Living Hill Christian Church

Royal Life
Daily Devotional & Prophecy
January 5, 2021.

Discovering Christ in Ephesians

We saw from our last discussion, that the grace to unveil scriptures is a divine gift, which God gives and energises in the heart of men to help them demystify scriptures.

This was a gift Paul had, which he engaged in the interpretation of the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles.

Then we hear the Apostle continue;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Ephesians 3:9

“And to make all men see” a statement suggesting that, the natural state of man is in darkness, until the light of the Gospel of Christ shines in our hearts, then we become participators of the glorious gospel of God.

It is a declaration that, it is the intent of God that the discoveries of the gospel be made known to all men, regardless of their condition, for salvation has become a free gift for all.

God has nothing hidden he wants not to be unveiled to common men. The gospel of Christ has no reserved doctrines. There are no truths reserved for some kind of sacred priesthoods. All those ideas are man-made doctrines.

God wants all men to see the fellowship of the mystery, he desires all believers to become partakers, or participators of these truths.

“The fellowship of the mystery” above speaks of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul received the gift to make all men see, Jew and Gentile, this inestimable mystery and to have communion with this unsearchable riches of Christ “which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”

The word “hid in God” suggests the preciousness, the invaluable blessed nature of the gospel. It is a treasure that was hid in God for his beloved sons.

O the sovereignty of God. This mystery of salvation by grace was hidden from the old testament saints, and even from the angels. The shocking truth is that, it was hidden from the Gentiles who for thousands of years knew not God, and were living without God. For thousands of years, they would live, die and go to hell.

What a privilege for us to be accepted today in Christ. God has never been under any obligation to give unto us salvation. To be born at such a time as this, to be born under this gospel dispensation, where the grace of God has been extended to all men, is the highest privilege that has ever existed.

To walk away, to turn a blind eye , to tread underfoot this precious grace of God, would be the biggest mistake any man would ever make! To reject God’s love by refusing to accept his son, is to accept his wrath and eternal damnation. This would be blunt malady!

Today, this grace has appeared to all men, and we will not reject him.

Then we hear “who created all things by Christ Jesus”

God created all things by The Word. Reality was produced by The Word, wherefore, reality cannot exist, function nor bear fruit outside of God’s word.

You want reality? You must go for the word, sow it into your heart, and speak it out into your situation, for out of the heart men bring forth good things.

A life void of the word is a life void of divine reality. A life void of divine fruitfulness. But a life full of the word is a life full of God and divine realities.

Then we hear the apostle continue;

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10

What a declaration; nothing took God by surprise, for he is truly the all knowing God. The fall of man was never a shock to God, God did not react, for in his hidden counsel, the lamb was slain from the foundation of the world.

God prepared a package “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”

A lot of Christians have asked and continue to ask; if God knew that Adam was going to fall, why did he still create him? Why did he not make a different plan for Adam?

You see, Christians and a lot of people have made the mistake of thinking God created us for ourselves. Because of this wrong belief, whatever is not comfortable with our way of thinking, we often feel should not be allowed by God.

But when we think thus, we are far from the truth. God created all things for himself. God made all things for the manifestation of his attributes, even his excellencies.

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4

Observe it says “even the wicked”

There are these attributes of God as merciful, gracious, kind, loving, Severity, and many more. Most especially, grace, this cannot be seen by God’s creation except there is a falling short, except there is a weakness there can be no manifestation of divine grace.

How can God’s creation see his grace without man falling? How can God show his attribute of mercy without someone breaking his law?

Wherefore, everything was done;

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

Thus, God intending to make known to his creation his multifaceted wisdom, allowed the fall, that in Christ Jesus, men should see his mercy, kindness and ultimately his love and grace!

The will of God for the Church today is to demonstrate, to preach to all creature, holy and evil angels, the multifaceted wisdom of God. This is the mystery of the gospel.

The intention has never been about you, so stop struggling and rest in the love and grace of the father. The intention is to make manifest his wisdom in loving the wretched as you and I in the grace of our lord Christ Jesus.

Confession:

Father, I thank you for this invaluable love and grace. By your wisdom, I am accepted in Christ, holy and blameless.

