Just like It takes a little poison to kill, the devil doesn’t speak complete lies rather he mixes the truth with some lies.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9 ESV
It’s important for the ways of the kingdom to be properly communicated , it is written “the letter kills but the Holy Spirit gives life”. By the spirit of the word we will gain entrance into some coded truths in the word of God.
It is important to understand our engagements. Our engagement is primarily spiritual thats why we emphasize biblical spiritual truths. We believe that the things we see around us have spiritual undertones hidden to the physical eyes. The effect of the wickedness around us proves that spirits exist,although we can’t see them. We can’t deny the impact they have on the state of a territory. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers of the world.
God empowered us with the Holy Spirit so that we can engage in a way that ensures victory.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-7 ESV
There are spiritual under currents of activities behind wicked imaginations, thoughts and inventions. It’s important to understand these truth so you don’t look at things from a carnal mindset.
Even as we learn about the ministry of angels it is vital to have the right understanding. We don’t call , pray or worship angels rather we pray to the father and he releases angels to work in our favour.
“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 ESV
There are fallen angels/demonic spirits who advance the will of the devil.
“in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—” Ephesians 2:2 ESV
When you see unbelievers manifesting wickedness, it is as a result of the influence of demonic spirits in the air. The spirit that works in the children of disobedience. When we were in the world, serving the purpose of the devil , there are spirits that informed the actions we take in the physical world. There are demonic powers that made us victims of demonic influences.
Jesus speaking to the religious body said
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” John 8:44-45 ESV
When we were in the world we didn’t have the spirit of truth, we had the spirit of the devil. We did the will of the devil consciously and unconsciously.
The story of the mad man in gadara teaches us how he was manifesting the nature of the devil, it’s not every case of insanity that is medically inclined. When someone is possessed by a spirit he comes under the influence and do what is pleasing to the spirit .
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 ESV
The works of the devil are negative, once you have this understanding you will have the desire to rebel against the works of wickedness. There are negative spirits behind negative situations.
We don’t accomplish things by our own strength, we have the help of angels to assist us.
“Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!” Psalm 103:20 ESV
The angels are committed to actualizing the will of God. His thoughts towards us are of peace to give us an expected end. God’s thoughts towards us are not evil, so when evil starts manifesting in our lives we must take the position of resistance and give the devil no room. It’s good for us to have this understanding in order to engage with knowledge. I’ve seen believers who accept the afflictions of the enemy as the will of God.
In Daniel 10 we learn of spiritual activities that impact the material world but unseen to man .
“The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,” Daniel 10:13 ESV
When experiencing some form of delay, it could be spiritually orchestrated, that’s why you can’t operate by your carnal mind but rather engage spiritually. Many physical problems can have spiritual roots. Be knowledgeable to engage life in a spiritual manner. One of the ways we engage is by asking the father for spiritual backups.
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 ESV
If we understand this spiritual dimension, our lives will be filled with supernatural activities of God. Negative cycles will stop, barriers will be broken so that you can enjoy your liberty in God.
It’s not enough to pray but to pray with knowledge and persist in prayer because it is the will of God for angels to assist you.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 ESV
The Lord is willing to give but you need to ask with knowledge and be prepared to receive in faith.
Engaging as Priests: the amour of a priest
“Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.”Psalm 132:9 ESV
As God’s priests we need to live in a way that qualifies us to be fit to carry out the priestly duties.
“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—“ Philippians 3:3 ESV
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 ESV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:14-18 ESV
This is a replica of a Roman soldier’s armour to teach us how we ought to dress in order to engage / judge disobedience and wickedness.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 ESV
God expects us not to become compliant to the ways of the world but to transition into his ways. The scripture tells us how we ought to engage life.
Our priesthood is a lifestyle that is compliant to the Lord and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
What is righteousness ?
Most people take offence when righteousness is preached because it’s taught incorrectly.
1. Every born again believer should understand that righteousness is what you become in God. It is a gift from God that can’t be earned but it is imputed to us by the sacrifice of Christ. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV.
We receive the righteousness of God by faith and not by works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
There is a balance that needs to be added whenever we discuss righteousness. The first condition of righteousness is only fulfilled by faith in the finished works of Christ, it is a gift from God. This is the first leg, it’s impossible for someone standing only on one leg to run in a race, we need both feet for balance.
Understand righteousness as a gift given by God and a requirement given to a child of God. There is God’s responsibility and the believers responsibility when we talk about righteousness. In order to journey properly a believer needs primarily the gift of righteousness in Christ and the response in obedience to the workings of the Holy Spirit in him. We need the balance .
Our responsibility of Righteousness.
“”You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”Matthew 5:14 ESV
It is your responsibility to turn your light on, the light helps people to see God at work in you.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV
We are new creatures in Christ created for good works. God expects a transformation. There is the input given by God and he expects an output that is achieved by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
We produce the works of righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit . The Holy Spirit in you helps you to know what God wants and what he has freely given to you.
