Month: July 2022

God’s Grace in Romans | How to Start a Sin Revival |

We saw from our last discussion that we are effectually delivered from every kind of law – the Moral, Ceremonial and Civil laws.

Then the apostle continues;

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Romans 7:8

Now keep in mind that all through this chapter and the previous, the sin spoken about is not the actions but the sin nature. So he means that the sin nature was in him, but it looked for an occasion to be made manifest.

Therefore, what made the sin nature to showcase itself was nothing but the law. The law came to reveal sin (Rom 3:20). The nature of sin was there, the lust was there, however, without the commandment it wasn’t ignited.

The commandment now ignited or made the lust in us come alive.A very perfect way of looking at this can be observed in the next verse;

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Romans 7:8

Observe carefully the statement “I was alive.” which in Romans 6:11 and verse 13 means to be in relationship with God. So the question is this; when was he ever alive without the law in his life?

For the law was given thousands of years before the birth of Paul.

It is clear that Paul speaks here of a time in life when sins are not imputed to men, which others call the ‘age of innocence.’

Even though a child is born from the belly with the sin nature, that child doesn’t know that he or she is sinning against God at the early stage. When Daddy or mummy says to a child don’t do this, they think if they do they are only sinning against their immediate parents.

At this age God doesn’t impute there sin nature against them, this is why David said he was going to his son who died an infant as a result of his adultery with Beersheba (2 Samuel 12:23).

But a time comes in a child’s life when they come to that age where they realize it’s not all about Mum and Dad, but there is a God I am sinning against. Others call this stage the ‘age of accountability.’ This is when God begins to impute their sin nature against them.

And this stage varies from person to person. And it also depends on the circumstances that surround the functionality of each child.

So a child is in relationship with God at this age, they can hear and receive from God during this stage, Jesus even spoke of their angels (Mathew 18:10).

The Child is said to be alive, but when that heart is now exposed to the law of God, the sin nature which was there but ignored is now held accountable and that individual becomes alive to the sin nature and dead to God.

Condemnation ushers in and from our minds we become separated from God (Ephesians 4:18).

This is why Paul said “when the commandment came” not when sin came, because sin had been there all the time. The commandment only came to revive the sin that was ignored.

Now having said this, in the same manner, when a man is born again; he becomes alive to God and dead to the law. Jesus took the penalty of the sin nature by himself being made a curse on a tree, fulfilling the demands of the law for all individuals forever.

Now when the law is reintroduced to a born-again Christian, the consequence is that, the residue of the sin nature in the flesh is revived, he becomes aware of his insufficiencies when he tries to fulfill the law, then condemnation sets in, and from his mind he feels separated from God even though God is not imputing his sins against him.

He begins to feel; how can God still bless me knowing all I have done? How can God use someone like me? But the God of all grace has eternally imputed our sins upon the body of Jesus once for all time. Hallelujah!

Confession
Thank you father, today I am dead to the law and alive to God. I am alive to righteousness, alive to divine health and prosperity. My life only expresses the liberty of the sons of God. Glory to Jesus!

Prophetic Insight
In an encounter with the Lord, I heard “get ready dear child, I am taking you to the next level. You have dwelt here for too long, be up and ready, you are going forward”

The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey…Deuteronomy 1:6-7

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

God’s Grace in Romans | The Law is Good – We Are Not|

We saw from our last discussion that we are delivered from the law where we were in bondage through the body of Christ judged on the cross.

Then the apostle continues;

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7

Now there are a few things we must carefully observe from the above verse;

First, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.”

Many have done the mistake of thinking because we are delivered fron the law the then law in itself is not good. God forbid! The law is not sin, the law, in of itself is perfect.

The problem has never been with the law, but with our depraved nature. It is with the fallen man who lacks the capacity to fulfill the demands of the law (Romans 8:3).

Man was created with a living body that was alive to God. When sin entered, sin killed the flesh and rendered it incapable of responding to God (Romans 8:10-11).

Therefore, it is because of the weakness or inability of the flesh that God had to deliver us from the law’s overwhelming demands. Only a sinless God-man could keep the law, and this is what Jesus did on our behalf.

The law is good, but we are not. Hence, the law is good, but not good for us!

Second, “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. “

When the word of God speaks of we been delivered from the law, many of us have jumped into this conclusion that it is the ceremonial law that we are delivered from. That the moral law is still binding, that we are to keep the moral law for righteousness.

