Destined to Reign - part 2 - Do You Have the Right Perception about God?

Dear friends,

Have you ever been told the followings:
1. the more you know, the more God would hold you accountable, and your punishment for falling short of His expectations would be more severe than someone who knows less, and
2. the closer you draw to God, the more trials and tribulations you would experience?

Wouldn't you rather be more ignorant than learn more about the Word and attract greater chastisement should you fail? Wouldn't you rather stay away from God than draw closer to God? Can you see how wrong teachings about God can rob you of all that He has for you?

Contrary to the above, you will learn that the closer you draw to God, the close you are to all the "answers" to all your problems. You will draw closer to the Miracle Worker, the Healer and your Provider, Jehovah Jireh. The Devil would love for you not to find out the truth , so that he can keep you in bondage, sickness and poverty. As long as you continue to have the wrong perception of God and withdraw from Him and avoiding intimacy with him, the Devil will keep you bound in the life of defeat.

One of the most evil teaching that you would have heard is that God will chastise His own people with sickness, diseases, accidents and tragedies. You can become very afraid of God, and you may not want to draw near to Him because you are afraid of Him. Do you know that this errornous teaching is actually based on the old covenant and not the new covenant? In the book of Leviticus, God says to those who fail to obey His commandments, ``I will chastise you seven times for your sins.`` (Lev. 26:28) But, we are no longer under the covenant of law, but we are under the covenant of grace. Jesus has borne all our chastisement and punishment on the cross. Jesus has been chastised on our behalf. Look at these verses from Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53: 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

You may ask, how about the verse in Hebrews 12: 5 (NKJV)? 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”


The original Greek word for `chastens`here is poorly translated. It does not mean to punish, but it means `child training` or `discipline`. The question is how would God discipline His children? Our God is not an angry God who looks for opportunities to destroy us. He is our Father, or even, our Abba or Daddy. If you earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does your heavenly Daddy who loves you know.



We should be enjoying the finished works of Jesus at the cross. Read Psalm 103 for all the benefits we can receive from the finished works of Jesus at the cross: Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems you from destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness, and satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. It is hard to believe if there are believers today who fight vehemently for the right to be sick, broke, and defeated when God is full of grace and mercy and wants us to be healthy, prosperous, and protected from all evil occurences. Let's start to expect good gifts from the Lord.



Open your eyes and see the evil conspiracy of the devil to keep believers in bondage with errorous teaching about God that are not based on the new covenant of grace. Whenever you hear a teaching that puts fear in your heart, you can be sure that it is not the gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news of Jesus Christ always liberates, and His perfect love removes every fear . (1 John 4: 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.) The good news always imparts faith and exalts the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross. Amen!



Dedo Suwanda



Note: The above paragraphs are extracted from the book "Destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince.