Month: January 2022

God’s Grace in Romans | Walking in Newness of Life |

We saw from our last discussion that to be born again is to be dead to sin, we cannot live in sin while we are born of God.

Then the apostle continues;

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3

This is not talking of our physical bodies but our spirits. When we received the son of God, our old man or rather the corrupted nature in Adam died, and we received the new man or the spirit of Christ. This is what this verse is saying (Ezekiel 36:26).

Our bodies and our souls are not dead with Christ for now; they can only be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2, Ps. 19:10). But the old man died with him.

The Apostle is not saying what may happen, but he is declaring what happened when we got saved.

Again a lot of us mistakenly take the word “baptized into Jesus Christ” for water baptism. Some even aver that water baptism is a means to salvation. There are many kinds of baptisms as seen used in the plural form in Hebrews;

Of the doctrine of baptisms…Hebrews 6:2

We have baptism into the body of Christ where we become members of his body and partakers of his life (Romans 6:3-4), then baptism into the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 5), and water baptism (Mathew 3:11).

All these baptisms have different baptizers. At conversion, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Jesus baptizes into the Holy Spirit (Mathew 3:11). And Believers testify to what happened to a man when he repented by the sign of water baptism (Mathew 3:11).

So Paul here speaks of us being baptized into Christ and completely severed from the old man.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Observe this last part of the verse; “even so we also should walk in newness of life”

This is saying the result of our death with Christ is that we are raised to new life, the God-kind of life, hence, we are to walk in the new life we already have on our inside. This is not to be understood as though it is something futuristic.

For the apostle clearly states that we have died with Christ, so we ought to see ourselves raised to this new life that we already have. Our Spirit man is already raised from the dead and seated with Christ in the heavenly (Ephesians 2:5-6).

When we renew our minds to these truths, the spiritual realities of God’s riches; the health, wealth, wisdom, power, righteousness, holiness, and all that God has given to us in Christ which are already in our born-again spirits start manifesting to the physical.

We start seeing who we are and what we have in Christ made manifest in our physical environment.

Confession

I am crucified with Christ and raised to new life. Like as Christ was raised to incorruption, so are am I raised to a life of deathlessness, fearlessness, and agelessness.

I walk in the new Spirit with new health, wealth, power, wisdom, and the fullness of God’s glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prophetic Insight

In an encounter with the Lord, I heard, “Beloved, resist the confusion, push aside the voices from the winds, these are coming because you are already walking on water.

As you have stepped out in faith on this you are already a success, for I will not allow you to sink. When you fail I will not fail you, therefore, you cannot fail.

My hand is already stretched forth to save, for your faith in me has pleased my dear one.

I am walking with you on this, what you can’t see is that I have spoken and blessed your outcome. I have not changed my mind, therefore, be strong, keep looking to me and stay afloat.”

Mathew 14:22-34

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

God’s Grace in Romans | We Are Dead To Sin |

We saw from our last discussion that where sin abounds, grace superabounds. God’s grace reigns through the righteousness of Christ in us.

Then the apostle opens up something worthy of note:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Romans 6:1

I have had a lot of believers who use milk and are not skilled in the doctrine of righteousness use this scripture without rightly dividing it to taunt the hearts of new grace converts.

This misunderstanding has been dealt with in Romans 3:8; he dealt with it a total of three times in this epistle, in this place and in Romans 6:15.

The gospel is a testimony of God’s grace, if anyone says I am preaching the gospel and is never misunderstood for giving license to sin, then you have not begun preaching the gospel. You have limited the power of the cross by trying to rationalize God’s revelation.

Paul boldly preached God’s grace not minding the audience, whether gross sinners or sensible sinners to an extent people began to ask, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Observe carefully that in this place he does not say ‘shall we continue sinning?’ but Shall we continue in sin.

There are three Greek words used in the new statement as it pertains to sin, “HAMARTEMA, HAMARTIA, and HAMARTANO” (Strong’s G265, G266, G264).

Specifically the Greek word “HAMARTIA” is a noun, while the word “HAMARTANO” is a verb. A noun signifies a person, place, or thing, while a verb denotes the action of a noun.

The word used in this verse is “HAMARTIA.” This is pivotal because in this place he wasn’t talking of the actions of sin but the sin nature. It was a matter of remaining in the nature of Adam or the old man.

Should we continue to live in the old man who is the source of sin because grace has come?

