The Refiner's Place Ministries

PASTOR’S CORNER

PERFECTION DEMANDS PREPARATION:

THE PURPOSE OF PERFECTION IN CHRIST

REFERENCES: TITUS 3:5-8, EPHESIANS 4:13-14, JOHN 1:11- 14

As we bring this teaching to a close for this time, we will be looking into the purpose of perfection in Christ.

Tit 3:5-8

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

The process of our perfection is dependent on the work of the Word and Spirit. We are made new- washed and renewed- by the Word and the Spirit; and it is for a purpose: to make us heirs, inheritors, of eternal life.

We are made heirs of eternal life, not by the works of our own righteousness, but by the Word and Spirit. Without these two, our spiritual journey will end in waste.

Christ was made by the same principle. The angel spoke the word to Mary, and revealed to her that the Spirit of God will come upon her, to bring the word into reality. (Lk 1:34-35)

Eph 4:13-14

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We must come to the presence of God, to pray in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. We move, in this realm, to the place of perfection.

The reason many struggle in the place of prayer is because they have not come to the realm of perfection; and no one can get there without the Word and Spirit.

When a man comes unto a perfect man, he grows into the full height and maturity of Christ- in knowledge, understanding, power, divinity, lordship- he will no longer be tossed about like a child by the wicked.

Maturity- growing into measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ- makes you immune to the deceitfulness of men, the bullying of the wicked, and the hold of false doctrines; and will not be carried about to dumb idols. A man who is made by the Word and the Spirit will not partner with satan against his life and destiny.

Jn 1: 11- 14

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

When His own rejected Him, Christ came to us, and, to as many as received Him, to as many as are born again, Christ has given the power to become the sons of God.

This means that being a child of God is just the beginning of your growth journey in Christ. You cannot remain at the same point. Through the continual washing and renewing by the Word and the Spirit, you go on to perfection, moving up to the level of a son.

Christ was born a child, but He wielded the power He was given to become a Son. (Rom 1: 3-4). He has called to grow in the same manner, until we reach the full measure of His stature. That also means that you must die to yourself and resurrect unto divine sonship.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory [the glory of the Word]...

When God speaks, men see the glory of that word.

The Word was a carrier of glory- full of grace and truth. Those who looked upon Him could behold His glory.

When a negative judgement comes upon a man, however, what people see is the shame attached to the judgement.

When the devil speaks, the word carries shame, disfavour and disgrace. The man, upon whom the judgement is declared, will experience rejection wherever he goes, and none of those who reject him will know why they did so.

And the Word was made flesh...

God spoke the Word; the Word appeared in the womb of a woman and became a man. However, it was not a man that was given to the woman; it was the Word.

Consider this:

Until God spoke about death, the devil had neither heard of, nor seen him. When he heard God speak of death, he appeared on the scene and deceived Adam and Eve, thereby bringing into reality the judgment God had spoken.

No one had died before this time; so the devil could not have known what death was, or how it worked. Yet, he convinced Eve that eating of the forbidden tree would not lead to death.

When man died, the devil got the key- the secret of death. Whenever he desires to kill someone, he simply makes the person do what God has told him not to do.

He became ‘him that had power of death’. (Heb 2: 24) He does not kill; he simply wields the knowledge of the mystery of death.

Divine revelations will expose you to battle. Your safety is in total obedience to God.

Jesus destroyed him that had the power of death by His (Christ’s) death. The Word that became flesh died so that every judgement (word) of the devil may die.

...(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Whatever the devil says to, or against you, is lie, and is meant to bring shame and disgrace to your life. But, in Christ, every word God speaks to you is the truth, and in it you receive grace to function and reign in life beyond your natural abilities.

Negative words can impersonate anyone to work against you. Remember when Jesus ordered satan to get behind him? Physically, Peter was the one before Him, but He could see that he was being impersonated by the devil.

