Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

by Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

HARRISON HOUSE Tulsa, Oklahoma

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Living in the Realm of the S irit ISBN 0-8 !"#-$% -& 'op(ri)ht * + 8 b( ,rederick -.'. .rice .. /. Bo0 0000 1os 2n)eles, 'alifornia 000 .ublished b( 3arrison .. /. Bo0 4$04$ 5ulsa, /klahoma "#+$4

3ouse, Inc.

.rinted in the United States of 2merica. 2ll ri)hts reser6ed under International 'op(ri)ht 1aw. 'ontents and7or co6er ma( not be reproduced in whole or in part in an( form without the e0press written consent of the publisher.

Contents
1 The Power of the Spirit...........................................................7 2 Faith Is Now..........................................................................13 3 Faith and the Word................................................................19 4 The Power of the Tongue......................................................27 5 !i"ing #$a%p&e.................................................................35 ' (ea)hing Into the (ea&% of the Spirit...................................41

1 The Power of the Spirit

2bout thirt(-fi6e (ears a)o, I was born a)ain and called to preach the 8ospel, and for the ne0t se6enteen (ears I reall( stru))led in the 'hristian life. I had m( ups and downs, but it was mostl( downs. 9hen I would read the book of 2cts it would stick in m( craw: it bothered me. I was not seein) the manifestation of the si)ns and wonders of 2cts in m( ministr(, and I knew of 6er( few other ministries where there were supernatural manifestations. I be)an to cr( out to 8od. I knew that 3e had called me, but I was read( to )i6e up the ministr(, because there was no power in me. I was dissatisfied. ;( own life was a wreck<an absolute shambles< when someone )a6e me a cop( of -athr(n -uhlman=s book, ! "elieve in #iracles.$ 5hen I knew that the si)ns and wonders were a realit(: I knew that what the Bible said was ali6e toda(. So in + "0, I was filled with the 3ol( Spirit. Shortl( thereafter, someone )a6e me some books b( a man named -enneth 3a)in that fore6er transformed m( life. I read %hat Faith !s& Right and %rong 'hinking& 'he ()thority of the "eliever** and se6eral other books. I had recei6ed the power in the Spirit of 8od, but I did not know how to harness that
+ ! .ublished b( .rentice-3all, Inc., >n)lewood 'liffs, New ?erse(, + %!. .ublished b( -enneth 3a)in ;inistries, 5ulsa, /klahoma.

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

power to m( life. /6er the (ears, I ha6e seen man( who were trul( filled with the Spirit and had the power of 8od in their li6es, but that power was not reall( transformin) and chan)in) their li6es. @ou can compare it to an automobile. @ou can ha6e one of the most powerful en)ines in the world, capable of speedin) a car down the road at two hundred miles per hour. But if (ou do not ha6e a )ear bo0 and dri6e train to transfer the power of that en)ine to the wheels of the car, it will not )o an(where. So (ou can ha6e the power, be full of the Spirit of 8od, and speak with ton)ues, (et still abuse (our spouse and famil(. @ou can be bound b( e6er(thin) (ou can think of until (ou learn how to harness that power to the wheels of (our life.

Two-fold Purpose
I belie6e in the si)ns and wonders, and the( are manifested in m( ministr( as the Spirit of 8od directs and as 3e wills. But whether (ou realiAe it or not, si)ns and wonders are not primaril( for 'hristians. 8od has a two-fold purpose for the )ifts of the SpiritB ,irst, the( are to empower the ministr( )ifts<the apostles, prophets, e6an)elists, pastors, and teachers. 5he( will operate in an( Spirit-filled belie6er as the 3ol( Spirit wills, but mostl( the( are the tools of the trade for the ministr(. Second, the( are 8od=s method of ad6ertisin)< *

The Power of the Spirit

not for 'hristians, but for sinners. 5he si)ns and wonders are so the world will know the realit( and the power of 2lmi)ht( 8od. 5he Bible does not sa( that without the )ifts of the Spirit it is impossible to please 8od. It sa(s without faith it is impossible to please him C3eb. ++B%D. 8od does not require sinners to e0ercise faith: it is impossible for them to do so. 5he( are spirituall( dead, and there is no wa( the( can ha6e the faith of 8od. But 8od e0pects 3is children to operate b( faith. 9e are not supposed to walk da( b( da( b( the )ifts of the Spirit. 9e are supposed to walk da( b( da( b( faith. Eo not think that sunrise to sunset is )oin) to be one miracle after another, one supernatural manifestation after another, because it is not. I e0pect the )ifts of the Spirit to operate in m( ministr(, and the( do. But for me, personall(, to walk with 8od, I ha6e to walk b( faith. 2nd so do (ou.

The Supernatural Realm

Si)ns and wonders are one side of the coin. ,aith is the other side. Both of them mo6e (ou into the realm of the spirit. Both of them are direct in6ol6ements of the supernatural realm in the natural realm. 5here is a place in 8od where we can rise abo6e the circumstances of the natural, but 6er( few people seem to understand it. 3ere is an e0ample from m( own lifeB 9

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

I found out about di6ine healin) about the same time I found out that the book of 2cts was ali6e toda(, that it would work toda(. I learned that it was 8od=s will for me to be well. I disco6ered that I could walk in di6ine healin). 5his was )reat, because I had alwa(s been sick with somethin). ;an, I waited for Satan to put some kind of sickness or disease on me, so I could take m( newfound power and knock it in the head in the name of ?esus. I was walkin) around, waitin) for the enem( to attack me with somethin), so I could pull out m( sword of di6ine healin) and whack awa( at it. I was read(. I was armed with di6ine healin). >6er(where I went I was lookin) for sickness to attack me, and of course it did. 5hen one da( I heard a man sa( he had ne6er had a headache in thirt(-se6en (ears. I said, F9hatG Eid he sa( he had ne6er had a headache in thirt(-se6en (earsGF I be)an to listen, and suddenl( the Spirit of 8od )a6e me a re6elation. I found out that 8od=s best is not di6ine healin)<di6ine health is 8od=s best. 9ith di6ine health, (ou do not need to be healed. Now thank 8od for di6ine healin). I am not knockin) it, because di6ine healin) can brin) (ou to di6ine health. But so man( in the 'harismatic renewal are still waitin) for all the problems and all the attacks of the enem( to come, so the( can stand a)ainst them.

