KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8-9 ” For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

One of the truths that sparked off the reformation of the church in the Dark Ages is the statement of Ephesians 2:8, 9. “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourself: it is the gift of God, Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

Martin Luther who came to the understanding of this truth wrote a lot on it. He was ultimately martyred because of it. Many have directly or indirectly taught that one needs to do certain things in addition to believing in Christ to be saved. The scripture added that it is not of works, lest any should boast”. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that it is not enough to claim that salvation is by grace alone. One must do certain tasks as prescribed by the watch tower society for one’s salvation to be complete. They argue that to claim you have believed in Jesus is not enough.

I think all this confusion has resulted because of people’s lack of appreciation of what this salvation entails. One is not saved because he joins a church or starts carrying the bible around. Salvation is a supernatural birth that takes place in the heart of an individual through believing in Jesus and declaring Him as Lord. (John 1:12, 13, Rom 10:9&10). This birth makes him or her a child of God, just like Jesus Christ. No work or action or deed can cause this to be. Jesus called it being born from above. John 3:3, This is a divine work and it is only by grace, that is God’s doing that can result in this supernatural birth.

 Christians are not just people who have changed their lifestyle, but it is first and foremost an encounter with the Spirit of God that causes a regeneration deep down in your heart. 2nd Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”.

It is the effect and the results of salvation that show in a changed lifestyle and also good works. Anyone who attempts to add good works to the work of salvation is erring. Good works is the result of salvation and this difference should be made clear.

 CONFESSION

I have been saved by grace through faith and it is never through any works that I did. I have received God’s supernatural nature, making me a child of His and now I manifest his lifestyle in all I do.

THOUGHT: SALVATION IS A SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE RESULTING IN A TRANSFORMED LIFESTYLE

FURTHER STUDIES.

Romans 10:9-10 ” That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation”.

John 3:3  ” Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

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 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 so that they would see and understand these things.

When the Christian comes to terms with these things, knowing who he is, then he will 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 more effectively.

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.

THOUGHT: BE RAISED IN YOUR MINDS OVER EVERY DEVIL

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 3:6 ” Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life”.

The writings of Apostle Paul keep revealing powerful truths about the Christian.

 Our key scripture is a completion of the earlier verse which says “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; God is our sufficiency. It is He who makes us qualified for whatever he calls on us to do.  We must not in any way think or suggest that we are sufficient of ourselves. God Himself is our ABILITY. This should take away every pride from our hearts. We must never feel incapable of handling any situation.

 In the light of what he said in verse five, He says we have been made able ministers of the New Testament He exposes that the New Testament is of the Spirit while the Old Testament is the letter. To say the Old Testament is of the letter means the Old Testament has no spiritual provisions that enable us to do what it says.  In verse 6 the scripture says the letter kills. Why does the law kill? The law or the letter gives us instructions, demands, and commands but provides no life or ability to fulfill them. Everyone under the law is helpless and in bondage.

Romans 8:3a states the following “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…..”. Man because of the fall has sin in his flesh that makes him incapable of doing what the law says. Under the New Testament, we have the ministry of the Spirit and not the letter. Man under the New Testament is not left at the mercy of the law but has the support of the Spirit which gives us life to do what it tells us.

In verse 7 the Bible calls the law the ministration of death. This ministration of death is what came on the face of Moses shining such that the children of Israel could not look on the face of Moses. (Exodus 34:29-30). The scripture added that this glory was done away. The ministration of the Spirit is indeed more glorious. We have a more glorious ministry than Moses had.

Our study teaches that Christians have been specially endowed with Grace and made capable of living by the ability of the Spirit so we would be able to bring glory to our heavenly father.

 CONFESSION

Thank God, for this great life. I have received the ability of the Spirit to live a higher life bringing the glory, power, and praise of my heavenly father into reality among men.

THOUGHT: WITH GOD AS OUR SUFFICIENCY, WE ARE NEVER HELPLESS.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Phi 2:13 KJV “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Col 1:12 KJV Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.

In today’s study, we make a comparison between life and encounters in the New Testament and that of the Old.

The ministration of the Old Testament or the law is called the ministration of condemnation. The ministration of the New Testament is also called the ministration of righteousness.

 Some Christians pray and wish we were in the times of Moses and Elijah. Those times according to the revelation of the Holy Spirit given to Apostle Paul is called the ministration of condemnation. Moses walked in the glory and power of God yet that glory was described as a passing glory. (1st Corinthians 3:7)

 If Moses’ era which manifested so much of the glory of God was called the ministration of condemnation, how much more would the ministration of righteousness be more glorious? 2 Corinth 3:8 Romans 8:1 says,” There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit”. The statement ‘who walk not after the flesh ‘ simply means those who live by faith. Living by faith is living by the word of God. The period of condemnation was the period when men lived by their works, they lived according to their self-efforts or by the flesh.

