The Rank

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Published: Sunday, 04 March 2018 13:05
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The Rank

By Augusto A. Kho

Christ the Living Stone Fellowship – Rosales

February 25, 2018 (Sunday); 1:10 A.M.

Updated: March 3, 2018 (Saturday); 11:00 P.M.

 

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Above photo from the internet

 

 

Michael and the angels

At 1:10 AM today Quiet time, the word “The Rank” came from the readings in Revelation 12:7-9/ New Living Translation (NLT) saying,

 

“7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.”

 

Division or ranking can be well-identified there – Michael and his angels and dragon and his angels. It is a battle between the ranks of good and evil. Which side are we?

 

 

Do I?

I remember years back when I had a fierce verbal argument with a man on his early 30’s, he asked between our verbal melee, “Sir, are you a lawyer?” I replied, “Do I sound like a lawyer?” He said, “Yes Sir!” Again, he asked, “Are you a congressman?” I replied with a question, “Do I sound like a congressman?” He replied, “Yes Sir!” With persistent and provoking curious-look, he took his walled and taken out his I.D. and he gave it to me that read, “Police Senior Inspector ______” and asked again and immediately lifted his right hand and given me a hand salute, “ “Sir, what is your rank Sir? Where are you deployed Sir, Are you a Colonel or General?” And I replied again “Do I sound like a military officer?” He said, “Yes Sir!”. Then I said, “ I am a Pastor!”

 

That is ranking, that is positioning. We have a certain degree of command-responsibility. We should know where we stand for. We should know whom we are standing with for. We should know who we are and what we can do?

 

Rank in Hebrew “sheniy” means “the other” or to be very specific it means “something or another as distinct from something or someone else,” (Number 2:16). In Greek, “prasia,” rank means “ranks or divisions” to indicate “an arrangement,” (Mark 6:40). To Miriam-Webster, “rank” means “a position in a society, an organization or a group; standing or position; a degree of position or degree of dignity.”

 

 

Hierarchy of powers

A private army cannot simply overpower anyone with a rank of colonel. So it applies in the heavenly realm as well.

 

Daniel who have a very high position in the government of Persia (now Iran) have fasted and prayed before God. But when the Lord was about to answer Daniel’s prayers though an angel ( of a lower rank ) the former was later hindered by the a demonic power known as “prince of the kingdom of Persia.” Until one of God’s chief angel named Michael helped this lower ranking angel of the Lord to bring God’s answer to Daniel’s supplications (Daniel 10:12-13). That is the hierarchy of powers. The angels operate in ranks so are we.

 

We see the hierarchy of powers in Ephesians 6:12, “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. “

 


The Church

The church is the only entity in the entire universe that has a tremendous delegated power no less than God who gave it. Matthew 16:18 “ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. “

 

Government officials come and go. A president term is only for a limited time but the Church lasts than the tenure of a king or president.

 

 

Binding and Losing

Matthew 16:19  “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “ Binding and losing is like legislating a decree. Only the Church of Jesus Christ is given the monopoly of authority. It is a Church-mandate.

 

 

Power over Satan

Luke 10:18-19, “ And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

 

 

The Name of Jesus

In one of the gathering held in University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City, I came late for the occasion. So I slowly sneaked inside the hall and sat quietly on the last row when suddenly the host took the microphone and said, “Peps, don’t sit there. Please take the front seat.” Sheepishly I moved forward very, very slowly as not to create any noise to attract others from the audience. Then I kept looking on my left and right because they looked familiar to me. Only to find out later, that on my left is Joey Lina, a former Cabinet Member and on my right is Senator Magsaysay.

 

Why am I being told to sit down with them? Is it my name equates to their name? Or is it because I am a child of God like you and others who believe in our Lord and Saviour (John 1:12)?

 

 

Philippians 2:10-11, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ So when we speaks in His Name, we decree Christ’s Supremacy over all things whether they are seen or unseen.

 

The word “name” or “onoma” in Greek means “authority” or “character.”

 

So when your name is being called for, it speaks of who you are – your status, your position, social connection, character and personality and many more.

 

Thayer Bible Dictionary define it this way, “the name is use for everything which the name covers including your thoughts, mind, feelings, etc.”

 

 

 

Sitting with Christ

Eph 2:6  “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When we “sit together” with Christ it means “an appointment” and I presumed it is divine delegated authority. “Sit together” from the root Greek word “kathizo” (kath-id-zo). It simply means a ‘seat of power or authority.” It can be literal or figurative.

 

 

Complete in Christ

Col. 2:9-10, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” The word “complete” in Greek “pleroo” means “perfect” or “nothing shall be wanting to the full measure.”

 


Son of God

During the initial Committee Hearing of House Bill (HB) 6595 or “Civil Partnership” in Speaker’s Conference Room in Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City last January 31, 2018, many of our honourable congresswoman either mildly or sharply rebuked the Resource Speakers who cited their “NO STAND” on the said bill.

