Iniquity

Iniquity – Psalms 51:1-2Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

The subject of iniquity is seldom discussed in the church.  It’s unfortunate because so many questions can be answered by knowing how iniquity affects our lives emotionally, spiritually and physically.  So many ask this question: Why am I the way I am?  Where did this evil in me come from?  Why is it so hard to control or get rid of?

Iniquity means twisted and distorted.  I refer to it as wickedness.  It is in fact anything that turns away God’s straight and perfect path.  The origin of iniquity was found in the fall of Lucifer.  It happened the moment this archangel, full of beauty and perfection, allowed a thought that was of line with God and stated to believe in something different and opposite of God. (Ezekiel 28:15, 18 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you….You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading…).  This twisted thought that came from Satan produced a spiritual substance which is the origin of evil. 

The words iniquity and evil, are referenced numerous times in the Bible, and are fundamental to understanding the root of the vast majority of problems we suffer.  Evil is the diabolic seed from which all wickedness originates.  It is then transmitted to man in birth, impregnating his heart with thoughts and intensions opposed to righteousness, truth, love, and everything God is.  Iniquity is the sum of all twisted thoughts or the total of all that is evil in mankind.

Iniquity impregnates the spirit of the human being at the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me).  In that very instant all of the spiritual data or spiritual inheritance of evil is established in the person.  Iniquity operates as a “spiritual umbilical cord,” that transmits the spiritual DNA of evil from one generation to the next.  This is how the twisted, sinful legacy of man is imprinted and passed on to his children.  These children in turn will twist it further by their own sins, and thus pass it as a baton of influence and consequences to the subsequent generations. (Judah’s Punishment in Jeremiah 17:1  “The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altar).

Iniquity is what the Bible calls the body of sin. Iniquity has formed part of the spiritual body within man, affecting his behavior, the structure of his thoughts, and even the health of his physical body.  The body of sin originates in the spirit and invades the soul and body.

Iniquity is tied to the spiritual world of darkness, and it is there the devil binds us with the curses from our ancestors.  It is in this place that the legal bases of sickness are rooted and transmitted from the parents to their children and from the children to their grandchildren.  It is also here where Satan’s legal right is granted to rob, to destroy, and even to kill us (John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…).  Our iniquity will constantly prevent us from receiving the fullness of the blessings of God.

This is the main door that the Satan uses to affect a human being’s life whether you are a believer or unbeliever.  It is through iniquity that the evil one permeates a man’s heart in order to inflict all kinds of perverse, sinful, passionate desires.  The inheritance of evil has been transmitted, and it is going to corrupt the souls so that they will desire to do wrong.  It becomes an irresistible force compelling good people to commit abominable sins.  That is why sons of alcoholics, after reaching a certain age, have an uncontrollable desire to drink. Some of them may be sons of Christians or pastor whom, without any apparent reason, begin to develop these sinful inclinations.  The reason is that iniquity has not been uprooted.

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Not only does the devil interfere in man’s life through iniquity, but this is where God will constantly manifest His judgments (1 Peter 4:17   For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?)  Iniquity opposes divine justice by being a twisted form of it.  Therefore, a constant friction with God’s righteousness will occur.  Part of the essence of righteousness is that it judges all that oppose it.  The purpose of God’s judgments is to bring order to everything according to His will and His righteousness.  Understand, that whenever the paths in a person’s life are twisted, judgment will come as a continuous diving action through trials, tribulations, deserts, and others, so as to pull the person back to His divine order.

Exodus 20:5 …For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.

As a side bar to the above scripture; we tend to misunderstand the “iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations.”  This scripture applies to each individual generation.  It can be perpetual going forward and can go all the way back to Adam and Eve.  Some may think that it stops after the fourth generation.  It does not stop unless we cancel the iniquities of the generations.  Why do you think we have so many generations past the fourth generation in bondage to alcohol, disease, sickness, etc.?

Please note that God is not talking to unbelievers, but to His own people.  He is not visiting sin, but iniquity.  Sin is just the fruit of iniquity.  It is the superficial, visible part of something deeply rooted in the human being.  Our sins are the branches of a large tree that grows stronger from generation to generation.  Iniquity is the real root from which all evil inside us merges, and it is there that we must cut it away.

Most believers confess their sins to God, but have never asked Him to blot out their iniquities and trespasses.  For this reason we continue suffering the terrible consequences of financial curses, incurable family sicknesses, divorces, accidents, and tragedies that would never occur with the protection of an omnipotent God.

Although God is merciful and longsuffering, He will not excuse those who are guilty of iniquity, transgressions, and sins.

Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT) The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord!  The God of   compassion and mercy!  I am slow to anger     and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.  I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.  But I do not excuse the guilty.  I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;  the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

A principle we must understand as a source of great release in our life, is that God does not deal with evil and especially iniquity in a generic manner.  He is extremely specific, and so we must respond to the kingdom of darkness.  Most people feel satisfied with general and simple prayers such as “forgive me all my sins from my entire past.”  Although God hears the intention of our heart and forgives us as far as our eternal salvations is concerned, the legal bases in operation are unaffected with generic prayers.

God wants us to examine our hearts, as well as to understand evil and its consequences in the same dimension as He does.  He does not want the devil to have something to use against us.  Jesus died for our complete deliverance, and every part of the cross and His passion is related to the different areas where He paid the price for us so that we might enter into a complete fulfillment in Him.  We did not receive forgiveness for our sins alone.  The cross also represents a comprehensive work in which each part of our spirit, soul , and body are redeemed.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 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 heal.

Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.  When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.  He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.  By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

In these passages, we see how His sacrifice on the cross touches several areas in which we must be set free and redeemed.  A great part of the body of Christ restricts itself to receiving salvation from their sins, but live their lives overwhelmed with emotional and physical pain.  They are trapped in prisons of the soul and the spirit, and above all, suffer the continuous burden of carry their iniquity.

Jesus did a complete work so that we may live a life of fullness in Him.  However, we will never see His total triumph in our lives if we do not understand how we have settled for less in our spirit, soul, and physical being and how the victory of the cross applies to each one of these areas.

The next verse will show the differences between iniquity and sin as descripted in the Old Testament.

Leviticus 16:21  Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.

Again, we see again God specifically cleansing His people through a detailed confession of these three corrupt forms of the human condition.  We must be specific as we bring iniquities, transgressions, and sins to the cross.

It is my prayer that we all take into consideration areas of our life that we need to address.  I hope this gives you some insight on how iniquity can be such a huge hindrance in our lives.  I hope to put together a second part to explain how we can pray away iniquities and break the curses of the generations as time allows.

God’s blessings on you,

Tony Sanchez, 7-12-15

References: NKJV, NLT, and Iniquity by Ana Mendez

Transgression:  Transgression refers to presumptuous sin. It means “to choose to intentionally disobey; willful trespassing.” When we knowingly speed while driving, tell a lie, or blatantly disregard an authority, we are transgressing.  The Bible is our authority and when we choose to disobey His Word, we become transgressors.

Sin:  Sin means “to miss the mark.” It can refer to doing something against God or against a person (Exodus 10:16…“I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you), doing the opposite of what is right, (Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish), doing something that will have negative results (Proverbs 24:33–34 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man), and failing to do something you know is right (James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin). In the Old Testament, God even instituted sacrifices for unintentional sins (Numbers 15:27 And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering ). Sin is the general term for anything that “falls short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God).

1 Peter 4:17   For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

We cannot intentionally be living in violation of God’s will and expect His promises to be fulfilled.

Joy in the Mist of Trials and Tribulation

Greetings,

My wife often wonders why I have peace and joy when at times everything is falling apart around us, our family, and the world. 

 

The message today at church was about the Pursuit of Joy by Pastor George.  The message was based on Philippians and I want to add to the message.

 

Paul most likely wrote the letter to the Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment to thank them for the contribution he had received from them.  While his primary reason for writing the letter was to acknowledge the gifts sent by the Philippians, Paul appealed for a spirit of unity and steadfastness (faithfulness) among them.

 

In many respects, this is the most beautiful of Paul’s letters because it was full of tenderness, warmth, and affection.  His letter is spontaneous, personal, and informal, presenting us with an intimate diary  of Paul’s own spiritual  experiences.  The dominant note throughout the letter is that of extreme joy.  Paul, though a prisoner, was exultantly happy, and called upon his readers to rejoice in Jesus Christ.  To Paul, Jesus Christ was more than an example; Jesus Christ was his very life.

 

The abiding message of Philippians concerns the nature and grounds of Christian joy.  For Paul, true joy is not a surface emotion that depends on favorable circumstances of the moment.  Christian joy is independent of outward conditions, and is possible even in the midst of adverse circumstances, such as suffering and persecution.

 

Joy ultimately arises from fellowship with the risen, glorified Jesus Christ.  Throughout the letter, Paul speaks of joy in the Lord, emphasizing that through Jesus Christ alone is Christian joy realized, as are all other Christian graces.  Essential to this joy is the confident conviction of the lordship of Jesus Christ, based on experience of the power of His Resurrection.  Because of this conviction, life for Paul attained meaning.  Even death became a friend, because it would bring him into a fuller experience of the presence of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better).

