In an encounter with the Lord, I saw the Lord pour out living water on many sons as they knelt before him pleading there cause at the throne of grace and mercy. The power of God was mightily released through this living water.
Coming out, The Lord spoke and said “Say to the desolate, to her that is forsaken, enlarge your tents, make room for more, for your moment of great delivery has come.
The time is accomplished for you to be delivered, now is your season of life. For a moment you felt forsaken, but I never left you, my word was growing and your season of new life has come. With Great mercies I am rebuilding Zion.
Keep this within your heart and keenly watch as things you thought you had lost begin to come back to you. Relationships and closed doors are now reopening by my life. This is what I have sown and you will now experience the manifestation.
The remaining part of this year 2021 and 2022 you are experiencing restoration, the lines will be falling unto you in pleasant places. You are set to experience what you have never experienced in your life before.
Steadily, one drop after another of my goodness, you will experience one level of growth to the other, ever increasing and never to taste the bitterness of the desolation you have experienced in the season that has just closed on you.
You will forever be glad you never turned back on following me. You have stepped into your eternal inheritance!”
Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Isaiah 54:1-7 [1]Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. [2]Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; [3]For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. [4]Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. [5]For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. [6]For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. [7]For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua Living Hill Christian Church
We saw from our last discussion that the armour of God is Christ from start to finish, and when we put him on, victory is ours.
Then the apostle continues;
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18
Here is a special weapon for attacking the works of the enemy. After admonishing the believers to put on the whole armour of God, he now enjoins them to fight by prayer.
This is a valid method of enforcing our victory over Satan. To call on God rightfully is a genuine proclamation of faith and hope in God.
Prayer crowns all lawful efforts with success, giving victory when nothing else would. No matter how complete we may be, no matter how skilled we may be in battle, without prayer we are doomed to fail.
This is why we hear “praying always.” It is not to be intermitted. We are to always be in prayer in every temptation and spiritual conflict. A prayerless Christian is an already defeated Christian.
“Praying always with all prayer.” There are different kinds of prayer and all are to be engaged. Praying in the Holy Spirit builds you up just like a body builder builds up muscles by lifting weights. (1Corinthians 14:4)
Without taking out quality ,and quantity time to pray in tongues ourselves we would be spiritually lame and never refreshed (Isaiah 28:11-12).
No matter how people pray for us, we will never be built up to stand the storms of life except we are built up ourselves.
You don’t develop muscles by visiting a gym house, sending letters to a gym house, or watching someone lift up weight in a gym house, you develop muscles by lifting up weights yourself.
There is a place for someone interceding for us, however, we will never be totally free by people interceding for us if we fail to rise up ourselves to pray always with all kinds of prayers.
Declarations, petitions, commands, supplications, intercessions and diverse kinds of prayers make the devil tremble. The devil is afraid of the meanest saint when he is on his knees.
We are to always be in prayers not just for ourselves but for all saints as he mentions above.
You may ask why?
First, it helps us overcome self. The idol of me, myself and I is overthrown when we, seeing our needs, look beyond to seek the favour of God for others.
Secondly, all saints are our brethren not withstanding their language, colour of skin or name. We all are one nature and blood in Christ Jesus.
Thirdly, all saints have hearts prone to diverse temptations just like we do, they all need the grace of God even as we do.
Fourthly, it is an expression of genuine love and sympathy for the brethren, a demonstration of Christian maturity.
Fifthly, many of our brethren are backslidden, many have become lukewarm, many are sick and weary, afflicted and distressed. The brotherhood needs our supplications.
Sixthly, many of our brethren have been blinded, they are living in error. Many are blind to the truth of the gospel of God’s grace. Many are taught to fight the gospel of their freedom and their spiritual eyes need to be enlightened.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20
If there are people that need our prayers the most, gospel ministers need it the more. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will definitely be scattered the scripture tells us.
Paul requests prayer here that he might be able to stand in his affliction and to be able to manifest the Spirit more.
This is an example from one of the greatest apostles, if Paul would so need prayers, there is no height in spirituality, or no amount of spiritual graces can make void the collective prayers of the brethren upon a minister.
However, the heart of Paul is to be greatly admired, a genuine lover of the Lord and his work. Instead of requesting prayers to be set free from confinement or bonds, Paul rather prayers for boldness to preach the good news even in bonds and afflictions without fear.
