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“Possess Ye Your Souls”

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Scripture reading: Joshua 1:2-5

Let me share with you something very special today. God called Joshua and gave him a promise. He said to Joshua, as He said to Moses, as He said to Abraham, as He said to Isaac, as He said to Jacob, right down the line, “This is your land. I will give you this land.” You see, God came down and said, “Joshua, enter the land and take it. It is wide open to you. Take it. Every piece of territory, every piece of land upon which you walk will be yours” (Joshua 1:2-4).

Do you know what we are talking about? We are saying that every experience in God is your territory that you have captured. Your own soul is the land that God is talking about. For brethren, although we want to possess the whole world and we want to possess heaven, most of us have not yet possessed our soul. God said in Luke 21:19, “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

Since God spoke those words to Joshua, which maybe close to about 3,000 years ago, the Jews never took that land until now. Nevertheless, in our time, the natural Jew walked in and took the natural land away from the Philistines and from the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The seven “ites” that occupy the land are the seven areas of your soul that you never occupied, that you never possessed. Possessed by devils, possessed by earthly things, possessed by evil thoughts, possessed by spirits; it has never been completely conquered and possessed by us.

Now, Israel is a modern day sign to us. Since Israel, natural, carnal, physical Israel has taken away their natural land and had walked upon the promise of God in the natural, then it seems to me that we are about ready to walk upon the land in the spiritual, for the dimensional truths of God must come true in all three dimensions – natural, spiritual, and fullness. Israel has taken their natural land; that means that they have walked on the promises of God in the natural. This is a sign that we are about to take our land, our soul in the spiritual. Praise be to God.

(Excerpt from Foundational Teachings, F087 The Army of God, July 18, 1974)

Thought for today: Luke 21:19, “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

Sold Out to Christ

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By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Philippians 3:8

For some time now, the Lord has been stressing the responsibilities and sacrifices that accompany the call of the Lord.

Very early experiences with the Lord made it absolutely clear that only a complete separation from the ways of the world could put one in a place that would delight the heart of God, and cause one to enter into His secrets and be a part of His function in the earth.

ABRAHAM, though referred to as a friend of God, could not fulfill his role before God in Terah’s house, because Terah did not overcome his idol worship, and the ways from which man had departed from God since the fall to that time. God, therefore, commanded Abraham, “Get thee out of thy country… and from THY FATHER’S HOUSE, unto a land that I will show thee.” Many people in our time take this in the natural, and reject their parents in such a way that it breaks their parents’ hearts. They do not realize that such an action does in fact open the road to rebellion. The light of God’s presence in one’s life should shine first in one’s own home, then radiate to others. One might not be able to bring his family to the Lord, but LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. They need the testimony of Jesus. Yes, God intended Abraham to leave physically, which he did, but took his father and nephew with him, which meant that that family spirit went with him. Abraham was part of Terah his father. One can see the result of this, that Abraham could not move on until he settled the Terah question – until Terah died (no matter that God provided a better way for man’s deliverance and perfection). In all this, Abraham did not lose sight of God’s promises to him – the possession of the whole land. There was no satisfaction in his soul in the places where he traveled, though he kept moving on and hoping. The great test of Abraham’s faith came at mount Moriah: the offering of his son Isaac. He could not see the two things working together – to be made the father of many nations and to offer up his only son – BUT HE BELIEVED GOD – he was sold out to FAITH IN GOD.

In the New Testament, Jesus accomplished man’s salvation in His atoning death, making the salvation of man obtainable by faith, so that man must abandon the reliance in his own effort. Whosoever believes on Him shall not perish. Faith and trust are Christian attributes. All Christians should be sold out to Christ, because He establishes not only FAITH, but THE POWER to accomplish. Some, however, are not willing to pay the price. How sad that there are so many who accept the free will offering of salvation through the blood of Jesus, yet are not willing to forsake the world and its attractions to lay hold of the eternal blessings. It is like the contract of marriage which necessitates forsaking all other men and cleaving to your husband, or forsaking all other women and cleaving to your wife. In most of the marriages of this century, honesty and integrity are not the main ingredients, resulting in broken homes and great disasters. Even so in the Christian world, not many are willing to relinquish the striving after the reliance on the world and one’s abilities, to rely totally on FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

One who is a believer and called of God is not his own, he is God’s. To believe means to commit one’s self decisively, not only as a past but a continuous action. Believing will take a person out of himself into Christ. Of course, the Holy Spirit in the believer is God’s mark of ownership, which is the earnest of our inheritance; which guarantees the forthcoming of the final ETERNAL LIFE.

Paul saw the need of counting all things as dung to win CHRIST. Because he was SOLD OUT to Christ, he was able to run the race, to finish his course, and to look forward to what was laid up for him when he came face to face with the Messiah.

Although the term “price to pay” is sometimes used by us (Luke 14:28), it is not such a difficult thing as it might seem, because that which is gained far exceeds the investment.

One certainly cannot be used of God satisfactorily, unless that life is laid down completely and made ready for the Master’s use by fire. Total commitment. NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE, words of Jesus Christ Himself. The disciple is not greater than his Lord.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, pages 96-99)

Thought for today: One who is a believer and called of God is not his own, he is God’s. To believe means to commit one’s self decisively, not only as a past but a continuous action.

In His Name – Part 2

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By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: 1 Kings 18: 24

“I WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.”