Living by the flesh, which involves living by sight or by human reasoning places you in condemnation. No one can be justified by living according to the senses. The just shall always live by faith. (Rom 1:17) Faith in God places a man in the ministration of the Spirit or ministration of righteousness. Righteousness is the same word for Justification in the Greek language. The life of true glory and power is never by one’s effort but by purely relying on the word of God revealed about our Lord Jesus.

Now please note this; the word ministration also means service or servicing. It also means dispensing as a drug attendant dispenses his drugs.  In the New Testament, we dispense, minister, or serve by the Spirit. Everything about us should never proceed from self-effort. Life under the New Testament is counting on the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ to do all things. It means believing in the Lord Jesus, counting on what he is and has done to be ours. We live by his victory over sin. We live by his carrying away all our sicknesses to live in health. We live by his power to defeat the enemy. This is the glorious ministry of the New Testament.

 CONFESSION

I thank God for the new covenant. Now it is Christ living through me as I count on Him. This is a more glorious Ministry because it’s Christ alive in me working  through me

THOUGHT: IN CHRIST WE HAVE A MORE GLORIOUS MINISTRY

FURTHER STUDIES.

Galatians 2:20 ” 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”.

2 Corinthians 3:10 “For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 6:14 ” But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world”.

Apostle Paul declares in our key scripture that God forbid that he should glory or boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is very revealing. Human nature tends to be proud of their achievements. In this scripture, we are told that every form of boasting outside the cross of our Lord Jesus  is an empty boasting. Why is this so? The Bible reveals that men by our lineage from our first father Adam have all inherited a nature of death and condemnation. Romans 5:12 “wherefore as by one man sin  entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. This nature is also called “the law of sin and death”(Romans 8:2). Every person born on this Earth has this power called the law of sin and death at work in him: Every human experience outside Christ and the cross is pure misery and failure. All achievements of any man and its subsequent boasting is futile.

The Lord Jesus’ death on the cross was a deliverance for all mankind. His death was the crucifixion of this power that ruled mankind. On the cross, we were all set free. The law of sin and death made us slaves to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that ruled the world. Ephesians 2:2  ” Wherein in time past ye walked according to  the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience “:

Dear child of God, because of Christ’s cross, we are crucified to the world and the prince of the power of the air. This spirit does not have the power to dominate us. Any Christian who lives in sin either does not know the truth or has willingly yielded himself or herself to this prince of the power of air. The cross of Christ spelt our deliverance. The cross is our place of glory. It is God’s instrument for our deliverance into the new life. We do not glory or boast about our achievements but only in Christ’s cross.

Dear reader if you have not given your life to Jesus then you have not passed through this ‘door of deliverance’, you are still a slave to the world, ruled by the prince of the power of the air. If you refuse to make Jesus Lord of your life, you will be with this evil prince in hell. Choose to accept the Lord Jesus today.

PRAYER

Thank you heavenly Father because of our Lord Jesus who died on the cross for us. Today l am free from Satan’s dominance and am an instrument to set others free. In Jesus’ name, I have prayed.

THOUGHT: THE CROSS WAS OUR DOOR INTO  LIFE.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Galatians 2:20 ” 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”.

Romans 7:24-25 ” O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3:10. “For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.”

We live in a time under a ministry that excels. The ministry of the New Testament is the Ministry of our Lord Jesus through us. This is why we are called Christians.

Moses and the people under the old covenant had to obey certain laws to be justified. They had to circumcise and make certain blood sacrifices to be forgiven. Anyone who falls short of these laws is disqualified and condemned. I find it very unfortunate for certain people who call themselves Christians to claim they are living under the law.

In this new covenant or the New Testament our Lord Jesus according to Romans 10:4 says “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes”. Praise the Lord. Believing in Jesus automatically makes the law fulfilled in us. This does not mean we live against the law, but we receive life, or the ability to manifest the righteousness of the Law. (Romans 8:3,4).

Once again in the ministry of the New Testament, we have a glory that excels because it is the very glory that our Lord Jesus Himself had (Hebrews 2:10). We have been brought into glory, the very glory of our Lord Jesus. We are the fruits of his planting through death.

Life in the New Testament is purely by faith in Christ to express Himself through us. We demonstrate righteousness by Christ in us. We meet health challenges by the life of Christ in us. This is why we conquer every problem that arises against us. The manifestation of power and authority over the devil is purely by His (Jesus) authority. Oh! What a life. This is a glory that excels. Now do you see that we have a more glorious ministry than that of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and so on?

Just consider what Jesus said in Matthew 11:11 “Verily I say unto you. Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist, notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”. All Christians are in the kingdom of heaven (Hebrews 12:22). We are greater than all of them.

Please let us stop living ordinary lives but decide to allow Christ in us to reign and express Himself mightily through us to the world.

 CONFESSION

I have a ministry that excels. It is the Ministry of Christ in me and through me. I am greater than every challenge, power, and attack for Christ in me is my life.