Observe his answer;

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Roman 6:2

Believers cannot live in sin because we are dead to sin. To be born again is to be cut off from the nature of sin, that nature that loved and produced sin in us.

We are a new creation in Christ Jesus, created righteous and truly holy (Ephesians 4:24). Therefore it is impossible for us to live there any longer. It is no longer in our nature to love to sin. We don’t want to sin.

Our body may still be weak because of the residue of sin it, but in the core of our being, we do not want to sin for that nature is dead and gone.

Genuine born again Christians are at war with our unrewewed minds and not a matter of living in the old self or the old life. All who have the seed of God in them though they may not have attained perfection yet, but they are falling forward;

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John3:3

What Christians are fighting against is not the inclination to sin but the unrenewed mind in us to which the body often obeys.

However, as we keep our eyes on Jesus, looking to him as our righteousness, we reign as kings over sin, devils and the world…

Confession

Thank you Father for what you have done for us. I am a son of God, fashioned after the last Adam, a life giving Spirit, out of my belly flow rivers of living waters manifesting the life of Christ before creation.

Righteousness, holiness, and power flows from me, bringing healing and divine health to everyone I touch. I am a living epistle of Christ, an embodiment of God’s glory in Christ. My life can only get glorious, Hallelujah!

Prophetic Insight

In an encounter with the Lord, I heard “It is all for the word dear Child. The enemy only desires to steal that which I have planted in your heart. Dear one, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the time of rejoicing has come.

I hold your hand and say unto you “rise my love; come with me on this my turtledove, kick off the fear, the season of shame has passed; and you are now in the moment of glory.”

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13

Blessings in Christ,
Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church

God’s Grace in Roman’s –Where Sin Abounds Grace Superabounds

We saw from our last discussion that, by the obedience of one man Christ Jesus, we are forever made righteous.

Then the apostle continues;

Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:2

Oh what an eye opening statement. Observe this statement carefully “the law entered, that the offense might abound”

The first revelation here is that the law was not God’s primary agenda; the everlasting covenant of God with Abraham was already founded on promises before ‘the law entered’ into what was already built to serve a particular purpose and not to invalidate God’s eternal covenant.

For what purpose did the law enter? We hear “the law entered, that the offense might abound,” neither that righteousness nor holiness should abound but that sin should abound or increase.

This is where we have missed it. When we hear about the grace of God and how that it is only when we receive not little grace but abundance of grace that we reign in life (Roman 5:17). Many go to thinking grace promotes lasciviousness. A hundred times no.

The word translated for abound is from the Greek word “pleonazo” which means “to do, make or be more, i.e. increase…to superabound” (Strong’s).

What empowers sin is the law. The law was never given to make any man holy, but help sin to overpower us so will look to Jesus for salvation. It was given to increase sin and not to limit sin.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. Romans 5:20

Observe the statement “strength of sin is the law” what empowers sin is the law and not grace. Grace swallows up sin.

The Greek word used above for strength is the word “dunamis”, meaning miraculous power, force (Strong’s G1411). Power is the ability to do work, hence, the ability to sin or work out sin is the law.

The miracle working power of sin is the law. But Grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:11-12

This is a mystery many of us haven’t come to understand. We often think that “how can ‘thou shall not’ which is already forbidding sin increase offence?”

There is no spirit or life in ‘thou shall nots’. You cannot find strength when you turn from looking to Jesus and look to the law to please God. Life begets life, condemnation only leads to condemnation.

The law was given to help sin fight against our self-righteousness so we would turn to Jesus.

However the apostle states something worthy of note in the last part of the verse;

“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” Romans 5:20

The law gave sin absolute dominion over us that we saw ourselves wretched in need of a saviour but grace rather found us where it wanted and has much more abounded.

The law through sin rather led us to the abundance of God’s grace…

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21

Confession

Father I thank you for the abundance of grace in Christ Jesus, your superabundant grace that has whipped off my sin history. The law has finished its work of condemnation in my life, for it has nailed me and my sins to the cross of Jesus.

I declare that grace reigns in my life through righteousness manifesting eternal life in my body, finances, home, career and ministry. My life is a product of God’s grace. Praise Jesus!

Prophetic Insight

In an encounter with the Lord, I heard “Beloved you are here, right in the midst of my glory. You have already entered the moment of favour.