 

The joy presented in Philippians involves eager expectation of the near return of the Lord.  This expectation was dominate in Paul’s thinking and is seen in his five references to the return of Jesus Christ.

 

V. 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

V.10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

V. 2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain

V.3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

V. 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

 

Paul further describes a joy that springs from fellowship in the spreading of the gospel.  He begins the letter by thanking the Philippians for their partnership in spreading the gospel through their monetary gifts.  The gifts, however, are only an expression of their spirit of fellowship, or as he puts it in 4:17 CEV “I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving.”  So, Christian joy is an outgrowth of being in the active fellowship of the body of Jesus Christ.

 

Personal Application:  This letter reveals the timeless message that true joy is to be found only in a dynamic personal relationship with Jesus Christ and in the assurance that God is able to turn adverse circumstances to our good and His Glory.  Because Paul was united to Jesus Christ by a living faith, Paul could claim contentment in all circumstances.  Paul’s testimony was “I rejoice…..and I will rejoice” (1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice) and Paul’s unqualified command was “Rejoice…..Again I will say rejoice! (V.4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!).

 

Do not trust in ourselves or anyone else for our peace and joy.  It is necessary to surrender to God, the Son, and to call on the Holy Spirit to help us in our Pursuit of Joy. 

 

Philippians 3:3 (AMP) For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

 

God’s blessings to you all,

 

Tony Sanchez  5-30-15

Altar Call

Greetings,

 

Again, it has been quite a while since I have sent anything out to the group but I want to share a praise report and it ties into an article (attached) I sent to you in January of this year.  But first I want to set it  up with a story in a class I was attending on the Tabernacle about a month ago.  The instructor was talking about the Brazen Altar as being an altar of sacrifice.

 

My thoughts and question was “If the Tabernacle is an altar of sacrifice, why are we not doing the same in the church?”  There are times when I go to the altar during praise and worship to confess my sins, repent, surrender, ask forgiveness, to humble myself, to confess my love for Him, to thank Him, to praise Him, to worship him and to ask the Holy Spirit to be present.  I could not understand why others were not doing the same.  Going to the altar at the end of service was a regular part of the service at a church I attended in the past.  Sometimes, up to twenty percent of the congregation was at the altar.  When the people come to the altar of sacrifice, the Holy Spirit will come and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty).

 

The brazen altar, bronze altar, or altar of sacrifice in the Tabernacle and was situated inside the courtyard upon entering the gate to the tabernacle. The altar was the first piece of furniture the sinner encountered as he passed through the gate on his way to fellowship with, and the worship of, God. The altar was the meeting place for the holy God and the sinner. God came down to meet the sinner where He accepted a substitute for his sin.

 

The brazen altar finds a perfect fulfillment in the work of Christ upon the cross; a further analogy is found in the materials of construction and in the purpose of the brazen altar as compared with the accomplishment of Christ on the cross.

 

The altar was the place of sacrifice, and it foreshadowed the cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for the sins of the world.

 

So the altar was actually a type of Christ, who became the substitute for man’s sin and thus allowed the holy God and sinful man to meet. Even the word ‘altar’ refers to that which is elevated or lifted up. Perhaps this is what Jesus had in mind when He said, ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me’ (John 12:32). As an offering had to be lifted up and placed on the altar, so Christ was lifted up and placed on the cross to die for the world.

 

The altar was the place of substitutionary sacrifices—the place of death. There the blood was poured out, and the body was consumed by fire, which speaks of judgment. The altar in the tabernacle stood between the gate of entrance and the door to fellowship with God. It barred the way so that no approach to God was possible except by the altar.

 

So too, the cross of Christ bars the way to God for every sinner. Those who bypass the cross will never have eternal life and fellowship with God; rather, they will remain in their condemnation.

 

That all must come to God by only one means is clearly evident from what Christ said to Nicodemus: ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3). Because Nicodemus did not understand what He was saying to him, Jesus explained the necessity of spiritual birth. He said, ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3: 6).

 

The cross is the only way of salvation because it was there that Jesus shed His blood for the sin of the world. Hebrews 9:22 clearly states, ‘Without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness)”.  Receiving Jesus Christ as Savior produces the only true foundation in a person’s life.

 

The praise report is an answer to my prayers and I am sure others have prayed for the same.  The church I am attending has set aside a time at the end of service that allows for praise, worship, and an invitation to the altar where there are pastors and prayer teams available to minister to the flock.  This was implemented two weeks ago and I was so excited that I made a beeline to the altar and thanked  God for His grace and mercy.