Elijah had faith in God; he knew God’s divine purpose. It was a time when Israel should halt no longer between two opinions: they had to make a decision between God and Baal. Though there were four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, Elijah knew His God whom he served. Baal was stilled before the Almighty. God answered not only by consuming Elijah’s sacrifice with fire, but licked up all the water that was poured onto the sacrifice and the very stones also. PRAISE GOD.

There is record of priests going to offer sacrifice in disobedience and rebellion – they were consumed.

Some went to cast out devils – instead the devils turned on them and tore them.

The spirits of darkness will only recognize the power and authority (which is the nature) that accompanies the NAME OF JESUS. This NAME is not enshrined in a system, doctrine, external influences, church organization or men’s ideas, but in righteousness, truth and holiness, because He is Saviour – the giver of inspiration. This living stone rejected of men, but to God’s elect, precious. See 1 Peter 2:4-5. All who are enjoined to this LIFE become lively stones, building up the spiritual house, each stone maintaining its proper relationship to the other, permanently connected with Christ, furnishing a habitation for God. Great and wonderful mystery – Praise God. A branch connected to the vine will bring forth fruit of its kind (of the vine).

Where two or three are gathered together in His name (NATURE), He is there in the MIDST to bless and to do THEM GOOD. Praise God it is TWO OR THREE – it does not have to be a large congregation with all the trappings of organization, just two and three gathered IN HIS NATURE. The grounds for the blessing therefore is basically:

“GATHERING IN HIS NAME (NATURE).”

Christ is identified with the Church – HE IS HEAD, and must be recognized as such. He is the vine; we are the branches. See John 15:1.

This dynamic power, working through submitted vessels, produces the impossible: revealing to us and renewing in us the lost image and likeness of God, being in us that all-sufficient source of PURITY AND POWER.

Christ is not content to be represented by His people in words; He wants to reign in and be Himself in His people. God has given man the capacity to rise far beyond the limits of his own individuality.

When we gather together in HIS NATURE, He is in the midst to BLESS AND DO US GOOD. He expresses Himself when there is submission to His Nature.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, pages 59-60)

Thought for today: When we gather together in HIS NATURE, He is in the midst to BLESS AND DO US GOOD. He expresses Himself when there is submission to His Nature.

Set the Captives Free

This message entitled “Set the Captives Free“ was given by Brother Cecil duCille on November 2, 1984 in Malibu, California.

For more audio messages please visit Audio Messages – Foundational Teachings.

In His Name – Part 1

[Printable version]

By Mavis M. duCille

Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:31-32

In these days, there is so much strife and division among people that there has been the need to cry out, “Lord, how can these things be?”

The natural, physical body functions beautifully and perfectly, without any single part being against the other. This physical body is a type of the Spiritual Body, therefore, there must be a perfect function of the Body of Christ.

God divides and separates through the working of the Spirit – good from evil, light from darkness, righteousness from unrighteousness – so that His people can be free from all the works of the enemy, and be separated unto Him in Holiness and Righteousness – PRAISE GOD.

God, the giver of understanding, has been unveiling the mystery.

Deliverance from every situation is in HIS NAME – not name as label on someone or something, but HIS NAME which is HIS NATURE. That nature is love, peace, submission, etc. Whatsoever we ask in His Name.

So many times, believers come together and leave undelivered and unblessed – frustrated and discouraged, not having received from the Lord that which has been promised. The reason is that something is wrong with the gathering or the gathered; it was not in HIS NATURE. There may be unforgiveness, hatred, bitterness, malice, strife, guile, cunning craftiness, and such things that are contrary to the NATURE of Christ. It is like having flies in the ointment. Clean hands and a pure heart is that acceptable offering before God. Remember, God looks at the inner being. He sees light or darkness. Forgiveness and cleansing through the atonement sanctifies the vessel, making way for the greatest blessings.

God cannot bless while the contrary nature is encouraged in the soul. All the sacrifices and necessary preparations were made in the Outer Court so the services of the tabernacle would not be hindered in any way, hence the needs of the people were met. When Israel made the perfect sacrifice, God was pleased and they were blessed to the fullest. Their enemies could not stand before them; they had complete victory in all areas. When they transgressed, they fell prey to their enemies, even to the bondage of slavery.

The fruits of the flesh (anger, wrath, malice, strife, envy, bitterness, etc.) are all works of the evil one, works of darkness – where Satan presides as lord. When we therefore entertain these, we fall into the realm of darkness where Satan has power over us. We only have power in Christ; we have no power in darkness.

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with ALL malice: And be ye Kind one to another, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath FORGIVEN YOU.” Ephesians 4:31-32.

There should be no place given to the devil, or he will take advantage of every opportunity to rob and destroy.

PRAISE GOD. WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS, because God made available to us, His People, every necessary piece of armament to insure us the victory.

His active presence can be experienced in the fullness of His revealed character. His NAME is linked with His righteousness, faithfulness, holiness, goodness, mercy, love, truth, etc. – that is His NAME. Since the assembling of believers forms the basis for spiritual unity with Christ, for participation of His bounties and viewing of His Sovereignty, believers must, through the divine power, rise from the lower realm (which is the opposite and contrary nature) to partake of that DIVINE NATURE.

God will not share His Glory. There must be a rejecting of one nature in order to receive the other nature. Self takes the place of Christ in the soul – the more self is rejected and cast out, the more of Christ we can have.

(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, pages 57-59)

Thought for today: Deliverance from every situation is in HIS NAME – not name as label on someone or something, but HIS NAME which is HIS NATURE.