Galatians 4:1-2 ESV
I mean that the HEIR, as long as he is a CHILD, is no different from a SLAVE, though he is the owner of everything,
[2]but he is under GUARDIANS and MANAGERS until the DATE SET by his FATHER.
The role and importance of a father figure in a child destiny is very Paramount and cannot be downplayed.
Fathers play very sensitive roles in building and contributing to the growth and development of their children by instilling discipline into them, fortify them with prayers and good counsel for them to fulfill purpose and destiny in life.
However, for any minister of God to move forward in the course of his ministry, he needs the Holy Ghost, serious dedication, discipline, hard work and more so a presence of a SPIRITUAL FATHER in his ministry. For instance, Timothy excelled on ministry because he had the presence of a spiritual father in the person of Apostle Paul around him. Also Elisha received his portion from Elijah his spiritual father because he took his time to carefully, diligently and faithfully serve his master by waiting on him to pour water in his cup for twenty years. Nevertheless, being a spiritual father has nothing to do with age, gender, ethnic background, size, fame, position, and race or language differences. It requires experience in ministry, the grace the person carries, the impact in your life, and the measure of his anointing working in your life.
WHO IS A SPIRITUAL FATHER???
1. He is a humble man of God, filled with the wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit to a great capacity with vast experience in the work of ministry to impart, build, direct, instruct, counsel and bring out the best in the life of his children for fulfillment in the work of ministry.
2. He is a man you must not miss in your life to enhance your spiritual growth, build your spiritual life and help you to sharpen your spiritual antenna to connect signals from the third heaven.
3. He is very humble, gentle and disciplined through whom his children can receive truth from his mouth, regardless of their position, status, and fame, achievement in ministry or wealth.
4, He is a man that reproduces his kind via attitude, grace, and in the demonstration of God's anointing and power.
5. He is a man of authority set over you by God to release words of power and authority into your life and ministry.
HOW DO I RECOGNIZE MY SPIRITUAL FATHER???
1. Through training under his ministry.
2. By prophetic instruction
3. By divine revelation
4. By connecting to his ministry
5. By divine Encounter
6. By the leading of the Holy Spirit
7. By angelic assistance
8. Through dream
9. By having testimony anytime he prays for You
10. Through physical contact
HOW CAN I CONNECT TO THE ANOINTING OF A SPIRITUAL FATHER?
1. By following him closely and faithfully
2. By respecting and honouring his anointing
3. By praying for him secretly and privately
4. By ministering to his needs as the spirit leads you
5. By reading his books and listening to his messages
6. Total dedication and obedience to his instruction
7. Through humility
8. Through direct impartation
9. Through discernment
10. Through prophesy and so on
NOTE:
The fact that somebody converted you does not mean he is your spiritual father. The mere fact that someone is older than you or got into ministry before you doesnt qualify such a person as your spiritual father. You must know your spiritual father and he must also be able to recognize you, communicate wit you and pray for you. He must know secret thing about you and be able to identify you in the midst of the crowd. He must know your family, recognize your voice, understand your spiritual condition and know your temperament. He must also know your weaknesses, character, background, strength, education, you calling and ministry. He can stand for you in the public and identify your joy, pain and fulfillment. He must play an active role in your life and influence your destiny to the glory of God...
Revealed by: An Envoy, still under tutelage.
Shalom...
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
THE SUMMATION OF SATAN'S POWER
Satan was an angel created by God who turned against God’s authority (Isaiah 14:13) and became the head of a kingdom of evil spirits called demons, his “angels” (Matthew 25:41). His power both in the heavenly realm and on earth is great and should not be underestimated. However, while Satan and his forces are formidable enemies, Jesus Christ crushed Satan’s power, fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 3:15. The cross of Christ won the victory (John 12:31). “The prince of this world now stands condemned” (John 16:11), and Jesus will one day destroy Satan’s power completely and purify creation (2 Peter 3:10).