 

I encourage you all to go to the altar at every opportunity and put aside what people think and focus on what God thinks.  You will honor Him when you present yourself at the altar of sacrifice.

 

Blessings to you all,

 

Tony Sanchez

 

Unbelief

Unbelief – Death and Dumb Spirit By Tony Sanchez

I want to discuss the incredible authority that God wants to release to us as believers in Jesus Christ. This authority not only concerns deliverance from deafness, but it’s also connected to a certain demonic spirit that’s called “the deaf and dumb spirit.” God wants to expose this demon’s characteristics, how it operates and how it influences people, so that we’re equipped to take authority over it and see people set free.  I know this spirit very well because I have seen it manifesting almost every day in a family member for years. Also, I have firsthand experience of this spirit in two different individuals in the Healing Room as well.

OUTWARD SIGNS OF AN INTERNAL PROBLEM

Thinking about the word dumb might bring to mind some embarrassing moments at school when the teacher put us on the spot by asking a question that we couldn’t answer. We might be inclined to describe how we felt by saying, “I felt so stupid!” Or, “I felt so dumb.” But did you know that dumb means lacking the power of speech, mute, silent—Webster’s New World Dictionary. Dumb actually doesn’t mean or have anything to do with stupidity. As well, I want to define the word mute. This means: not speaking; silent; unable to speak; a deaf-mute—Webster’s New World Dictionary. When people are totally deaf they usually don’t speak because they can’t hear themselves or hear others. So they are silent, or mute.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at a story recorded in Mark 9 about a demon- possessed boy. His father brought him to Jesus and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not” Mark 9:17-18. Jesus listened to the father and then He had a few words to say to everyone present, including His disciples; Mark 9:19 He answered him and said, “O faithless (unbelief) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

Before we talk about how Jesus took charge of the situation, I want to say that this poor boy grossly manifested outward signs of an inward problem. He was manifesting a whole lot more than being mute, or silent! The Bible says that he was visibly tormented—being thrown to the ground, foaming at the mouth, gnashing his teeth and becoming rigid (Mark 9:18). We’ll see shortly that Jesus called this tormenter a “deaf and dumb spirit.” God wants us to have victory over this demonic spirit!

HOW THE DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT IS STRENGTHENED

So let’s go back and take a look at the story in Mark 9 in greater detail because we’re going to discover one key sin that empowers the deaf and dumb spirit.

In Mark 9:18 we recall that the father told Jesus that His disciples could not cast the mute spirit out of his son. Now don’t miss this. Jesus responded by rebuking everyone, including the father, because of their unbelief!   He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” (Mark 9:19).

We’re talking about the unbelief of a generation; the spiritual climate of a generation—“O faithless generation.” Even the disciples could not “cure” him. Why? The answer is that even though the disciples had an impartation for healing, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and casting out devils (Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give Matt. 10:8), they could not cure him because the spirit of unbelief was greatly influencing them as well as everyone else in the vicinity.

This unbelief spiritual climate over all the people (in Mark 9) was the same kind that was present when He revisited Nazareth and began teaching in the synagogue. In Nazareth the people took offense at Jesus and so He said, “So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” (Matt. 13:57). The Bible records: “He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).

Remember, when the father brought his son to Jesus the demon began manifesting through the boy, big time. Now Jesus knew, of course, that the spirit of unbelief was also manifesting over the people in a big way, too. But instead of scolding all of them once again for their unbelief, He simply asked the father a question. “How long has this been happening to him?” (Mark 9:21) The father’s answer actually revealed one of the roots to the problem. Here’s the father’s reply: “From childhood (V.21). . . . But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us (v. 22).” Can you see where the battle was being waged? Out of the father’s mouth came the overflow of his heart: “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Although at this point Jesus had the father’s attention. He wanted to accomplish more for the family than just setting this boy free. He wanted the father to believe that it was possible for Him to set his son free, and He wanted to expose something that was hindering the boy’s deliverance. So Jesus, in all kindness, tossed this back to the father: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23)”

Look at what happens next. Jesus’ words touched the father’s heart so deeply that he immediately burst into tears and cried out: “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). The father was in a battle! “I believe. Help my unbelief!” The hindrance of unbelief was exposed! The father’s cry for help was like a confession, and although his unbelief was unintentional, nevertheless it was keeping his son bound to sickness. Now Jesus could rebuke that demon and get the boy set free! With the crowd watching closely, Jesus rebuked that unclean spirit: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” (Mark 9:25).