Above the Circumstances

1+

The Power of the Spirit

9h( should we walk in that )arba)e all the timeG 9h( should we stru))le under that kind of loadG %e can rise ) and live above the circ)mstances of o)r everyday lives. 5here is a place where we can walk in 8od abo6e the circumstances. /f course, (ou ha6e to choose to do it. But (ou cannot do it if (ou ha6e a pit(-part( attitude. 2 lot of folks still want to cr(. 5he( enHo( cr(in) and do not want to admit that the( are on an e)o trip. It makes them feel )ood to stand up and sa(, F/h, I=6e had all these trials and all these tribulations. I don=t know what I=m )oin) to do. It=s been so rou)h. 8i6e me a little pit(. Somebod( feel sorr( for me. I=m reall( ha6in) a hard time.F 9ell, I refuse to dishonor m( 1ord that wa(I ?esus is m( e0ample. 3ebrews +!B! sa(s, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Eo not look at the circumstances. Eo not look at the de6il or his demons. 1ook to ?esus. 3e is the pattern, the schematic dia)ram, the blueprint, the e0ample. 3e is the leader, and no matter what ma( come, I will follow 3im. If I ha6e to follow 3im b( m(self, then so be it. I am )oin) for 8od=s best, and I do not belie6e in settlin) for less than the best. 8od )a6e 3is best for us, and I belie6e 8od wants us to walk in 3is best. If 3e did not want us to, then wh( did 3e pro6ide itG 9h( did 3e tell us about itG If (ou want to please 8od and walk in 3is best, (ou ha6e to make the choice to walk b( faith.

11

!aith Is "ow

"ow faith is the substan#e of things hoped for$ the eviden#e of things not seen. %ebrews 11&1

Some (ears a)o when the 1ord )a6e me m( assi)nment, I be)an to teach that faith has a time. In other words, there is a time when faith is faith, and there is a time when faith is not faith. So I tau)ht that the word no+ in 3ebrews ++B+ meant a time. 5hen one da(, I was teachin) in a certain place, and a lad( wrote me a 6er( nice letter full of fire. In essence, she told me I was off in m( teachin), because I did not realiAe that the word no+ is not in the ori)inal 8reek te0t. 9ell, I am a person who chan)es. I do not ha6e a problem with chan)in) if I find out I ha6e been wron). I will chan)e instantaneousl(. It does not matter what an(bod( thinks about it. I intend to be ri)ht. So I be)an to search it out to find out if she was ri)ht or if I was ri)ht. If I was wron), I was )oin) to chan)e. Sure enou)h, she was ri)ht. ,o+ is not in the 8reek te0t. It is not a time indicator in that 6erse. It reall( functions as a conHunction to connect the last 6erse of chapter +0 to the first 6erse of chapter ++. 2 13

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

better translation could be FthereforeF or Fbut.F It could read like thisB But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition: but of them who belie6e to the sa6in) of the soul. -'herefore. faith is the substance of thin)s hoped for C3eb. +0B4 : ++B+D. So I had to fi)ure out what was )oin) on. I knew that time was in6ol6ed with faith. 2nd I knew that this was where most people were missin) it with faith. If (ou do not understand that there is a time to faith, (ou cannot reall( walk in faith. @ou can spell it, and (ou can sa( it, but (ou will not walk in it until (ou find out about the time of faith. I took another look at 3ebrews ++B+ and said, F2ll ri)ht, if I drop the word no+& capitaliAe the =,= and make faith the first word of the sentence, then it would read like this, =,aith is ....= 9ait a minute. =,aith isG=F 5hen I saw itI 5he word is is a present tense 6erb. It could sa( =,aith was,= and it could sa( =,aith will be,= but, no, it sa(s =,aith is.= 9hen it sa(s =,aith is,= it means ri)ht now<present tense. So I was back in the )ame, and I said, F/ka(, I will teach it this wa(. I can still pro6e it b( the 9ord of 8od. ,aith is./ I kept meditatin) on the 6erse and said, F9ell, let me add a little somethin) here. 1et me pla( with the >n)lish a little. I could sa( it like this, =,aith is now.= /r I could sa( =,aith is.= /r I could sa( =Now faith is.= I am back to square one. ,aith is present tense. If it is not present tense, it is not faithIF

Not in Agreement
14

Faith Is Now

9hene6er (ou sa(, FI know 8od is )oin) to do somethin),F (ou are not in faith. @ou are not operatin) in faith, and that is wh( thin)s are not workin). ;ost people do not realiAe it, but when the( sa( 8od is )oin) to do somethin), the( are sa(in) 3e has not done it. 3e said 3e did it: (ou said 3e did not. 8od cannot )et in a)reement with (ou, because (ou are not in a)reement with 3im. ,irst .eter !B!# sa(s, b' whose stripes 'e were healed. It does not sa( (ou +ill be healed. It sa(s (ou +ere healed. If (ou +ere healed, then (ou are healed ri)ht now: it is alread( done. @ou cannot recei6e the healin) for (ourself on (our own faith until (ou realiAe that (ou ha6e to recei6e it in the now. @ou cannot sa( that (ou know the 1ord is )oin) to heal (ou. @ou can die makin) that confession, because that is future tense, and faith is present tense. 8oin) on with 3ebrews ++B+, it sa(s, "ow faith is the substan#e of things hoped for. 5hat means that hope does not ha6e an( substance for what I am hopin) and pra(in). 3ope will not do (ou an( )ood until (ou Hoin faith with it. 3ope sets the )oal. If all (ou ha6e is hope, then all it will allow (ou to do is smile while the ship is sinkin). But if (ou put faith with the hope, (ou will keep the ship afloat. 5hat is a bi) differenceI ,aith is the substance, but what is substanceG Substance is somethin) that (ou can contact with (our ph(sical senses. It is somethin) that can be seen, smelled, heard, tasted or touched. It is tan)ible. 3ope does not ha6e an( substance. 15

