Luke 24 Be Spirit-filled, know the risen Lord!

Fear and unbelief cripple and hold one's mind in captivity, and can only be overcome and set free when we receive the power from above, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, that only Jesus can give. (Matthew 3:11). The Holy Spirit anointing breaks the yoke and bondage of the spiritual oppression. (Isaiah 10:27)

Luke 24 records the resurrected Jesus revealing himself as a physical as well as spiritual reality to His disciples. His crucifixion, death on the cross and burial deeply affected His followers, including His closest disciples (and apostles). He knew all about this. Note the words He uses to describe their feelings and responses at this time:

1. unbelief: because they find it hard to believe in God's words, including all the prophecies about Jesus.
2. fear and doubt: because they did not believe in resurrection just as God has promised.

We read some verses quoted from Luke 24 to see the reactions of the disciples of Jesus:

Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”

35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.

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What is the solution given by Jesus to bring them out of this defeated mental and emotional state? Note what Jesus says, He repeated the words about Him, the message of the Good News, they are to be His witnesses to the world. Lastly He told them one essential key to overcome their fear and unbelief: He will give them the Holy Spirit, the power from above! (In church history, this has come true. The disciples of Jesus were filled with supernatural power, preaching the Good News, bringing healing and salvation to many, accompanied with signs and wonders.)

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,[f] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

end times church count down: And that very hour He cured many

Luke 7:21

And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

Luke 7:20-22 (in Context)  Luke 7 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

John 4:21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:20-22 (in Context)  John 4 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 4:22-24 (in Context)  John 4 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Matthew 20:12

saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’

Matthew 20:11-13 (in Context)  Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Matthew 24:36

[ No One Knows the Day or Hour ] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Matthew 24:35-37 (in Context)  Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Luke 12:40

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Luke 12:39-41 (in Context)  Luke 12 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Matthew 26:40

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?

Matthew 26:39-41 (in Context)  Matthew 26 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Mark 13:32

[ No One Knows the Day or Hour ] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mark 13:31-33 (in Context)  Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Mark 14:37

Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

Mark 14:36-38 (in Context)  Mark 14 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

John 7:30

Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 7:29-31 (in Context)  John 7 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

John 8:20

These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

John 8:19-21 (in Context)  John 8 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

John 12:23

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

John 12:22-24 (in Context)  John 12 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Revelation 3:3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Revelation 3:2-4 (in Context)  Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Revelation 3:10

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 3:9-11 (in Context)  Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

• Revelation 8:1
  [ Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets ] When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
  Revelation 8:1-3 (in Context)  Revelation 8 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations
• Revelation 9:15
  So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
  Revelation 9:14-16 (in Context)  Revelation 9 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Revelation 11:13
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11:12-14 (in Context)  Revelation 11 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Revelation 14:7

saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Revelation 14:6-8 (in Context)  Revelation 14 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

Revelation 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Revelation 17:11-13 (in Context)  Revelation 17 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations

• Revelation 18:10
  standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
  Revelation 18:9-11 (in Context)  Revelation 18 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations
• Revelation 18:17
  For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance
  Revelation 18:16-18 (in Context)  Revelation 18 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations
• Revelation 18:19
  “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’  Revelation 18:18-20 (in Context)  Revelation 18 (Whole Chapter)  Other Translations   

concluding words from an apostle: our conscience is clear, our strength comes from God’s grace

Hebrews 13

New Living Translation (NLT)

Concluding Words

13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.² Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³ Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
⁴ Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.     I will never abandon you.”

⁶ So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,     so I will have no fear.     What can mere people do to me?”

⁷ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
¹⁰ We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. ¹² So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. ¹³ So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴ For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
¹⁵ Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
¹⁸ Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. ¹⁹ And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace—     who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep,     and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— ²¹ may he equip you with all you need     for doing his will. May he produce in you,     through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.     All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

²² I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
²³ I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.
²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
²⁵ May God’s grace be with you all.

____________Verse of the Day
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!        2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
 

All about "ground" : what have you given in to the enemy?

“War On The Saints” - Summary of "Ground” （领域；地盘；滋生地）
by Penn-Lewis (宾师母）

Evil spirits must have ground: p. 54.
Degree of ground for possession cannot be defined. p. 94.
Ground can be deepened. pp. 95, 161.
Cannot interfere with faculties unless ground given. p. 154.
They deceive and attack to obtain ground. p. 199.

