KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:5 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”,

From our key scripture, we learn that we have been predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto God. This is according to the good pleasure of His will.

The word for our consideration in this revelation given to Apostle Paul is “adoption “. This word is different in meaning from the usual act of adopting a child from an orphanage or directly from the parent. The word adoption is translated from a Greek word that means “son placing”. It means being given the rights to a son who has come of full age. This picture is clearly stated in Galatians 4:1-6.

Galatians 4:1,2 states, “Now I say, that the heir as long as he is a child, differs not from a servant though he be Lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father”. The bible teaches that when the heir, that is the one who has the right to inherit the throne or estate is a child, he is not different from a servant or a slave. The word used here for a child is “nepios”. This word means not speaking or an infant. Because he is an infant or does not know how to speak he is not different from a slave or servant. He has no access to the estate or throne, rather others dominate and rule over him. (Don’t be a Christian who does not know how to speak the word of God)

When this child grows to the age of responsibility. He is then placed as a son. In the Roman culture this son is officially given the right to his father’s estate. He now inherits whatever is due him. He is said to be adopted as a son.

In our key scripture the Bible says God has adopted us or placed us as sons. He predestinated that when we accept the message of the gospel of our salvation, we become automatic adults’ sons with full rights to all that He has as God.  This is the reason Romans 8:17 says “we are joint heirs with Jesus”. It is our adoption as adult sons that makes us joint heirs with Jesus. *A joint heir is a joint owner. We are not part owners of the father’s estate, but joint owners with full rights to whatever our Lord Jesus has. Romans 8:15 says for ye have not received the spirit of bondage (slavery) again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father”.

Dear child of God, God is our Father just like our Lord Jesus. We have the same Spirit that He has. We share with Him all the rights of His kingdom.

Decide to accept all the provisions of the gospel, stand on your rights and exercise your authority in this life. You have been adopted or placed as an Adult Son.

CONFESSION

I am adopted son of God, having full rights of the throne to exercise dominion in heaven, on this earth and under this Earth. I am a joint owner of all that our Lord Jesus has obtained. All the power of darkness is subjected to me in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 8:17 ” And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Galatians 4:6 ” And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:13-14 ” In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”.

Among the many insights that was given to Apostle Paul, was the knowledge that when one believed in Jesus the Holy Spirit did not only come to impart life to us, empower us, or to teach us, rather He also became God’s seal of ownership over our lives. The scripture continued in verse 14 that the Holy Spirit as God’s seal over our lives is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

The meaning of the verse 14 is that the Holy Spirit is a guarantee or a down payment that God has made awaiting the final appearing of our saviour to fully redeem us. This is very important for us to know how to maintain a very good relationship with the Holy Spirit and not to do things that grieve Him. We must not do things that influence His work in us, to the intent that it may affect our ultimate asses to the kingdom of the Lord.

In Matthew 25:1-13 the Lord Jesus narrated a parable of the virgins. Five made sure they had enough oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit). The other five had no oil and did nothing about it. Now please understand this, the Christian needs to be filled every day. The cream of getting filled is fellowship with the Spirit. There are various ways to fellowship with the Spirit. Joining other believers in church is one of the ways to get filled up. Personal devotion, prayer, worship studying the word gets you filled up. When the Christian neglects his fellowship with the Lord he gets depleted and lose that influence and in filling of the Spirit.

In that story the Lord, the bridegroom came and the five who were described as wise had their lamps filled, whiles the other five had empty lamps. These five foolish virgins hurriedly went searching for oil, only to come back to find the door locked. You need to have the Holy Spirit filling you more and more every day. Never neglect the fellowship of the Spirit. Do not neglect fellowshipping with the brethren. Do not neglect personal prayer, meditations, fellowship, Bible studying and fastings as well. Note this, it is His presence in our lives that allows Him to be a seal of the father on our lives.

Maintain the seal of the Holy Spirit always over your life. Don’t be a foolish virgin. Be filled with the Holy Spirit always. You do not know when the Lord shall come.

 CONFESSION

The Holy Spirit is God’s seal of ownership over my life. I always maintain a sweet fellowship with the Spirit such that I am always filled up with Him. My life is ever victorious ever ready for the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Ephesians 5:18 ” And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”;

Acts 4:31 ” And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 4:25 “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”.

Our key scripture reveals an information that is very insightful and revealing. It says our Lord Jesus was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification. This statement has two parts.

The first part states that our Lord Jesus was delivered because of our offences. It simply means God gave Him over to take away our sins. (Isaiah 53:5&6, John 1:29.)

The second part is made clearer through the Pauline revelations. It says he was raised again for our justification.