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

If (ou are hopin) 8od is )oin) to heal (ou, (ou had better )et a )ood doctor, because Satan is tr(in) to )i6e (ou a one-wa( ticket to the )ra6e(ard. Sure, (ou are sincere, but so was the )an)ster who broke into (our house and ripped off (our tele6ision set. 3e was sincere, too, but he was sincerel( wron). So faith is the substan#e of things hoped for$ the eviden#e of things not seen. ,aith is the e6idence, but what is e6idenceG >6idence is proof, and proof substantiates or 6alidates the e0istence of somethin) (ou do not presentl( ha6e. If (ou alread( had it, (ou would not need an( proof of it, because (ou ha6e it. .roof takes the place of what it is the proof of until the thin) arri6es, therefore, proof is temporar(. Faith for each sit)ation of life is tem orary )ntil that sit)ation manifests itself. 9hen the situation manifests, then (ou do not need an( more faith for it, because (ou ha6e it in manifestation. If faith is the e6idence or proof, then faith itself must be somethin). If it were not somethin), it could not be the proof.

Outside the Senses

Now notice thisB it sa(s faith is the e6idence of thin)s not seen. 9hen we walk b( faith, we lea6e the realm of the senses, and that is where most of us mess it up. 9e walk b( the senses and not b( faith. 9e walk b( the circumstances. 9e ma)nif( the circumstances. 9e reHoice in the circumstances. 9e e6en make Hokes about the circumstances. 1'

Faith Is Now

3ow often ha6e (ou heard someone sa(, FI=ll tell (ou what, I ha6e the de6il on the run, bless 8od. But the de6il sure was chasin) me.F 5hat is the mentalit(. 5he( )et up in church and bra) about how hard the( are ha6in) it. 5hat )ets them a little s(mpath( from people, but it does not honor 8od. 5here is no faith in it. I used to talk about the problem, thinkin) that I was bein) honest. But then I wised up and brou)ht m( words into line with 8od=s 9ord. I belie6e that when the Bible sa(s that faith is the e6idence of thin)s not seen, the word seen does not mean Hust 6isual perception. 5hat would lea6e out all (ou can hear, all (ou can smell, all (ou can taste and all (ou can touch. 2 better wa( to sa( it is that faith is the e6idence of thin)s not percei6ed b( the senses. Now if faith is the e6idence of thin)s not percei6ed b( the ph(sical senses, then that means there is another realm. 5here has to be another world, another realm where faith is the law. 9e li6e in this three-dimensional world where our senses are the law. It is hot because we feel like it is hot. It is blue because we see that it is blue. It is sweet because we taste the sweetness. It is a discord because we hear that it is discordant. /ur senses are the law of the ph(sical world, but when we walk b( faith, we lea6e the ph(sical world and enter the world of the spirit<8od=s world. In the spirit world, faith is the law, and if we do not operate in faith, we are )oin) to be arrested for operatin) outside the law. 17

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

,aith is the law of the spirit realm, and faith is the ke( that allows us to enter that realm.

1*

( !aith and the )ord

In chapter two, we established that faith is the substance or proof of thin)s not seen or percei6ed b( the senses. If that is the case, then how will I e6er know at an( one )i6en point in m( life what m( faith is the e6idence of if I ha6e ne6er seen or percei6ed what thin)s are in the spirit realmG If I ha6e ne6er been informed about what thin)s are in the spirit world, how will I knowG In other words, if I had ne6er seen an elephant, how would I e6er know that at an( )i6en point and time that m( faith is now the e6idence of an elephantG 5here has to be somethin) that tells me there is somethin) out there in the spirit realm at an( )i6en time of which m( faith is the e6idence. I cannot ha6e faith for it if I do not know that it is there. 1ook at Jomans +0B8B
*ut what saith it+ The word is nigh thee$ even in th' mouth$ and in th' heart& that is$ the word of faith$ whi#h we prea#h.

5he 9ord of faith is the 8ood News<the 8ospel of ?esus 'hrist. 9hen we hear the 8ospel preached, we )et knowled)e about 8od, and knowled)e about 8od also re6eals knowled)e about 8od=s world<the spirit world. 5he 9ord shows us what is in the spirit realm. 19

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit So then faith #ometh b' hearing$ and hearing b' the word of ,od. Romans 1-&1.

So then faith comes. If faith comes, then faith must come from somewhere. 2nd faith must not ha6e been there before it came, or it would not ha6e had to come there. So (ou start out without faith, and then faith comes. ,aith does not come b( pra(in). ,aith does not come b( fastin). ,aith does not come b( be))in). ,aith does not come b( whinin). ,aith does not come b( cr(in). ,aith comes b( hearin), and hearin) b( the 9ord of 8od. 5his is the wa( 8od desi)ned the s(stem, and (ou cannot chan)e it. @ou cannot )o around it and find another wa(. 5his is it. ,aith comes b( hearin) the 9ord of 8od, so the 9ord and faith )o hand in hand. @ou cannot ha6e one without the other. If (ou ha6e the 9ord of 8od, then (ou ha6e faith present. If (ou ha6e faith present, then (ou ha6e the 9ord of 8od, because the proclaimin) of the 9ord of 8od causes faith to come. I like to sa( it this wa(, F,aith and the 9ord of 8od )o to)ether like the wet with the water.F @ou cannot ha6e the water without the wet. @ou cannot ha6e the 9ord of 8od proclaimed without faith.

