I realized something new when our KFMI Director for Operations in Africa, called me late one night. Earlier that afternoon I had been due to link up by satellite to teach a live session during an all night prayer assembly of 86 pastors in Kenya. In the middle of opening the event, the electrical power in the city crashed! They prayed fervently, and after a disconcerting length of time, power was restored shortly before I was due to teach.
Our Director, Pastor John, said that the devil could not win against something ordained by God. Yes and Amen!
His comment got me thinking. I began to think about why it is that satan cannot hinder God’s declared purposes. I am not talking about the Godly desires we all pray for. I am talking about specific revelation from God. Satan cannot stop what God ordains.
I thought of Jesus' declaration that the gates of hell could not prevail against revelation such as had just been given to Peter in Matthew 16:17-19:
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The rock in verse 18 is not Peter. Jesus is saying that the rock is revelation like Peter had just spoken, that was given to him by the Father. A church built (and operating) on revelation is what the gates of hell cannot prevail against!
I thought about the angel Gabriel who answered Mary that no rhema is impossible with God, in Luke 1:37.
For with God nothing (lit. “no rhema speaking,” i.e. no revelation from God) shall be impossible.
I realized by the Holy Spirit that this is God's mechanism for the miraculous.
It is why when we enter His rest of Hebrews 4, which is
All of these are describing the place where we dialogue with the Revelation Giver. He is the same who declared that man shall not live by bread alone but by every rhema speaking word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
Once given, the rhema revelation received is guaranteed when it is obeyed. Get revelation from the time you spend alone with Christ and with the Father, and obey it. This is the why and the how of ceasing from our works (Hebrews 4:9-11). It is so that Christ can do His!
Hebrews 4:9-11:
(9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
(10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
(11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Allow me to repeat this again:
Once given to you, the rhema revelation received is guaranteed when it is obeyed. You might recall that the great “faith hall of fame” Hebrews 11 chapter (by faith Abraham, by faith Enoch, by faith Noah…) should really be called the great “listening/fellowship hall of fame” chapter.
Why? Because a careful reading of this chapter shows that before each of their exploits was a revelation from God, all based on the fellowship they kept with Him. Faith is acting on revelation received, just as Romans 10:17 declares:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word [rhema = speaking] of God [lit. Christos in many common Greek texts such as: Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Alford, Wescott & Hort].
So, rhema speaking/revelation from God is cultivated from that marvelous place of rest in His presence. And when that rhema contains an assignment, we obey it. Obedience to revelation rhema is the why and the how of ceasing from our works (Hebrews 4). Christ accomplishes amazing things through us when we cease from interfering with our soulish “yes but…” reasoned unbelief and simply rest in His presence, listen to Him and obey what He says!
This is why Jesus declared that He could do nothing of Himself (John 5:19-21, 30). Why? Precisely because Jesus did as we are to do – listen and obey the Father’s voice.
We enter this rest in the spiritual rest of relationship with Jesus Christ and with our heavenly Father. In this place of rest, we receive stunning rhema revelation. Once given, that revelation from God is guaranteed when it is obeyed. Revelation is ascertained. It is not analyzed. And no rhema is impossible!
This is the why and the how of ceasing from our works. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) is waiting to express Himself through you and me!
It does not matter who the players are because, like Jesus, each of us is to make ourselves of no reputation. What does matter is that we learn how to enter His rest, and then receive and act upon the rhema words that He will speak to us from the throne of God regularly and consistently. Hebrews 12:25 and 1:3 give insight into the fact that He is speaking rhema constantly to us. Our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are streaming live to us all the time!
So this is God’s mechanism for miracles: hear His voice, and obey it. Even 25 years out, Abraham finally obeyed and God produced His promised seed through Abraham and Sarai despite their advanced age (Romans 4:13-22). When God gives a rhema word, it is a miracle done once we believe and act upon it. Glory to God in the Highest!
It should not be at all surprising that the word for obedience, akouo, literally means to hear and to hearken, i.e. to listen and obey. Jesus’s entire ministry was to listen to the Father and obey.
Hebrews 5:8-9:
(8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience (akouo, to listen and obey) by the things which he suffered;
(9) And being made perfect [teleios = complete], he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey (akouo, to listen and obey) him;
How marvelous to understand how to walk in the supernatural realm of miracles. We are to simply posture our hearts in throne room presence of God, the sanctuary wherein Jesus is the minister (Hebrews 8:2), entering His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
We linger in His presence, we converse with Him and He with us. In our daily dialogue, i.e. our daily gathering of manna, He gives us wonderful assignments and wisdom for our day.
Such is the substance of miracles because God always performs His written and His rhema word.
How great is our God!
This article was adapted from chapter 20, "Working of Miracles" in a book by Dr. Paul entitled, Acts 29 Teacher's Guide.
This book is part of the curriculum for pastors in the KFMI School of Ministry, and is available in our bookstore.
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