Satan’s power in the heavenly realm:
Satan’s power has repute in the spiritual realm (Jude 9), where he has access to the prence of God (Job 1:6). The book of Job provides insight into the relationship between God and Satan. In Job 1:6-12, Satan stands before God and reports that he has been “walking up and down” on the earth (v. 7). God asks Satan if he has considered godly Job, and Satan immediately accuses Job of insincerity—he only loves God for the blessings God gives. “Stretch out your hand,” Satan says, “and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (v. 11). God grants Satan permission to affect Job’s possessions and family, but not his person, and Satan leaves. (The rest of the book is from Job’s perspective, providing an example of how to deal with suffering.)
This is an important passage because it shows Satan’s place in the spiritual realm. He is able to accuse God’s people in His very presence, and Jude 9 shows that even Michael the archangel needs the Lord’s help in overcoming him. However, Satan is obviously restrained from enacting his full fury; he is still a created being under God, and his power is limited.
Satan’s power on the earth:
Job 1 also reveals that Satan does enact evil and cause direct harm on the earth. The most well-known and important of his actions on earth occurred in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3 tells of Satan’s temptation of Eve, the “mother of all the living” (v. 20), and her subsequent first sin. It was this act, and that of Eve’s husband Adam, that brought sin into the world, and it is the reason all humankind must be redeemed from sin in order to be with God.
One day, Jesus met a woman who had been “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years” (Luke 13:11). Jesus attributes the infirmity to Satan, who had kept her “bound” (verse 16). Satan’s power was real, but it was easily overcome by our Lord: “He put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God” (v. 13). Jesus’ miracle was a clear demonstration of His authority over Satan.
Since his instigation of evil on earth, Satan has been named as the “prince,” “god,” or “ruler” of this world (John 14:30; cf. John 12:31; 16:11; 1 Corinthians 2:6, 8; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:13). He is the enemy of God and truth (Matthew 13:24-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12), and he does everything he can to tempt individuals (Genesis 3; Luke 22:31; Matthew 2:3; 1 Timothy 3:7) and larger groups of people (1 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 2:10). He “leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9). Satan accomplishes this by various means, including appealing to man’s pride (1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Corinthians 4:6), interfering with the transmission of truth (Matthew 13:18-22, 38-39), and placing false believers within the church (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Revelation 2:9; 3:9). In John 8:44, Jesus says that Satan “is a liar and the father of it.”
God still grants Satan some authority in this world, which means that his power is not yet completely broken—except in one area: his power of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says that Jesus came as a man to die in order to “destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil,” a power Satan had held “from the beginning” (John 8:44). The salvation Jesus provides has released us from Satan’s stranglehold. Death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Satan’s power – the conclusion:
The Bible says that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and we must “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet Christians have a great hope, for Jesus Christ (John 16:33) and our faith in Him (1 John 5:4) have overcome Satan’s evil. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Shalom
Satan’s power in the heavenly realm:
Satan’s power has repute in the spiritual realm (Jude 9), where he has access to the prence of God (Job 1:6). The book of Job provides insight into the relationship between God and Satan. In Job 1:6-12, Satan stands before God and reports that he has been “walking up and down” on the earth (v. 7). God asks Satan if he has considered godly Job, and Satan immediately accuses Job of insincerity—he only loves God for the blessings God gives. “Stretch out your hand,” Satan says, “and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (v. 11). God grants Satan permission to affect Job’s possessions and family, but not his person, and Satan leaves. (The rest of the book is from Job’s perspective, providing an example of how to deal with suffering.)
This is an important passage because it shows Satan’s place in the spiritual realm. He is able to accuse God’s people in His very presence, and Jude 9 shows that even Michael the archangel needs the Lord’s help in overcoming him. However, Satan is obviously restrained from enacting his full fury; he is still a created being under God, and his power is limited.
Satan’s power on the earth:
Job 1 also reveals that Satan does enact evil and cause direct harm on the earth. The most well-known and important of his actions on earth occurred in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3 tells of Satan’s temptation of Eve, the “mother of all the living” (v. 20), and her subsequent first sin. It was this act, and that of Eve’s husband Adam, that brought sin into the world, and it is the reason all humankind must be redeemed from sin in order to be with God.
One day, Jesus met a woman who had been “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years” (Luke 13:11). Jesus attributes the infirmity to Satan, who had kept her “bound” (verse 16). Satan’s power was real, but it was easily overcome by our Lord: “He put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God” (v. 13). Jesus’ miracle was a clear demonstration of His authority over Satan.
