Living Hope Fellowship Church

HIS VIRTUE

Training Material

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

HIS VIRTUE

Preface

(Holy Ghost, power)

          Luke 6:19 says, “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”  That virtue came by the power of the Holy Ghost. 

          The same Holy Ghost that was in Jesus should flow from every Believer.  In John 14:12 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

          You start by being born again.  Then you go on to get filled with the Holy Ghost.  You go on into perfection and become a partaker of His divine nature.  We can have the same power Jesus had, and we can do what He did if we yield to God like He did!

HIS VIRTUE

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

          Luke 6:17-19 says, “And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.  And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.”

          The gospel of Jesus was different, and that is why He was worth listening to.  Even the officers in John 7:46 said, “Never man spake like this man.”  Multitudes followed Jesus to hear Him and to be healed of every kind of disease and also to be delivered of unclean spirits.  When Jesus decreed something, IT HAPPENED.  When He commanded the devil to leave, he left, and the person was free.  That is the ministry.  People should come to church to become more like Jesus, and then go out and do the same thing.  Then others would hear the Lord through them and be delivered also.  It would multiply across the earth, and we would see a great harvest of souls.

          John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  It wasn’t a partial or an intellectual deliverance, but a real, living, joy unspeakable and full of Glory freedom in the Lord!

          Something about Jesus caused these things to take place when He ministered, and the same should flow from every one that has believed on the Lord. 

          In John 14:12 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

          He also said in Luke 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”  If we could get it done differently or with less than Jesus did, we’d be classified greater than the Lord.  If we could move people to God without having to be filled with the Holy Ghost like Jesus was, we would be greater than the Lord. Many churches are trying to fulfill the great commission with less than He had, and that is ridiculous.  We should be in the same place in God that Jesus was. 

          Hebrews 2:10 says, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”  God wants us all to graduate from children of God to mature sons of God.  We have an inheritance, but we aren’t going to get it until we grow up and show responsibility, commitment, perseverance, selflessness, and praise to God.  

          People should go to a place where their needs are genuinely met by God.  Unfortunately, some people are more dedicated to their pastor, denomination, doctrine, or family and friends than they are to Christ Jesus!  John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

          Whatever He taught His disciples He also teaches us.  He wants His virtue to flow through us!  Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “. . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  He said in Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. . . .” 

          In John 3:7 He said, “. . . Ye must be born again.”  In John 20:22 He said, “. . . Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”  He said in Matthew 16:24, “. . . If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

          What are the characteristics of God’s church when His virtue is flowing?  Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  

          God raises up leaders and sets them in the church that the rest of the saints will learn how to let His virtue flow.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

          God gave gifts - avenues for His virtue to flow.  1 Corinthians 12:7-12 says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

          If you want to know if a car is fast, check the horsepower rating.  If you want to know if a church is right, see if there are any miracles going on there.  God might be in the name of a church, it might be written over the door, it might be in their hymns or on the marquee, but if God isn’t there, it’s time to find out where God is! 

          Some people say they can find God in nature.  Yes, but Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  That means that you are supposed to gather together in a congregation or an assembly.  They were all together with one accord in one place when the power of God fell in Acts, Chapter 2. 

          Every believer must have VIRTUE if the church is going to minister like Jesus did!  Sadly, most ministers don’t have God’s power flowing out of them.  You can have a flow of words, but is there a flow of virtue, an unction, a stirring?  Does it prick your heart?

          The woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years sought Jesus.  When she reached up and touched the hem of His garment, she was immediately healed, and Jesus said in Luke 8:46, “. . . Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”  That virtue of the Lord can be imparted to every believer.  It should flow constantly out of them. 

          Peter knew about foolish, blasphemous speech and bitterness, but he was so transformed that he began to preach as a partaker of divine nature.  He said in 1 Peter 4:11, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. . . .” 

          Every born again believer should get filled with the Holy Ghost.  Jesus said in John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”  Where living water touches, there is life.  If there is any death in you, any sickness, any bondage or sin, that living water from God purges it.  We should operate in virtue.  The believer should be in the same walk as his Master.