The ground given to evil spirit for access: mind
Every thought accepted from them. pp. 69, 155, 156, 158.
Wrong conceptions suggested by them, of spirit things. p. 160.
Wrong interpretation of their workings, by believing their lies. pp. 94, 175, 176.
spirit, soul, and |body | Passivity of spirit, soul or body. pp. 70, 72, 86, 118, 122, 149, 172.
Accepting of counterfeits. p. 69.

Note: (a) The fallen nature is permanent ground, needing to be dealt with perpetually on the basis of Rom. 6. pp. 187, 188.
(b) Acts of sin may also give ground. pp. 94, 95.

Results of ground given: Faculties dulled, rendered inoperative, etc. pp. 118, 175.
How ground is given to e.s.: By CONSENT, i.e., act of will consciously; deliberately given, or obtained by guile. pp. 101, 111, 242, 243.
Col. List II, p. 102.

How ground has to be dealt with:
Must be found out and given up, i.e., give up "thought," or "passivity," etc. p. 93.
Light on ground obtained by prayer. pp. 111, 190.

1. Knowledge of ground, and ground given up. pp. 189, 190. Example: p. 192.
2. Must face truth about ground. p. 183.
3. Ground must be discovered in detail for full dis-possession from e.s. pp. 192, 193.
4. Ground given up specifically on points wherein deceived. p. 190.
5. Ground traced to radical cause, i.e., thought and belief. Example: p. 192.

N.B. "Ground" cannot be cast out. p. 180.

How ground is removed or given up:

1. By revoking consent given in the past, knowingly or unknowingly, i.e. by steady refusal. pp. 190, 193, 198, 200, 242.
2. Persistent refusal needed until liberty is obtained. p. 193.

Ground may pass away gradually. p. 200.
Ground may pass away unknowingly by standing on Rom. 6. p. 95.

Why ground does not pass away when given up. pp. 192, 193.
How dispossession takes place:
As ground is removed the evil spirit depart, or lose hold. p. 111.
Believer dispossessed as ground passes away, i.e., wrong thoughts, passivity, etc. pp. 190, 193.
Faculties gradually released as ground is given up. p. 193. Example: p. 192.
Ground refused to evil spirit. is ground retaken for God, e.g., faculties surrendered to evil spirit when released are recovered for God. pp. 190, 193.
Need of watching lest fresh ground given. pp. 190, 191.
In conflict, because of evil spirit reattempt to deceive, and re-enter, need of watchful and exhaustive refusal. pp. 241-249.

EXPLANATIONS
Ground to be given up: e.g., a thought or belief discovered as deception, and "given up."
Ground which admits evil spirit keeps evil spirit in possession: e.g., evil spirit works on passivity which is ground for them to work upon. If not removed keeps evil spirit in possession.
Ground to be re-taken from the foe: e.g., the faculties recovered for use. p. 190.
Ground newly given: e.g., a new deception through believing one of evil spirit lies.

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Notes. All supernatural manifestations by evil spirit in believer denote that there is ground for their workings. See pp. 149, 154, 273, 274.
The believer fighting to freedom, must watch lest new ground is given by wrong interpretation of manifestations of evil spirit p. 175. See Tables on p. 176.
Need of watchfulness against "excuses" suggested by evil spirit to cover ground, or divert dealing with it. p. 175.
For further knowledge of "ground" see Column Lists pp. 102, 184.

Living by the Spirit: reality check list

Today we do a check list. Do we fit into the following God’s words? Do your own checking. All these words were spoken by Jesus, who Himself was the Word who became flesh and came and fulfill God’s words.

1. born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5
2. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24
3. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
4. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. John 7:38 (by this He spoke concerning the Spirit. 7:39)
5. I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him (the Father in heaven); I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things; and He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him. John 8:26-29 The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. John 14:10
6. If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32
7. be My disciples: deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Me. Luke 9:23-25
8. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him. Luke 8:18 My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. Luke 8:21
9. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
10. …how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Luke 11:13b
11. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
12. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things I said to you. He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. John 14:12-26; 16:12-15

Here are some of the testimonies of the Apostles themselves:
John’s witness:

1. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17
2. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1 John 2:20 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 2:27 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 4:13 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 3:8b

Paul’s witness:

1. No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. We have received the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. We have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16
2. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 8:14 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 8:16 Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know all things work together for good to those who love God , to those who are the called according to His purpose. 8:27-28

James’ witness:

1. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth…therefore..receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:17-18, 21-22
2. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders…and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:13-15

Peter’s witness:

1. You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…having been born again, not of corruptible seed bu incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 1 Peter 1:22-23
2. To those who have received like precious faith with us…grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:1-4

Jude’s witness:

1.  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3
2. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20
   

Jesus’ witness: Revelation 22:7

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”