Today, my life is a declaration to all principalities and powers, that you are a gracious God. Loving and merciful. I am your vessel of mercy, even the vessel of the manifestation of your beauties.

I am the glory of God in Christ Jesus. As He is, so Am I in this world. Full of wisdom, power ,love , joy, peace. I am divinely wired for the transformation of this generation. Glory to Jesus!

In an encounter with the Lord, I saw someone buried in a grave, It was as though this one was written off as dead and buried.

But I saw divine light hit on this person and the entire being was transformed and renewed, brightly emanating the glory of resurrection life as he rose and went about life.

Then the Lord said “This is for many of my sons who have felt forsaken and completely laid aside. I am opening your graves and bringing you out of the dead situations in your life.

This is not the end, I have not forsaken you, by my Spirit I AM breathing resurrection life into your situation. Do not fear, for you shall rise and reflect the glory of your God”

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. Ezekiel 37:12-14

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

Royal Life
Daily Devotional & Prophecy
January 1, 2021.

Discovering Christ in Ephesians.

Yes, we saw in our last discussion that, we are under a new dispensation, even the dispensation of the grace of God, and not the dispensation of the law. Today, we are to dispense the unmerited favour of God to his children as partakers of the promises of God in Christ.

Then we hear the apostle continue;

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Ephesians 3:7

Paul declares “Whereof I was made a minister” of the gospel of Christ. A statement that reveals he was not called of men, but called of God and “Made” a minister. I have seen a lot of people with gifts refuse to submit to the hand and process of God, to be Made ministers.

It is good to know you are called of God, but it is better to submit first under God’s hand and under an authority, to be properly discipled for the fulfilment of God’s call upon your life.

A minister without character is one who was never made by the hand of God, one who is not a disciple, and one who will never last in the work of the ministry.

But the apostle was a man, made a minister by the hand of God. Then we hear “according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me”

Not according to his natural abilities, not according to his talents or skills, not according to his Queen’s English or acquired learning, not according to any excellencies in him, but according to the gift of the grace of God.

According to a ministerial gift bestowed upon the apostle. This gift of grace mentioned here does not suggest the gift of grace wrought in his soul for salvation, nor the grace that makes other ventures of the gospel successful, but the gift of demystifying the mysteries of the gospel. The gift of interpreting scriptures and making them understandable by the common man.

This was a special bestowment on the life of Paul. God gives this to the sons of men as he sovereignly wills. Every man has his own proper gift from the Lord. This was what Paul received from the Lord, to assist him in making the Gentiles understand the revelation behind the scriptures.

This was not a natural gift, but a spiritual endowment which came “by the effectual working of his power”

The word used above for effectual is from the Greek word ἐνέργεια energeia which means efficiency, energy (Strong’s Concordance G1753).

This is a gift of divine power. The energy of God was wrought mightily upon the heart of Paul to enable him see and understand divine mysteries. This is how spiritual gifts operate. Until you are energized by God, a spiritual gift cannot work in your life.

You may receive a prophetic word that you have so and so gift on your life, but until God, under his divine timing, sovereignly energises your gift by his divine power, it can not be effectual.

Then we hear the apostle continue;

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; Ephesians 3:8

O’ what a statement of humility “who am less than the least of all saints”

The greatest saints, men of great spiritual stature normally keep a low opinion of themselves. They entertain the meanest view of themselves. They are the most humble of all men. These are men who can receive instruction even from the meanest believers.

Even though God uses them mightily, they glory not in their work, but in their nothingness. This is because, they have understood deeper, the love and grace of God. Here, they have seen themselves as the nothings that they truly are, and are constantly aware of the grace of God upon them. Whatever privileges the enjoy, they see them as outpourings of God’s love and grace.

The more revelation of God a man has, the more humble he is, for he is such a man that has definitely understood the mystery of humility.

So, Paul admits he is the least of the saints, but this grace was given to him. This grace given to him is what we have explained above as the divine power to interpret holy writ, for we hear “that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”

O’ the riches of our God. The word translated above for unsearchable, is from the Greek word ἀνεξιχνίαστος anexichniastos, meaning, not tracked out, that is (by implication) untraceable (Strong’s Concordance G421).