The abusive spouse, victimising boss, unruly and disrespectful children, hateful colleagues, that offensive stranger on the street; that familiar face that terrorises you in your sleep; none of these are your enemies. They do you wrong because a negative word, spoken against you, has impersonated them.

Sometimes, the evil word will impersonate you against yourself.

If you desire to stop the nightmarish experiences against you, command the word to die. Once the judgement dies, the experience will die.

This is the purpose of perfection.

God has called you to come into the full measure of the stature of Christ; to conform fully to the image of His Son.

This is why you received Christ as a child, and He gave you power to become a son, so that you can operate in the capacity of the Son of God.

It is time to make the Word become a reality in your life. What has God promised you? It is time to see the reality in your life.

God promised death as the consequence of sin, and death came; why then will His promises of life, wisdom, power, blessings, and more not also become reality?

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• My Father, take me to the place of perfection.

• Fire of God, to get to the place of perfection; take over my life.

• My Father, You promised me Your fire. Therefore, I receive the raw fire of God.

• My Father, You promised me life, healing, wisdom, favour, abundance, children...by Your power, I command them to manifest in my life.

• Whatever is said against me, that has impersonated the souls of men against my life; I destroy your power now.

• Whatever is said against me, that has impersonated my soul, against my life; I destroy your power now.

• Any negative word that turns to any man, against me; I destroy your power by fire now.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

PERFECTION DEMANDS PREPARATION:

PREPARATION DEMANDS PERSONAL LOVE FOR PERFECTION

REFERENCES: PSALM 49:4-5, ROMANS 15: 19-22, LUKE 6:40, HEBREWS 5:8-9, MATTHEW 10:26-28

In the course of this study, we have learnt that the journey towards perfection demands personal vision, willingness and patience.

Preparing for perfection also demands that you have a personal love for perfection- a deep desire to be like Christ.

Ps 49:4-5

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Now, parables are spoken by elders. Those who have been privileged to live with the elderly understand that a sigh or a yawn can be a message. They learn therefore to recognise and interpret dark sayings.

Well, anyone who desires to speak mysteries must be ready to sit with, and give his ear to the Ancient of Days.

When a man gives his ear to hear deep and secret things, he will speak accordingly. Armed with this weapon, he has no need to fear the onslaught of evil around him, because he has gained access to the mystery at work against him, as well as the divine mystery to overcome it.

A man who lacks this will be overcome by fear in the day of battle- when he is challenged by the wicked.

This means that the key to destroying the works of darkness against you is to fellowship with mysteries. You need to equip yourself with the mysteries of the Word that have the power to defeat and destroy every mystery at work against your life.

You know what to say to the devil that has come against your health, business, marriage, children, ministry and destiny because you have given your ear to dark sayings.

Rom 15:19-22

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

I speak to you as my family. Perfection is a process, not a leap. It does not happen in a day; it requires that you desire it, and put in the work to get to it. Nothing just happens; you must be ready to pay the price.

Yea, so have I strived [desired] to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

This is my testimony. I desired to live in the reality of the divine, the same way Smith Wigglesworth, Kenneth Hagin and Alexander Dowie did. My contention was: if they saw something in the Word, believed it, and it turned the world upside down by it, then the Word must do the same for me, and even more.

That desire moulded my personal vision. In working out the vision, I patiently grew in the study of, and fellowship with the Word. I was willing to learn, to pay the price to grow and gradually, I was built up to the level I am now...now, I love the Word...

I also observed that a person’s physical and biological traits can be traced to their bloodline. That led me to question: why would I be born of God, and not look, act, speak, rule, reign and have dominion like Him? Especially since the Word declares that I should bear the image of my heavenly Father? (I Cor 15: 49)

The desire to see the reality of His Word in my life fuelled my pursuit.

When you choose to walk this road, you must be fully committed. There will be times when it seems God is not responsive to you, when you do not seem to be getting what you desire; at that time, forgive God. Let your love for Him keep you in His presence.

Love got me to this level. My love for His Word is taking me higher still.

