glory to GOD FOR TRUTH Amen ! by GOD and J. Preston Eby The dove is the well known figure of meekness, purity, perception, love and constancy, and so was a fit symbol for the HOLY SPIRIT who at Christs baptism came like a dove and abode upon Him. The other fowls of heaven, as the law of Moses shows us, clean and unclean, each bespeak a kind or quality of spirit, expressing in their natures those characteristics that originate in the spirit realm. Hence, in the Scriptures unclean birds are type of evil spirits, as John the Revelator shows in Rev. 18:2, And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of DEVILS, and the hold of every FOUL SPIRIT, and a cage of every UNCLEAN AND HATEFUL BIRD. I know the Lamb, the meek and sacrificial nature of the Son of God, which is oppressed and afflicted, and yet openeth not its mouth; but I have known also the nature of the beast, wild and ravenous, that spirit, so obvious in the world, which stomps and rends and breaks in pieces and devours, of whom Peter warns us, saying, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a ROARING LION, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I Pet. 5:8). Man was created for the Holy Spirit to indwell, to bear the image of God, but all these unclean spirits - the spirit of the devil, and the myriad spirits which characterize the kingdom of darkness - find expression in man as he FAILS TO EXERCISE DOMINION OVER THEM. There is one more thought that should be mentioned here. The birds of heaven represent those spirits which have to do with the UNDERSTANDING, the mind of man. If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not... (II Cor. 4:3-4). The beasts of the earth are those spirits affecting the WILL of man. Serpents, scorpions, and the creeping things of earth represent those spirits connected with the EMOTIONS of man. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name they shall cast out devils...they shall take up serpents (Mk. 16:17-18). Then follows the lowest realm of all, the dragons, fish, and sea creatures, those spirits finding lodging and expression in the BODIES of men. All these, hostile to the image of God, Adam was commanded to SUBDUE, TO TREAD DOWN, CONQUER AND SUBJUGATE! The Spirit today is teaching us that when the Bible speaks of something being under our feet, this is a symbolic phrase meaning that the thing has been put in subjection to us, we rule over it, it does not rule over us. We find that there have been so many spirits which have ruled within us - and as His Kingdom takes its rightful place in our lives, these are subdued and brought to nought. In the soul-realm we have the dominant spirit of self-will, impulses of evil which rise up out of the heart, emotions of fear, anger, hostility, bitterness, hurt, etc. which usurp unlawful sway over our lives, fleshly appetites and desires, and then there are those religious spirits of iron-clad dogmas and creeds, traditions, sectarianism, and commandments of men. Behold, I give you power to TREAD on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Lk. 10:19). The promise belongs to YOU and to ME, for it is the Kingdom of God that the Lord has given authority and power over the power of Satans kingdom. It is a wonderful day for a believer when he becomes conscious that God NOW GIVES HIM DOMINION in Jesus Christ, that he may become an overcomer over ALL!
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 18:42:04 +0000