And the word translated above for riches is from the Greek word πλοῦτος ploutos, which means, wealth (as fulness) that is (literally) money possessions or (figuratively) abundance richness (specifically) valuable bestowment (Strong’s Concordance G4149)

O’ the untraceable wealth of his love. This wealth is underived, inconceivable and ineffable. O’ this valuable bestowment of pardoning grace. O’ The Blood’s mediatory interpositions for the wretched. The joys and peace of the Spirit within.

O’ my heart often wonders, how can the ungodly stand before a righteous God, accepted and looked upon with favour? All these are incommunicable.

The world and all its glories, things present and things to come, freely given to the one who has offended and keeps failing in the presence of the justice of God. How can we properly relate these truths to our finite minds?

Truly, the Gospel is the untraceable, the unsearchable riches of the Christ, reserved for his chosen ones, even as you and l.

If there is one thing you should always remember, God loves you, he has always loved you, and will forever love you in Christ, even though your mind may not understand the depths.

PRAYER

Father I thank you for Christ, in him you have given me treasures untold, wealth, eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither had it entered the heart of man.

But you have revealed this glorious mysteries to us by your Spirit.

Lord, I ask that this year, my heart be illuminated, my understanding be enlightened.

Energize my frail heart to see and to grasp even more, the unsearchable riches of the Christ in me.

Take my entire being, my mind, will and all my faculties, and cause to me become more fruitful this year, even as you have willed it, in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

2021 PROPHETIC WORD.

Even though God has done a lot for many of us last year, where people took over territories and did mighty things in God, yet a lot of us hoped until we have felt as though it is against hope to hope. For in the lives of many, God allowed things to dry up, but it was because the Lord was refining and repositioning many of us to bear much fruit in this year, 2021.

As I sat with the Lord in prayer and meditation, the Lord Spoke and declared 2021 as THE YEAR OF FRUITFULNESS!

Where things have been barren, The Lord declared that things will now grow, even with the increase of God.

“”Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouths of the prophets who, on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, foretold that the temple might be rebuilt. For before those days there were no wages for man or animal; nor was there any peace or success for him who went out or came in because of his enemies, for I set all men against one another But now [in this time since you began to build] I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts. For there the seed will produce peace and prosperity; the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things. And as you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and house of Israel (Northern Kingdom), so I will save you, that you may be a blessing. Fear not; let your hands be strong.'” — Zech 8:9-13 AMP

Now, this is it, when God declares Fruitfulness, it means it is a time to sow. Fruits come from a seed. Without a seed, there can be no fruits. 2021 is a year to first of all sow God’s word deeper into the soil of our hearts.

It is a year to sow our lives completely into kingdom advancement to experience divine fruitfulness. It depends on where we need the miracle, if it is a financial miracle, we must learn to be faithful with the little, we must cultivate a sowing habit in this 2021.

If it is healing, we will need to give ourselves wholly to the word, to continue in it, receiving and confessing it until we know the truth that set us free.

Prophecies are given to us to help us war, not for to us to sit back and ask the prophets of God to prove it to us.

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 1 Timothy 1:18

The Lord bless and keep you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love and Grace in Christ,
Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church

Royal Life
Daily Devotional & Prophecy
December 28, 2020.

Discovering Christ in Ephesians

We saw in our last discussion, that we are citizens of a different kingdom, even the kingdom of Christ, saints whose spirits are perfected forever.

Then the apostle continues;

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, Ephesians 3:1

“For this cause” for the cause of the Gospel, that the Gentiles should receive the revelation of the truths he has been shared, right from the beginning of this book. That the Gentiles should receive the divine revelation of the will of God for them, Paul voluntarily became “the prisoner of Jesus Christ” for the Gentiles.

This is worthy of emulation. You see, I am for all the blessings the Son of God has brought to us through his death, burial and resurrection. But I do not believe Christianity is just religion of comfort at this side of life.

When we truly love the brethren, it is seen in our letting go of our comforts, a letting go of our freedom for the sake of others. We desire that others also receive the salvation that we already found in Christ, and as such, even if its means we becoming poor, homeless, becoming prisoners, laying down our lives even to death for the sake of the Gospel, it is well pleasing to God, for this is his will for all Christians;

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.1 John 3:16

Without a Paul letting go of all his comforts for the sake of the brethren, you and I would not be celebrating deep revelations of grace today. May the Lord help us to become living sacrifices for his kingdom’s sake.