Brethren, you are called unto perfection, but it is love that will keep you going, in spite of the grievous oppositions that you encounter.

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

In Paul’s sojourn to preach the Word in such a different way, he saw it written: that there is a person that was unknown, not spoken of. Yet, that man shall be seen.

This means that, at present, you might be unknown in your world- unrecognised, not reckoned with- yet when you choose to love the LORD with all your heart and desire to be like Him on earth, they shall see you.

Paul was neither among the 12 nor the 70. He was not in the Upper Room in the day of Pentecost. Yet, he wrote more letters to the churches that anyone else!

Oh! Do you desire to write an epistle to your household, generation, children...? Do you desire to build new foundations in your world? It does not matter if you are not known- if you do not have what people think is needed to be successful in your world; when you determine to pay the price to get all of God, you will be seen as Paul was.

Paul saw himself in the book of Isaiah. This was a man who killed Christians? Yet, he boldly declared that men will see him.

The reason for his boldness? What was written.

Why are you waiting for a prophet to tell you who you are? Why not look into the Word and see yourself in it. Become the one who breaks limitations in prosperity, greatness, longevity, fruitfulness...in your world!

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

Now you see why the enemy is working hard to hinder you. He has seen that you are the one who will be heard; therefore he fights to hinder you. They have worked hard to have you tagged ‘a nobody’, to frustrate you in every way, because they do not want you to be seen, heard and understood.

When the apostles decided to choose a replacement for Judas, they chose someone who had been with them from the beginning.

Yet, Christ chose Paul, the unknown, to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

It does not matter how dark your past was; if you will be serious with your walk unto perfection, God will make you a vessel like no other.

Heb 5:8-9

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Christ also suffered many things. Because He endured all and continued unto perfection, He was made the author of eternal salvation.

Understand this: Jesus did not ordain eternal salvation. God did. Yet, because of all Christ did, eternal salvation was transferred to Him. Now, no one can be saved except through Him, like it or not.

Lk 6:40

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Your Master, Jesus, was vested with the authorship of eternal salvation.

If you also desire to be as He is, then submit yourself to training. When you are fully trained, and become perfect, then like Him, you will become the author of a divine agenda in your world. This will be determined by the epistle you desire to write in your household.

When you get to the point where you desire to establish God in your household- to establish His power, abundance, nature- and you are full of willingness, patience and love for what you are saying, enough to pay the price in full, you will also become the author of God’s plan for your world.

Matt 10:26-28

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

Your enemy- the ones Christ says you should not fear- seek to hide certain things covered from you. They do not want you to give your ear to dark sayings.

If you will frustrate their expectations, then you seek to know mysteries.  

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

You cannot speak in the day when you have not given Him your ear at night. You cannot tell devils off when you have not received dark sayings from God.

Access to mysteries comes at a price- love for perfection; to be the best God desires you to be. Until you get to that point, you will struggle with the demands of God on your time, substance and attention.

You must love it, even when it is painful; because it is gainful.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul...

Those who kill the body, do so by hiding the mystery behind their evil deeds. Your confidence- the reason you do not fear them- is because you gave your ear to God in the night, to receive from Him the secret behind their evil plots.

It is what you hear from Christ in darkness that you declare boldly against the wicked.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• My Father, I choose to love you.

• Father, open me to see and hear secrets about my life, and the enemy.

• Whatever the devil has put in place to kill in my world; I scatter and destroy by fire.

• Whatever is covered against me, to kill in my world; I scatter and destroy by fire.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

PERFECTION DEMANDS PREPARATION:

PREPARATION DEMANDS PERSONAL VISION (C)

REFERENCES: EPHESIANS 6:10-12, ISAIAH 57: 15, DEUTERONOMY 33:29, JOB 21:27-28

The desire of God for you this year is that you operate- lead, work, do business, minister, be a spouse and a parent- from the high place.

In this lesson, we continue to consider why the preparation for perfection demands personal vision.