 

I think I was one among the last two speakers left who have not given yet our Privilege Speech. When my turn came, I pointed out 6 Constitutional flaws of the Billand strongly pointed out that it is immoral bill as well. Then suddenly Cebu Representative Gwendolyn Garcia strongly said, “Listen to this,” then she snapped the book from her aide and said, “Article II of the Philippine Constitution states that, ‘There is a separation of the State and the Church!’…”

 

Immediately I replied, “I did not mentioned the Church Mam in my Speech. What I said is that your bill used the 15th century word, ‘annulment’ which has a judicial and ecclesiastical pronouncement. Ecclesiastical is a church term that you used in the bill. Beside also in Article III of your Rule of Law, the Philippine Constitution that you have sworn to protect states that ‘No religious test is required to exercise one’s civil and political rights.’ HB 6595 is a civil and political issue that even a church bishop has the right to invoke his rights as a citizen of the country.”

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And without exaggeration, almost all were stone-like stunned without saying a word. A moment of silence filled the Committee Hearing room. But to be honest, it was not my intention at all. In fact, I was nervous-wrecked as if I was about to faint from the very moment I was asked to sit down at the presidential table.

 

It is true that we are not supermen. We too can be cowed with fear and confusion. But then we are greater than what we think of. We are the sons and daughters of God. And that makes a great difference. Besides, the grace of God abounds in us, exceedingly and abundantly.

 

John 1:12 says, “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: “

 

 

 

Ironic

Ironic after that incident with Rep. Garcia when twelve (12) days later the Headline reads:

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Our names are written

When the disciples were stunned how evil spirits obeyed them, they immediately reported back to Christ. Jesus said to them how this power of God manifested in glory saying, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven,” (Luke 10:20).

 

See how name is such an importance? Only when your name is written in heaven as adopted sons of God. If evil spirits is subject under your name, much more to legislator like a city councillor or congressman? But better to know our ranks. Otherwise we might be usurping other’s authority.

It is God who calls. It is He who anoints us according to our ranks.

 

 

Confusion

God gave confusion to the people who were building the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:0). Babel or Babylon means “confusion” (by mixing). In fact, bestiality is a sort of confusion (Lev. 18:23). Job admitted he was confused (Job 10;15). David prayed to God to confuse his enemies (Psalm 35:26; 70:2; 109:29). Isaiah said God gave Pharaoh’s confusion that ended his great regime (Isaiah 34:11).Confusion weakens a nation. Jeremiah 7:19, “Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? “

 

 

 

Public embarrassment

God did not design confusion for His people but for the enemy. Neither will He put us into public embarrassment. “God is not the author of confusion but of peace,” says Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:33.

 

But the enemy always have the appetite to condemn us in order to put us for a public display. Paul puts it this way, “Who is that he that condemneth?” (Romans 8:34a). The word “condemneth” in Greek “katakrino” is “to judge worthy of punishment.” No one who has a day in the court that will not become a spectacle. It is one of the most humiliating moment in one’s life (as I personally experienced). When a judge will take my case, the court of clerk automatically calls my name with its corresponding “Criminal Case Number” though you are still a suspect.

But God can create confusion to His enemies. David sung a song of deliverance from confusion when he said, “ Psalm 25:1-2, “A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. “

 

And that’s exactly what happened to me one day….

 

 

 

Shame on you?

One time I renewed my expiring passport in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) somewhere in Northern Luzon. When I took my passport personally, the Manager or the highest public official assigned on that office taunted me with cussing words like, “tanga,” “gago,” and “p___ina” to my dismay when he found out that I made many erroneous entry in my application form for passport renewal. I felt like hitting him on the face but the Lord said, “Hold your peace. You’ll see.”

 

Just barely 15 days later after such embossing and shaming incident, I was among the Top Awardee in Northern Luzon for my untiring dedication in conducting Values Education to the Philippine National Police in the entire Region 1. I was among the top three (3) public officials who was about to give me a hand salute followed by 21-gun salute. No less than the DILG Undersecretary Alexander Aguirre, the PNP Regional Commander General Santiago Alino and another one more public official who kept covering his face. I ran in disbelief, when I recognized who he was. He was no less than the DFA Manager who earlier cussed me when I took my newly renewed passport from his DFA office. They were the three appointed government officials who will give us the traditional honorary salute.

When the twelve (12) uniformed policemen me accosted me to the platform fronting the open auditorium where I was given a hand-salute by these 3 government officials, the DFA manager’s face was flashing red with great embarrassment. Then it was followed by 21-gun salute.

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By the way, confusion in Hebrew “bosheth” means “to shame, shameful thing.” From root word, “bush” i.e. “to be put to shame” or “ be disappointed,” (Psalm 25:1-2).

 

What was the enemy’s plan to shame me had boomeranged to the very perpetrator who authored it – the devil.

 

Like the song of David, God vindicates. Psalm 25:1-2 says, “A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. “

 

And God has His own way on making a standard against our enemies. As Prophet Isaiah said,

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.,“ (Isaiah 59:19b).

 

The blood of the Lamb

The blood of the Lamb (Christ) is redemptive in purpose. Rev. 12:10- 11, , “ 10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,“It has come at last - salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.[a]For the accuser of our brothers and sisters[b) has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night.11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.”

 

While we struggle day by day on this natural world, in the spirit realm the war is over. Christ has overcame or overpowered or defeated our very enemy.