Then we hear the apostle continue;

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Ephesians 3:2

Observe this statement carefully “the dispensation of the grace of God”

The word used above for dispensation is from the Greek word oikonomia, which means an administration or an economy.

O’ that you may see this, we are under a new administration. We are under a new economy. We are under a new divine government called the dispensation of the grace of God.

The administration of the law has been abolished, as we saw in our last discussion. God has brought in a new economy, even the economy of the grace of God. The economy of the underserved, unmerited and unearned favour of God upon the ungodly.

To be under this government and to go seeking to live under the administration of the law is spiritual adultery, caused by spiritual dyslexia; an abnormal spiritual condition where we read things upside down.

You see, Paul says this administration was given to him towards the Gentiles. Before this administration came into play, we were aliens in the commonwealth of Israel, a people without hope, and without God in the world.

The only reason we are ingrafted today in the covenant blessing, is because of this new dispensation. Under the old, under the law , there was a partition between us and the Jew, and even with God. That administration was totally against us, we were viewed as a profane people. A totally unclean people.

O’ may we be grateful for the grace of God we have realised in Christ Jesus. So, this dispensation was committed to Paul towards the Gentiles,

The we hear him continue;

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Ephesians 3:3

The preaching of the grace of God is the revelation of the mystery of the love of God.

O’ it is a mystery which is why natural minds cannot comprehend the overwhelming love of the father.

Paul says “by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;” It must come to you by revelation, for it is hidden, a divine mystery. If you do not fully comprehend this mystery, you will always be thinking its a license to sin.

Then we hear “as I wrote afore in few words.” But why did he write to them?

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Ephesians 3:4

Observe carefully this statement “understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ”

Paul personalises his revelation in the mystery of Christ and calls it “my knowledge” Paul had his revelation of Christ, even as the other apostles. At a point Peter had to consent to the fact that, Paul’s revelations of The mystery of Christ were somehow hard to be understood. (2 Peter 3:15 – 18)

It does not matter what people say about Christ, what is your knowledge of him?

This is all we need; to have a personal revelation of the saviour, where we are no longer tossed to and fro by the doctrines of men.

When you read this letters that I write, you get into my knowledge of Christ. It may not be the familiar knowledge of what you hear in your local Church, but if you follow keenly, sooner or later, you will be filled with my personal knowledge of the mystery of Christ.

Desire to have your own revelation of Christ. Know him personally and intimately.

Then we hear the apostle continue on this mystery of Christ;

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Ephesians 3:5

Today, the mystery of Christ is demystified to the sons of men. The apostles and the prophets being the first custodians of these oracles.

It was hid to men of old, they could not fully comprehend how a virgin will give birth. How the law which was right and holy in their eyes be abolished. How a God to whom the sinner is an abomination unto him will turn around and unconditionally love the ungodly. How God will come down to take his abode in his mortal bodies of men.

All these were mysteries to the old covenant saints. Why? Because it was not for them. They were under a different economy, even the old dispensation of the law. The prophets prophesied of the grace that was to come to us, and not to them at that time;

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.1 Peter 1:10-12

Observe the statement “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things,”

The grace of God was revealed to the old testament saints, but it was not “unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things”

This is why you don’t have to compare your walk with God with the old covenant saints. Grace was not for them, Jesus brought in grace and truth. Because God judged so and so by fire and brimstones doesn’t mean you will be judged thus, You are under a new economy, an era of God’s unmerited favour.

We are in the times of the revelation of the mystery of God’s grace. Today, we have been ingrafted into a new covenant, even the covenant of grace. This is what God committed to Paul for the Gentiles;

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Ephesians 3:6

Today we are “fellowheirs” not slaves, not those that work to earn. An heir just receives an inheritance. We are recipients of the promises of God.

We are of the same body; Today, the Jew and Gentile are of the body of Christ, no partition between us, no special people before God.

And today , we are partakers of the promises of God in Christ, not partakers of the wrath of God but the promises of the father in the one he loves, even Christ.