The Bible tells us that when the demon was cast out, the boy went into terrible convulsions and so the crowd was pretty freaked out. They thought the boy’s body looked like a corpse. Now, that tells us that this deaf and dumb spirit was quite strong. But of course the boy wasn’t dead and Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up. A brand new kid stood to his feet! (Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.”  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:26-27). Unbelief gave strength to the spirit that made the boy deaf, dumb, and mute. We need to realize that the deaf and dumb spirit is strongly connected to unbelief! And the fact of the matter is that unbelief is a major hindrance to all healings! (Later we’ll discover a key that Jesus gave to His disciples to help them overcome the spirit of unbelief so that in the future they could cast it out).

MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT

It’s notable that not only is the spirit of unbelief connected to the deaf and dumb spirit, the spirit of unbelief is also a stronghold over North America and it affects believers on a corporate scale! This corporate unbelief in the body of Christ hinders a demonstration of God’s miracle healing power.  In this country we just don’t see masses of people being healed like we do in Third World countries. In those countries the people are desperate and they want to believe that God will touch them.  We as believers in America are not desperate. It’s obvious that we need the spiritual climate to change.

Remember, the spiritual climate over Nazareth (as in America) was soaked in unbelief. God didn’t want more faith, fasting, power, better preaching, praying for the sick longer, more healing teams, or extended meetings in Nazareth. Rather, the key was this: overcoming the stronghold of unbelief that ruled over the city. Strongholds can rule over a life, a church, a city, a region, and a nation. For instance, there can be a church where heaven is open resulting in miracles, signs and wonders and down the road at another church, the heavens are closed with hardly anyone getting healed except maybe a few. I can tell you that the first church had the Holy Spirit operating in  a mighty way.

The reason that one church had miracles and the other one didn’t was because of two things—the corporate faith and corporate unbelief—that were operating in each church. The heavens can be opened or closed according to corporate faith or according to corporate unbelief. We need to keep this in mind because ultimately, we want to see an open heaven over North America.

Now let’s move on and look at some of the ways that unbelief connects with the deaf and dumb spirit in our culture in North America and how it manifests. First of all, this spirit’s goal and function is to make us (believers) spiritually and physically deaf and dumb so that we cannot hear the voice of God and receive revelation. The way this spirit accomplishes its work is by becoming a stronghold of the mind, better known as a “mindset.”

Strongholds in the mind can manifest in many different ways. (Think about that in the context of our own lives and communities here in North America).  Have you ever wondered why there are so many people, especially children, who have learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, memory conditions, and concentration difficulties? Also what about the people afflicted by spiritual deafness, physical deafness, insanity, and all kinds of conditions of the mind? Some people have a weight, a mental block, when they read the Bible and pray. They can’t get a breakthrough or remember what they’ve read. Or they can’t even focus to read the Bible. There is a spiritual oppression connected to that and it’s a deaf and dumb spirit.

Also, the deaf and dumb spirit affects our ability to understand the Bible.  Also this spirit affects our ability to understand mysteries and to understand, hear and receive spiritual revelation and truth. Believers that are deaf and dumb in the spirit have nothing to say. There is a form of godliness denying the power of God (2 Tim. 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ). This kind of mindset loves organized religion, denominationalism, tradition, and programs. “We do what we do now because we’ve done it for the last ten years.” What happens is they are hearers, not doers, even though they want to be doers. They know that they’re not getting the revelation in their heart that God wants them to have even though they’re truly hungry for revelation. But there is an assignment to make them deaf. You can see this in the North American church and it’s connected to unbelief.

There is evidence that unbelief and the deaf and dumb spirit are the roots of the conditions previously mentioned. There are many testimonies of people with a spirit of insanity, madness, manic-depression, and bipolar disorder (just to name a few) set free and delivered. People’s memory can be restored instantly when the ability to remember had been lost for years. There are testimonies of restoration to concentration, healing from ADD, and improved grades in school.  There is victory because a few have figured it out.

Now let’s look at two keys that Jesus gave to His disciples so that they could gain the victory over unbelief and the deaf and dumb spirit.

PRAYER AND FASTING

Let’s pick up the story once again about the boy afflicted by the deaf and dumb spirit, but this time in Matthew 17:14-21 (instead of Mark 9).

After the boy was set free from the deaf and dumb spirit, Jesus’ disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Matthew 17:19). Jesus relied, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20). However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17: 21). The two keys in Scripture are (1) prayer (2) fasting.

