Book Review: ENEMY ACCESS DENIED By John Bevere

The title to this book, “Enemy Access Denied”, comes with this byline: “Slam the devil’s door with one simple decision”. It was previously published as “The Devil’s Door” by Charisma House. 

True to form, this book by John Bevere is backed by an arsenal of Scripture passages and verses, giving us an informed and well-balanced presentation of the truth of God’s Word. There is a lot of ground being covered. But as I soldiered on to the end, I have been richly rewarded with a better understanding of God’s heart, especially with regards to uncompromising obedience. 

The chapters in this book are as follows:
1. The Devil’s Door
2. Sacrifices That Ensnares
3. Obedience – Not Sacrifice
4. The Mystery of Lawlessness
5. No Witchcraft, Except …
6. The Strength of Rebellion
7. The Strength of Obedience
8. Grace That Misleads
9. The Fight of Faith
10. Humility – the Road to Success
11. Arm Yourself
12. The Blessing of Obedience

Chapter 5 (“Grace That Misleads”) delivers an urgent and chilling wake-up call to modern Christians as it challenges us to grasp a balanced understanding of God’s goodness and severity. 

In it John Bevere reminds us that: “Many Christian circles have overemphasized the goodness of God to the neglect of His holiness and justice. This swing to the extreme left has caused many to lose their taste for the whole counsel of God. … The grace of God is not merely a cover-up. Yes, it covers, but it goes beyond that – it enables and empowers us to live life of obedience. … 

Just saying you have faith does not prove you actually do. How can faith be real without corresponding actions of obedience? Hear the words again” “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Perhaps the day will come when the church will proclaim this scripture as loudly as it has Ephesians 2:8-9. Then it will be zealous, not floundering in a dangerous, lukewarm condition. …

Scripture speaks of two groups of people who expect entrance into the kingdom of heaven but will be denied:
1. Those who give their lives to Jesus for selfish purposes. They are more interested in blessings than the Blesser. From the start they are deceived because the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life choke out the Word they hear and confess. (See Luke 8:15)

2. Those who convert with sincere motives but later lose their salvation. This group (which I believe is smaller than the first group) walks away from obedience to His lordship.”

This book is gripping and provides uncompromising Scriptural insights which will spur us to deepen our understanding of the whole counsel of God’s Word and to align our will more and more with His will. Blessed reading!

Faith Revolution II

One my favourite Bible verse is John 10:10 (NKJV) where Jesus said, " The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

For the longest time I have wandered how the abundant life could materialise for an ordinary believer like me. One of the hindrance would, of course, be a lack of knowledge. Make no doubt about it that our enemy, the devil -- the Father of lies, would rejoice to see us live a hapless Christian life as he casts doubts and seeks to deceive us from believing God's word. And, horror of horrors, so many Christians have unwittingly play the devil's advocate by condemning ourselves and choosing to be imprisoned by him rather than be liberated by the truths of God's promises. What were we thinking? Do we yet not get it that GOD IS GOOD and the devil is as bad as can be? Hosea 4:6 speaks of God's people being destroyed for a lack of knowledge and John 10:10a speaks clearly of the thief's intentions to steal, kill, and destroy.

It's time for Christians to know God's words -- the sword of the Spirit, and put them into practice by faith. The more we practice, the more we prove our faith and become a skillful warrior. It's time for us to get violent in our spirit and wage a good fight of faith, believing and contending for things which are aligned with God's word and will for us.

Jesus has said, "It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life." John 6:63 (Amp.) We can have the God-filled life when we have His words in our heart. His words are like seeds which are sown first into our minds. If we mix God's words with faith, the seeds would reach the good soil of our heart and spring forth a harvest as they are packed with God's Spirit and Life -- causing us to be a fruit-bearing vine.

Truth be told, we are, for example, heir with Christ and master of all. Yet, when we are still young in faith and feeding on milk rather than solid food, we are no different from a slave in our Master's house! Check this out: "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, " Galatians 4:1 (NKJV)

A corollary verse to John 10:10b would be Romans 5:17 and this is becoming a hot favourite verse for me. Pastor John Bevere has stated in one of his book (it's either 'Relentless' or Extraordinary') that this is one verse that the believers ought to know besides John 3:16.

"For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

As we read Romans 5, the challenge for us would be whether we will choose the victorious life God has wrought for us through Jesus Christ (the second Adam) and be a champion in life or would we live in defeat by remaining under the power of sin which came through the first Adam.

Believe it: We are the righteousness of God in Christ^. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) Righteousness, as with grace, is a gift from God through faith in Christ.

As we seek God's kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), we will certainly be able to come to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and ask for all that we need and live life with flourish as joint heirs with Christ. We are one with Christ. When God the Father sees us, He sees the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the power of Holy Spirit working through us.

It's about time for us believers to increase our understanding of how God sees us and know more than ever before of who we are in Christ Jesus by faith! And, press in to God and do the greater things that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12-14.

Be blessed now as you listen to Pastor Ulf Ekman preaching on the Foundations of Effective Prayer (starts at 4 minutes 20 seconds after the introduction and worship song).



Bibliography:-
^ Sermon on "Righteouness In Christ" by my senior pastor, Kong Hee, at City Harvest Church on 17 November 2012. (Get hold of the CD and be edified tremendously!)

Faith Revolution

Familiarity may lead to complacency and status quo. For example, we are told that there is no point in reinventing the wheel. Guess what, the wheel has literally been re-invented by Mr Brian Russell and you can check out his invention in the following clip on his Energy Return Wheel (ERW).

In a similar track, Christians may gloss over the call for us to live by faith. For example, the modern day believers are well attuned to having faith in the grace of God for salvation according to Ephesians 2:8,9(NKJV):  ^"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

As we can see, the grace of God comes by having faith in Him -- believing His words, His ability and His willingness to do what He says He will do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves; it is a gift of God so that God receives all the glory.

It wasn't until this year when I started reading Pastor John Bevere's book entitled "Relentless" that I caught hold of this truth that the grace of God is much more than the gift of salvation. Ever heard the phrase 'God has so much more installed for us'? I often wondered how this could apply to an ordinary believer like me and thought of it as only a good thought which sounded so right. 

Pastor Bevere reported in "Relentless" of a survey conducted in 2009 by his ministry across America that the overwhelming majority of U.S. Christian responders defined God's grace as: (1) salvation; (2) an unmerited gift; and (3) forgiveness of sins. However, only 2 percent believed that "grace is God's empowerment." That means 98% were living the Christian life in their own ability and strength!

Yet, this is what Jesus told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 concerning the power of His grace:-

 My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

There is so much more that our Extraordinary God has installed for us His children by the power of His Holy Spirit with revelation through His word. "The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning." Psalms 25:14 (Amp.)

Yes, we may proceed to stetch forth not just the pipeline of faith for Salvation and Forgiveness of sins but also PIPELINES OF FAITH to the RIVER OF GOD'S GRACE for Holy Living, Healing (Divine Health), Abundance for meeting of needs, Reigning in life and SO MUCH MORE.

In this regard, please, please read EXTRAORDINARY by Pastor Bevere. The value of God's word by the revelation of the Holy Spirit as expounded in Relentless and Extraordinary are priceless and will revolutionize faith as we know it. For now, you can listen to this sermon by Pastor Bevere on Relentless.

There is nothing ordinary about our God! He is Extraordinary!! By faith, through His grace, don't you think we are meant to live an Extraordinary life doing His will so that God gets all the glory?!