Through the Pauline revelations we get to know that we died with Jesus. According to Romans 6:6, the body of sin which carried the law of sin and death was buried with the Lord Jesus. (Rom 8:2)

The Lord Jesus resurrected with us, giving us a new life. This new life or new man had never existed. It is called a new creature (2nd Corinth 5:7). It is a completely new personality with nothing to do with our past life. The Bible used the word raised for our justification, because the new man which came out of this  resurrection with Jesus is sinless ,therefore it is Justified or righteous.. Please just consider the way our new personality is described in Colossians 1:21, 22 “And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled. In the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight”.

Before we came to Christ we were enemies in our minds. We were also by nature dead unto God (Ephesians 2:1). The law of sin and death worked and produced all the wrong things. It produced sin, sickness, failure and many more. Now, after our resurrection with the Lord. We   are described as Holy, unblameable, and unreproveable.  Dear child of God our new nature is completely free from the law of sin and death. Now the law at work in our new man is the law of the Spirit of life”. The product of the law of the Spirit of life is true love for all, good health, success and good deeds. (Romans 8:2).

This is all by the grace of God. Stop calling yourself a sinner, rather the righteousness of God. You are now superior to Satan and his demons. Satan would raise all kinds of things to challenge your position, but stand your grounds and resist him. Live a victorious life, manifesting the very nature of the new man created after God in righteousness and true Holiness.

 CONFESSION

Thank you heavenly Father for giving me life through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am a new man completely free from the negative influences of the old indwelling evil nature. I now manifest Christ nature and victories.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Ephesians 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”.

Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

Apostle Paul besides the many revelations that the Holy Spirit gave to him, also made certain statements that carries so much insight for living a victorious life.

In verse 13 he stated that he does not claim he is perfect or have arrived but he forget those things which are past. This statement has been referred to by a number motivational speakers yet it carries a very deep spiritual truth. Every man no matter your achievements and success needs to keep succeeding and advancing your cause. Winning and succeeding adds up to your life. The moment one stops winning, succeeding or triumphing, his life begins to depreciate.

There is always a glow in the eyes of all who are making strides in life. The Victories they are having give a sparkle to their life. Never stop advancing and making exploits.

Apostle Paul said he does one thing. This one thing has two parts. They are forgetting those things which are behind and striving ahead. It involves even those as you failed. They must all be put aside. The statement “I forget” does not mean forget in the sense of absolute neglect, rather it means put them aside. It also means I refuse to let them occupy me. It can restrict or obstruct you from moving forward so you need to put them aside and get on to higher heights.

Apostle Paul said; I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” There is a place in God that most of us have not known. There is and are places of deep encounter that is barren to most of us. He says I press towards. Paul had a desire, DESIRE IS THE VEHICLE TO ACHIEVEMENT Press in prayer, press in studying the word, press in fasting, press in meditating on the scriptures, press in making sacrificial giving and press in proclaiming your faith to win the lost. It means discomforting yourself. It also means making sacrifices. Note: No pain, No gain. There is no success for the lazy man. There is the need for great diligence. Fear of failure must not be entertained in this affair. Pressing always comes against some oppositions, some barriers, and some people who may not agree with you. He presses towards the mark for the prize. Prizes are not won by sleeping, eating and snoring.  Prizes are won on the field of competition. The first demand to win is the right attitude to win.

Get that attitude and go into the field of competition and win.

 CONFESSION

I am born a winner. I keep moving and never satisfied with what I have. I will keep moving and keep advancing.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 9:4  ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”.

In our previous study we realized every child of God is united with the master, such that he represents us in heaven and we also represents Him on this earth. This implies we share His authority and power with Him. If this is the case why are most Christians not walking in the power? One major cause is the influence of the flesh.

We must allow the Lord to take over our hearts. This means loving Him with our whole being. The next is to bring our flesh under control.

Among many ways to bring the flesh under control is to employ fastings. Apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinth 11:27 that he fasts often.

 Fasting should be a means of fellowship with the master not only when one needs something from God. David said I humbled my soul with fasting.(Psalms 35:13). This should be coupled with meditation and a continuous life of prayer. You can also do this by reducing your meals to very minimal levels so as to raise your focus on the Lord. Note some people with certain health challenges must seek medical counsel before engaging in such lifestyle.

Satan has used man’s desire for food to control and caused men to get out of course with God. He succeeded with Adam and Eve, Esau lost his birthright and the people of Israel were destroyed in the wilderness because of meat.

Apostle Paul was such a great man of God and says he fasts often. No wonder he was mightily used of God.

These last days are going to be days of great outpouring of the Spirit and as many who raise their spiritual sensitivity would be great instruments in the hands of the master.

Join God’s end time army by being different from the majority.