Since his instigation of evil on earth, Satan has been named as the “prince,” “god,” or “ruler” of this world (John 14:30; cf. John 12:31; 16:11; 1 Corinthians 2:6, 8; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:13). He is the enemy of God and truth (Matthew 13:24-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12), and he does everything he can to tempt individuals (Genesis 3; Luke 22:31; Matthew 2:3; 1 Timothy 3:7) and larger groups of people (1 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelation 2:10). He “leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9). Satan accomplishes this by various means, including appealing to man’s pride (1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Corinthians 4:6), interfering with the transmission of truth (Matthew 13:18-22, 38-39), and placing false believers within the church (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Revelation 2:9; 3:9). In John 8:44, Jesus says that Satan “is a liar and the father of it.”
God still grants Satan some authority in this world, which means that his power is not yet completely broken—except in one area: his power of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says that Jesus came as a man to die in order to “destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil,” a power Satan had held “from the beginning” (John 8:44). The salvation Jesus provides has released us from Satan’s stranglehold. Death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Satan’s power – the conclusion:
The Bible says that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and we must “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet Christians have a great hope, for Jesus Christ (John 16:33) and our faith in Him (1 John 5:4) have overcome Satan’s evil. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Shalom
Friday, November 18, 2016
REVEALED: THE NATURAL MAN!
In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, the natural man is compared to the spiritual man and the carnal man. Verse 14 says, “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (NASB). This verse does not define the natural man, as such; rather, it uses the term to describe one who does not understand God’s words and thoughts. The one who can understand God’s words is a “spiritual” man (verse 15).
“The 'natural' man, still unsaved, cannot appreciate spiritual truths. He must first understand Christ’s atoning sacrifice for him, but even that is ‘foolishness’ to him (1:18) until the Holy Spirit Himself convicts him of its reality (John 16:7-11).” Basically, the “natural” man is one who does not have the Holy Spirit residing within him. As Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6).
Let’s look at some other uses in the Bible of the word natural. In Romans 11:21 we read, “For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.” In 1 Corinthians 15:44-46, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, then there is also a spiritual body.…However the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.” Ezekiel 44:31 speaks of a natural death. Daniel 10:8 speaks of a natural color. James 1:23 speaks of a natural face, and James 3:15 states, “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul uses the word natural to refer to someone still in his original (sinful) state. Natural men are those who are occupied with the things of this material world to the exclusion of the things of God. They are led by instinct rather than by the Spirit of God. They intuitively choose sin over righteousness. They are the “pagans” Jesus refers to in Matthew 6:32 who only seek after the things of this world.
The supernatural work of God is to change the natural man into a spiritual one. When a person trusts Christ, God exchanges what is natural (received from Adam) for what is spiritual (received from Christ). “As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The Christian life is, therefore, a supernatural one. We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
REVEALED BY: AN ENVOY... Have a glorious weekend... Shalom
“The 'natural' man, still unsaved, cannot appreciate spiritual truths. He must first understand Christ’s atoning sacrifice for him, but even that is ‘foolishness’ to him (1:18) until the Holy Spirit Himself convicts him of its reality (John 16:7-11).” Basically, the “natural” man is one who does not have the Holy Spirit residing within him. As Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6).
Let’s look at some other uses in the Bible of the word natural. In Romans 11:21 we read, “For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.” In 1 Corinthians 15:44-46, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, then there is also a spiritual body.…However the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.” Ezekiel 44:31 speaks of a natural death. Daniel 10:8 speaks of a natural color. James 1:23 speaks of a natural face, and James 3:15 states, “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul uses the word natural to refer to someone still in his original (sinful) state. Natural men are those who are occupied with the things of this material world to the exclusion of the things of God. They are led by instinct rather than by the Spirit of God. They intuitively choose sin over righteousness. They are the “pagans” Jesus refers to in Matthew 6:32 who only seek after the things of this world.
The supernatural work of God is to change the natural man into a spiritual one. When a person trusts Christ, God exchanges what is natural (received from Adam) for what is spiritual (received from Christ). “As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The Christian life is, therefore, a supernatural one. We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1).