Last month at the end of March as I was reading the Bible and meditating, I received a word from the Lord that I believe that could  be added to prayer and fasting.  The word I got was “Without Spot.”  It means to look at ourselves and make every effort to cleanse ourselves from sin.  Understand that we are not perfect.  David was not perfect either but He was a man after God, own heart (Acts 13:22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will).  David was willing to do God’s will at a level that God recognized.  God searches to strengthen those who are committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him).  We can’t be under the bondage to sin and expect to be able to do God’s will.  Sin will encumber (weigh down) us to the point that sin becomes central in our life and will not allow us to have the authority to do God’s work whether it is overcoming things in our life or helping others overcome.  Example: If someone is so depressed they can’t get out bed, do you think they can do the will of God?  Understand that depression is not the only thing weighing them down.

Remember, the disciples were affected by unbelief just like the father and the whole crowd of people. Prayer and fasting are what it will take to overcome the spirit of unbelief! Then when unbelief is conquered, not only is faith released, but the strength that the deaf and dumb spirit receives from the spirit of unbelief is cut off. It’s prime time for the deaf and dumb spirit to be cast out!

You know, there is something that begins to happen when we fast and pray and when we choose to say that we will not digest anything except the truth of what the Bible says about healing and deliverance. “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Ps. 107:20). That means healing and deliverance are in the Word. When we fast, pray, digest the Word, and speak the Word, it gives us faith and power to overcome personal unbelief and doubt. By fasting for an extended time and studying nothing but what the Bible says about healing, we will see the results.

I feed on what the Bible says about healing. Then I began to be full of faith and power as I overcame the personal spirit of unbelief in my own life so that I can help other in the name of Jesus.

Now let’s look at another key that will equip us to overcome the deaf and dumb spirit.

COMMAND THE DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT TO GO!

Back to the story of the boy! When I was reading the story about him, God brought to my attention that Jesus commanded the deaf and dumb spirit to come out of the boy and showed the father and the disciples that it’s only by faith that we can command stubborn spirits of all kinds to come out.

When we take our position of authority after praying and fasting, then we’re in the right position to command a deaf and dumb spirit or any spirit to come out of someone. I believe that God wants to challenge us to seek His face so that we can work together pressing in for a change in the spiritual climate over North America.  These last days are getting progressively darker.  The enemy is getting stronger and stronger and I am concerned that we as Believers are not equipped for the battle.  

God's blessings on you all

Curses - Where Do They Come From?

Disobedience to God. God isn’t out to “get us” or to curse us. Those are not His plans for us. However, God gave each one of us free will and He plainly gives us the choice to receive blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-2  “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God ”) or curses. Curses are a  consequence from breaking God’s laws. Judgment is brought forth as His laws are broken or violated as outlined in Genesis 3 after Adam/Eve ate the fruit and in Deuteronomy 28:

Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children…”Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

Deuteronomy 28:15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”

Generational Curses. Many times other people bring curses into our lives because of their sin which is passed down the generational line.  It starts when we open our lives up to curses by giving place to them through our own sin, choices, and beliefs. Curses get passed down the generational line directly through our DNA (Exodus 34:7  keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation,” - Deuteronomy 23:2 “One of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord ).

Word Curses. Word curses are also a way that others can affect us (James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so). Examples of word curses are statements such as, “You’ll never amount to anything”, and “You are a failure.” The Bible tells us that there is the power of life and death in our tongue and our words. If a person receives these word curses as truth, then the curses become real in their life. Proverbs 18:2 (NLT) The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Self-Curses. Even sadder than having our parents or others curse us is cursing ourselves through our own words. Familiar examples are: “I will probably ‘blow’ this job.” (expected failure), “I can’t speak in front of people,”  “Our family will always be poor,”  “I cannot do anything right,” “nobody loves me” or even worse, “God doesn’t love me.”  This is an open door for enemy to come in and make your life miserable because we don’t believe what the Word of God says.

Summary - This is the essence of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. The Bible clearly warns each of us that our actions have consequences.  Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. Eventually, you will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” Galatians 6:7-8  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness -  Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

What does it mean to be Holy?" By Tony Sanchez

In 1 Peter 1:13-16, Peter writes to believers, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy,  and Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

What does it mean that God is holy?  Passages like 1 Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God and Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” are just two of many passages about God’s holiness.  God is high above any other and no one can compare to Him (Psalm 40:5 NLT O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.  Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal). God’s holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes.

What does it mean for us to be holy? When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and Leviticus 19, He was instructing them to be distinct from the other nations by giving them specific regulations to govern their lives. Israel is God's chosen nation and God has set them apart from all other people groups. They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that God wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him. When Peter repeats the Lord's words in 1 Peter 1:16, he is talking specifically to believers. As believers, we need to be "set apart" from the world unto the Lord. We need to be living by God's standards, not the world's. God isn't calling us to be perfect, but to be distinct from the world. 1 Peter 2:9 (see below) describes believers as "a holy nation."  We are separated from the world; we need to live out that reality in our day-to-day lives, which Peter tells us how to do in 1 Peter 1:13-16.