Eph 6:10-12

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In the journey to perfection, you must put on the whole armour of God. The wiles of the devil do exist but they are inconsequential when you are fully kitted and ready to do battle. When a Christian fails to pick up and arm himself with any of the armour, he cannot withstand the devil’s wiles.

Wrestling is not optional. The fight is on, whether you know it or not. There is a fight going on against your life, destiny, marriage, business, ministry, children, health...

What’s more, the fight is not with man; it is with powers, rulers, and spiritual wickedness, and they operate from high places.

When you fight such an enemy from a low place, you are setting yourself up for defeat. We experience retaliation after we pray because we are still in a low place. If you will fight and defeat these high-placed foes, then you must go higher.

Kit up with the whole armour of God- the Word, prayer, praise, holiness, obedience, sowing, etc- and fight from the high place.

Isa 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;

Consider the picture given of the Speaker. He is high.

When a man is intoxicated-high on a substance- his behaviour, words and actions, will reveal to whoever sees him, that he is in another realm.

God is revealing to you the essence of operating in the realm of the divine. When you drink of the Spirit, you get high. When you do business from this realm, you are high on the divine power of God.

Sadly many Christians are carnally minded. They seek to overcome in life without first settling matters in the spirit. They approach matters from a low place and wonder why their earthly and sensual wisdom was not enough to guarantee success. Yet, some other, less qualified person sails through because he was operating from a high place.

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones

The One who is high and lofty dwells in a high and holy place, but He does not want to stay there alone. He desires men who will dwell in that place with Him.

Brethren, may you dwell with God in the high and holy place.

You cannot be there and not be high. You cannot be there and confronted by devils. When you dwell there, you carry the nature of God. You will shine as He shines, you will exude beauty, glory, strength, and walk in dominion, because you will be as He is.

Deut 33:29

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee...

Whoever is saved by LORD, whether he is from Israel or from Abakaliki, is blessed indeed.

When you have the inner witness that He is your Saviour, you are assured of divine safety, for only he that is saved is safe. This means that He protects every good thing He is working in you as well as everyone He appoints to help you, and fights against every enemy of your excellence.

When God is your Saviour, He makes liars of all your enemies.

Oh, they said you would never be married, but your marriage is going strong; they said you would not have children, but you just had twins. They said you would be poor, but you control businesses; they said you will die before you reach 50, but you are still kicking at 80.

So, you can confidently declare that your enemies are liars over your life, destiny, health, business, marriage, children, assignment...

...and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

You cannot call a person a liar if he has not said something against you.

Your enemies declared evil from their high places-their covens, shrines, grooves- against you.

You call them liars because you are standing on the high places of God. From the high and holy place, you move to their high places and trample them down. You go there to destroy them and frustrate the expectations of these wicked ones.

Job 21:27-28

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

The story of Job begins with the revelation that the devil had tried many times, unsuccessfully, to get Job. The devil himself testified that he failed because God had built a hedge around Job.

In these portions of the scripture, we are given an insight into the work the devil put in to get Job, and why he failed to bring the great man of the east down.

High sensitivity is a trait of those who are high. When you walk in this realm, you know the thoughts of those around you. You cannot be a gullible victim of friendly foes in the high and holy place. You are fully aware of the thoughts and imagination of men towards and against you.

I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me. (NIV)

For you say, Where is the house of the rich and liberal prince [meaning me]? And where is the tent in which the wicked [Job] dwelt? (AMP)

When you are blessed by God, beware that there are those who will scheme against you, not because you have done them wrong, but because you have chosen to be generous and gracious with your blessings.

Observe that the same ones that called Job rich and generous also called him wicked. His offence was that he was a do-gooder- a giver.

They sought to know his house in order to do him harm there.

They were not seeking to fight him as a righteous man; they were keen on dealing with him as they would a wicked man. Therefore, their plan was to device means to wrong him.