REVEALED BY: AN ENVOY... Have a glorious weekend... Shalom
Friday, November 11, 2016
SIR, CAN I LEAVE MY CHURCH NOW???
During the course of the week, I was trying to check on a Junior friend who wasn't in church recently via social media.. I ask why he wasn't in church, he said a brother slapped him in church the last time he was, I said did you tell any of the teenagers' coordinators about it, He replied No, I said so you have decided not to come to church again because of that? He said Yes, He will be going to his mum's church closer to his house and moreover their services are shorter.. In a nut shell, I tried my best for his level to bring him back to our church but he has made up his mind. Then, I left the remaining for the Holy Ghost. The most impressive thing he said was that he was going to return back in the new year. Then I was thinking in my mind, he is actually going to change church again after two months..A slap could actually make a young believer change church, no doubt about that. Apostle paul wasnt slapped but stoned, yet he went back into the city (Acts 14:19-20). Countless of times the Apostles went back into the temple they were persecuted, hated, imprisoned and beaten? Can we do that as believers now?
So then Sir, When can I leave My Church?
Perhaps the best way to discern whether one has grounds to leave a church is to go back to the basics. What, after all, is the purpose of the church in the first place? The Bible is clear in its teaching that the church is to be the "pillar and ground (foundation) of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). Everything in the church structure, teaching, worship, programs and activities is to be centered upon this fact. In addition, the church should recognize Jesus Christ as its one and only head (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18), and submit to Him in all things. Clearly these things can only be done when the church clings tightly to the Bible as its standard and authority. It's hard to see how one would want to leave a church such as described above, but sadly, few churches today fit this description.
Believers who feel a desire to leave a church should be clear on their reasons. If the church does not proclaim truth, cling to the Bible and revere Christ as its head, and there is another church in the area that does, then there are grounds to leave. A case can be made, however, for staying and working to bring about changes for the better. We are exhorted to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). If one is strongly convicted of the need to move the church in a more Bible-based, Christ-honoring direction, and feels he/she can do that in a loving and non-divisive manner, then that would seem to be the better course of action.
The Bible does not outline a procedure on how to leave a church. In the early day of the church, a believer would have to move to another town to find a different church. Sadly, in our world today with a church on seemingly every corner, many believers leave one church for another instead of working through whatever problem there was. Forgiveness, love, and unity are to be the marks of believers (John 13:34-35;Colossians 3:13; John 17:21-23), not bitterness and division (Ephesians 4:31-32).
The most crucial thing for a believer to do should he/she feel be led to leave a church is to do so in such a way that does not cause division or unnecessary controversy in the church (Proverbs 6:19; 1 Corinthians 1:10). As described above, an important question to answer is why would any person want to leave the church? If the answer to this question is because of the lack of biblical teaching, then the course is clear.
However, many people are dissatisfied with their church because they are not involved in any way in the church's ministries. It is far easier to be spiritually fed by the church when one is an active part of "feeding" others in the church. The purpose of the church is clearly outlined in Ephesians 4:11-14. Allow this passage to be the guide in choosing and finding a church.
Note: Other relative reason(s) may make a person leave his/her church like relocation. Either Way, worship God in spirit and in Truth.(John 4 vs 24)
Revealed by: AN ENVOY #HB... HAVE A GLORIOUS WEEKEND... SHALOM
So then Sir, When can I leave My Church?
Perhaps the best way to discern whether one has grounds to leave a church is to go back to the basics. What, after all, is the purpose of the church in the first place? The Bible is clear in its teaching that the church is to be the "pillar and ground (foundation) of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). Everything in the church structure, teaching, worship, programs and activities is to be centered upon this fact. In addition, the church should recognize Jesus Christ as its one and only head (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18), and submit to Him in all things. Clearly these things can only be done when the church clings tightly to the Bible as its standard and authority. It's hard to see how one would want to leave a church such as described above, but sadly, few churches today fit this description.
Believers who feel a desire to leave a church should be clear on their reasons. If the church does not proclaim truth, cling to the Bible and revere Christ as its head, and there is another church in the area that does, then there are grounds to leave. A case can be made, however, for staying and working to bring about changes for the better. We are exhorted to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). If one is strongly convicted of the need to move the church in a more Bible-based, Christ-honoring direction, and feels he/she can do that in a loving and non-divisive manner, then that would seem to be the better course of action.