Hearing Never Stops

Now it does not sa( that faith comes b( having heard. 5his is where so man( people miss it. ,aith comes b( hearin), and hearin) is present tense<it 2+

Faith and the Word

)oes on fore6er and ne6er stops. @ou need to keep hearin) and hearin) and hearin). It is like eatin). @ou ha6e eaten in the past, but (ou ha6e to keep on eatin) e6er( da( if (ou want to sta( stron) and health(. 5he food (ou ate last week will not keep (ou functionin) this week. ;inister, if (ou want the supernatural si)ns and wonders to work in (our church, (ou cannot sit there and wait for 8od to do somethin). If (ou want an en6ironment in which the Spirit of 8od can mo6e, (ou are )oin) to ha6e to preach on it. @ou are )oin) to ha6e to teach on it, so that faith can come to the people who are hearin) (ou. 5he en6ironment needs to be char)ed with faith before the power of 8od can be ministered. I used to wonder wh( 8od was not doin) certain thin)s in our church. I was waitin) for 8od, and 8od was waitin) for me. I did not know what was wron). ,inall( the 1ord )ot throu)h to me that I was askin) the wron) question. Instead of askin), F8od, wh( won=t @ou....,K I should ha6e been askin), F8od, what do @ou want me to do so @ou can ....F Eo (ou want healin) to work in (our churchG @ou ha6e to preach on it and then teach on it. /therwise there will not be an( faith. ,aith comes b( hearin). 5he people will not ha6e an( faith, and 8od cannot work. 3e wants to work. 3e wants to mo6e amon) 3is people, but 3e cannot because so man( churches will not let 3im. 5he( refuse to preach the 9ord. So faith and the 9ord of 8od )o hand in hand. 21

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

@ou cannot ha6e one without the other. 5he( are so closel( tied that the( are almost s(non(mous terms. @ou can use them interchan)eabl(. 5his is the ,rederick -.'. .rice translation of 3ebrews ++B+B FNow the 9ord of 8od is the substance of thin)s hoped for: the 9ord of 8od is the proof of thin)s not percei6ed b( the senses.F Eo (ou belie6e it, or do (ou Hust think (ou belie6e itG Eo not be decei6ed. If (ou reall( belie6e it, (ou will sa( what 8od sa(s instead of what the de6il sa(s. 8od sa(s ?esus took our infirmities$ and bare our si#knesses C;att. 8B+"D. 'ook and bare are past tense 6erbs. 5hat means (ou do not ha6e infirmities and sicknesses an(more. In realit( (ou do not, but (ou sa( (ou do. 2nd (ou will ha6e them as lon) as (ou sa( (ou do, because then (ou ha6e si)ned for the packa)e, and the de6il has a ri)ht to deli6er it and keep it on (our front porch. 5his is where a lot of people )o into brain lock. 5he( sa(, FNow that doesn=t make sense. I don=t understand that. I know I=m sick. I know I=6e )ot pain. I knowI Eon=t tell me I=m not sick.F 9ell, keep readin). 5ake a look at the other side of the coin.
)hile we look not at the things whi#h are seen$ but at the things whi#h are not seen& for the things whi#h are seen are temporal/ but the things whi#h are not seen are eternal. 0orinthians 1&12

In this 6erse, we find the words look and seen& 22

Faith and the Word

which take us back to the e(es and the other ph(sical senses. 5wo thin)s are brou)ht to our 6iewB one 8od calls the seen thin)s, and one 8od calls the not seen thin)s. 9e ha6e the seen and the unseen. Now, what is 8od talkin) aboutG It is the same thin) 3e is talkin) about in 3ebrews ++B+. 1et me paraphrase ! 'orinthians #B+8 like I did 3ebrews ++B+, and (ou will see somethin) that is astonishin)B F9hile we look not at the thin)s which are percei6ed b( the senses, but at the thin)s which are not percei6ed b( the senses: for Cor becauseD the thin)s which are percei6ed b( the senses are temporal Ctemporar( or subHect to chan)eD, but the thin)s which are not percei6ed b( the senses are eternal.F 9e ha6e to see these thin)s b( faith. 2nd this is where a lot of people )et all mi0ed up, and this is wh( there are counterfeits out there to tr( to draw (ou awa( from 8od=s realit(.

eware the Counterfeits

@ou ha6e ne6er seen a counterfeit three-dollar bill, and (ou ne6er will unless the United States 5reasur( Eepartment decides to start printin) three-dollar bills. Nobod( with an( sense counterfeits what does not alread( e0ist. 'ounterfeiters alwa(s take what is alread( in e0istence and tr( to make copies of it. 5hen (ou )et suckered into acceptin) the cop( for the real thin). Satan has some copies. 5he copies ha6e such 23

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

names as 'hristian Science, ;etaph(sics, Spiritual ,rontiers ,ellowship, Unit(, Eianetics, ;ind Science and ;ind .ower. Eo not be decei6ed. Eo not confuse the Bible with these counterfeits. Bible faith takes (ou into the spirit realm. Satan=s counterfeits take (ou into the soulish realm, where the( operate on mind power, not 8od=s power of the spirit. I am not talkin) about thin)s that are not reall( there. 5he 6erse sa(s, )hile we look not at the things whi#h are seen. 5he thin)s which are seen must reall( e0ist. If the( did not e0ist, there would be no need to tell (ou not to look at them, because (ou cannot see what is not there. 5he 6er( fact that 3e sa(s not to look at it is indicati6e of the fact that it does e0ist, but 8od is tellin) (ou, FEon=t look at that dumb thin).F F9ell, what am I supposed to do, Brother .rice, i)nore itGF No, (ou don=t sa( that it is not there. @ou Hust don=t )i6e it an( credit for ha6in) an( effect or control on (our life. @ou don=t sa( it is not there: (ou Hust don=t )i6e in to it. 'an (ou see the differenceG
34s it is written$ I have made thee a father of man' nations$5 before him whom he believed$ even ,od$ who 6ui#keneth the dead$ and #alleth those things whi#h be not as though the' were. Romans 1&1.

Notice thisB it does not sa( 8od calls those thin)s which be as thou)h the( were not. 3e calls those thin)s which be not as thou)h the( were. 5hat is a 6ast difference. 24

Faith and the Word

It is sa(in) the same thin) as ! 'orinthians #B+8B

)hile we look not at the things whi#h are seen$ but at the things whi#h are not seen& for the things whi#h are seen are temporal/ but the things whi#h are not seen are eternal.