That we may reflect on this, this is a heart poured out unto the Lord. One time he was in prison, and kept on praising the Lord, the jail doors got swung open by the power of God yet he would not escape but just kept on loving God.
Yet in many of our light afflictions we have become bitter toward God. We sing songs about when we get to heaven and when afflictions persist and it looks as though we are going there, we all of a sudden become bitter toward God.
Heaven and earth, which is better? May we learn to be grateful. May we, like the apostle, be true lovers of Jesus through thick and thin.
Conclusion
But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. (To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.) Ephesians 6:21-24
Prayer
May the peace of the Almighty rest upon you all. May his perfect well being be manifest in your spirits, souls, and bodies, your homes and the work of hands.
May you enjoy the love of God, may you walk in the love of God. From God the father of Jesus, may all grace abound upon you and your loved ones.
I declare over you that every where you go may the victory of Christ be made manifest in and through you. May all your steps be ordered by the Spirit of the Lord.
You are blessed in Jesus precious name Amen.
If you have enjoyed this series Discovering Christ in Ephesians, please write to us, relate to us how this teachings have blessed you so we would know how to serve you better, email: livinghillchristianchurch@gmail.com
We saw from our last discussion that we are wrestling with strong holds; this is why we put on the Whole Armour of God, and these strong holds are: imaginations, everything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God(who God is and what he has done for us in Christ Jesus), Thoughts (we bring every thought to obey the power of Christ and what he has wrought for us).
Then the apostle continues;
“Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand,” Ephesians 6:13.
This is a powerful exhortation, observe carefully that it is does not say take unto you ‘your’ whole armour. No! It is not our armour, but The Armour of God. If it is our armour, then it becomes works salvation and condemnation and fear are inevitable.
Thank God for Jesus, what God wears upon himself for battle, is what we are made to put on…
If we take unto ourselves any armour which is not God’s Armour, we are so defeated. We are not to bring our armour to fight spiritual battles, but we are to take the armour which is outside of ourselves — The Armour of God.
We are to take God’s Armour as our own….
Therefore, this is the question we must ask, “How did God fight the enemy to give us victory?”
The entirety of God’s Armour for the defeat of Satan was Jesus Christ. Jesus is The Armour of God. If we wear upon ourselves anything outside of Christ, we are doomed to fail.
This is why we are told Christ is our all. He is not our ‘some’, but he is our sum of all spiritual things;
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all,” Colossians 3:11.
The apostle goes on to open up this armour of God;
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness,” Ephesians 6:14.
Now we have said above that The Armour of God is Jesus. Christ the Power and Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Thus, let’s observe the armour of God, one after the other, through the eyes of God,
The First weapon, having your loins girt about with “Truth”
Which truth? We all know there is no other truth but He who is the truth. Truth is a person, and that person is Jesus.
The first armour we put on is Jesus, the Truth. You and I are not the truth. Neither philosophy nor any other vain reasoning. If we look to ourselves for truth, we are putting on ourselves as the armour. Our truth is Jesus. As long as he is the truth, he is tour truth.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” John 14:6.
The Second weapon mentioned above is the breastplate of “Righteousness”
Which righteousness? Mine or whose? Righteousness is a person, not a doing. It is a nature that manifests itself through godly actions. This nature is Jesus. Jesus is our righteousness.
“In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,” Jeremiah 23:6 emphasis added.
All our righteousness are as a filthy rag before The LORD (Isaiah 64:6). This is why God has given us an eternal righteousness which is the person of Jesus. He is made our righteousness.
We put faith in what Christ has done on the cross for the ungodly and declare even as Martin Luther would do “Jesus I am your sin, you are my righteousness.”
He is the one we put on as our qualification for every blessing and not our own good works. If we dare, the devil knows us so well, our hearts know us better and will definitely condemn us, we will fail. In of ourselves there is nothing good (Romans 7:18).
If we wend to our works, we have left the Armour of our God to our own armour. You are not what God used to defeat Satan remember:)
Look what this verse says;
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,” 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Then the apostle continues listing God’s armour;
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” Ephesians 6:15.
The Third weapon mentioned above is the “Gospel of Peace.”