The Bible does not outline a procedure on how to leave a church. In the early day of the church, a believer would have to move to another town to find a different church. Sadly, in our world today with a church on seemingly every corner, many believers leave one church for another instead of working through whatever problem there was. Forgiveness, love, and unity are to be the marks of believers (John 13:34-35;Colossians 3:13; John 17:21-23), not bitterness and division (Ephesians 4:31-32).
The most crucial thing for a believer to do should he/she feel be led to leave a church is to do so in such a way that does not cause division or unnecessary controversy in the church (Proverbs 6:19; 1 Corinthians 1:10). As described above, an important question to answer is why would any person want to leave the church? If the answer to this question is because of the lack of biblical teaching, then the course is clear.
However, many people are dissatisfied with their church because they are not involved in any way in the church's ministries. It is far easier to be spiritually fed by the church when one is an active part of "feeding" others in the church. The purpose of the church is clearly outlined in Ephesians 4:11-14. Allow this passage to be the guide in choosing and finding a church.
Note: Other relative reason(s) may make a person leave his/her church like relocation. Either Way, worship God in spirit and in Truth.(John 4 vs 24)
Revealed by: AN ENVOY #HB... HAVE A GLORIOUS WEEKEND... SHALOM
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!
"And IN THAT DAY ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16:23-24 KJV
Mark these verses in your Bible. Don't let them get away from you.
When Jesus said "in that day ye shall ask me nothing," what day was He talking about? He was talking about the we are leaving in right now. Praying to the Father in the Name of Jesus belongs to us NOW- in this day.
Jesus said that just before He went to Calvary to die, before being raised from the dead, ascend on high, and sit at the right hand of the Father, rather which a new day dawned, and we came into the New Covenant.
Notice the 24th verse says, "HITHERTO have ye asked nothing in my name." Hitherto means up till now---until this time---you have not prayer in My Name. You see, it would not have done the disciples or anybody else any good to have prayed to the Father in the Name of Jesus while Jesus was here on earth, because, under the Old Covenant, they prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Furthermore, when Jesus was here on earth, He had not yet entered into His mediatorial (high priestly or intercessory) ministry at the right hand of the Father, so it would not have done any good to have prayed in His Name. But just before He went away, Jesus changed His disciples' way of praying. During the interim when the Old covenant was going out, and the New Covenant was coming in, Jesus taught the disciples to pray what we call "The Lord's Prayer." He did not teach us to pray this way----Did you ever stop to think about that? He taught His disciples to pray this way. I did not say The Lord's Prayer isn't beautiful. I did not say we cannot learn something from it---because we can learn much from it. But where is the Name of Jesus in it? They didn't pray one thing in the Name of Jesus, did they? They didn't ask for one thing in the Name of Jesus, did they? This is not the New Testament Church at prayer! This is not the New Testament norm for prayer.
Right here in the 16th chapter of John is something we need to see: Just before He went away, Jesus changed their way of praying. Under the New Covenant between God and the Church, we are to come to God by JESUS CHRIST. (One reason we have missed a great deal is because some of us have tried to pray like they did back in the days of the old Covenant.)
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
John 16:23-24 KJV
Mark these verses in your Bible. Don't let them get away from you.
When Jesus said "in that day ye shall ask me nothing," what day was He talking about? He was talking about the we are leaving in right now. Praying to the Father in the Name of Jesus belongs to us NOW- in this day.
Jesus said that just before He went to Calvary to die, before being raised from the dead, ascend on high, and sit at the right hand of the Father, rather which a new day dawned, and we came into the New Covenant.