In context, the previous verse tells us we are delivered from the law, this verse now goes on to explain mentioning “Thou shalt not covet” which is not a ceremonial law but the moral, the last commandment on the big 10.

We are delivered from the ceremonial (animal sacrifices and diverse washings), Moral and Civil laws. We are totally free in Christ, for there is no law given that can give life and righteousness (Galatians 3:21).

Life and righteousness are fruits of God’s Spirit at work in a man. These fruits are a manifestation of the nature of Christ functioning in a man.

Righteousness doesn’t come from beholding tables of stone, but from the pulsating life of Christ in the heart of a new man, where only Christ deserves the praise.

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:11

                                 Confession

I live in God’s Spirit and where the Spirit is, there is liberty. I am not free to live a life of sin, but l am free from the bondage and penalty of sin.

I glorify God in my spirit and in my body which are God’s with health, soundness and righteousness. Praise Jesus!

                            Prophetic Insight

I Heard “Don’t let him steal the word, don’t doubt whether it was me who led you out or not. I am saying to you, I spoke to your heart; What you heard was my word.

What you see is a war against what I have already begun to do in your life. It is all targeted to unproot my word and to stop you from seeing what I have begun to do, however, it is all a test of your faith.

Go forth, you are walking on the word, do not see these boisterous winds and receive fear into your heart. Your help will always appear dear child”

Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. Luke 8:13(NIV)

Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Mathew 14:29-30

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

God’s Grace in Romans — Delivered from The Law

We saw from our last discussion, that we are dead to the old man and consequently, The law, and are today married to Jesus. Hence, we live in newness of life.

Then the apostle continues;

“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by The Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Romans 7:5.

Observe carefully this statement, “For when we were in the flesh,” meaning that there was a time we were in the flesh but now are not.

There is a big difference between being in the flesh and walking after the flesh, as explained in Roman 8:9. Only the unsaved are in the flesh, the believer is in Spirit.

Then we hear “the motions of sins, which were by The Law,” they are not by the gospel of God’s Grace contrary to popular beliefs. What moves people to sin, is The Law, and not The Grace of God.

The Law actually strengthens sin and makes it come alive (1 Corinthians15:56, Romans 7:9), and the fruit of a life under The Law leads to death. The Law kills.

If a man is living under The Law, he needs Deliverance, this is what Jesus came to do for for us;

“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6.

Observe carefully this outstanding statement, “But now we are delivered from The Law.”

The only good thing The Law did, was to lead us to Christ, and not to produce righteousness in us. How can God deliver us from a supposed blessing?

We are only delivered from things that keep us in bondage. Even so is the law. Its main aim was to kill. To kill every trace of faith in our goodness, hence “that being dead wherein we were held,” we were dead in guilt and waiting for salvation outside of ourselves.

Now that we are delivered from the law we serve God “in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

This is as clear as it can get. The Law was never made for a born-again person (1Timothy 1:9), we are not under The Law, but under Grace (Romans 6:14).

Serving in the newness of the spirit means walking like Jesus did, a life that is led by God’s Word. It means to be word minded. Even when we fall, we fall forward and God is never displeased with us, rather, His Grace reaches out and lifts us out of the dirt.

Christianity is not like other mere religions, having some set of rules that people live by to someday see a god. Christianity is a Life. It is the pulsating life of God, working and walking in a human body. It is God living in a man.

A truly saved person has a new heart in which there is no corruption (1 Peter 3:4), he does not love to sin, not because of the wrath of The Law, but because he does not want to. His nature is changed from the nature of sin to the nature of God (1Peter 1:4).

Confession

Thank you Father for delivering me from the bondage of the law; the curse of The Law is broken over my life, now I am alive in the new life of Christ.

I am in a living relationship with God, and here righteousness reigns supreme. I live victoriously in every area of my life. Glory to God!

Prophetic Insight

I heard, “This shoot, though a tender shoot, is an incorruptible growth.

My Word has begun to produce in your life. The natural seed had to die for the spiritual to shoot forth.

Entertain no fears in this dear Child, what I have done, no one can add to it, or quash what I have begun.

Expect a long lasting growth. Expect to see the prosperity that is far beyond what you have ever imagined. I have made you eternally prosperous!”

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14.

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