THOUGHT: IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE DO NOT EARN ANYTHING BY OUR EFFORT, BUT WE INHERIT ALL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST BY FAITH

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 23:6 KJV “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

Favour is always the result of faithfulness unto the Lord. Favour does not just come on anyone, rather, it responds to a particular life.  A life of obedience to God. The scripture said surely goodness and mercies shall follow me, all the days of my life. It is good to claim that goodness and mercy will follow you, yet make sure also that you are living in submission to the word and staying faithful to the Lord. Please understand that the favour of God means God is with you, causing you to excel and sail through all difficult issues of life. Gen 39:2 KJV” And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” Joseph became a very established man in Egypt. Joseph walked in the path of all that we have discussed earlier, God’s goodness and mercies followed Him throughout the rest of his days in Egypt.

The Lord Jesus said in John 8:29 reads ” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” The presence of the Father never left Jesus because He continually did that which pleased the Father. To be established in life is to have the presence of the Father continually with you.

King David was a really established man during his days. It was only in his time that Israel   took over all the lands God had allotted for them. He was the only king who enthroned his successor before he died. David left so much wealth for his successor. He humbled and trusted God to go through all the facts to become established. He finally said he would forever dwell in the house of God. Your ultimate sign of establishment is your commitment to staying with the people of God and serving in the house of God.  Your life is truly meaningful if your life brings pleasure to God.

Dear brother, after going through these series of studies, you can set up your life, to be very established in this life. Make your life a meaningful and an exciting one.

CONFESSION

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the truth of your word. I diligently follow through all that you have revealed, that gives me a very stable and meaningful life, in this world of sin and misery. My life is made glorious and also appreciative.

THOUGHT: ALL WHO FOLLOW GOD’S APPROVED PATH, STAY ON TOP.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deut 28:1 KJV And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

James 4:10 KJV. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 23:5 KJV Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Rewards and promotions always precede victories, or conquering a challenge. After the psalmist declared that trials or difficulties do not move him, but rather by the Lord, he comes out victorious.

The next level for one to be established is an overflow of blessings. Rev 2:7 KJV” He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. ” God is a rewarder. He rewards good deeds and success. His rewards begin on this earth.

When the Lord’s disciples told, Him that they had left all things to follow Him, He said the following, Mark 10:30 KJV” But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Make up your mind to overcome whatever challenge, temptation, or trial may come your way. Many people yield to temptations, forgetting that every stage in life provides a test of some kind, expecting you to pass. If you fail, there will be no promotion or rewards for you. The psalmist received a table before his enemies and honour by the anointing on his head. That was not enough. His cup overflowed. All these did not come out of the blue. It was a result of staying true to the Lord in challenging moments.

Daniel kept his faithfulness unto the Lord. They threatened him of being thrown to the lions if he prayed to any other God, except the king, for the next thirty days. Daniel would not break faith in his God. He threw caution to the wind and prayed three times a day, facing Jerusalem. He was thrown into the lion’s den, but God delivered him. After this, he was rewarded. His cup indeed overflowed.

CONFESSION

The Lord is the strength of my life. I live to please Him in all I do. I do not yield to temptations, for God is a rewarder of all who diligently seek Him. As I overcome, He rewards me by setting a table before my enemies making my cup overflow.

THOUGHT: STAY FAITHFUL TO GOD, FOR HIS APPROVAL

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 6:10 KJV” For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Heb 11:6 KJV” But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 23:4 KJV” Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Our discussions about the six facts that one has to go through to become established in life have so far taken us through.

1. Acknowledging the Lord for who He is.

2. Submitting to divine guidance

3. Strength in your inner man.

The above three facts lead us to the fourth point,

 Assurance to face all Challenges.

Death is the highest threat that anyone could face, the psalmist said, though he passes through the shadow of death, he would not be afraid because the Lord is with him. David had to go through all three stages of being established in life to acquire the ability to say that, thou he walks through the shadow of death, he would not be afraid of any evil.

David faced a lion, a bear, and Goliath, yet He conquered all of them. All these are life-threatening situations yet He was not afraid. He knew the Lord was with him, and so He had to overcome them. Dan 11:32 KJV” And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” David, out of that strong relationship with the Lord was becoming very established in life.

A truly liberated man has been set free from the fear of all kinds of things. Fear leads men to tell lies and hide from challenges. One can’t become the one God wants him to be if he is bound by fear. Daniel lived a liberated life in a foreign land because he had come to a strong knowledge of his Lord. Get to know Jesus, and then, stay fearless in life.

The fearlessness from knowing that God is with you hinges on two things.

1. On God’s unfailing promise that says I am with you, till the end of the world

2. On God’s omnipotence, or His ability to preserve because of His all-mighty power.

CONFESSION

The Lord is my shepherd, I submit my life to every instruction he gives me. I am strengthened in my inner man.  I am therefore very bold in the face of all difficulties and challenges.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 43:2 KJV When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Psalms 16:8 KJV” I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”