Notice the 24th verse says, "HITHERTO have ye asked nothing in my name." Hitherto means up till now---until this time---you have not prayer in My Name. You see, it would not have done the disciples or anybody else any good to have prayed to the Father in the Name of Jesus while Jesus was here on earth, because, under the Old Covenant, they prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Furthermore, when Jesus was here on earth, He had not yet entered into His mediatorial (high priestly or intercessory) ministry at the right hand of the Father, so it would not have done any good to have prayed in His Name. But just before He went away, Jesus changed His disciples' way of praying. During the interim when the Old covenant was going out, and the New Covenant was coming in, Jesus taught the disciples to pray what we call "The Lord's Prayer." He did not teach us to pray this way----Did you ever stop to think about that? He taught His disciples to pray this way. I did not say The Lord's Prayer isn't beautiful. I did not say we cannot learn something from it---because we can learn much from it. But where is the Name of Jesus in it? They didn't pray one thing in the Name of Jesus, did they? They didn't ask for one thing in the Name of Jesus, did they? This is not the New Testament Church at prayer! This is not the New Testament norm for prayer.
Right here in the 16th chapter of John is something we need to see: Just before He went away, Jesus changed their way of praying. Under the New Covenant between God and the Church, we are to come to God by JESUS CHRIST. (One reason we have missed a great deal is because some of us have tried to pray like they did back in the days of the old Covenant.)
Friday, November 04, 2016
Deliver this Man to Satan: MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU!
This is a very popular verse, but many people don't even know why God said it to Paul.
Ok, I’ll show you. 2 Corinthians 12:7 "... I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
Ok there we have it. Paul had the tendency to become proud and of course that pride would have led him to hell so God actually authorized Satan to afflict Paul’s body to keep him from being proud. Hmmmm. Who did Paul ask for healing? God. We didn’t see him casting and binding the devil, when he knew what his problem was and who had the power to stop it.
Because Paul understood this process very well, he actually suggested it to the church in Corinth for a man that was sinning by sleeping with his father's wife. He said “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 5:5).
Scripture said “But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Interesting huh? Many people simply go and start cursing out the devil, casting and binding him, when he got the legal authority to do what he is doing to them from God because of their sins. The more we sin, the more we give the devil a legal right to do things to us. Remember when Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin that you should pluck it (figuratively speaking)? Imagine that you prayed and asked Jesus to help you to stop sinning, and He hears your prayers by doing to you what He did to Paul, authorizing the devil to afflict that part of your body that causes you to sin in order to save you? If God authorized it then casting and binding while you are still in that sin is like walking up to a police man doing his job and punching him in the face.
There is a warning against this. Jude 1:8 “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.” Peter gives the same warning in 2 Peter 2:10-11.
All we have to do is stay away from trouble and they will stay away from us. 1 John 5:18 says “We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.”
So dear brothers and sisters, we have a goal for the remainder of the year!!! It's time to understand what sin does to us. Who wants to disarm the devil and stop his attacks on their lives? Who is with me?
VERSE FOR THE WEEK
2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Enjoy the weekend in Christ.
Ok, I’ll show you. 2 Corinthians 12:7 "... I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
Ok there we have it. Paul had the tendency to become proud and of course that pride would have led him to hell so God actually authorized Satan to afflict Paul’s body to keep him from being proud. Hmmmm. Who did Paul ask for healing? God. We didn’t see him casting and binding the devil, when he knew what his problem was and who had the power to stop it.
Because Paul understood this process very well, he actually suggested it to the church in Corinth for a man that was sinning by sleeping with his father's wife. He said “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 5:5).
Scripture said “But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Interesting huh? Many people simply go and start cursing out the devil, casting and binding him, when he got the legal authority to do what he is doing to them from God because of their sins. The more we sin, the more we give the devil a legal right to do things to us. Remember when Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin that you should pluck it (figuratively speaking)? Imagine that you prayed and asked Jesus to help you to stop sinning, and He hears your prayers by doing to you what He did to Paul, authorizing the devil to afflict that part of your body that causes you to sin in order to save you? If God authorized it then casting and binding while you are still in that sin is like walking up to a police man doing his job and punching him in the face.
There is a warning against this. Jude 1:8 “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you." But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.” Peter gives the same warning in 2 Peter 2:10-11.
All we have to do is stay away from trouble and they will stay away from us. 1 John 5:18 says “We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.”
So dear brothers and sisters, we have a goal for the remainder of the year!!! It's time to understand what sin does to us. Who wants to disarm the devil and stop his attacks on their lives? Who is with me?
VERSE FOR THE WEEK
2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Enjoy the weekend in Christ.
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