Month: July 2021

July 15, 2021

Discovering Christ in Ephesians

Tricks: The Power Of The Devil

We saw from our last discussion how the husband is to love the wife, by laying his life down to cleanse, purify and present her to himself without reproach.

Then in this 6th chapter from verse 1-9 he speaks of submission to parents, masters as unto the Lord which we dealt with in our previous discussion.

But the 10th verse opens up something new. We hear;

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10

After giving so many charges, the apostle here reminds the Christian that non can be accomplished in human power. And every other enemy we face in life cannot be overcome by human power.

There is a place where we can be strong and that is in the Lord. In there is power and might reserved for us in times of great need.
How do I become strong in the Lord?

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

We put on the whole armour of God. Observe sensibly that it does not say some armour of God but the “whole,” the entire amour of God.

We shall observe each item that makes up the armour of God as we proceed. But there is something very important we must first take cognizance.

What are we putting on the entire armour of God to stand against?

We hear “that ye may be able to stand against the WILES of the devil.” (Emphasis mine)

The word used above for wiles is from the Greek word “methodeia” and it means trickery, travesty ( Strong’s 3180).

The only thing the believer puts on the whole amour of God to fight against is just the tricks of the devil. This is big but not many of us have truly seen this. It is as though we missed the parade.

The devil is a defeated foe. He is just like a toothless dog. He is not a lion just like one because of his big mouth, a lion roars loudly remember. He just has a big mouth. Take that Mr devil!

I know this goes against many of our already established doctrines of spiritual warfare which rather empowers Satan.

However, when you observe things thoroughly through the scriptures you will discover that the cross of Christ does not make vague statements about Christ destroying the devil and striping him of all power.

We hear in Hebrews;

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15

Observe carefully what it says, it says Jesus destroyed him that “had” the power of death, that is the devil. He no longer has that power any longer, we are the ones that keep empowering him in our lives.

He tricks us, so we would submit to his lies and become his slaves. But if you know who you are in Christ the devil is a non factor. That power is right now in the hands of Christ;

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18

Observe carefully who now holds the power of death in his hands “ and have the keys of hell and of death”

Jesus took the power and authority of the devil and gave it to the believer. Today we are the ones empowering the devil. This authority is right now in our hands;

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. Luke 10:19

Many read this and say you know, even the devil has power. O that you may believe the scriptures.

What do we put on the whole amour of God to stand against? Wiles! The whole power of the enemy is just to trick you to give him your own power with which he uses to destroy you.

How does he accomplish this? The number one way is through fear. Observe again this verse from Hebrews;

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:15

Through fear death is empowered in your life. The moment fear enters you are subject to bondage. Many Christian are more afraid of the devil than they are of God. They fear the devil more than the reverence God.

If the devil ever exercises authority over us its because we empower him. We submit to his lies of how powerful he his. When we obey him we delegate authority to him which he uses to destroy us;

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16

This is how Adam fell, he chose to obey Satan instead of God. He chose to fall for his lies(wiles) instead of what God had said concerning him.

He was created with authority and power which no other had, he was just like God upon the earth but he was fooled to believe he was less, this is still the trick being used on Christians to today.

We fast and pray for power, we are struggling daily with an already defeated foe.

I do not think demons give birth for there is not scriptural foundation for it. Imagine there were a billion demons before Adam chose to accept the lies of the devil, only two people upon the earth the devil and his billion demons couldn’t touch for hundreds of years until man chose to hand over power unto him by accepting his lies.

You think Christ did a lesser work?

Our misconceptions and fear of the devil is what has been empowering him. But if you look deeper, he no longer has the power of death, power has being restored to us. It is in the hands of Jesus, and Christ has given all power to you, rise up and start acting like a victorious Christian that you already are.

Confession

Blessed Lord I thank you for the blessings I have in Christ. I have been created with the authority and power of Christ. I know who I am in Christ and fear has no hold on me, for I have not received the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

I walk in power, reigning over all devils in life. I reign over devils of sickness, devils of poverty, devils of insanity. I tread over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church

Prophetic Teaching & Prophecy
July 7, 2021

Discovering Christ In Ephesians

We saw from our last discussion the manner to which the wife is to be submissive to her husband, which is to be under his authority in all things.

