings conviction of sin that leads to repentance (Hebrews 10:19 - 22).


The conscience of the born-again Christian begins to bear witness, in the Holy Spirit, to the truth of God's Word.


Paul said, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, ..." (Romans 9:1, emphasis added).


3. Communion with the Lord


The third function of the human spirit is communion (communication) with Jesus Christ our Lord.


Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

Worship is only effective if we communicate with the Lord in the Spirit because the Lord is Spirit - and we are also spirit being.


Not only do we communicate with God only with our spirit, but we communicate with one another in the same way. If I do not reach out in my spirit and somehow touch the other person's spirit, there is no real communication between us. I may transmit words and information, that may be understood, but in actual fact there is no real communication between us as persons.


A couple might have been married for years, but don't know how to communicate. It is not that they don't speak to each other. They might have said millions of words, but they failed to communicate; they failed to reach out to each other and touch each other in their spirits!


In our prayer and intercession, if we do not reach out to the people we are praying for in our spirit, there is no real communication and we are just "saying our prayer". And we failed to touch lives. On the other hand, if we reach out to others in our spirit there can be genuine communication even without words at all (Romans 8:26)!


The Body of Man


When you are born again by the Spirit of God, only your spirit is regenerated and redeemed. The new birth is a spiritual rebirth and not a "soulish" rebirth or a physical rebirth. There is no change in your soul or your body. If you were baldheaded before you were born again, you are still baldheaded now. You still sin sometimes when you are tempted. But, the difference is, after rebirth, you have the right spiritual man inside you to control your soul and your body. In other words, you still have your outward man (soul and body) to deal with. You have the power to suppress the desires of your fleshly carnal nature and the power to control your unredeemed soul throughout your Christian walk.


Paul said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest, when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27, emphasis added).


That means Paul didn't let his body do everything it wanted to do, but kept his body under the control and dominion of his recreated spirit. We should do likewise, because this is our major defense against Satan.


James said, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).


When you submit your body to God and don't allow it to do things that are wrong, it's going to be a lot easier for you to resist the devil.

Understanding Revival

Revival is such a vast topic that our discussion needs to be in points form. We shall not discuss anything concerning those great "revivalists" in Church history. Books have been written about the ministries of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney and many others. Neither shall we discuss about the the "great" contemporary revivals (20th Century) - The Welsh Revival (Evan Roberts), Azusa Street (Charles Parham), the Church Renewal Movement, the Healing Revival, the Third Wave, the Charismatic and Pentecostal Movements and many others. We confine our discussion on the characteristics of revivals, the essence of revivals and the lessons learned from past revivals.

Revival is the Work of God

The psalmist said, "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You" (Ps. 85:6, NKJV)?

The word "revive" means "to cause to live". The psalmist cried out to God to recover His people from the condition as a state of death.

Prophet Habakkuk cried out to the Lord, "O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy" (Hab. 3:2).

Men can pray for a revival but we cannot cause a revival. Revival is the work of the Godhead - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. it is His prerogative and He sets the time, period and place!

The Move of the Holy Spirit

There is a great difference between preaching from a source of knowledge and preaching from a well of living water that flows from the throne of God.

That the Lord has chosen men to be His habitation must be one of the great marvels of the creation. But God has also chosen men to do His work, and He often uses just a single individual to ignite a new move of His Holy Spirit.

You don't advertise a fire

A true move of God is not fueled by money, organization or advertising. True revival only comes when the pillar of fire, that is the presence of God Himself, picks up and moves. To try to organize, promote or sell a move of God is profanity in its lowest form!

You can't plan a revival

Broken plans seem to be the hallmark of revivals. Revival is the plan of the Holy Spirit. This does not imply that leadership and organization are not needed in the Church. But when the Spirit is doing something new and fresh, the greatest gift is not knowing how to lead, but knowing how to follow.

Seek the wine, not the wineskin

There does not seem to be a single example in Church history where a wineskin of Church organization was built before the new wine of revival was given. Those who have tried to build the wineskin first have often found themselves out of step and unable to receive the new wine when it came. The Lord has never restricted Himself to move by any predetermined formula. There is one quality common to those who have been mightily used by the Holy Spirit - they were able to hear the sound of the Holy Spirit moving and were willing to move the way that He wanted them to move in a particular time and in a particular place.