Which peace? Peace is not just a feeling. Peace is a person, peace is Christ.
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us,” Ephesians 2:14.
The Gospel of Peace is the over-the-top good news of what Jesus has done for a bankrupt sinner as I am. Now we have peace with God. God is no longer angry with us, the wrath of God for all our sins, past, present and future have been fully satisfied by the death, burial and resurrection of the Christ (that’s a huge statement right there!)
This is why it is called The Gospel of Peace. And it is truly The Gospel of Peace. In Him I have found my rest. The gospel of peace is the gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation;
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” Romans 1:16.
Then the apostle continues;
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,” Ephesians 6:16.
The Fourth Weapon mentioned is “Faith “
It may sound a little strange but Faith is a person. Faith is a spirit. Faith is The Spirit of Christ;
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak,” 2 Corinthians 4:13.
This is the reason we are told Christ the Author and Finisher of our Faith. It begins with Him and ends with Him.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,” Hebrews 12:2.
And also this is why not all men have Faith, because not all men have Christ.
“For all men have not faith…” 2 Thessalonians 3:2.
Then the apostle continues;
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” Ephesians 6:17.
The Fifth weapon mentioned is the Helmet of “Salvation.”
This doesn’t have to take long. Jesus is salvation. And he is gift of God for all sinners.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid,” Psalm 27:1,3.
Finally the Sixth weapon explained is by the scripture;
“and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesian 6:17.
We all know who the word of God is;
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” John 1:1.
Truly Christ is all and the sufficient Armour. Just by putting on Christ you can see that the enemy is already defeated, for he also believes and trembles before God.
When you put on God, the devil believes and trembles. You become terror to devils even as Jesus is.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9
Life Points | As a born again Child of God, you have the Spirit of Christ on your inside as your new nature.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6
Life Point | Jesus said you are spirit, This means the reality of your spirit ought to be your experience for this is who you truly are.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Life Point | The word says you are a new creature, to enjoy the full benefits you must understand how you are created.
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24
Life Point | You are created righteous, holy, having the fullness of God as your nature. You are created whole.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:9-10
Life Point | You are complete in Christ, the fullness of God, all that God has dwells on your inside. We only have to draw out of the fullness in us so our lives can experience the abundance.
How do I experience this wholeness?
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Life Point | Don’t be conformed to your physical state, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Changing your mind is not just a five minutes study each day, you must be willing to wholly become a living sacrifice, to give yourself to the word until it starts profiting you.
Life Point | As you keep your mind stayed on the reality of who you are in the Spirit, just as a cocoon metamorphizes to a butterfly, you will be changed to your reality in the Spirit.
Life Point | The Trasnforned used here in romans here is the Greek word metamorphoō (Strong’s G3339) from we get the the English word metamorphosis from. The cocoon metamorphizing to a beautiful butterfly is a perfect example of what we can become if we wholly submit to God’s word to transform our lives.
Thank you for being a part of this ministry. Your love and support have been a great source of encouragement to us.
We are blessed to have you connected to this ministry.
God gave a vision to restore the earth with the gospel of his grace. It is our outmost desire that every Christian live the supernatural life God has ordained for them.
What you need is knowledge. What destroys us is lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). However, through knowledge shall the justified in Christ delivered.
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Proverbs 11:9
This is why the Holy Spirit has inspired us to put down materials that will help you know God better and enjoy his love and grace. These books are:
~ A Sure Foundation ~The Truth About The Gospel ~Encountering Christ in Galatians (Galatians Commentary)
These resources will build your faith and empower you to walk in the promises of God. We have put together this Mentorship School: Grace Bible College to help you walk in the supernatural life of Christ. Here these books are available for a love offering into the ministry.
You can Vividly check these books out here:Books Store
Please note that we do not intend selling our resources, however, there is a cost of producing these resources. This is why we ask for an offering of absolutely any amount to help us continue with the good work of Jesus.
So for your love gift of any amount into God’s work here, I will send you all three of these books in PDF format. Your growth means more to us.
We saw from our last discussion that when we empty God’s armoury and put his armour on ourselves all we fight against is just wiles: tricks, lies.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
Please pay very close attention because the devil has used this verse to deceive many of us into some kind of wrong spiritual warfare.