Concession:

Father I thank you for bringing me forth at such a time as this. I am born a generation of Christ. A child of grace. Born under the dispensation of the grace of God.

Thank you making me a partaker of your everlasting covenant. A covenant of promise, ordered in all things.

In my health, your promise of life is manifesting for me, I have the health of God. In my finances, you have ordered your covenant and your promise of prosperity is manifesting for me. Christ my favour and prosperity.

As I minister your word, Christ is the life in every seed I sow in the hearts of men, He is my divine reward. Thank you father for all these blessings in Jesus’ name, Amen!

In encounter with the Lord, I saw a child of God, I saw this dark wind around which came from every side and closed in on this one. it was as though this beloved couldn’t see anyway forward, feeling completely empty as I perceived.

Then I heard this word from the Lord “Do not be anxious about the emptiness you feel, the emptiness you see. I AM emptying the the old, for what I AM about to do in your life. I AM destroying the old, making room for the new chapter I have opened in your life.”

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

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

Royal Life
Daily Devotional & Prophecy
December 21, 2020.

Discovering Christ in Ephesians.

We saw in our last discussion that, Christ has brought all men near unto God, having broken down the middle wall of partition between the Jew and the Gentile, having slain the enmity even the law of carnal commandments through his body. Today we all have access to God by his Spirit in us.

Then we hear the apostle continue

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Ephesians 2:19

Today we “are no more strangers and foreigners” in the commonwealth of Israel, We are no longer strangers to the grace of God, not strangers to the love, power, mercy of God, but we have become partakers of the promises, even of the divine nature.
And are today “fellowcitizens with the saints”

First, we are citizens of heaven. We are citizens of the kingdom of God. partakers of the heavenly calling by the blood of Jesus. Our stay on this earth today is to carry out our ambassadorial ministry as ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom, reconciling the world to God.

But we must see ourselves as citizens of a different kingdom. We are not to accept to be governed by the elements of this world. Sin, sickness, poverty, disease, failure are not part of God’s kingdom, wherefore our mentalities ought to change.

When we start shifting our attention to the realities in our kingdom, knowing that even though we are here, we are still under the government and authority of the Son makes all the difference.

Once our paradigm shifts to kingdom thinking, where we know and live above the elements of this world, far above all principalities and powers, all of a sudden the business begins to work, the drive begins to rise on our inside. The ministry begins to harvest more souls into God’s kingdom. We begin to see things shift from being under this world to operating in the realm of the Spirit. Even the realm of God

Second,Observe this statement again carefully “fellowcitizens with the saints”
We are citizens together with the saints. Which saints are these;

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews 12:22-23

Observe the statement “to the spirits of just men made perfect”

We are fellow citizens with the saints whose spirits are made perfect. This is a radical declaration; that our spirits are created or made perfect together with all saints, every saint that has ever lived.

There are no imperfections in our spirits. And remember the spirit is the real you. When we leave these bodies, we still live, for we are spirit beings living in these earthly temples.

Today, its a privilege that we are members of Church of The firstborn in company of innumerable angels. A people perfected forever.

These things have been hid for along time from the eyes of many, which is the reason a lot of people make prayers to dead saints thinking they are more saints than we are.

Some pray to dead saints to help them reach out to God as though God is angry with us, as though God is an inch away from us and as though Christ the only way to the Father does not suffice.

We are already fellow citizens of the kingdom and life of God.

Then we hear the apostle continue:

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:20

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets”? But What is this foundation the apostles and the prophets built these believers upon?

We are are clearly told the foundation:

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

Christ is the only foundation and nothing else. Not works of the law, not our goodness but In righteousness he is our righteousness, in holiness he is our sanctification, in deliverance he is our salvation, Christ is our all.

The reason why most believers are always unstable is because, they have not learned Christ. How can you be saved and still be under an evil generational foundation.?

A truly saved person does not have foundations but is built upon the foundation of Christ who is the foundation of the apostles.