So, how can we become holy?  Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior.  If we have not placed our faith in God's Son alone to save us from our sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain. So, we must first make sure we are born-again believers (John 3:3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”).  If we truly are believers, then we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world 1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  We have a relationship with the living God!  Then we must daily live a set-apart our lives. We cannot "blend in" with the world dividing our loyalty with God (Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do James 1:8 NLT).  But instead living according to God's Word as we study the Bible, grow in it, and apply it to our lives.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.

Memory Verse: Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.

Healing in the Church Today

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 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.

Although sickness is a reality that every human being will probably face and experience at some time in their life, it is a property of the sinful fallen nature of this world. Sickness is not a feature of the world as originally designed by our Creator. In His plan of salvation, God is reversing all of the effects of sin. It should be no surprise, therefore, to find that God has declared war on sickness as well as on sin.

Sickness in never a part of the perfect will and plan of God for any person’s life. Healing is an essential part of God’s plan of salvation and the Scriptures are very clear on this. 

The passage quoted from Isaiah, here, shows that when Jesus died on the cross He paid in full for every transgression and iniquity. These are our sins. This same passage of scripture, however, shows us that He also died for our griefs and sorrows. That is, He included every physical, emotional and spiritual hurt and pain in His provision for us on the cross.  Any doubt that this is what He intended is removed by Matthew 8:17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."  This commitment of the Lord to heal is often called the healing covenant.

The Bible is a book about covenant relationship. Covenant is an important concept to understand in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. One of the definitions of the word "testament" is covenant, and is defined as a covenant between God and Humans. So you could call the Old and New Testament the Old and New Covenant, as many people do. 

Old Covenant

The concept of covenant is important in receiving your physical healing through the Word of God. God states in the Old Covenant in the book of Exodus, For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). King David instructs the believers to bless the LORD and not to forget all of the benefits or spiritual blessings of the LORD. David recognized the benefits provided in his covenant with God. One of the benefits identified is, "who heals all your diseases" (Psalms 103:2-3). 

New Covenant

Jesus established the New Covenant the night before his crucifixion. Jesus said to his disciples at the Last Supper, "this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).

Jesus at the same time gave thanks, broke the bread and said, "Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you" 1 Corinthians 11:24. "So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged (whipped) Him" [John 19:1]. "By whose stripes you were healed" 1 Peter 2:24. Jesus' body was broken so that your body may be whole. At the cross, Jesus' bones were not broken For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken” John 19:36.

IF forgiveness of sins, physical healing, deliverance, favor, provisional care, fruitfulness, and long life were spiritual blessings of the Old covenant; how much more are they in the New Covenant which has Jesus Christ the guarantor or surety of this better covenant? (Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant), (Psalms 103:1-3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases), (Exodus 23:26-27 No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land), (Deuteronomy 7:15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases), (Psalms 91:6.…Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness). 

God’s Promise

God promises the Children of Israel in the Old Covenant that He would be their God, "if you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you, Exodus 15:22, NLT. The same promise applies to the New Covenant.

Some religious folks say that God only wants to be the God who heals us spiritually. If God is only talking about spiritual healing why does he mention the words "disease or sickness" in these passages Psalms 103:1-3, Exodus 23:25, Deuteronomy 7:15, Matthew 8:17?

Now that we laid the ground work of healing in the Old and New Testament, what is the point of all this?  The point is:  Where is the healing in the church?  The masses are coming into church services with sickness and disease and going out of the church services with sickness and disease.

I traveled for many years and tried to find midweek service in the cites that I was in.  I viewed many services on television.  I visited many churches in the Denver area to get an idea of what they were teaching.  Too few were taking time to heal the sick before service, during service, or after service. 

Why have we left out such an important part of the Old and New Testament?  Why are we sick?  Is it because of our sin?  If the answer is yes and it should be, why are we ignoring what was such a huge part of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus came to “To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” Luke 4:18.  Jesus came to heal!  Why are we not imitating Jesus?  Jesus in His instructions to the disciples in the Great Commission said “they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” Mark 16:18.  The church elders are called to do what? Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, James 5:14.  Are the elders making themselves available to pray for the sick?  Or is “Elders” just a title?