9e do not den( that sickness and disease e0ist. 5hat would be foolhard(. If we do den( their e0istence, then 8od will ha6e to chan)e one of 3is se6en redempti6e names. Jehovah Ra ha means FI am the 1ord who heals (ou.F 3ow could 8od heal (ou of somethin) that does not e0ist in (ouG If there were no such thin) as sickness and disease, then 8od could not be the 1ord who heals (ou, because there would not be an(thin) to heal. So sickness does e0ist. .ain does e0ist, but we need to stop )i6in) it comfort. 9e need to stop ownin) it as ours.

!oo" at the #ord

9hat do (ou do, then, when (ou are in painG Eo (ou den( the painG Eo (ou sa(, FI don=t hurt. I don=t ha6e pain. I=m not reall( in pain. ;( back doesn=t hurtFG No, (ou i)nore it for a hi)her 6ision, a hi)her re6elation. 9hat do (ou look atG @ou look at the unchan)in) 9ord of the 1i6in) 8od. 3ebrews %B+8 sa(s it is impossible for 8od to lie. If it is impossible for 8od to lie, then the onl( other alternati6e is that 8od must tell the truth. So if 8od sa(s that with ?esus= stripes I was healed, then I must 25

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

be healed. If I am not healed, 8od is a liar. 2nd if 8od is a liar, the Bible is in6alid and of no effect. F@eah, but I don=t feel well.F 5hat is (our problem. @ou are walkin) b( (our senses instead of walkin) b( the 9ord of 8od. @ou sa( (ou belie6e the Bible, but (ou do not. @ou belie6e the circumstances. I ha6e seen too man( people come to meetin)s to be pra(ed for, then the first thin) the( sa( when the( lea6e the pra(er line is, FNo, no. It didn=t work. I don=t feel an( better.F 2nd the( ne6er will. Now, I am talkin) about faith here, not the supernatural inter6ention of 8od. 9hen the )ifts of the Spirit are operatin), 8od is initiatin) it, and (ou do not ha6e to belie6e an(thin). But (ou cannot walk in those si)ns and wonders all (our life. 2nd a lot of people lose their healin) before the( )et out the front door, because the( do not know how to keep it b( faith. 9e must walk b( faith.

2'

1 The Power of the Tongue

7eath and life are in the power of the tongue& and the' that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 12& 1

5his 6erse can ha6e a profound impact on (our life. Eeath and life are in the power of yo)r ton)ue. 5hat means (ou can speak death to (our life with (our own mouth, or (ou can speak life to (our life with (our own mouth. It is up to (ou. >6er(thin) (ou ha6e in (our life ri)ht now and e6er(thin) (ou are ri)ht now is the sum total of all (ou ha6e been belie6in) and sa(in) with (our mouth o6er the (ears. 1aws work whether (ou know the( are workin) or not. @ou can Hump off the top of a sk(scraper and not know that there is an( such thin) as the law )ra6it(. But as soon as (our foot lea6es that top led)e, (ou are )oin) to come under the influence of that law. @ou do not ha6e a choice o6er whether that law works. 5he law of )ra6it( will brin) (ou crashin) to the )round in a matter of seconds. 5hat law is workin) twent(-four hours a da( whether (ou know it or not. @ou need to know that there is a law of words. 9hen (ou speak words that are out of a)reement with the 9ord of the 1i6in) 8od, (ou ha6e Hust cut (ourself off from 8od. It does not mean that (ou are 27

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

no lon)er 3is child. It does not mean that 3e no lon)er lo6es (ou. But it does mean (ou ha6e broken the connection. ,or e0ample, I can be talkin) on the telephone to m( wife. If somethin) happens to break the connection, we are no lon)er communicatin). ;( wife is still on the other end of the line, and I do not lo6e her an( less than when I could hear her 6oice. 3owe6er, the communication has been interrupted. I am on this end, and she is on that end, but we are not makin) contact. 9e are still husband and wife, but we ha6e been cut off. 9hen we are not operatin) in line with the 9ord of 8od, we ha6e cut oursel6es off. 8od is still our ,ather. 9e ha6e not broken the relationship, Hust the connection. 9e are operatin) in line with tradition and feelin)s and circumstances. 0od +ants )s to deny that the circ)mstances have any right to dictate to )s +here +e are or +hat +e do. 'hey are not o)r Lord1Jes)s is. If (ou want to walk in the realm of the spirit, (ou will ha6e to chan)e (our 6ocabular( and brin) it in line with the 9ord of 8od.

Snared b$ %$ %outh
I had to do this almost twent( (ears a)o. I was a disaster )oin) somewhere to happen. I was m( own worst enem(, and I did not know it. I had been speakin) death into m( life for (ears and had built up a reser6oir of death. I was allowin) circumstances to 2*

The Power of the Tongue

cheat me out of the benefits I should ha6e had under the co6enant. I was bein) cute and sa(in) thin)s like, F9ell, I think I=m )oin) to be sick. I Hust heard that the 3on) -on) flu is on its wa( around a)ain, and I=m alwa(s one of the first to )et it.F 5hat ma( sound funn( to (ou, but (ou probabl( ha6e been doin) the same thin). Eeath and life are both in the power of the ton)ue. 1ook at what ?esus saidB
!or veril' I sa' unto 'ou$ That whosoever shall sa' unto this mountain$ *e thou removed$ and be thou #ast into the sea/ and shall not doubt in his heart$ but shall believe that those things whi#h he saith shall #ome to pass/ he shall have whatsoever he saith. 8ark 11& (

?esus did not sa( Fwhatso6er is )ood.F 3e said Fwhatso6er.F If (ou keep talkin) death, that is what (ou are )oin) to ha6e. If (ou keep talkin) sickness and disease, that is what (ou are )oin) to ha6e. If (ou keep talkin) problems, that is what (ou are )oin) to ha6e, because (ou are )oin) to create the realit( of them with (our own mouth. 5hat is a di6ine law. Notice that ?esus said (ou will ha6e what (ou say not what (ou believe. @ou will onl( )et it because (ou sa( it. So what (ou sa( ou)ht to be based on what (ou belie6e, and what (ou belie6e ou)ht to be based on what the 9ord sa(s.
0ome unto me$ all 'e that labour and are heav' laden$ and I will give 'ou rest.