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 ESV
The Holy Spirit in us produces the works of righteousness. It’s our responsibility not to shut out the Holy Spirit when he is working in us. If you don’t agree you won’t produce the works of righteousness. Most believers turn away from the Holy Spirit and they settle for a life of compromise because they neglect and resist the workings of the Holy Spirit.
When you get born again but continue to live in sin, it is a problem. When you become comfortable with sin the devil has gained access into your life in order to deprive you of the things freely given to those who belong to Christ.
It is the devil’s desire to make sure you never conform to the ways of God.
“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:7-10 ESV
We pursue righteousness because we have the seed of God in us.
“If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” 1 John 2:29 ESV
When you are born again, you don’t continue to live in the way you used to live. The grace that saved you also keeps you in the journey. The grace ensures compliance to God.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:1-11 ESV
You can’t enjoy your inheritance if you walk against the Holy Spirit and shut him out of your life. The wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience so we shouldn’t engage in these works as believers. We should walk as children of light imitating God and never taking part in the unfruitful works of darkness. We stand in the direction that is against the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. The nature of God can’t be released when darkness is all around and in you. When your heart becomes callous it’s impossible to experience the workings of grace unless you repent and turn away from wickedness.
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Romans 1:22-27 ESV
This is the society we are living in, though We preach inclusiveness it is within the confines of the scripture. Christ loves sinners but hates sin. We also love sinners but we hate sin. Every effort to make sure sexual perversion becomes a norm is against the will of God and we reject it!
You can’t claim to be a child of God and be comfortable doing the things God hates. The atmosphere of sin is not conducive for the ministry of angels.
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32 ESV
Even consenting to practices of unrighteousness is walking in ways that repel the presence and power of God .
“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:5-12 ESV
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.” 1 Corinthians 10:13-15 ESV
Don’t consent to the standards of the world and live like the world. Paul was teaching the Corinth church to live in a way that is against the ways of the world.
When you get born again you are born into God’s kingdom, so we need to learn the ways of his kingdom.
Even as an immigrant when you migrate into a new country you live by the laws of the new country irrespective of your feelings. If you insist on living by the old laws or regulations you will lose some rights and privileges.
The acts of wickedness and unrighteousness are informed by the spirit of the power of the air. It informs the social culture. The devil gets men to control the world in the same way God needs man to influence the world and advance his kingdom.
As born again christians we are bought by the price of Jesus’s blood and our lives belong to God for his glory. When you live the God life by the help of the Holy Spirit the angels assist you to ensure that every thing in your life aligns with the will of God.
Stop submitting to demonic spirits and by the power of the Holy Spirit begin to resist the influence of the devil. We have to be balanced in how we engage the life we have in God. If you hunger for the truth, listen to the message again pray and ask God to help you to conform to his word.
We need to cry unto God for concentration so he can renew the right spirit in us.
Don’t be deceived God cannot be mocked he knows those that are his. Stop being an agent of the devil and promoting negative spiritual activities but rather let your life promote righteousness an aroma of a sweet smell to God.
“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” Romans 6:17-19 ESV
It is your responsibility to yield your members to the influence of the Holy Spirit and your failure to do so becomes an access point for the devil and you can’t get the results of the kingdom.
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Hebrews 1:9 ESV
The more you love the will of God and walk in his righteousness the more you are exposed to his provisions.
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:15-17 ESV
The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and the Holy Spirit will never leave us nor forsake us. When you keep responding to the instructions of the Holy Spirit, you will never be trapped in the lies of the devil. You will live a victorious life.
Believers who don’t understand these truths live a dry Christian life and don’t bear fruit. When they start relating with God from the help of the Holy Spirit they live fruitful lives. God has given us his Spirit so we can conform to his will, walking in righteousness and being transformed into his likeness.
Fight the good fight of faith!
Never be comfortable to be ruled by your natural inclinations. You will not get the results of the kingdom. Never become comfortable with sin, unrighteousness and wickedness.
Cultivate the habit of seeking righteousness, practicing repentance and consecration. Seek the help of God so he can renew the right spirit , and create in you a clean heart that hungers and thirsts for righteousness. If you live life with the wrong spirit it will slow you down.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Learn to cut it off and lay aside anything that slows you down or hinders the manifestation of the will of God in your life. If you don’t cut them off, they will cut you off and that’s the will of the devil.
There is no other way, we have to lay it aside. We can’t love the ways of the world and grow at the same time.
Produce the fruits of righteousness as the Holy Spirit convicts and corrects you. As you produce the fruits God will prune you to produce more fruit.
Even when you stumble, repent and God will forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness so you can continue the race set before you.
