New Covenant Grace

Boldly Proclaiming GRACE to the Nations!

Category Archives: Authority

Defeating The devil

Through Adam’s submission to satan, he became a slave to satan’s devices and by implication allowed satan to become ruler of the earth. That which we allow ourselves to be overcome by, becomes our master: [2 Pet 2:19b ...for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage] and also [Rom 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?].

This is how satan managed to stand in heaven before God in the book of Job: [Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it”]. Adam was a son of God, but through his act of disobedience surrendered that position of authority to satan, who legally became the ruler of this world as even conceded by Jesus: [John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me].

The devil tried the same tactics with Jesus as what he did with Adam. Remember how satan made Adam and Eve question whether they were really like God, when in fact they were already created in God’s image? [Gen 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil]. In exactly the same way satan asked Jesus if He was the Son of God during Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. But unlike Adam, Jesus knew who He was and what was at stake. He knew He had to come and strip satan of his authority as ruler of the earth. Because satan was the ruler of earth’s kingdoms, he could legally entice Jesus to worship him and promise Jesus the kingdoms of the world in return: [Luk 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours”]. Through Adam’s disobedience satan had become the prince of this world and the kingdoms of the world were legally his to give away.

But after defeating the devil at the cross and stripping him of his authority, God reappointed man to the highest position as ruler of the earth (the position that Adam had lost), along with giving believers the authority to trample on satan and his demons: [Luk 10:19 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]. God even went as far as parading the devil and his fallen angels in a humiliating manner before their enemies: [Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross]. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, obedience and consequent death He did what Adam neglected to do: He conquered evil and ruled over the earth, guarding over it and subduing it in the manner God had commanded Adam to do. Jesus Christ destroyed the works of the devil as far as He went, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils and providing for people’s physical needs (such as multiplication of food, obtaining tax money from a fish’s mouth, etc). As a normal man He portrayed to the entire mankind what it can look like to live a life fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Apart from being born from a virgin, Jesus had no other advantages over any other believer. Everything He did, all the miracles and wonders, He did as a normal man through the power of the Holy Spirit, just like the rest of us: [Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross]. Jesus became the last Adam, the One who restored mankind’s lost authority and restored God’s children to unhindered, unbroken fellowship with the Father. Death came through Adam’s disobedience, but life came through Christ’s obedience. [1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive] and also [Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous].

Now this naturally poses the following question: If the enemy has already been defeated, why is he still causing so much havoc in the world? Why are there so many wars and diseases; why all the violence and poverty? Why are people suffering and dying by the millions daily? Because just like Adam, we are not doing our job in guarding the earth properly. The devil was stripped of his authority over 2000 years ago and the only authority that he now has is an illegitimate authority. He poses as an intimidating and powerful adversary when in fact he has no right to steal, kill and destroy anymore! That is why it is so simple to evict demons and infirmities from people’s bodies and lives, because the faith accompanied mention of the Name that destroyed them is enough to make them shiver and leave at once.

Another important factor is that God does not impose His will on mankind. Just like any love relationship between two people can only be truly beautiful when it exists as a result of the free will of both parties, in the same manner God wishes for our affection from within our own free will. He did not create dummies or robots to control. If God really wanted to stop Adam from eating that fruit in the Garden of Eden, the Spirit of God inside Adam could have easily hit the fruit out of Adam’s hand. But that would have violated God’s permissible will which allows mankind to make its own free choices.

It is therefore simple to see that God relies on His children to enforce His kingdom in the earth – we are His hands and feet! Let us therefore take up the authority which we have been given and rule the earth like we are supposed to. Let’s stop this defeated adversary in his tracks and do away with the suffering and harm he causes. Christ in us is the hope of glory!

Yours in Grace
Andre van der Merwe

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Don’t Ask God for What You Already Have

[John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace].

A predominant doctrine doing the rounds in the church today is the fact that we have to keep asking God to give us more anointing, more power, more boldness, etc. to serve better and be more effective for God. And yet when we look at what Scripture says, we are told again and again that we have already been given EVERYTHING we will ever need, pertaining to life (which talks about our physical needs) and godliness (talking about our spirituality). [2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness].

You will find that most mainstream church leaders are rejecting & opposing this theology because it takes the blame off God (for all the things He DOESN’T do for us) and it puts the responsibility squarely back on the believer to go out and do what God commanded us to do in the first place: [Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give]. Note that Jesus didn’t say we should pray for the sick, He commanded us to HEAL them! This clearly puts the responsibility on the believer, whereas simply “praying for the sick” puts the responsibility on God. Under the Old Covenant God fought for us – under the New Covenant He fights through us.

[John 14:12 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]. Now consider this: Do you think that Jesus would have made this statement if He didn’t mean it? Would He have said this if He knew we would never be able to do the works He did, thereby making Him a liar? Of course not. Jesus would never make a promise like this and then leave the church short changed & unequipped to do what He commanded them.

Now I am not speaking as one who claims to be moving at the level of signs & wonders that Jesus did, but I have definitely made the shift in my mind that if the person I have prayed for didn’t get healed, I know the blockage and the problem is with me and not with God! The same principle goes for this verse: [Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me]. If I am not seeing this manifest in my life yet, then maybe it’s time I stopped blaming God for what’s going on in the world, stopped asking God “why me?” and stopped asking Him to give me more boldness, more power, more anointing etc and started to realize and use what I have ALREADY BEEN GIVEN. It is important to realize that at this very moment the Holy Spirit dwells in us in fullness, which means all His power, His nature & His character resides within us. [Col 2:9 For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power].

