KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:3 KJV” Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”:

We continue with our discussion on the unsearchable riches of Christ. In Eph 1:3 the Spirit writing through Paul said, we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. He went on to list the various aspect of the blessing. He started from the fourth verse, which reads, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”:

We have been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. This is an act of divine mercy. It has nothing to do with our goodness or badness. Now, how does one know that He has been chosen? You know by responding to the call unto salvation. Do not blame God for preferring certain people. You have been chosen so respond today. (1st Timothy 2:4)

The other half of the verse says “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love”. The call unto holiness is not a work of the flesh. God is Holy, His presence in any man sanctifies the man and makes him holy. Holiness is an act of grace, for no man can be holy all by himself (Rom 1:7). Holiness is a participation in the riches of Christ. It simply means living outside the influence of Satan and his devils. Any man who lives in opposition to the path of Christ has been infested with demons (1st Corinth 12:3).It is an amazing blessing to be holy.

 LIVING a life of holiness is the highest level of liberty that a man could experience. Every spiritual virtue thrives on the basis of a holy life. Heb 12:14 KJV “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” HOLINESS has been imparted to you by the presence of the Spirit of God in you. Guard it with all diligence.

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father for the Spirit of Holiness who reigns in me. I submit to His rule and therefore Satan nor his devils can touch me. My authority as a Christian is greatly enhanced by upholding the life of holiness.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 35:8 KJV ” And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Obadiah 1:17 KJV” But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:8 KJV” 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”;

 Apostle Paul describes these unsearchable riches ‘as the fellowship of the mystery’ which is now revealed unto all men (Eph 3:9). We would be taking a journey into some aspects of this mystery, or unsearchable riches of Christ. Today we would consider the fact that we are joint heirs with Jesus. Romans 8:17 reads ” 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 “. A joint heir is not a part owner. He is a hundred percent owner of the inheritance. As joint heirs with Jesus, we are equal owners of everything that is His. This means we have the same authority He has. We have the same audience in the presence of the father as he would have and many more.

Let’s consider an allegory in the old testament that reveals this truth about being a joint heir. When Joseph interpreted King Pharaoh’s dream and gave him counsel as to what to be done, the king gave him his authority over the Land of Egypt. He became a joint heir with the king concerning the land of Egypt. Gen 41:40 KJV ” Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou” .From the words of King Pharaoh every instruction, decree or command from Joseph carried the same authority as King Pharaoh. He had become a joint heir with the king over the land of Egypt.

The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus and our faith in Him has brought us into this grace, wherein we stand. The Lord said the following about us in John 14:12 KJV “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” .We are one  with Him, such that we represent Him on earth, and He represents us in heaven. Our believe and acting on His word is all that is required to experience this greater works.

CONFESSION

I am a joint heir with Jesus. On this earth I have the same authority that my Lord had. I fulfill His purposes on the earth. He backs every stand I take. Demons are subjected to me in His name.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Matthew 10:1 KJV. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Luke 10:17 KJV.  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:8 KJV “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.

We are introduced to the unsearchable riches of Christ in our key scripture. To say unsearchable, means the riches are so vast that one cannot successfully seek out the whole of it. The apostle Paul tries to reveal the heights of this riches by saying the following. God has designed that, those of us who come into Christ will be so adorned with glory and power such that, we would make the evil satanic powers know the wisdom of God.  This means we would demonstrate the glory of God in our life to such a point that the devils would learn about God’s wisdom from such us.

What is really the essence of this riches of Christ.  Christ is the supernatural entity. It is this same Christ who lives presently in every believer, that scripture calls it, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

The following are some of the amazing wonders about Christ. Colossians 2:3 reveals, ” In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. In Christ dwells the fulness of the God head bodily. (Colossians 2:9). By Christ were all things created. (Colossians 1:16a). In Christ dwells the fulness of all things. (Colossians 1:19)

Now come to think about this, through His death, resurrection and our identification with Him our very spirit is Christ. This makes us mysterious and a wonder. All that He is given to us by inheritance. This is the grace of God. Now why are most Christians living very ordinary lives? Many Christians do not know about the riches of His grace which has been poured out into us. The second reason many are so ordinary is that, most of those who know these things have not BELIEVED it.  BELIEVING IS THE TRIGGER THAT RELEASES THE VITAL LIFE OF GOD TO BE MANIFESTED IN YOU.