29

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit Take m' 'oke upon 'ou$ and learn of me/ for I am meek and lowl' in heart& and 'e shall find rest unto 'our souls. !or m' 'oke is eas'$ and m' burden is light. 8atthew 11& 29(-

?esus said 3is (oke is eas( and 3is burden is li)ht, and 3e is not a liar. 3e is the wa(, the truth, and the life. C?ohn +#B%.D 3e said 3e will )i6e (ou rest, not more trials and tribulations. ?esus said it, and that settles it.

Carefree !iving
5he reason the 'hristian life has been hard for man( people is because the( ha6e been carr(in) the burdens themsel6es. But (ou do not ha6e to carr( them. If (our (oke is hard and (our burden is hea6(, somethin) is wron). @ou need to come into a)reement with what the 9ord sa(s. 1ook at .eter=s instructionB
0asting all 'our #are upon him/ for he #areth for 'ou. 1 Peter :&.

If I ha6e cast m( care on 3im, that means he has it. If 3e has it, then I do not, and if I do not, I am free. If I turn around and pick up that care a)ain, then 3e does not ha6e it an( lon)er, and I am wei)hed down with a hea6( burden. I ha6e to cast m( care on 3im and lea6e it there. 5hat is the freedom 8od wants us to walk in. I know it is risk( for me to sa( this, but it is still the truth, and the truth will set (ou free. Since + "0, I 3+

The Power of the Tongue

ha6e not had a down da(. Not one. 2nd I do not e6er intend to ha6e an(. I retired from down da(s almost twent( (ears a)o. If (ou want them, (ou can ha6e them. 5here are a lot of them out there<an( color, siAe or shape (ou want. @ou are welcome to them, but I ha6e not been discoura)ed in all that time. Now, do not misunderstand me. I ha6e had plent( of opportunities to be discoura)ed and down. I ha6e had the same opportunities as e6er(one else, because I li6e in the same world and fi)ht the same de6il. But I ha6e learned to sa(, F.ass on b(, troubles. I am free.F I cast all m( care on 3im. I cast m( ministr( on 3im: it is 3is minnistr(, not mine. I am )oin) to do m( part and carr( out m( assi)nment, but I do not ha6e a problem with it, because it is not m( ministr(. 5he people do not belon) to me: the( belon) to the 1ord. I am an undershepherd. If I feed the sheep and feed the lambs, then ?esus will take care of the rest.

#hining and Cr$ing

Now some people would rather listen to the de6il than to the 9ord of 8od, because the( )et a lot of s(mpath( that wa(. 5he( cr( and whine and )et their e)os patted. 5he( sa(, F.oor old me, the de6il has been whippin) me. .oor old me, ain=t it a shameGF S(mpath( becomes their reward instead of the benefits of the co6enant. I ha6e not cried in almost twent( (ears, but m( wife can tell (ou that I used to be a cr( bab(. I was a 31

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

world-class worrier. I could whine in se6eral octa6es at the same time. In fact, whene6er I would see somebod(, I would )i6e them an or)an recital. 3a6e (ou e6er heard an or)an recitalG F;( ear hurts, m( nose hurts, m( e(es hurt, m( lun)s hurt, m( chest hurts, m( di)esti6e or)ans hurt (ou know, an or)an recital. But I retired from all that. I cast all m( cares on 3im. 5he 1ord will not touch them if we do not cast all of them on 3im. If (ou do not cast the cares on 3im, (ou will ha6e to carr( the burden. 5he burden is real, and it will wei)h (ou down until (ou can hardl( walk. .ain is real. ,ear is real. .o6ert( and lack are real. 2s (ou carr( all that mess on (our back, (ou will be bent o6er, stru))lin) down the road of life. @ou mi)ht e6en be proud about what a hard time (ou are ha6in). But I am not like the si0 o=clock news on tele6ision. I ha6e )ood news for (ou. @ou can be free in ?esus. I do not ha6e trials and tribulations. I ha6e opportunities for them, but I ha6e cast all m( cares on 3im, because 3e cares for me. If I ha6e cast them on 3im, then I do not ha6e them, and I am free. If I sa( I am not, I am a liar, and I am )oin) to ha6e the power of Satan workin) in m( life, because I am )oin) contrar( to what the 9ord of 8od sa(s. ,or (ears now, I ha6e not been down or discoura)ed. No blue ;onda(s, red 5uesda(s, oran)e 9ednesda(s, chartreuse 5hursda(s, black ,rida(s, 32

The Power of the Tongue

)reen Saturda(s or purple Sunda(s. >6er( da( is a )ood da(. I ha6e had a thousand opportunities to be discoura)ed, but I ha6e )one b( all them, because I walk b( faith and not b( si)ht.

33

: 4 Living ;<ample
0orinthians :&.

!or we walk b' faith$ not b' sight.

In this 6erse, 8od is sa(in) that we should walk b( the 9ord and not b( the ph(sical senses. 5he 9ord is our standard. ?esus is our e0ample. If that is true Cand it isD, how dare I sa( that I am scared or afraidG 5hat would be pointin) m( bon( fin)er in the face of 8od and callin) 3im a liar. 3e said in 3is 9ordB
!or ,od hath not given us the spirit of fear/ but of power$ and of love$ and of a sound mind. Timoth' 1&.

So if I ha6e fear, it did not come from 8od, and I do not ha6e an( business entertainin) it. It is dishonorin) to 8od. @es, I could be scared e6er( minute of e6er( da(, but I retired from it because 8od has not )i6en me that spirit. I do not need it, so I am not afraid of an(thin). @ou ma( think that I ha6e not faced the same thin)s (ou ha6e, but I ha6e been e0actl( where (ou ha6e been. I was there when the doctor walked out of the room and told me that m( little ei)ht-(ear-old son, who had been run o6er b( a car, was dead. I ha6e 35