CONFESSION

My body is an instrument for me to glorify God I am in charge of my body not my body in charge of me.My heart is committed to the Lord and so I take charge of my body so I do not fall short of God standard.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 12:1” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”.

Psalms 35:13 ” But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”:

One of the glorious mysteries that the Lord gave Apostle Paul is the statement of our key scripture. This very scripture has very far reaching implications.

It says that although we are physically on the earth, we are at the same time seated IN Christ Jesus in heavenly places. What makes this possible?  There is an inseparable union between the Christian and the master Jesus (1st Corinth 6:17). This truth also shows the authority of the Christian. We carry the same authority that our Lord Jesus has.

Secondly the term ‘right hand’ does not necessarily mean the positional right side, but a position of highest authority. Ephesians 1:19–21 explains vividly the height of this authority. Ephesians 1:20-21*

 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”:

Our authority (the right to exercise power or the right to command and be obeyed) and power,(that is the ability to get things done or the ability to effect a change).is far higher than every principality, including the devil himself ,every dominion ,and every name. Beloved Christian Brother or sister there is a glorious mystery about you that most of us have not discovered as yet. This is the reason the apostle Paul prays for the brethren in Ephesus that their eyes of understanding would be enlightened that they would see and understand these things.

When the Christian comes to terms with these things, knowing who he is, then he would no more struggle to get his faith working. He knows that when he speaks or commands in the name of the master Jesus, it is done. The Lord Jesus knew who He was, and therefore did not struggle to exercise faith or defeat the enemy anytime He encountered him. We must continually pray that the Spirit of the Lord would open our eyes of understanding and also flood it with light to see and understand these things. (Ephesians 1:17&18)

 The believer ought to draw very close to the Lord in fellowship so the influence of the flesh that limits the ability of the Spirit in our lives would be stopped Rom 8:6&7 .This would enable us to function and operate in our true capacity as representatives of our Lord Jesus on the earth in a more effective way.

One way to get this done is through fasting, prayer and studying God’s word. Amen

CONFESSION

I am one with my master Jesus. He represents me in heaven and I represent Him on the earth. His very authority is what I have and therefore every dominion in the heavens, on the earth and under the earth is subjected to me in His name. Thank you Lord Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES

Philippians 2:10-11 ” That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Romans 8:6-7 ” For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Corinthians 5:19 ” To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”.

This is a special message for anyone who is not sure of his or her eternal salvation. Our key scripture tells us something very wonderful.

It says God is not counting your sins against you. Many people feel so guilty and disappointed with their live style such that, they have concluded they are unqualified, unwanted and rejected by God .Dear brother or sister it does not matter how deep. You have fallen or practiced sin, the Lord says in our key scripture that, God is not holding any of those wrong actions against. You, because they were all placed on Jesus.

Jesus death on the cross is a manifestation of God’s judgement and anger against the sins of men. On the cross He took our place and was made sin (2nd Corinth 5:21).He was made a curse for us. (Gal 3:13)He compared Himself to Moses lifting the serpent on the pole. (John 3:14)The result of all these is that. He has changed us completely. Until you accept all that He did for you, you have not come home and therefore you are lost.

You don’t. Have an excuse to reject this offer and live in your sins. All you need to do is to believe that He did all these things for you, and then accept Him.as your Lord and saviour.

One reason why people would suffer hell fire is because they turned down this great offer of love through Jesus Christ sacrifice. Please listen to what the word says in Hebrews 2:3 that “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; ……..”

  Why would you continue to live in sin, and do those things which consistently rob you of your peace? Today is your chance, tomorrow may never come for you, so make that important decision right now.

The moment you make Jesus Lord over your life and believe in what He did for you, you would instantly become a child of God and also become the very righteousness of God. You would become a new creature (2nd Corinth 5:17 and you would become a citizen of heaven

CONFESSION

Lord Jesus I believe you died for my sins. And rose up on the third day for my Justification. I declare you are the Lord over my life and would serve and live for you, for the rest of my days on the earth. Thank you for saving my soul.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

John 3:14-15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life:

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Corinthians 5:19 ” To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”.

Our key scripture is an amazing truth that the Holy Spirit revealed to us through Apostle Paul. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself not imputing their sins unto them.

The Lord Jesus is God. (John 10:30, Col 2:9).According to the scripture He was reconciling the world unto Himself. The word reconcile is translated from the Greek word ‘katalasso ‘which means ‘to ‘change’ or ‘to change thoroughly’ “He took away the sin of the whole world. (John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”)By taking away the sin of the world, He has changed it thoroughly.

 All mankind are potentially saved .Jesus our Lord took away the sin of the world. This is the reason He is not counting the sins of the world against them .All the offences, past, present and future of the world has been taken away. This is the good news. Unfortunately this has not been preached to the world.