PRAYER

Father, I pray for all Christians to know about who the Christ is.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 1:18 KJV, And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:16 KJV “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”:

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:1 KJV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman”.

Every Christian is in partnership with the father. The father takes care of our cares and we bear the fruits for Him. It is the fruits that glorify Him John 15:5 KJV “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing”. We are the fruit bearers. We are the revealers of the Father’s glory. The vine is the life and the support of the branches. God the husbandman protects, prunes, waters and does everything for the branch to bear enough fruits.

It should never be the concern of the branch whether it is protected, or to obtain any of the things it may want. This is the duty of the husbandman. As a child of God, you are the soul winner, the demonstrator of God’s love, the healer of the sick and basically the revealer of the glory of God. One of your duties is to cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. (1st Peter 5:7) Just consider the following scripture. Joshua 23:9 KJV “For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day” .These Israelite had to show up and the Lord drove away the mighty enemies from them.

What was their portion of the agreement? Joshua 23:11 KJV “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God”. Their part of the partnership is to love the Lord with all their heart. From this study we learn that we must not be worried about anything that threatens us, like sicknesses or any problem of any kind. We must trust the Lord and love Him with all our hearts So long as we play our roles, God will fight our wars and establish us. Don’t be worried about tall orders that oppose you. Commit yourself to loving and pleasing God. Every opposition would fall.

CONFESSION

I am in partnership with my father God. I live to love, please and propagate His purposes on the earth. He secures my peace, safety and victories over all enemies. By this partnership I can’t be defeated, victimized by anything in this life, I am a winner over every challenge. I have a life of victory all the way.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinth 6:1 KJV We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Joshua 23:10 KJV ” One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 16:33 KJV” These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

Our Lord Jesus reveals in our opening scripture that in Him we shall have peace, but in the world, we would have tribulations. This scripture could be interpreted as, so long as we place our confidence and trust in Him, we would have peace. If we fail to place all our trust in him, we would rather have tribulations or no peace. Why are many people and even a number of Christians without peace in this era? Many are looking for answers elsewhere and not in the Lord Jesus. Many Christians read so much about Corona virus than they read their bibles. This is exactly what the master is talking about. If you stay out of Him you would only have more challenges.

Adam and Eve felt there could be better answers outside staying faithful to God. They only realized they were naked and afraid after disobeying God’s word. Something which has never happened to them came on them. The Lord says stay in me. In this era of world uncertainties don’t look anywhere for solutions but the word of God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He assures us to be cheerful or happy because He has overcome the world. This includes every threatening thing.

STOP being anxious. Stop looking out for symptoms. All these things show you are living outside the Lord. If you do not stop that, you would only find yourself in troubled waters. Jesus has proven over and over again that He is a faithful Captain, and very able to lead all who sail with Him safely to the shore. Trust Him like a little baby trusts his or her mother. Everything around may sound boisterous and frightening, yet they that put their trust in Him shall never be put to shame (Romans 10:11)

 CONFESSION

My total trust is in the Lord Jesus. In Him I have perfect peace. He overcame the world. There is therefore nothing that frightens me anymore. I have also overcome all things.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 26:3 KJV “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”.

Psalms 34:9 KJV “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Corinth 5:15 KJV” And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Psychology tells us to have a very good self-esteem of ourselves. Self-esteem is defined as an individual’s subjective evaluation of their own worth. This is good, yet falls short of God’s standard and plan for us. As Christians self-died with Jesus on the cross. Gal 2:20 KJV” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. “We died with Jesus and although we are alive it is the Spirit of Christ who is actively living in us. If there is anyone to esteem it is the new self who we are now. It is Christ who has become our true selves.

