“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39 (KJV)

My Blog — http://smorganministries.blogspot.com/ We believe: 1. Sola Scriptura—II Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12 2. Solus Christus—I Tim. 2:5-6 3. Sola Gratia—Eph. 1:3-8 4. Sola Fide—Gal. 3:11 5. Soli Deo Gloria—I Cor. 10:31 Amen

Volume 2, Issue 1

January 2011

THE VICTORY SERIES VICTORY and POWER A year has passed since this newsletter was first published. Much has happened over the course of the year 2010 and the glory belongs to God for his direction and divine inspiration which led me to write the previous twelve issues. I am humbled and grateful to have been the channel through which the Word of God could reach those in need of spiritual food. The newsletter allowed me to touch many lives but as I continued to meditate upon the Word of God, it became apparent that God required more of me. He gave me a vision for the publication of a book that would help people to know him even more intimately. As a result of this vision, the Holy Spirit instructed me to revisit the twelve issues in the newsletter. This mission expanded into a fifteen chapter book titled Epignosis: The Biblical Call To Knowledge. EPIGNOSIS is a Greek word meaning precise and correct knowledge. It is used in the New Testament twenty times: fifteen times by the Apostle Paul, one time in Hebrews and four times by the Apostle Peter. In its usages it refers to things ethical and divine. The Victory Series originates from the fourteenth chapter of the book which, through the grace of God, will soon be published. VICTORY As believers we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Paul said he was persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and listed several things that he believed could not separate us. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:37-39) It is important to note that there are persons who have accepted Christ and have fallen away; some have even blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The scripture makes it clear that there is no forgiveness for them (Hebrews 6:4-6 and Mark 3:28-29).

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(EPIGNOSIS, pronounced e-pē'-gnō-sēs)

Being ‘more than conquerors,’ through Christ Jesus, means that we are powerful beyond measure. A conqueror has already prevailed and we are more than one who has already prevailed. We are the ‘church’ and are to make the manifold wisdom of God known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” (Ephesians 3:10) The scripture says the angels are ministers to those who shall be heirs of salvation; even they desire to look into the things regarding the salvation of man. “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14)

(MORE THAN CONQUERORS, Greek—HYPERNIKAO, pronounced hü-pernē-kä'-ō, to gain a surpassing victory) (CHURCH, Greek— EKKLESIA, pronounced ek-klāsē'-ä, an assembly of believers)

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (I Peter 1:12) What a magnificent gift that has been bestowed upon us that even the angels want a glimpse into it! We are so blessed. POWER The carnal or worldly man pursues money, power and respect on earth separately and apart from God. Man thinks that by money he gains power and respect but these are of no significance in Heaven. Man believes that he can find these in the world and increase happiness from them. Some believe that money is the root of evil but the scripture says the love of money is the root of all evil. The scripture says that those who have a mind to be rich fall into temptation and a ‘snare’ and into many foolish and hurtful lusts that ‘drown’ them in destruction and perdition. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (I Timothy 6:9-11) Many born-again believers err from the faith and take many sorrows upon themselves when they are drawn away by their own lust for money. The scripture urges us to flee this and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Whosoever is willing to lose his life for Christ’s sake will find life! “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” (Matthew 16:25-27)

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(SNARE, Greek— PAGIS, pronounced pä-gē's, trap, noose,) (DROWN, Greek— BYTHIZO, pronounced bü-thē'-zō, to plunge into the deep, to sink)

The scripture asks two very profound questions: how does a man profit if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul and what can a man ‘exchange’ for his soul? Can anyone exchange all the riches he has acquired in life so that his soul will be saved? Every man will be rewarded according to his works by Christ Jesus when He comes with His angels. There are two types of power given to believers and discussed below. Let us see what they are and how they apply to us. Exousia Jesus gave us real power over demons: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 9:35–10:1) It was because of the suffering of this very large harvest that Jesus was moved with compassion. This is the way He loves us. And because He loves us thus, He equipped the twelve with ‘power’ against unclean spirits. This power is also authority, right, liberty, jurisdiction and strength. By doing this Jesus expected the disciples to win souls and make more disciples who would in turn win souls as well. Jesus’ very intention requires that the same power be given to every true disciple throughout the ages. Dynamis God gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7) We will discuss this ‘fear’ in II Timothy 1:7 in the February issue because it is different from the ‘fear’ below in I John; however, ‘power’ ‘love’ and a ‘sound mind’ were given together to us. The scripture says perfect love removes all fear because there is no fear in love: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18) This ‘fear’ in I John 4:18, involves ‘torment’. God is not a tormentor. Anyone who fears is not made perfect in love. Perfect love ‘casteth’ out fear. God is love (I John 4:8); therefore, that one who fears is not made perfect in God. God gave us ALL things pertaining to life and Godliness and made us ‘partakers’ of the divine nature: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (II Peter 1:3-4)

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(EXCHANGE, Greek— ANTALLAGMA, pronounced än-tä'lläg-mä, anything given in order to keep or acquire something)

(POWER, Greek— EXOUSIA, the power of choice, the liberty of doing as one pleases)

(POWER, Greek— DYNAMIS, pronounced dü'-nämēs, inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, also strength, ability, power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts),

(LOVE, Greek— AGAPE) (SOUND MIND, Greek— SOPHRONISMOS, pronounced sō-fronē-smo's, self-control, moderation) (FEAR, Greek— PHOBOS, pronounced fo'-bos, fear, dread, terror) (TORMENT, Greek— KOLASIS, pronounced ko'-lä-sēs, correction, punishment, penalty) (CASTETH, Greek— BALLO, pronounced bä'l-lō, to scatter or throw a thing without caring where it falls) (PARTAKERS, Greek— KOINONOS, pronounced koi-nōno's, partner, associate, comrade, companion)

It is through the promises of God contained in His written word that we become partakers of the divine nature. We become partakers of God’s essence. It is through the knowledge of God that we receive all things pertaining to life and godliness. The scripture did not say some things but ALL that pertain to life and godliness. Jesus said we would do greater things than He did: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12) Jesus said He personally saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. It is a demonstration of Jesus’ sovereignty. By this statement he is justified in saying that He has given us power over ALL the power that the enemy has and that NOTHING shall hurt us by any means. Jesus gave us the power to trample: “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Luke 10:18-21) Our enemies, who we now recognise to be Satan and his infernal force, come at us one way but flee seven ways: “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” (Deuteronomy 28:7) The weapons that we possess are not of the earth or of the flesh. They are mighty through God. We pull down strongholds in the spirit realm and affect things in the earth realm as well as effect or determine the outcome of things: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” (II Corinthians 10:3-4) Even though we are here on earth in these earthly bodies we as born - again believers do not ‘war’ according to the way of the earthly person, yet we tear down fortifications. This word STRATEUO is used of commanders and thus demonstrates the rank or level of maturity of the person campaigning in war. Since we do not war according to flesh, these fortifications that we pull down must be in the spirit realm. The February issue will discuss the whole armour of God in preparation to delve into the knowledge of the spirit realm. Expect to receive from God and to be immensely blessed by Him. Faithfully,

S. Morgan - ‡ Visit us on Faceb ook a t: http://www.fa cebook.com/smorga nministries Or email: sm orga [email protected]

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(WAR, Greek— STRATEUO, pronounced strä-tyü'ō, make a military expedition, lead soldiers)