Then the Apostle continues;

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Ephesians 5:25,

After establishing the place of the wife as the help of the husband who needs to constantly stand under his authority, he now turns to the husband, teaching him the Christ kind of love to be poured out on the wife.

The love the husband is to give to the wife is not an ordinary kind of love. But a strong and cordial affection. As the duty of the wife is to obey, even so the duty of the man is to love the wife, delighting and taking pleasure in her at all times.

He is to honour, show respect, seek her contentment, satisfy all things necessary, protect, cherish; covering her faults and infirmities, entertaining the best opinion of his wife in his mind at all times.

This ought not to be done only in private but in the public also. He is to praise his wife without the gate. The same way Christ loved his church is same manner the husband is to love the wife.

You see, there is something deep about the love of Christ, we hear, he loved the Church, “and gave himself for it”

The bedrock of the love of Christ is “ sacrifice, “ Christ left his place of authority, power, glory to become a servant for the sake of his bride, so as to raise us up to his place of glory.

The manifestation of a husband’s love to the wife is self sacrifice. Where you sacrifice your desires that your wife experience love, joy and contentment.

Observe very carefully the next verse which explains why Christ gave himself for the church, this is where God opened my eyes to how we are to love our wives;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Ephesians 5:26

Jesus did not get married to a perfect bride, rather his bride was dirty, weak, without strength; his love motivated him to give himself for her so he would sanctify, cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

God does not give men perfect women, but the weak and infirm. The duty of the husband is to raise the wife up to her place of glory.

When a man sits back in condemnation to his wife, when you hear a man counting his wife’s faults, this man is ignorant of his duty. He is weak and selfish, he has neglected his duty of cleansing the wife. Christ came to save sinners!

When Jesus saw his pride dirty, the Lord did not sit back to condemn, ‘O’ she is not tall enough,’ ‘she doesn’t cook like my mum’, ‘O’ she ain’t endowed’ — and all those kinds of carnal opinions men entertain of there wives; however, he rather gave himself for his bride, purified and brought her out of the dirty.

And for what reason?

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26

To satisfy his desire, to present his wife to himself on a standard he wants!

So if man says his wife has a wrinkle, spot or anything like that, then this man has failed and not the wife.

Same way if the wife sees anything wrong with the husband goes into condemnation, forgetting that she is his help; that she is a help meet for all his problems, then the wife too has failed.

A lot of the stories of divorce we hear today come as a result of our Christian negligence. Many a times we run away from responsibility unto the blame game.

We often forget that there is a fruit of the Holy Spirit called longsuffering, where you stand firm in the faith and kick the devil out of your home no matter how long. If you love her/him the God way then the proof is sacrifice. A spouse is worth fighting for!

Not to condemn anyone, but to discourage the worldly culture of random changing of mates that is slowly crippling into the Church.

When a wise man loves his wife, it is an indication that he loves himself, he loves his peace and wellness, for the wife is his own flesh.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Ephesians 5:28

To love your wife is wisdom, your wife is a living place, your love cures what ails her, if she is not loved, beloved brother, she can make you sleep on the roof in your mind even though you are on the same bed.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:29-33

Confession

Blessed be the father of love. I am a child of God’s love, fashioned in love, kindness, humility, temperance, faith, longsuffering and all goodness.

Love is my nature, and I am a responsible Christian, I walk in love towards my spouse and my entire family.

I make my spouse better through love. I overcome all weaknesses in our union through the unconditional love of God flowing through me.

I declare I am a member of Christ’s body, I cannot be sick, I cannot lack, for Christ is nourishing every aspect of my life through his Spirit in me. Hallelujah!

Prophetic Insight

In an encounter of the Lord, I heard “My Child, I am doing a different work with you.

There is a weight of glory on you that will shape nations, but I am building your story.

There is a turn coming, there is an unexpected turnaround coming which you have never seen. A ladder to move you ahead. Awake dear child!

There is no impossibility with me, you are never in a dead end, for even before you were born, I already chose you, predestined you and blessed you with everything you will need in life and in fulfilling my assignment.”

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: 2 Peter 1:3

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church