But we have a knowledge problem. We are unstable because we have believed the lie that we are still under evil foundations, thus daily we are fighting to destroy what we have never been under as children of a different kingdom — which is the reason we find it had experiencing the peace of God. When we have foundations they can be broken:

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalms 11:3

But upon this foundation to which Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone, even the foundation himself, if we build our faith on him, we shall stand, we shall not be unstable and carried away by cunningly devised fables, doctrines of devils, crafted skillfully by the sleight of men. We will be confident that he is our all knowing that;

“the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

Then we hear the apostle continue;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: Ephesians 2:21

This speaks of spiritual growth and the numerical growth of the Body of Christ. This is referring to the church universal firmly fitted in Christ; we are growing with the increase that comes from God, growing up into a holy temple in the Lord.

For;

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22

As the church universal, the Spirit of God dwells in us corporately. We are God’s habitation. Then as particular Christians God dwells in us by his Spirit.

Confession:

Father I thank you for what you have done for me in Christ. Today, I am an ambassador of Christ’s kingdom. A Fellow citizen with the saints whose spirits are made perfect.

A partaker in the commonwealth of Israel, a habitation of the Living God — a host of the almighty, a the dwelling place of God’s Spirit. Built upon the foundation of Christ, even upon a sure foundation unshakable against the storms of life.

I may not have arrived in my external walk with you Lord, but I am grateful that you are growing me up as I am being built up by your Spirit into a holy temple in the Lord.

I am growing up into you in all things, in wisdom, in power, in love, in longsuffering, in faith, in knowledge, in understanding, in wealth, growing up even into your full stature.

Thank You Jesus for this precious Grace!

In an encounter with the Lord, I saw a child of God enter a province, before the arrival of this child of God, it was as though all things were always known to remain dead.

But because of God’s grace upon this one, things began to yield, not just for this child of God but for the entire province as I saw the presence of God change things.

In was led to;

But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. Zechariah 8:11-13

Then I heard ” My Chosen one, my presence has arisen over you and things are changing this moment. Where things were dead, my face is turned to you in grace. What you sow shall yield a great harvest. The seed you sow shall now be prosperous — for I AM giving you the increase of God.

Because I AM with you, the heavens are opened over you to bless the work of your hands. Not just to you alone but those that are of the faith your God shall be blessed by My Hand upon you — for I have given unto you the place your foot is standing on, even the entire province shall now be prosperous because of my presence.

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

Royal Life
Daily Devotional & Prophecy
December 14, 2020.

“I Am Destroying The Power Of Covetousness!”

Discovering Christ in Ephesians

We saw in our last discussion that we are saved by grace through faith, but this entire work is the gift of God. Whatsoever we have done, we are only walking in his predetermined will for us.

Then the apostle continues;

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; Ephesians 2:11

“Wherefore remember” the apostle intends to bring the Ephesians to a place of humility as he had declared before that they were without reason to boast, since their salvation was entirely a free gift of God’s grace.

He reminds them of their former state. By them being called uncircumcision, it was a name used by the Jews referring to those who were not part of the covenants. They were dimmed a profane people by that title.

This circumcision made by hands refers to the carnal removal of the foreskin, which was a covenant rite foreshadowing the spiritual circumcision of the heart and spirit in the new creation in the day of the Christ.

It was a vital sign in those days as those without it were those who were not partakers of the covenants of God, so were these Ephesians.

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Ephesians 2:12

Before the arrival of Christ, before the door of faith was opened unto the Gentiles, we were totally destitute, aliens from the covenants of promise and totally without God in the world.

All we knew was sin. Even our good works were for self-righteousness.

Paul makes these statements to reveal to us the state of the unregenerate man. He desires to remove the idea of God just been an icing on the cake to a place of nothingness were God is all.

We were hopeless, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, absolutely nothing before the Almighty God.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

O’ the blood. The hope of an hopeless me. The blood, the reconciling power of him that looks to Jesus. We only come near by one door, and that is the door of the blood of Christ, even as we hear the apostle state that we were “made nigh by the blood of Christ”

No amount of good works could bring us near. The blood was, is and will always be the only power that washes us, purifies us and brings us near to become partakers of the Commonwealth of Israel.

Partakers of the covenants of promise. Possessors of the living God as our very inheritance in 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

Observe the statement “For he is our peace”

Peace is a person and not a feeling. Christ is the peace between the Jew and the Gentile. Christ is the peace between the sinner and an holy God. You and I are not the peace, for it is not found in us.