Yes, there is a wrestling. The word of God does not promote laxity neither does it promote passivity. Therefore there is an active participation on our part through the power of the Spirit in enjoying the victory we have in Christ.
And again it is worthy also of note that our warfare is not with flesh and blood, it is not a physical war so we don’t need guns and spears neither do we need kitchen knives.
The wife or husband is not the problem, neither are our neighbours but there is a spirit behind their actions.
So the wrestling is “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
However remember that the force of all these hosts put together amounts to nothing but “wiles.” Just mere tricks, cunning craftiness.
But why wiles? Because all principalities and powers are already disarmed;
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15
Naturally speaking, you are a soldier of Christ with the armour of God, what will you expect an unarmed person to do? Is it not to trick you to give him your gun with which he can use to hurt you?
This is what the devil does, he no longer has power over a born again Christian. He is stripped of all power and authority. Hear the statement of Jesus;
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 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 10:18-19
Observe carefully this statement “I beheld Satan as lightning ‘fall’ from heaven” It does not say he came down from heaven as the son of man did, however, he fell. And this heaven is not literal but a symbol of a place of authority.
This is why the next statement is “behold I give you power.” He is empty, this is why he is restless, he doesn’t want you to get offensive. He feeds on our ignorance. He depends on the power we give to him through fear and ignorance.
We are the ones that can exalt him so he can use the power we have placed on him to harm us. This warfare stuff is clearly explained here;
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Observe this semi – colon sign ; following strong holds; which tells us the statement has not ended, these strong holds are what followed as the conversation went on.
So what is the warfare? What is the wrestling?
“casting down”
What do we cast down?
∆ “Imaginations”
∆ “every high thing that exalteth itself against the KNOWLEDGE of God”
∆ “bringing into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ”
I don’t see fire balls here, all I see is wiles. Imaginations, knowledge and thoughts, all these cannot happen outside of us, hence the battle is in between our ears.
Thus his weapon is his mouth!
The battle ground is our minds.
Remember we shared that we are the ones that give him power. When we exalt him above what the scriptures say of him, when we exalt him above the knowledge of God, whatsoever we say he is, that is our power in action through him.
This is why we cast down “every high thing that exalteth itself against the KNOWLEDGE of God”
Long before the sickness, you thought you could be sick, long before the devil had that authority over you, you gave it to him.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Proverbs 23:7
This is why we are asked to cast down Imaginations; the movies have fooled us, given us a wrong picture of the devil with horns instead of a little thing with a large mouth. We are to cast down anything contrary to the abundant life Christ has given us in him.
I pray the Holy Spirit uses my feeble way of expression to set you free from the fear of Satan.
Confession.
Glorious father, what a privilege to be called your son. You have delivered me from the power of darkness into the kingdom and authority of Christ.
I am the power of God in Christ Jesus. The life and nature of God is at work in me. I am created in my father’s likeness, a consuming fire. I am a terror to principalities and powers.
The victory of Christ is functioning in my body, home, and business as I exercise the authority of Christ everywhere I go. Hallelujah!
Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua Living Hill Christian Church
Life Point | There is such a thing as the Law of sin and death which works in the members of a man producing every kind of evil.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14
Life Point | The word translated ordinances above is the word dogma in the Greek and it means a law ( ceremonial, Ecclesiastical, civil) it absolute means the law of sin and death since we hear it was contrary to us!
Life Point | The law of sin and death, this law which produces sickness, poverty, hatred, depression, anxiety and anything deadly that you can think of is taken out of the way and nailed to the cross.
Life Point | This is what Isaiah 53:4-5 explained. All sicknesses, every thing contrary to the abundant life of Jesus is right now at the cross, and it cannot be risen from the dead!
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15
Life Point | Jesus disarmed all powers, rose from the cross and nailed back the devil there with all his works. Every disease, demon, whatsoever is totally disarmed.
Life Point | But why am I still sick? As long as you can tolerate sickness you will leave with it! Resist the disarmed devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Life Point | You have to sit at home and see your sicknesses and sorrows and Mr devil hanging right there on the cross of Jesus as you enjoy the victory of Christ.