 God is not angry with any sinner. God’s heart is in pain and broken over every unrepentant sinner. There is no barrier to their salvation but except unbelief.

Dear child of God, what the sinner needs is an opening of his eyes to the heart of the Father for him or her. In actual fact the god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not (2 Corinthians 4:4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them).

There is a need for an intercession for sinners. Pray rebuking that blinding devil from his influence over their minds. Apostle Paul said he travails in birth again till Christ is formed in them. (Gal 4:19)To see a mass influx of souls into God’s house we need to do as Paul did; travail in birth pains for the power of Satan over their minds of sinners  to be destroyed.

We have to teach this truth to the lost as well. Tell them God is not counting their sins against them rather, it is their lack of repentance and unbelief that is keeping them away. God is not mad at the sinner.

 CONFESSION

God through Jesus has finished  everything for the salvation  of all humanity. I would commit myself to praying for their eyes to be opened as I share the truth to them.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Isaiah 62:1 ” For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 5:17 ” Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Our key scripture is one of the amazing revelations the Holy Spirit gave to Apostle Paul. He said,” Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away, behold everything has become new. “The scripture states further that, “and all things are of God….”The word ‘ of ‘ means ‘ out of ‘ or ‘ from ‘.This means everything that the man in Christ is or has become is a manifestation of God’s nature and ability in him. He has become a supernatural being.

The man in Christ is no more the man who is subject to the forces and elements of this life. He is a manifestation of the abilities and nature of God to ‘reconcile’ men to God. (2nd Corinth 5:18&19).

This is very wonderful. If you be in Christ, you play the role of our Lord Jesus. The Lord said in “‘John 17:18 “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world”. Jesus our Lord was sent with super powers to fulfill His mission. This is what we are. We have been made super humans like our master Jesus to do this work of reconciling men to God.

In 2nd Corinth 5:16 apostle Paul confessed that ” Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more”. He is saying he used to see Christians after the flesh and even considered the Lord that way, but he does not consider Him any more after the flesh.

Dear child of God stop considering yourself after the flesh. The lot of people of the flesh is sin, sicknesses, lack and misery of all kinds. They are subject to the dictates of the devil. You are no more after the flesh. You are superior to the devil and all his works. You are a spiritual being .Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit …”

Keep seeing yourself from God’s  mirror ,the word of God.2 Corinthians 3:18  ” But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

You are what the Bible says you are. Keep looking at it and you would become what you see in the bible.

CONFESSION

I am a new creature, recreated after the nature and abilities of my Lord Jesus Christ. I am here on a mission, reconciling men back to God. I am not subject to any work of Satan .I am very successful in setting men free from Satan’s hold. Amen

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

Ephesians 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Apostle Paul was loaded with an abundance of revelations. It was because of these  great number of insight and revelations given to him that a  messenger of the devil was allowed to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure (2nd Corinthians 12:7). This messenger was defined as a ‘thorn in his flesh’. (Note: This is seen in the many persecutions he faced and not sickness as some teach)

One of such revelations and insight was that anyone baptised into Christ has put on Christ Jesus. The term baptized into Christ which symbolised an outward dipping of one into water had a more spiritual act; where the Holy Spirit places the man who acknowledges Jesus as Lord into Christ Jesus. To be placed in Christ set you in a very glorious atmosphere. It is an escape from the dominance of darkness. You live in the presence of the Father. In actual fact it is an atmosphere of heaven yet on earth. This is the reason the Lord remarked ye are in the world but you are not of the world. John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”

To put on Christ Jesus is slightly different. To put on Christ Jesus is to have Him on you as wearing a jacket.  This one is not just an outside influence but a total change of your personality to that of Christ. The Christian of his former self died with Jesus (Galatians 2:20). To be baptised into Him in the light of Galatians 3:27 makes you just like him. Dear child of God, God’s plan and intention for allowing Jesus into this world is to raise a people just like Him. Romans 8:29 “for whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the first born among many brethren”. This glorious Jesus is our big brother. It is God’s family. We have become God and His sons incorporated. Jesus is the first born.

Our key scripture gives a more vivid presentation of the whole idea. In this instant it is not just conforming to Him but the very person of Christ taking over your being. Being like Him in all things. You only have your name to answer to but it His being and Spirit that has taken over. You have put on Christ Jesus. Please don’t look at yourself as an ordinary being. Face Satan with the boldness and assurance that the Lord Jesus would have faced him. Check out diseases from your body as He would.

Overcome the promptings of the flesh to sin as he would.

You have put Him on.

 CONFESSION

I have put on Christ Jesus. It is Him who has totally taken over my being. I carry everything He had. I win like Him, oh what a glorious life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Hebrews 2:10 ” For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings”.