AS we would have esteemed ourselves, we must now esteem Christ. What does it mean to esteem Christ? We must understand who Christ is. He is master under all conditions. He was never afraid of anything, anybody or condition. He knew He had power over every devil, disease or disaster. Just consider what He said about Himself. John 16:33 KJV” These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. The person we are to esteem, has overcome the world. We must see ourselves to have overcome the world. This makes our faith in Christ a mystery. Self-esteem is rather esteeming a defeated personality.  Christ esteem is bringing the glorious nature of Christ and personalizing it as our own.   (This is what grace is all about)

Christ esteem is a complete revolution of who we are. We see life from a conqueror’s point of view. We cannot be a victim no matter the opposition that rises against us. Christ esteem means sin cannot control or Lord itself over us under any condition. It means diseases cannot destroy us. Dear child of God take time off to meditate on who Christ is. It was with this understanding that apostle Paul said,” I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me ” Phil 4:13. When you really come to appreciate these things, you would spend most of your time expressing your love for the Lord Jesus. He has transformed you from an ordinary man to a superhuman.

CONFESSION

I esteem the Christ person, which is now my very nature. As He is, so I am. I am more than a conqueror. I cannot be a victim. I am a lifter of them whose life has been cast them down. Sin sicknesses and Satan are subjected to me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Philemon 1:6 KJV” That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”.

Romans 8:29 KJV “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 8:2 KJV “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the AVENGER”.

Covid 19 is a ‘monster’ destroying lives, the economies of nations and the great influence of the church worldwide has been affected. Many international, national and local Christian programmes have been halted because of this evil monster. I believe many of us are praying for God’s intervention.  God has given us an authority that we have to exercise as the body of Christ on the earth. Our key scripture says God has ordained strength in our mouth because of the enemy and the avenger. That disease is an enemy and an avenger who must be stopped.

In certain issues God our Father expect us to call on Him to bring an answer. In other situations, we must raise our voice and command the adverse situation to succumb as our key scripture says. The Lord said in Mark 11:23,  ” For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”.  It is high time we declare the death of this evil monster. Every Christian each morning and night must lift his or her voice and announce or declare to this disease that it is dead. Let us have a solid front against it. After your prayers each day lift your voice and declare that Covid 19 is dead and its impact over your nation is broken Do this morning and evening. Tell everyone you know to get involved in this war.

The Lord assured us that when we make such demands or declarations in His name, He will effect the answer (John 14:13 & 14).Job 22:28 tells us, ” Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways” .Please do not underrate the power that is vested in you as a child of God. The Bible said we shall have whatsoever we say. (Mark 11:23) From today make it your continual practice to announce the demise of Covid 19. God has power to end it in any way He decides. We have to play our roles as the occupants of this earth whose lives are been threatened by this evil power. This is an act of faith and is fully supported by the word of God.

PRAYER

In the mighty name of Jesus, I declare the death of COVID-19. I declare its power and impact in lives of people across the globe is broken. Its ability to spread is destroyed in Jesus name. Men are free of this disease across the globe in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Numbers 14:28 KJV” Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you”:

John 14:13 & 14 KJV” And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 5:19 KJV Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

In our last study we concluded that it is not the fact that God is mentioned in a song that makes it a gospel song. There are various categories of Christian songs. There are songs of gospel, worship, praise, prayer, consecration, faith and many more. You must always know the kind of song you are singing. Psalms 47:7 KJV “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding”. In a time of worship, you do not sing a prayer song. It is a moment of worship and all the songs should express worship. At such a time you do not bring a song that is asking God for something. (except the Holy Spirit inspires you to do that) You may do that when the prayer session has begun.

There are certain songs that appear scriptural, yet in actual fact they destroy one’s faith. The Lord assured us in Matt 28:20″… lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the age”. This is not a word of promise. It is a statement of fact. It is therefore unscriptural and a destruction of your faith to sing that the Lord Jesus should be with you. He is already with you, because the scripture has said that. There are a number of songs that are not prayers but complaints against God. When you sing a song like, “O God why are you making me suffer this way? “This is complaining. The word says in all things give thanks. (1st Thess 5:18) Complaining is unscriptural. (Philipp. 2:14). Well, God our Father is not the cause of your suffering.

I once heard a song that said,” if God takes care of me and brings no trouble to me, I will then thank Him or praise Him”. This kind of thing is an insult unto God. It is an insult on His nature and wisdom. God is good all the time and perfectly wise. If He should allow challenges, it comes to fulfill His purposes in your life.  Don’t just sing a song because others are singing it, check for its scriptural correctness. How can one avoid singing wrong and unscriptural songs?