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

walked there. I stood b( the casket of m( wife=s (oun)er sister who died of cancer. 5hen shortl( thereafter, someone Humped in the car behind her husband and blew his brains out. Shortl( after he was killed, their oldest son committed suicide. ;( wife=s (oun)er brother died of an o6erdose of narcotics. I ha6e been there, but I do not talk about those thin)s, because the( do not ma)nif( the 1ord, and it is not )oin) to brin) them back to talk about it. I stood there on the porch when the( Hacked up m( car and repossessed it. I was there when the man with the two-wheel doll( came in the house, went o6er to the corner and unplu))ed the tele6ision set. 3e wrapped the cord around the back of the 5L, pushed the doll( underneath it, secured the lashin) strap around it, and repossessed m( 5L. I know what it is to ha6e thin)s taken awa( from me. I stood in the court when I had to declare bankruptc(, because I could not pa( m( bills, and I could not take care of m( wife and children.

attle #ith Tumors

Before I learned how to walk in the 9ord, I had a tumor in m( bod(. 5he churches that I went to then said that miracles and healin) were onl( for the >arl( 'hurch and that all that ended when the apostles died. 5he( said it did not work an(more, but thank 8od for doctors and medicine. 5he doctor cut that tumor out of me, but he told 3'

A Living E ample

me another one mi)ht )row in the other side of m( chest ca6it( later on. Sometimes 6esti)es of that particular t(pe of tumor will sta( in the bod( and tra6el to a new location later. Sure enou)h, one da( there was another tumor that )rew and )rew. But I knew what the 9ord said b( that time, and I cursed the thin) in the name of ?esus. It took me ele6en months to stand, because I was still a bab( in faith. I had more of the 9ord in m( head than in m( heart, but I kept sa(in), FI belie6e I am healed based on the 9ord of 8od.F Jomans +0B+" sa(s faith cometh b( hearin), and hearin) b( the word of 8od. It does not sa( who (ou ha6e to hear it from. @ou can hear it from (our own mouth. If (ou cannot belie6e (our own mouth, whose mouth are (ou )oin) to belie6eG If I walked up to /ral Joberts and said, F@ou=re scared, (ou=re scared,F do (ou think that would bother the man of 8odG /f course not, because m( words do not ha6e the credibilit( with him that his words do. 3e belie6es his words more than he belie6es mine. So when (ou sa( thin)s like, FI=m sick. I=m poor. I can=t make it. I=m afraid I won=t succeed,F (ou belie6e those thin)s, because (ou ha6e confidence in (our words. 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter has been out of room for more than ten (ears. In + "", we went to double ser6ices. 9e went lookin) for more room and found a twent(-three acre propert( in 1os 2n)eles. 5hat was 37

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

like findin) pearls of )reat price, because there is not that much propert( ri)ht in the middle of the cit(.

Ta"ing a Huge !oss

9e went to inquire about the propert(, and somethin) inside me said, FNo, don=t )o into this deal.F But we went into it an(wa(. It did not work out, because we did not )et the financin) we needed. ,inall(, the( )a6e us one last opportunit(, but the( wanted us to put up one hundred thousand dollars. ;( board said, F@es, pastor, we need to do this. 9e ou)ht to do it.F Somethin) inside said, FNo, don=t do it,F but I did not want to be dictatorial, so I said, F9ell oka(, let=s )o with it.F 9e lost the hundred thousand dollars. I had to stand up there that Sunda( mornin) all b( m(self and take full responsibilit( as pastor of the church for losin) one hundred thousand dollars. 2 multimillionaire, white businessman called me into his bi), beautiful office and asked me to sit down. 5his spirit-filled, ton)ue-talkin), Bible-totin), faithbelie6in) businessman said, F,red, (ou mi)ht as well realiAe it. Nobod( is )oin) to loan (ou an( mone( in the )hetto.F 5hat was a real encoura)in) word. 9here were we )oin) to )et the mone( to sol6e our space problem in the )hettoG 9ell, m( 8od supplies all m( needs accordin) to 3is riches in )lor( b( 'hrist ?esus. C.hil. #B+ .D So I be)an to sa(, FI belie6e that all m( needs are met.F 9e did not ha6e an( mone(, but b( confessin) the 9ord 3*

A Living E ample

of 8od we bou)ht a thirt(-two-acre piece of propert( ri)ht in the heart of 1os 2n)eles. 9ithout sellin) an( chicken dinners and without an( rumma)e sales, black folks bou)ht thirt(-two acres for fourteen million dollars. 9e owe less than four million dollars on it now, and we are buildin) a sanctuar( that will seat more than ten thousand people. 9hat will we do if we cannot )et it builtG 5hat is not m( problem. It is not m( church: it is 8od=s church. If 3e cannot build it, then we do not need it. If I could build it, I would ha6e done it more than ten (ears a)o when we ran out of room. I cannot do it, but 8od can. .erhaps (ou now can understand me better when I sa( that I do not ha6e an( problems. I ha6e cast them all on 3im. So I ha6e to act like I am free, and I ha6e to talk like I am free. I am a li6in) e0ample that it works. I ha6e confessed m( wa( out of debt personall(. I do not owe mone( to an(one, and I pa( cash for e6er(thin). I am tr(in) to )i6e (ou a li6in) e0ample of a contemporar( man of faith, not someone who li6ed hundreds of (ears a)o. 5hank 8od for ;artin 1uther, but I ne6er saw ;artin 1uther. 5hank 8od for 'harles and ?ohn 9esle(, but I ne6er saw them either. 9e need to see some contemporar( people who are walkin) b( the 9ord of 8od and not b( the ph(sical senses.