I am making all things beautiful, just a very little while and you will see my goodness. This barren tree is becoming a fruitful field, and the fruitful field a forest abounding with the harvest.”

Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? Isaiah 29:17

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

God’s Grace in Romans | Righteous By One Man’s Obedience |

We began to see from our last discussion that by the offence of Adam we all received sin, however, Adam was a type, a demonstration of what Christ would do, for we hear;

For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17

We received sin and death in Adam but in Christ we receive the gift of righteousness and abundance of grace. Observe carefully that in Christ also righteousness is received as a gift and not a reward for our good works.

We receive abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness which empowers us to reign in life by one Jesus Christ. The word used above for reign is from the Greek word basileuo and it means to rule as kings (Strong’s G936).

It means those that receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness rule as kings in life over the works of darkness by one man’s obedience. For we hear;

Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5:18

Hallelujah, all men were condemned just because of one man’s offence, today, by the righteousness of Christ fulfilled on the cross the free gift of justification comes upon all that receive the son of God, freely, without any demands and without respect of persons…

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Observe carefully that it does not say it is by the obedience of two people, we and Christ that makes us righteous, but by the obedience of Christ alone we are made righteous… “by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Many of us don’t have a problem believing that it was only by the disobedience of Adam that we all became sinners, however, when we hear it is only by the obedience of Christ that we are made righteous we think it’s not right, Yet Paul says that Adam was a figure of what Christ would do for the world (Romans 5:14).

This thought is repeated over and over in this chapter so someone doesn’t miss it, for this is the foundation of the gospel of Christ.

When it comes to matters of justification, our obedience is to believe the gospel. When we believe in what Christ has done, we have done the works of God, for the work of Christ is credited to our accounts. His obedience becomes our obedience.

The Lord answered this question when asked what our works to earn justification before God were;

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29

Our work is to believe in the son of God. When we believe in him, his obedience becomes our obedience so that by his obedience we are forever made righteous before God.

This is why we don’t rise or fall in our level of righteousness because it is never from us but from what Christ has done. His person in us is our righteousness.

Now when the apostle spoke these truths in this simple manner, many in his days were tempted to say he was advocating disobedience (Romans 3:8).

You see, when God takes his abode in the quarters of our hearts, he comes in with his desires, the Holy Spirit changes our hearts by giving us the heart of flesh( Ezekiel 36:26) to which the love of God is shed abroad in (Romans 5:5).

We move from “I just hate worshiping” to “how I love being in his presence.” From “I love immorality” to “I hate this, Lord empower me to live above sin.” This is because God is now in us, working in us both to will and to do that which is pleasing in his sight.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Philippians 2:13

May the Lord work mightily in us to bring forth great things that will change our lives, families and nations in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Confession

Blessed Father, I am blessed in the work of your son Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. The work of Christ is mine. His righteousness is my righteousness, his holiness my holiness, his health my health, all his perfections are mine. His obedience has justified me eternally.

In Christ, I am the word of God made manifest in flesh. By nature I am born of God and without effort eternal life is my present hour manifestation in all. Hallelujah!

Prophetic Insight

In an encounter with the Lord…The began speaking to me concerning this year through this word;

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. Isaiah 37:30

The Lord told me directly from the experience of Hezekiah king of Judah when the Assyrians outnumbering them besieged them in Jerusalem. The Lord began to show me that the signs in the years in the case of Hezekiah were a revelation of what happened in 2020 and 2021, prophetic signs leading to 2022. (2020, 2021, 2022 mark three individual years).

In the year 2020 the world experienced a pandemic, we were locked down and sowing and reaping were minimal for many in different spheres even in our churches. It continued the same in 2021 in many places. By and large in the lives of a lot of people also 2020 and 2021 were almost the same in their results. No genuine outstanding results.

But all these were a prophetic sign, if the last two years look like you were locked down in life, your results were almost same, this 2022 being the 3rd year God says “and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.”

The Lord says “2022 is a year of harvest”

We have seed, time and harvest. When the spiritual season of harvest has come sowing and reaping are spontaneous without time differences.

This is the season where the Lord says “the plowman shall overtake him that reaps. One blessing upon another, the mountains are dropping sweet wine as all the hills melt, for everything that was once barren will overflow with my blessings. I am setting free my captive sons and bringing them back to Zion, they shall be fruitful, rebuild the nations, and prosper in my kingdom.”

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Amos 9:13-14

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