Life Point | You are perpetually under the law of the Spirit life giving life to every fiber of your flesh. Brother it’s a law, you may not just be receiving! It’s not God’s giver that is faulty, its our receiver that needs fixing!
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2
Life Point | Sin and death is on the cross, Christ is at work in you now. Apostle Paul knew this and wrote:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Life Point | My sins, sicknesses were crucified on the cross, Christ walked out and took this body and is living in it. His faith, and life giving Spirit is producing the manifestation of God you all see! This is Paul’s view!
Now how do enjoy this wonder life in Christ?
First you must be born again.
Life Point | If you are, then you must believe what is written concerning your life and start speaking!
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 2 Corinthians 4:13
Believe + Speak = Manifestation Blessings in Christ, Jahfas Ahua
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
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
We saw from our last discussion that we are to submit to one another as a reflection of our fear of God.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:22
A very powerful exhortation as it becomes a daughter of Sarah. The wife is to submit to the husband as unto the Lord. That is, as the Lord has commanded or as though in the sight of the Lord.
Not that the authority of the husband is equal to Christ, but a woman cannot be in disobedience to the husband and at the same time giving honour to God.
This does not encompass yielding to the will of the husband when it contradicts scripture, however a pious and intelligent husband is to be honoured as though in the sight of God.
God has given the husband absolute authority over all things to the wife except in matters of conscience and religion.
The wife is to think well of her husband, she is to think becomingly of him. She is to take care of the family according to her husband’s will. For the husband has:
Authority over the home as the head of the family, he is to direct the family on expenses, the manner of living, the clothing, and every other necessity needed for a proper home.
In regards to laws in the house, the husband is to regulate all laws. He is to decide what manner of life the children are to live in the home, he is to decide the schools they are to attend, what friends the children are to keep and so on.
In matters of business, it must be left to the disposal of the husband to decide business matters. The wife can seek his consent, and can contribute, however, the husband holds the authority for the final word.
Except in matters of conscience and religion, the husband is the head of the home in all things.
In matters of religion, the husband has no right to ask the wife to assist in deception, visit places of amusement that her conscience does not agree to. He is not to interfere with her genuine Christian duties, not duties of capriccio, but genuine duties.
He is not to forbid her from going to church at the proper usual time. He is not to stop her from leading her children to the Lord or from proper exercise of her religious beliefs in the home.
A woman is to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:12), where the husband’s will interferes with God’s will, he has overstepped his boundaries and his will is no longer binding on the wife.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:23
If a woman desires to know what it means by the husband is my head, a spiritual picture is given here which is the headship of Christ over his church. The manner to which the Lord heads his church is an example of how the husband is to head his home. The Body of Christ is submissive to him in all things, even so it is with the wife and husband.
As the church looks up to the Lord for his will to be done in all things, even so the wife is to be submissive to her husband in all things.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:24
Confession.
Blessed Father I give you praise for making me a virtuous woman, a woman of dignity and honour, a daughter of Sarah.
By the spirit of the Lord I leave in absolute humility and submission to my husband as the head of my home. I reject nagging and complaining. I refuse to usurp authority but by the Holy Ghost I allow my husband’s will to reign in my home over all things.
I receive the grace to help him in all things, I stand in the gap to pray for him and my entire household always in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prophetic Insight
In an encounter with the Lord, I heard:
“My beloved, look to your father Abraham and learn my ways. When I made a promise to him, he sought to bring it to pass by his ability, but all his efforts ended up leading to bondage.
Even now, I have purposed, promised and blessed you, this I will fulfil by my Spirit and not by your efforts. Quit trying to bring forth the promise, at the set time I will do it independent of your efforts.
You are a child of promise and not a slave child. The promise will come from the Spirit, and not as a result of your works. Labour to rest in the confidence that what I have promised I am able to bring it to pass”
Gifts Of Healings: Live Healing Service With Pastor Jahfas
God has spoken to me, even as he has done to many in the Body of Christ that it’s time his power be demonstrated to a hurting world, not just in our local church. God wants his love to be shared tangibly to his people where they are set free from the works of the enemy.
Every Friday 6:00pm (GTM +1) in Gifts Of Healings: Live Healing Service, I will be praying live for the sick and oppressed all around the world. God’s power will be sent to living rooms, offices, anywhere you may be watching, God has a healing gift for you.