          The commands, and the blessings, and the promises of God are absolutely astounding!  There are no commands in the Word of God that He does not give us  power to fulfill!  Such is the latter part of Matthew 17:20 that says, “. . . and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Mark 9:23 says, “. . . If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”  Read also Matthew 8:13 and Luke 10:19.

          Psalms 91:7 says, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”  Verse 10 says, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”  It goes on and on.  How are these things possible?  God makes them possible!  Matthew 19:26 says, “. . . with God all things are possible.” 

          Jesus imparts God’s divine nature to man.  He begins by cleaning us up (saves us), and then He sets us out of the world into His Holy place which He has prepared for us.  He doesn’t set us there to protect us from this mean, old world!  He gets us justified and sanctified and sends us right back into the sewer of the world.  However, we are totally different now.  We are anointed with the virtue of Almighty God’s Son, and it is flowing out of us.  Hallelujah! 

          You are transformed from a devil owned being of this planet into a son of God.  Do you see the distance He takes you?  God will take you from the gutter to a glorious son of God if you will let Him.  2 Corinthians 3:6 says, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 

          Jesus wants to impart a glory and a virtue to every believer.  2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” 

          The walk of a Christian starts out in righteousness, goes into holiness, and comes into godliness.  You are in one of those phases!

          We need virtue for ministry now.  It is ridiculous to think that God saves somebody do a great work with them after they go to heaven.  He is talking about a great work before you go, so you can take more with you to heaven!

          You have been told that you can’t walk perfect by people who aren’t walking perfect and who aren’t without sin themselves.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  That says that you are supposed to get into the place where you don’t sin anymore! 

          We make mistakes, but they can become less and less frequent to where soon they cease to exist.  God forgives you of your sins, and then He works on getting the sin nature out of you so that you quit sinning! 

          Romans 3:25 says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

          When you are born again, you are forgiven up to that point, but you must continue to walk holy and godly in the Lord until you die.  It is ridiculous to call ourselves Christians, yet have sin, because Christ had no sin.  We have temptations, but we should kick them out, bringing every thought into captivity, and say, I reject that evil in the name of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).  That is practical Christianity.  If it is in your head it will get in your heart.  Then your mouth will speak it, and your hands will do it, so don’t dwell on evil stuff!  You can’t serve two masters.  (See Matthew 6:24, Matthew 12:34, and Proverbs 4:23.)

          That is why you have to leave alone a lot of television and other media.  You can’t have garbage in and expect blessings out.  You probably think you’re missing something.  Yeah - heaven if you don’t keep sin out!  Some people say, Oh, it is so strict.  That’s why I don’t get saved.  I don’t think I can live it.  God will give you power to live it.  In fact, you will want to live it. 

          There are things I used to love that I despise now, because my nature has been changed.  God loves righteousness and hates iniquity.  We need to learn to hate sin and not the sinner.  I preach against sin, and that you can be free from it.  If you keep your sin, you will have to go the way of sin, which is to the pits of hell with no redemption forever. 

          If you will say, I hate my sin, but I still love to sin, so set me free, Jesus, He will set you free.  You have to decide to turn your back on sin.  Have faith that God can do it.  Just yield to the Spirit, and see what He can do. 

          2 Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

          A divine nature means a God-like nature.  We get it through His divine power.  You can’t have divine ability or divine activity without divine power.

          Jesus told us how to pray.  Matthew 6:9-13 says, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

          Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”  However, when you go to ask Him for something, the very first petition you give is, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  That means that it is possible.  He commands us to pray for it, and believe for it, and He will give us power to have it. 

          The “kingdom of heaven” isn’t just words.  1 Corinthians 4:20 says, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”

          He has got us to the place through the promises of God to be partakers and to be encapsulated by the divine nature.  Jesus was a man, but He had a divine nature.  The first apostles were of this world, but they had a divine nature after they were filled with the Spirit.  That divine power is the baptism in the Holy Ghost! 

          Some people get into knowledge and words.  You can have a measure of blessing, miracles, and faith, but until you get the Holy Ghost, you can’t have all that Jesus had.  Let go, and let God have your life. 