Do not assume that your good deeds and worthy desire to help others will endear you into the hearts of all. Be battle ready to deal with those who will accuse you of wickedness because of your liberal soul...

This is why you must dwell in the high and holy place. From there, you will gain full access to the thoughts of the wicked against you. From there, you intercept and destroy the devices they have put in place to wrong.

Your strategic position in the high and holy place makes you more than a conqueror in the battle of life. You will overcome and excel, over and over again, proving to all that your testimonies are not flukes. They are proof of the mighty hand of God over you.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• Fire of God, possess my life to take me to the high and holy place.

• My life, you are called to be in high places. Therefore, I charge my soul to receive the power of God to go to the high and holy place.

• Whatever the wicked has put in place to wrong me- my health, wealth, marriage, ministry, children, assignment- this year, is a lie. I damage and destroy them by fire.

• Whatever the wicked has put in place to bring me down from my high places this year; I scatter and destroy you by fire.

 

PASTOR’S CORNER

PERFECTION DEMANDS PREPARATION:

PREPARATION DEMANDS PERSONAL VISION (B)

REFERENCES: I SAMUEL 9:17-27; 10:1, PROVERBS 23:1-2, NUMBERS 22:41, II SAMUEL 22:34

As we walk into our year of divine perfection, we must understand that we have a part to play in bringing that word to reality in our lives.

Perfection demands preparation. God desires to perfect all that concerns us this year, but we must prepare for His work of perfection.

The level and depth of a man’s preparation is determined by the level and depth of his vision. The bible says that those who err in vision stumble in their judgements. This means that you cannot prepare beyond what you see.

You have to see well to prepare well.

Speaking to a multitude demands a different level of preparation than is needed to speak to 5people.

This means that the size of your vision will also determine the level of your preparation.

Your ability to see the size and magnitude of your destiny will determine how well you prepare unto perfection.

 

I Sam 9:17-27; 10:1

The ability to see well, and thus prepare well will be discussed today in relation to divine connection.

When purpose is not understood, abuse and waste are inevitable.

Many are connected to the grace of God upon my life, but do not understand the purpose for it.

The first thing to understand is that you are connected to this grace because I invited you through prayers. Everything that happened to bring you to this ministry and connect you to me was a divine set up to ensure that you honour the divine invitation.

Saul’s journey that morning seemed to be in search of missing animals. His servant’s suggestion that they seek a seer may seem to have been the invitation that led Saul to Samuel. Yet, when Samuel saw him, note what God said to him

And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! This same shall reign over my people.

What was a chance encounter to Saul was an expected and awaited one to Samuel. Although his servant has made the suggestion, both men had been invited by Samuel.

Understand this: whoever it was that invited you to TRPM, I invited both of you- the first to invite the other- by the Spirit of the LORD.

Note also that God did not say, ‘behold the men’ but ‘behold the man’.

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

When you walk with a man who dwells in the high place, be careful to understand the purpose for the connection, so that you do not abuse it.

Saul stood before the seer and did not know who he was. However, the seer knew who he was, and had prepared for his arrival.

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found.

It is time to get rid of the idea that your problems drove you to TRPM. You are not here because of what troubled you. You are here because I invited you.

This also means that your problems are inconsequential in comparison to the divine purpose for God called you.

And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house? And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

Saul wondered at the words that Samuel spoke. When he considered his present reality, he struggled to see how that declaration of greatness could refer to him.

Have you also ever wondered at the prophetic declarations made concerning your life, especially when you consider your background and your problems?

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

I am here to let you know that God has called me to take you to the high place. I therefore declare that you shall get to the high place, of wisdom, power, prosperity, dominion, and might.

And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul.

In Israel, the shoulder is the portion of the priests (Lev 7:32-34).

This means that, not only did Samuel invite Saul to the high place, and set him in the best seat, he also had the priest’s portion reserved for him.

At this time, Samuel was the priest, prophet and ruler in Israel. By offering Saul the shoulder, he initiated him into priesthood.