In a time of declining church attendance, is it hard to understand that deliverance, healing, and operating in the Holy Spirit may be a key to increasing church attendance?  The word spread when they heard of the healing Jesus was performing. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased, John 6:2. Matter of fact, 5,000 came to hear Jesus and hoping for healing, “Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand” John 6:10.  5,000 came to hear the Apostles preach the same message Jesus preached, “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand” Acts 4:4.  People want to be healed and they will go to a church who wants to heal them in the name of Jesus.

Let’s forget all the programs that have little effect on the flock.  Let’s “confess our trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed”, James 5:16 at the women’s tea parties, the men’s breakfast gatherings, and the youth groups.  It’s OK to have a speaker, but there should be time set aside to pray for healing.  The church service should set aside time for healing.  Put the altar team to work.  Have all the Pastors present to lead the prayer for healing.  When people humbly come to the altar with a repentant heart, the Holy Spirit will be present with all of God’s glory.

It is time for the church to come back and imitate the Apostles in first century church and carry out what Jesus instructed them to do in The Great Commission:

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.   He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.   And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18

Luke 9:57  Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”  It is one thing to say you will follow Jesus; it is another to see it through, even when the road is narrow, steep, and nearly impossible.  But, if we come to God, believe in God, diligently seek God, he will reward (heal) us.

In Jesus name,

Tony Sanchez, 1-21-15

Fasting - Week 3 of 3

This is the final recap of my experience during my 21 day fast. My biggest obstacle was praying all day long consistently which was difficult at times due to having a full time job.  I will be better prepared for a 21 day fast next January. 

This fast has led me through many different emotions and levels of God’s presence.  I have experience the reward of the humbling of my flesh that can only take place during a fast.  I have been dying to my own will and desires, and experiencing what desires  God wants for my life.

Keep in mind that my primary objective during the fast was to pray for my granddaughter who suffers so much, my wife, family, friends, and people who come to the Healing Room.  I really was the last person on the priority list.  What I found out was that God had to work a breakthrough in me first before breakthrough could occur in the people that I was praying for.  I hope to share in the future about breakthrough with others that I was praying for as they are revealed. Below are a few things that I want to share with you.

• I have been able to truly receive God’s love at a level that I had never been able to experience.  Because of this, I have been able to express this love to my wife and children.  Understand, all my life I have guarded my emotions, but now I want to show myself and others the love that God has given me.
• I received a word a couple of months ago.  The word is encumbrance which means weighed down.  When we are weighed down with the things of this world and the sin that we have, we don’t see clearly.  The Bible describes this as a veil (2 Corinthians 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing).  Fasting has helped me remove a huge part of the veil that was a hindrance to where God wanted me to be. (Ezekiel 13:21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the Lord).  I need a unveiled mind and spirit to be able to stand in the gap for others.
• During the fast, I took Communion each day on a suggestion from Linda who is a sister in Christ.  During this time, my wife brought to me the importance of Communion and how I must be aware of what Communion really means each and every day (Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins).  Communion has taken on a very special meaning in my life.  I have decided to continue to take Communion each and every day.
• I will continue to fast each Sunday and Monday leading into the Healing Room on Monday night.  I pray that you will come to the Healing Room and experience healing and deliverance in Jesus name from the things that are troubling you.  You won’t leave in the same condition as you came in.

I fully understand that God’s priorities are seldom my priorities.  That is the difference in the nature of man and the nature of God.  The Bible says in Isaiah 55:9  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. So how do we better positon ourselves to hear from God?  How do we free ourselves from our own desires to know His will?  For me, it has been fasting and it causes me to take the sword of God’s Word and separate what I want from what I need.

When you fast and sanctify yourself unto God, it moves you off the same old beaten track to a realm of unbelievable breakthroughs, including miracles.  There are far too many people on the edge of what God is doing, and not enough of us standing firmly in the middle of His will.  Do you want to change your life, your family, friends, and others?  You are the one that can make these changes – fast, sanctify yourself, and take a firm stand in the middle of God’s will.  When family, friends, and ministry people see you stepping off the edge of mere “Sunday morning religion” and getting right in the middle of what God is doing, they will follow and find God’s direction for their lives as well.

We all desire to be in the will of God and to walk according to His plans.  Sanctification is the key to being in God’s will (Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”).  Fasting is an essential means of sanctifying yourself, pulling yourself away from the world, and getting closer to God.  Fasting allows you to filter your life and to set yourself apart from your fleshly life to see God in all His glory.  Fasting is what prepares you for a new anointing (Mark 2:20  But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days). 

It is my prayer that you make fasting a part of your life, as we are instructed by God.

Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord.

Joel 2:12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;

In Jesus name,

Tony Sanchez