          Once you get filled with the Holy Ghost, you need to stay filled and running over.  He will progressively get you to the place where the divine nature is so much greater than your worldly nature that you will become a living epistle of God.  You are fully able to do what Jesus did without hesitation.  People will come and say, Will you pray for me?  I see virtue going out of you from the Lord! 

          What made Jesus different from other preachers?  Virtue.  It will make the Christian different, and the world needs a church with more victory than they have.  They have a lot more fun going to hell than you do with just the persevering and enduring unto the end.  We’ve got to have the joy and the virtue of the Lord.

          All the promises of God are for you, and for your children, and for as many as the Lord our God shall call!  If you are born again, it is a commandment to receive the Holy Ghost, so that you can walk in holiness and godliness.  People won’t wonder if you are a Christian or not.  They will know something is different about you. 

          We are too dependent on the world.  As I read the Word of God, I see that it could get to the place where we aren’t even dependent on gravity, because it won’t hold us down one day (translation or rapture). 

          The virtue of God has to flow out through the church again as it flowed out of Jesus and healed and delivered all that really wanted it.  IT IS COMING!  I’m going to get it by the grace of God, not by any measure of intellect or by trying to be a good guy.  More and more everything else is taking a back seat.  It isn’t just because I am a preacher.  The Bible says that these signs shall follow them that believe.

          God wants the virtue that flowed out of the Lord to flow out of every believer, but it doesn’t flow out of anybody that is not filled with His Holy Ghost.  If it did, you would be greater than the Master.  Jesus did no miracle until He was first filled with the Holy Ghost.  Jesus didn’t defeat Satan as a man until He was first filled with the Holy Ghost. 

          If you get filled with the Holy Ghost and go on with God, you will have confrontations with the devil.  However, you are going to whip him, because God gives you power over all the power of the enemy!  You have to stand and fight the good fight of faith! 

          1 John 2:27 says, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  This is talking about people who are baptized in the Holy Ghost!  Does this mean after you get filled with the Holy Ghost you don’t need a preacher?  No.  Read the first and second books of Corinthians where Paul had to straighten out some Christians.  Remember Ephesians said the saints need perfecting!

           You can start to think about something sinful, and the Holy Ghost will say, No, no!  When you get filled with the Holy Ghost, somebody can try to seduce you, and you can say, Get behind me, Satan.  I’m going to serve the Lord.  I will have purity, and I will have holiness without sin in my life!  I believe that God is going to do something great!  Then, virtue will come out of you and drive the devil back and cause him to flee!

          James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  You start by being born again, and then you get filled with the Holy Ghost.  You go on into perfection and become a partaker of His divine nature.  The same Spirit Jesus had dwells in a believer, so we can do what He did if we yield to God like He did.

            The same anointing teaches you all things.  It is truth and is no lie, and as He teaches you, you shall abide in Him.  Jesus said in John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” 

          When was the last time that you heard the words virtue or virtuous without somebody sneering?  The Bride of Christ must be virtuous.  You can read Proverbs, Chapter 31, about a virtuous woman, which also relates to what the church is supposed to be doing.

          What happened to virtue and the love of holiness?  What ever happened to the fear of God?  You can get it back if you will get filled with the same pure, divine, and virtuous Holy Spirit of God that Jesus had.  It is the same one that raised Him from the dead and now quickens the believer today!

          We can become a partaker of the eternal, divine, Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ had.  Let’s consider our ways, and seek God for our priorities.  If we want victory, we can have it!  Everything that you give up for God, He will replace with something of Himself.  He doesn’t leave you empty! 

          I pray for a hunger and thirst for God in a way that we have never known before.  Let’s not quench the Spirit, but let virtue come back to the church so it can come back to the land again.  Let’s believe God!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

PASTOR KEVIN BADGLEY

LIVING HOPE FELLOWSHIP, P. O. BOX 111, GRAND CHAIN, IL  62941

CHURCH / FAX (618) 634-2541

E-mail  livinghope@hughes.net

www.livinghopefellowshipchurch.org

These condensed Bible studies have been published to help new Christians in their new walk with the Lord.  Kevin Badgley, the author, is the pastor of Living Hope Fellowship Church.

This is a Living Hope Fellowship publication.