39

= Rea#hing Into the Realm of the Spirit

5he si0th chapter of ! -in)s records some of the e0ploits of >lisha, the prophet of 8od. 2t this particular time, Israel was at war with S(ria. 9hene6er the S(rians would )o out and set an ambush, the word of knowled)e would work in >lisha=s life, and he would inform the kin) of Israel about S(ria=s plans. 5ime after time, Israel=s troops a6oided the ambushes. 5his happened so often and so re)ularl( that the kin) of S(ria said, F9e must ha6e a fink in our ranks. Some sp( is )i6in) awa( our militar( secrets.F /ne of the soldiers said, F/h, no, kin), that is not the problem at all. 5here is a prophet o6er there in Israel, and he knows e6er(thin) ... e6en what is )oin) on in (our bedchamber.F 2nd the kin) said, FSend some spies to find out where this prophet is.F 9hen the spies returned, the( told the S(rian kin) that >lisha was in Eothan. 5hen the kin) said, F8et the troops and chariots to)ether. 9e=re )oin) to )o o6er and la( sie)e a)ainst this cit(. 9e=re )oin) to put a stop to this leak in our communications.F 41

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

So the( went o6er that ni)ht and surrounded the entire cit(. >arl( in the mornin), >lisha=s ser6ant went out to draw water, as was his custom, but this time his e(eballs almost fell out of their sockets. >6er(where he looked he saw S(rian troops. 3e dropped his bucket and ran back to the house. F2las, m( master, what shall we doG 5he arm( of the S(rians has us surroundedI 9hat shall we doGF >lisha said, F'ome and show me what (ou are talkin) about.F 5he( went outside, and the ser6ant said, F1ookI >6er(where (ou can see there are S(rian troops waitin) for us.F F/h,F said the prophet. F/hGF said the ser6ant. F;an, we=re about to die, and all (ou can sa( is =/h=GF >lisha said, F,ear not, for those who are with us are )reater than those who are with them.F

&Open His '$es&

5he ser6ant looked at the thousands of S(rian troops, then at the two of them, and then back at the troops and chariots. 3e thou)ht, F5he prophet has reall( lost it this time. 3e can=t see, or else he can=t count.F 4nd ;lisha pra'ed$ and said$ Lord$ I pra' thee$ open his e'es$ that he ma' see C! -in)s %B+"D. 9ait a minute. 9hat kind of nonsensical pra(er is 42

Rea!hing Into the Realm of the Spirit

thisG 5he prophet is sa(in), F1ord, open his e(es,F when the ser6ant=s e(es were alread( wide open. 5hat is what had scared the poor dude so much. But the prophet was not talkin) about the ser6ant=s ph(sical e(es. 3e was talkin) about the e(es of the spirit<the e(es that see be(ond what the ph(sical e(es can percei6e. So the 1ord opened the spiritual e(es of the (oun) man, and$ behold$ the mountain was full of horses and #hariots of fire round about ;lisha C6. +"D. >6er(thin) >lisha needed was alread( in the spiritual realm. >6en when the ser6ant could not see the horses and chariots /f fire, the( were still alread( there. 5he spirit world is more real than the ph(sical world. 5he ph(sical world is onl( a shadow of that real world<the realm of the Spirit of 8od. 9hether (ou see it or not, and whether (ou feel it or not, e6er(thin) (ou need that is consistent with a )odl( life is alread( in the spirit realm. @ou ha6e to speak it from the spirit realm into this threedimensional ph(sical world. If it is consistent with a )odl( life, (ou can ha6e it. @ou initiate it b( (our faith, and that takes effort and determination. Some people want 8od to pour it out on them without an( effort on their part. But ! 'orinthians $B" sa(s, we walk b' faith. It does not sa(, F8od pushes.F It sa(s, F9e walk.F @ou can walk abo6e the circumstances of life. 5hat is walkin) b( the 9ord and not b( the senses. 5hat is castin) all (our cares on 8od and takin) 3im at 3is 43

Living In the Realm Of the Spirit

9ord. 5hat is brin)in) the supernatural realm into the natural realm.

44

7r. !rederi#k >.0. Pri#e founded 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter in 1os 2n)eles, 'alifornia, in + "4 with a con)re)ation of some 400 people. 5oda( the membership of that church which he pastors e0ceeds +%,000 people of 6arious back)rounds. 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter, with a staff of nearl( !00 emplo(ees, consists of a School of ;inistr( and the ,rederick -.'. .rice, III, >lementar( and ?unior 3i)h School and 'hild 'are 'enter. F>6er Increasin) ,aithF tele6ision and radio broadcasts are outreaches of 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter. 5he tele6ision pro)ram ma( be 6iewed throu)hout the U.S. and in 2ustralia, 9est Indies, Bahamas and the U.S. Lir)in Islands. 5he radio pro)ram is aired on %8 stations across the countr(. Er. .rice was born ?anuar( 4, + 4!, in Santa ;onica, 'alifornia. 3e attended ;c-inle( >lementar( School in Santa ;onica. ,osha( ?unior 3i)h School, ;anual 2rts and Eorse( 3i)h Schools in 1os 2n)eles and completed two (ears at 1os 2n)eles 'it( 'olle)e. In + "% he recei6ed an honorar( diploma from Jhema Bible 5rainin) 'enter

and in + 8! was awarded an honorar( Eoctorate of Ei6init( de)ree from /ral Joberts Uni6ersit(: both institutions are located in 5ulsa, /klahoma. In ;arch + $4 Er. .rice married the former Bett( Juth Scott. 5he( ha6e four childrenB 2n)ela ;arie >6ans, who is now >0ecuti6e Lice-.resident of 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter: 'her(l 2nn 'rabbe: Stephanie .auline: and ,rederick -enneth. Er. and ;rs. .rice ha6e two )randchildrenB 2lan ;ichael and 2drian ;arie, children of 2n)ela and her husband ;ichael. In )reat demand as a seminar teacher, Er. .rice tra6els throu)hout the world teachin) the 9ord simpl( and in the power of the 3ol( Spirit. 3is 8od)i6en abilit( as a teacher enables him to simpl( and understandabl( transmit to others how faith works. Er. .rice has authored ten booksB 2o+ Faith %orks3 'he 2oly S irit 4 'he #issing !ngredient3 !s 2ealing For (ll53 2o+ 'o 6btain Strong Faith3 Faith& Foolishness& or Pres)m tion53 2igh Finance3 'hank 0od For 7verything5 2o+ 'o "elieve 0od For ( #ate3 ,o+ Faith !s3 and #arriage and the Family.

,or a complete list of tapes and books b( ,red .rice, or to recei6e his publication, 7ver !ncreasing Faith #essenger& writeB ,rederick -.'. .rice 'renshaw 'hristian 'enter ../. Bo0 0000 1os 2n)eles, '2 000 Feel free to incl)de yo)r rayer re8)ests and comments +hen yo) +rite.