The power and the desire of prayer

The first sign of revival is when Christians become aware of the power of prayer. Prayer meeting that had been drudgery before becomes the main attractions not only in the Local Church, but even for entire cities. Meetings swelled until overflowing, both with people and with the anointing. Meetings that are expected to be regular services, quickly become prayer meetings.

Saving of souls

The main focus of prayer for any revival is always for the lost. There can be no revival without soul-winning. Every Christian has a burning agony for the lost. There is no set pattern of strategy for the witnessing; it is simply born out of an overflowing joy and faith that can't be contained in those who know the Savior.


Learn how to carry the Ark

The Ark of the Covenant represented God's presence to the ancient nation of Israel. There are many great lessons in the Old Testament stories of the Ark concerning how we should, and should not, treat the presence of the Lord. When the Ark was treated as holy and was carried before them into battle, great and miraculous victories were won (Josh. 6:4 - 11). When the Ark was not treated as holy, but was used as a good luck charm, they lost the Ark and the battle and it was captured by their enemies (1 Sam. 4:1 - 11).

Pastors and Church leaders must know how to carry the "Ark" of God's presence. They must learn how to remain open and submitted to the Lord's leading and learn how not to offend the Spirit. Those who are used mightily in a revival must not say or do anything that might draw attention to themselves and draw people away from the Lord.

Essential conditions for revival

1. All sin must be confessed to God and repented of. If possible make restitution. The Church has to be cleansed - the Lord's bride must be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:22 - 27), so there would be no room for compromise with sin. If there is anything in our lives about which there is even doubt as to whether it is good or evil - then cast it off!

2. There must be no "cloud" between the believer and God. Have you forgiven everyone? If not, don't expect forgiveness for your own sins. The Scripture is clear, we cannot be forgiven until we have forgiven others (Luke 6:37; 11:4). Unforgiveness separates us from God.

3. We must obey the Holy Spirit. Do what the Spirit prompts you to do. Prompt, implicit, unquestioning obedience to the Holy Spirit is required if we are going to be used by Him.

4. There must be public confessions of Christ as Savior. This is not just a one time incident after our salvation experience of water baptism. For the Christians it is a way of life. There is a difference between confession and profession. Do not be a professing Christian only!

Be sensitive to receive God's messengers

History tells us that many revivals failed to get started because men, overreacting to the selfishly ambitious men, rejected the messengers the Lord sent to them. It is right that we desire to see God receives all the glory, but this does not mean that men should not get any attention or recognition. One of the great ironies of Church history is that those who are the most zealous for seeing that men do not steal God's glory almost never experience a true move of God because they reject the messengers He sends to them. Paul was bold to defend his recognition as an apostle because he could not rightly minister to the Churches unless they recognized the purpose for which he had come to them (1 Cor. 9:1, 2; 2 Cor. 12:12, 13).

We must receive a prophet in the name of a prophet if we are going to receive a prophet's reward (Matt. 10:41). If we receive a prophet as just a brother, we will miss what God could have given us. The same is true of every ministry. We must receive a pastor as a pastor if we are going to receive the reward of his ministry. The same is true true of an apostle, an evangelist or a teacher. We must recognize the gift of God in the messenger to receive the gift that God is sending to us.

To receive the gift of God in another is to recognize the work and purpose of God in them. It takes humility to receive the message of God from another men, especially one that we have known for awhile. It is this humility that God is looking for so that He can trust us with His grace (James 4:6).

It is a natural tendency for the leadership to police the Local Church in order to ensure that others are not exalting themselves. In the eyes of the Lord this is a terribel form of spiritual pride and this often causes us to miss the grace of God by rejecting those that He has sent to us as His divine provision. The apostle Paul commended the Galations for reciving him "as an angel from God" even though his flesh was a trial to them (Gal 4:14).

There is a difference between properly honoring someone and worshipping him.

God uses men

Almost every great revival or move of God, in both Scripture and history, was ignited by a single individual. But none of the revivals were sustained by just one individual believer. There were many others that were used by God to prepare the nation for it, and others who fanned the flames throughout the nation. Notice that it was never the presence of a single individual which brought revival, but the presence of God!

The greatest vessel that the Lord uses is still an "earthen vessel". Once we behold the glory of the Lord the vessel losses our attention. Compared to the Lord Jesus, even the great apostle Paul was a mere man, an empty earthen vessel.