Note that it was not placed before the servant of Saul. So, although the servant invited Saul, and he did get to eat at the table, it was Saul God was looking for.

It is possible to invite someone to TRPM, but have them occupy a higher position than you. Do not take offence at that. Remember that they are there at the invitation of God, not yours.

If you are the one who has been invited and have been set at the chiefest place of the table, and served priestly meals, you will do wisely to consider the purpose so that you do not abuse the opportunity.  

Understand that you are not here because someone invited you; you are not here because of your problems. You are here by divine appointment, and it is important that you see well in order to do well.

And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

The priestly portion had been prepared and set aside for Saul long before the asses went missing. Samuel had him in mind before he invited the others. Saul should therefore have been at the high place sooner, but he was delayed. The missing asses were therefore nothing more than a set up to get him to his place, portion and purpose.

Your portion had already been set aside for you before your arrival here.

Considering all that the prophet said to him, as he ate, did Saul really understand the significance of what was before him?

You know God brought you to me, to be fed and prepared for destiny. Do you take time to consider the weighty words you hear, the strong meat of the Word you receive, they hardness of the discipline you are called to endure?  Do you consider if they are for you, and if yes, why?

And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

So it was that Saul was anointed king after he had been anointed a priest and a prophet by reason of the shoulder he ate.

Like Saul, David was also anointed to be priest, prophet and ruler in Israel. The difference was that Saul did not understand what he had been given and he abused it.

Saul is gone, but you are here.

Pro 23:1-2

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

Saul, when you sit to eat with Samuel, consider what is placed before you. Ask questions: why have you set this before me? Why is he speaking these words to me? Why is he giving me these revelations?

Consider, diligently, what is set you before on this mountain. To do otherwise, to care only about eating the food, without paying attention to the message, is like putting a knife to your throat.

There are some people who will only take you to their low places, but Samuel took Saul to his high place- to the place of power, wisdom, dominion, victory.

You cannot be in the high place and be insignificant in your world. Christ has made you priests and kings, but you need a priest to take you up to his high place and feed you with the shoulder.

At the high place, no enemy can prevail against you. Saul learnt that the hard way when he chased David to the high place of Samuel.  

Num 22:41

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

Every kingdom has its high places. You also must get to your high place in wisdom and power. Your high places are higher than where you are at present.

While many Christians fail to lay hold of the high place, the wicked understand and use it to get maximum results.

When king Balak desired to have Israel cursed, he took prophet Balaam to the high places of his idols. He understood that, to see well, shoot well, and deliver maximum damage to your enemies, you must stand on the high place.

From that vantage point, Balaam could see the cover of God over Israel. He also saw that the way to get them was to lure them into pollution and defilement, because he was on the high place.

If you also desire to see and know the enemy, to gain the upper hand against them, you must also go up to your high places.

When you go to the high places, you will see, you will hear, you will prophesy.

Do not make the mistake Saul made. When you get to the high place, consider well what is set before you.

II Sam 22:34

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

Standing on your high places demands that your legs be trained. Like a soldier, you must submit to drilling in order to get your legs lean and strong- like the deer’s feet- for the journey up.

God is saying, ‘for you to stand on the high places of your destiny, I need to train your feet.’ Many are in dire need to an overhaul. Their inner man is too soft for the journey to the high places. They are too encumbered with irrelevant things and too lax in their judgement about their destinies.

Your feet must be made, your soul must be drilled in order to be set, established on your high places.

Saul did not return to the high place, but David went back.

Make your journey to the high places your priority.

Train for it.

Consider what is set before you there.

Live from your high places.

PRAYER POINTS

In the name of Jesus,

• My Father, feed me with Your raw fire and take me to the high places.

• My life, receive sufficient power to go the high places.

• Holy Ghost, open my eyes to see and hear well. Open my ears to hear and see well.

• Every attack against my life, from the high places of the devil; I scatter and slay you by fire.