We may not feel that God is at peace with us, especially when we are not on our best behaviour, but it is not a feeling, it is knowing, it is a reality.

As long as Christ is in you God is always at peace with you. The war is over. Christ is the end of the warfare between God and man.

For through his blood “he hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” bringing us near and reconciling us to our God and father.

Before the shed blood, there was a wall of partition between the Jew and the gentile, even between us and God.

The Gentiles were not given the law and the Jews that had it could not meet up with its demands, hence, even the Jew with the law, though he felt superior to the Gentile could not break down this middle wall.

This is why we hear;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Ephesians 2:15

Please carefully observe this words “having ABOLISHED in his flesh The ENMITY”

Abolished is past – tense and not present or future – tense. He is not going to abolish but has already abolished, cancelled, destroyed in his flesh the enmity by his death on the cross.

Enmity? What is this that was our enemy, a middle wall, a hindrance, our unfriendly disposition between God?

We hear “even the law of commandments contained in ordinances”

The law and all it’s ordinances were the enmity between us and God. Because we could not meet up with the demands, it became a hindrance, even an enemy between us and God.

The law hinders relationship between man and God. It never gave relationship but took it out of the way. The law was never our friend but our enemy before God.

Today a lot of people are fighting to maintain this in our Churches. It is a demonic deception. The law is the enmity between man and God, even as it was an enemy between the Jew and Gentile.

But Christ is our peace, for he has removed and abolished this enmity, creating a new man, the new creation, where the Jew and the Gentile are both one and God and man united in Christ.

To bring back the law would be to seek to separate man from God and the Jew from the Gentile. This is not of God.

To seek to have peace with God by the works of the flesh is to altogether remove Christ and deny him of who he is, the peace of God, the unity of God and man.

Peace between God and man is realised by the blood of the cross and not by self-righteousness. It only comes by the blood and not by works. To triumph over the law, you must go to the cross

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:Ephesians 2:16

You see, the enmity is slain, it is dead. We are dead to the law and all its requirements by the body of Jesus Christ. Our Lord has “slain the enmity” and our job is to keep it dead and not to revive it!

Only one body had power over the law, the sinless body of the Son of God slew the giant and gave us the victory of divine union.

Today we are not seeking to be united to God, but are already united, not seeking to be blessed by God but we are the heirs of God the creator and owner of all. Heirs of the divine being.

The Lord Jesus did the work and came and preached peace unto us and not the law;
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Ephesians 2:17

Observe carefully that it does not say he only came and preached to the Gentiles that were far off, but “and to them that were nigh”

Even the Jew that seemed to be near through the law was still far in God’s exonomy and was shown the way of peace, not by the law he was under, but by the Person of Jesus.

The access point to God today is not through ordinances, we don’t have to run to a natural Jerusalem. We don’t have to worship at a designated mountain.

We don’t need the law to have access to God, The Jew and the Gentile alike; For there is only one access point;

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.Ephesians 2:18

You see, you do not need to observe laws and duties before you can have access to God, you do not need to do anything to deserve God. For he that is All is already in you, as your access and as your inheritance.

May the Lord open our eyes to see this.

Confession:

Father I thank you for this great work of salvation. Through the body and blood of Jesus I am today unified with you. Today I have Christ as my peace with my father.

The middle wall of partition, the enmity, even the law has been abolished and taken away. I have free access unto you by your Spirit in me. I am delivered from the bondage of the law.

The mentality of a slave to a child of the living God, even one with you my dear father.

I proclaim, Christ is my Shalom, my perfect well-being, my all round prosperity! O’ glory to you Jesus!

In an encounter with the lord, I heard ” Dear Child, I Am the fire upon your heart. Because you are dear to me, and I have a good end for you in my will, I am burning away the dross over your heart.

I am destroying the power of covetousness upon your heart until I truly remain your only desire even as you have ever desired.

Yes, there is my fire. Yes, it is hot, but I Am only refining you. Purifying you for a greater yield.

Bringing you to a place where you shall boldly say ‘the Lord is my helper, what can man do unto me’ for I am with you and will never forsake you. Therefore be glad — you have help “

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6

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