Revival affects the entire Body of Christ

The most significant result of a past revival was that all Church prejudices and denominational barriers completely collapsed as Pastors and believers of all demonminations worshipped the Lord together. The quarrels of local Christians were either forgotten or instantly healed.

One outstanding characteristic of a past revival was the confession of sin, and it swelled over from the unsaved to the saved, who were broken and humbled by the revelation of the cross of Christ. Bitterness and resentment became unthinkable, as they all were compelled to gaze upon the Lord's great mercy and love. This unity was not caused by persecution, but by the glory and presence of the Lord. This became a profound historic example of how all of our individual crowns will be cast to the feet of the Lamb when He enters His Church!

On the negative side, many Pastors and Church leaders quickly burned out by trying to do too much. Consequently, multitudes who were touched by the revival and had a genuine encounter with the Lord were lost again to the world because there were not enough workers to care for them, to help to raise them spiritually. It is hard to take the time to equip other workers and ministries in the heat of a revival. God needs workers who takes time to rest - to enter His rest.

Desperate prayer, supplication and intercession

Deep spiritual awakening or revival, whether in the Local Church or in the whole country, begins with desperate people. Hannah, the prophet Samuel's mother, is a good example of those whom God uses to give birth to His purposes. Hannah became so desperate for a son that she was willing to give that son back to the Lord after she received him. This kind of devotion never fails to move the Lord to respond to His people, and it is what He must see in His people before He can trust them with true revival. When we are willing to give everything that is born back to Him, for His glory, releasing control of it for Him to raise it as He sees fit, we are then ready for revival.

The Scripture has proven over and over that the Lord will answer the prayers of desperate Christians - Christians who are sick of the tired, weary, cold and mechanical and liveless Church "services"; Christians who are heartbroken over the deadness of the Church, over sinners who are eternally lost, and who are desperate about their own spiritual condition.

Prayer brings Brokenness

God cannot use a person who is not broken and completely surrendered to Him. When Jesus met Peter in his fishing boat, Peter had one reaction: He was convinced in his heart, he felt as if he was too sinful for Jesus to be in his boat with him. Having denied Jesus three times, he was broken by the grace and forgiveness of Christ in giving him the opportunity to preach the first sermon in the history of the Church. As a result of Peter's ministry, three thousand came to Christ at the Day of Pentecost. Peter was also used by Christ to open the spiritual door to the Gentile world. God was able to use Peter once he had been broken.


I realize that a lack of brokenness causes a person who is used by God to become proud and arrogant. However, when a man is broken, his heart resists pride. Therefore, he can be used by God to a great degree.


How does brokenness begin? When you come in contact with God in your time of prayer, the first thing you feel in your heart, as you enter into His divine presence, is a realization of your sin. No one can sense pride in the presence of the Holy God. Once you sense your lack of natural qualifications to be in His Holy Presence, you will begin to confess your sin and humble yourself before God. Your immediately reaction is one of brokenness. Brokenness and pride cannot coexist!

Amazingly, as you enter into the Presence, you will be made aware of reactions, attitudes and actions that you may have forgotten. Just as Peter could not bear to have Christ in his boat because of the recognition of his sins, so also, you become aware of your great need before His Holy Presence. The next natural reaction to the Presence is the desire to be forgiven of your sin and to be set free with confession.


Keeping our First Love


Our first love must be for the Lord Himself, and then for His purpose. People can want revival for many different reasons, some of them selfish. Parents who love each other more than they love their children will love their children more than other parents do. If we will love the Lord more than we love His purposes, we will then be able to love His purposes properly without making them idols.


I believe true evangelism and true revival is born out of deep love for the Lord, not just a love for the lost, though that is of course important. Similarly, true prayer and intercession is likewise founded upon a desire to be united with the Lord, not just an effort to get Him to do something for us!


The Lord sees only one Church


Scripture tells us that before the end of this age comes, the Church will be unified. The Lord is returning for a Bride, not a harem! The prayers of Jesus will be answered (John 17).


When the Lord looks down upon the earth He sees only one Church. The many divisions perpetrated upon the Church were divised in hell, not in heaven, and they will be overthrown before the end comes. We must have unity if we are going to be prepared for the great harvest that will mark the end of this age (Mark 13:39).


It is a basic Biblical and historic truth that God does not anoint division. No great revival or move of God has ever emerged from a divided Church!