Just know the scriptures and apply them to everything you hear or do. Note: a song is a confession, and wrong confessions can cost you dearly.

PRAYER

Dear father, may your church be enlightened in your word and to apply it in every aspect of her life. May the Spirit stir the church to do all things with understanding.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Thess 5:18 KJV” In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.

Philippians 2:14 KJV” Do all things without murmurings and disputings”:

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 5:19 Net ” speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,”

Songs are words or poems presented in a melodious way. To us Christians, there are two groups of songs, Christian songs and secular songs. Some Christians are not selective in the songs they listen to. The impact of songs are not just the words but the source of the inspiration of that particular song. A look at Ephesians 5:18 & 19 reveals that singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs leads to an infilling of the Spirit of God.  In 2nd Kings 3:15, the prophet Elisha had to call for a minstrel or a singer to start singing, before the hand of God or the Spirit of God came upon him to be able to prophesy. Spirits have a strong correlation with songs. Every kind of song determines the spirit that follows it.

AS Christians you must be careful what songs you listen to. Just as people are filled with the Spirit of God listening to songs inspired by the Spirit of God, so would those who listen to demon inspired songs be filled with demons. How can you know a song is inspired by devils? When the song says things that oppose the words of scripture. When those words excite your senses towards lust, and all kinds of wrong emotions. In recent times a number of secular musicians realize the songs that are most vulgar excites the youth the most. Many people are moved by the rhythm and may either dance openly or dance in their hearts to such music. These people do not know what they are doing to their souls.

Some of the dangerous ones are those that are supposed to be gospel music yet they are not. Some of such songs come as retaliatory messages to others who might have offended the artist. How could this be a gospel song? What is a gospel song?  We can answer this by understanding what the gospel is. The gospel is about God’s redemption of mankind seen in the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus for our sins, his death, burial and resurrection. (1st Corinth 15:3&4) Any song that talks about God’s redemption, or thanks God for His redemption is a gospel song. The fact that God is mentioned in the song does not make it a gospel song.

(to be continued)

 PRAYER

Father I pray that those Christians who are enslaved by secular music that does not help their Christian life be made free. May they understand the need to yield totally to your word given as songs’ Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Corinth 15:3 KJV “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Mark 4:24 KJV” And he said unto them, take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:4 NET” Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life”.

In our previous study, we learnt that our baptism into Christ places us in Him and it identifies us with everything our lord Jesus went through. God’s intention is that through this identification with Christ, we would become one with Him.

Romans 6:3 says “Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” This verse simply means, those who have been immersed into Christ were immersed into His death. What does His death signify?

 The death of Jesus meant the crucifixion and burial of the sinful nature. Rom 6:6 NET” We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin”. This nature of sin is the power of failure or principle that produces sin and works death. It is also called the law of sin and death. Rom 8:2. Now let’s consider another verse that clarifies this point Col 2:11 NET “In him you also were circumcised – not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ”. Circumcision means cutting off and throwing away the old body. This is exactly what happened. That old body had the rule of Satan in it. This old man is characterized by sin, sicknesses, and every satanic influence.

When the Lord resurrected, we also resurrected with Him.

Rom 6:5 NET” For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection”. Our resurrection with Him through baptism has given as the same power that   resurrected him. (Eph 1:19,20).

In the Lord’s resurrection sin had no power over Him. Sicknesses cannot come to Him. The scripture says our baptism has identified us with Him in this glorious resurrection. The scripture then admonishes us to acknowledge this new state and actually walk in this new nature. This resurrected power is superior to the devil’s power. IT THEREFORE TAKES YOUR PERMISSION FOR SATAN TO CONTROL YOU. Whether it be sin, sickness or satanic rule of any kind, it fully depends on your permission. Your new state is completely free of his dominion. Colossians 1:13. Decide that you are not going to give any place to the devil.

CONFESSION

I have been immersed into Jesus Christ. I am identified with His death. This has freed me from the sinful nature. I resurrected with Him. I have the same resurrection life with which he rose up with. Satan cannot under any condition control and mess my life. I am in charge in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:2 NET” For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death”.

Colossians 1:13 NET “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,”