The greatest obstacle is NOT knowing what we already have! [Philemon 1:6 That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus]. We will become more effective in communicating our faith (this includes healing, deliverance, provision, etc) when we begin to acknowledge that which is already inside us. If God has commanded us to rule the earth, and given us EVERYTHING that pertains to life & godliness (see 2 Pet 1:3 again), then by saying we want “more” power, “more” faith, “more” anointing, etc. we are basically telling God He HASN’T given us everything. No, we discover what God has already given us by getting to know Him better. [2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness].

Many of the songs we sing in church tell God how thirsty and how hungry we are and that He should come and fill us and let His water flow over us. In the following 2 verses Jesus is talking SPECIFICALLY about salvation, and He says that whosoever comes to Him (which means to receive salvation for the first time), such shall never hunger or thirst again. [John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life]. [John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst]. Whilst there is nothing wrong with being passionate for God and seeking after Him more and more, there is definitely something wrong with telling Him that the reason we are not moving in signs & wonders is because He hasn’t equipped us! The truth is that acknowledging any form of “lack” in what God has given us, is actually an insult against the cross. If we tell God that we are thirsty for Him, well then maybe we should get saved and receive the Holy Spirit so that we will never hunger or thirst again. [Matt 5:6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled]. Once you receive the righteousness of God as a gift (when you are saved), you ARE filled!

Almost all the times the apostle Paul prayed for “more”, he was talking about knowing God better & having more revelation of what we HAVE BEEN given (Col 1:9, Eph 3:19, etc).

Now you may be thinking: “But we are sincere when we sing these words to God (that we are hungry & thirsty), and He would still honor our sincerity.” But have you considered that many people in this world who believe they are sincere, are sincerely wrong? Being sincere doesn’t make it right, and God wants us to worship Him in Spirit and in TRUTH. Muslims & Satanists are also sincere in what they believe.

If you’ve managed to keep reading this article up to here, it means you are probably looking for truth on this matter. The key is simply to make the shift in our minds and to decide to live FROM our position of victory, living from the inside out. We need to let what’s inside us flow out to change the world around us. [Col 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory]. When the world begins to see Jesus living through us, they will not be able to deny the authenticity of the love and power flowing from the lives of God’s children. And it all begins with acknowledging what we have ALREADY been given: Fullness in Christ!! Amen!!!

Yours in Grace
Andre van der Merwe

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Does God Cause / Allow Sickness?

[Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed].

At the cross Jesus was made to be sin for us (even though He had no sin), so that we can become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21). At the very same cross He was also made our sickness & disease so that we can walk in complete health and administer divine healing to all those people who are afflicted with infirmities. People who question that it’s God’s will to heal the diseases of ALL people should therefore also question that it’s God’s will to forgive the sins of ALL people.

Do you think there is any sickness in Heaven? No. Sickness is so foreign to God’s holy perfect nature, that if He were to touch for example a lump of cancer, it would instantly disintegrate into nothingness. Sickness can not co-exist in the presence of God. Jesus died so that we could walk in perfect health!! He bore our infirmities and by His stripes we were healed (1 Pet 2:24)!! So if He did all this for us, we should then ask why would He still make us sick and thereby cancel/void the work of the cross? Does God have a split personality? Is He double minded? Of course not.

No, sometimes sickness comes on believers because we allow it. God gave all authority on earth to mankind, we were told to rule the earth [Gen 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth”]. Jesus came 2000 years ago to restore the authority that God gave to mankind, but which was lost by Adam in the Garden of Eden. Jesus took back this authority from the devil and disarmed him completely, and gave this authority back to the church. And Jesus also gave specific commands regarding healing: [Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give].

Did Jesus say “pray for the sick?” No! He said “heal the sick”. Now why would Jesus tell us to do something if it would be impossible for us to do it?

Right now, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. What is He doing there? [Heb 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool]. Jesus is waiting for you and I to step into what we were called to be: Ambassadors of His kingdom clothed with the presence and authority of our King. By administrating God’s healing to people’s diseases, casting out demons and advancing His kingdom, we are making the devil God’s footstool.

The world is also waiting for something. [Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God]. From these verses we can see that creation is waiting for the sons of God to be made manifest in the earth. Until the day we, as the church, begin to step out and start bringing heaven to earth through faith, this world will be subject to frustration. The sons of God are you and me. [Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus]. Also see, Gal 4:6 & Heb 12:7). We walk in His calling as sons of God when we allow the mighty Holy Spirit to work though us to bring heaven’s influence into the earth. [Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God].

God does NOT use sickness to test our character or to bring Himself glory. It is God’s will for ALL to be healed. Sickness, depression & death are all from the enemy, but health, joy & life are gifts from God. [Jam 1:7 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]. God doesn’t need to “test” the faithfulness of anybody’s heart with sickness, because God has already approved of us – He is perfectly pleased with us through the obedience of His Son Jesus on our behalf.

Yours in Grace
Andre van der Merwe

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