KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:3 KJV “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

We see in the above key scripture, Judas a disciple of Jesus, accompanied by armed men and all those who hated Jesus Christ, to arrest and crucify Him. Judas has lost his sense of allegiance and faithfulness, because of a few silver coins. Judas eventually felt remorse and sent back the monies that were given to Him (Matt 27:3). It could be deduced that he anticipated that the Lord would have escaped from their arrest as He had done on a number of occasions., so that He would have had his money. This was greediness.

It is very unfortunate that many who have been expected to be faithful get treacherous. There are many homes fuming with rage and turmoil because partners tend to be insensitive to the real concerns of their fellow associates. How could a friend poison her colleague because of an iPhone? Political leaders who vow to be faithful to the poor deprived citizens, steal state monies and use them for properties they do not live long enough to make use of. How many buildings can you sleep in at a time? If you built those houses with genuine funds of yours, then that is right.

Dear man of influence who has become so insensitive that you enjoy having the citizens line up in your homes begging you for money, that belongs to them. These monies could have been channeled into ventures that would have gotten these citizens into gainful employment.

To everyone who has been insensitive to others, know that the real person you are offending is God the creator. Every man is a physical representative of the invisible God, for God made him in His image and likeness. Remember He said, if you are bringing your offering in worship, and you remember your brother has an issue against you, then stop whatever you are bringing, go back to him or her, and settle that issue before you bring that sacrifice. Matt 5:23 This means anyone in the church who might have mistreated his neighbour, is offering an unacceptable worship unto God. Go back to that person, or people, and then straighten up those misdeeds, before you come to offer your worship. Until you do that, it is a waste of your time.

THOUGHT: YOU CAN’T MISTREAT MEN, AND BE CORDIAL TO GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Jn 4:20 KJV” If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Mal 2:10 KJV” Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:3 KJV “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

Judas was, one of the strategic disciples of Jesus because he kept the group’s money. He had gone to negotiate Jesus’ betrayal and now was coming with armed men to arrest the master. What on earth could make a man take such a tangent? Judas had been so loved by the master. The Lord knew he was stealing some of the group’s money. I believe the Lord might have warned him, yet he kept on doing it. It was this tendency of greed that had grown horns that led him to betray his master.  Little sins grow and when they grow, they kill. Stop any wrong tendencies, for it would one day destroy you ultimately

Judas had seen the amazing personality of Jesus, yet he thought of betraying him. What makes men’s hearts so evil? The scripture says the heart of an ‘unregenerated’ man is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can tell? Jeremiah 17:9. The genesis of all this is how one thinks which is influenced by wrong desires If a man should continue living wrongly over time, demons would surely take over the heart of such a person. I believe in Judas’ case the demon who was steering these tendencies in Him, welcomed Satan to take over and do the final kill.

Dear reader, there is no ultimate advantage in doing wrong. To choose evil is to partner with Satan. Now get this point clearly, Satan never uses a thing, and leaves it in its original state. He is naturally destructive. Anything that passes through his hands must be destroyed. It takes the mercy of God to save anyone who gets into Satan’s grip. The end of every evil path is destruction, except God shows mercy, through the intercession of a loved one. Know also that God may not show mercy to save evil workers, unless an intercessor, stands in the gap, for such a one, to be saved. Please dear one who is given to being mischievous, your way is only destruction unless you repent. Judas ended up committing suicide.

THOUGHT: WRONG ACTIONS MAY SEEM REWARDING YET, THERE IS ALWAYS A HARVEST OF ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 4:19 KJV” The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”

Prov 14:34 KJV” Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:2 KJV “And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.”

The Lord had a place where He used to meet with His disciples. I believe this was a place of prayer and fellowship, that is to impart knowledge of the word of God to his disciples. Judas who betrayed Him, knew the place because he was always with the rest of the twelve. What does this aspect of the ministry of Jesus have to teach us of this era of the practice of Christianity?

I consider this place of resort as what we would consider in our era as gathering at a particular location. It is what I believe has evolved as church buildings The Lord Jesus did not have any four-walled building for Him to be gathering with His disciples. (Please this does not mean meeting in a building is wrong) They had to resort to this garden, which could have been owned by one of His rich disciples. The point I wish to draw out of this was that the focus of His activities was not only about this place of a resort but also out there on the fields, where the sinners are. Sadly the practice of the church is concentrated at the place of meeting more than, getting to the world of the people.

In Mark 1:35-37 the Lord returned from an early morning prayer, to be told that everyone was looking for Him. These people were with him the previous day when He healed many sick folks. The Lord answered them as follows: Mark 1:38 KJV “And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” The Lord’s ministry was about going to find the sinners or souls. His main church was His disciples. The towns, villages, and parks were their mission fields.

Many in this modern church find it strange to be asked to go out to talk and minister to people where they are. I believe this is one of the reasons, the impact of the church is not moving that fast. Remember before He went to heaven, He commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. The principle is to meet to equip yourselves and go out to do the work of the ministry.

THOUGHT: THE REASON FOR EQUIPING THE SAINTS IS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 4:12 KJV” For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Matthew 28:19 KJV “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:24 KJV” Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”.

In this series of studies, we have learned that through our identification with our Lord Jesus, through our spiritual baptism into Him, we are seated with Him in Glory, while He is also living in us on this earth plain. We are now considering His dealings through us, as we relate to our heavenly father.

Our Lord Jesus related to the Father in a very amazing way. He made the following remarks to the Samaritan woman, He met at the well. John 4:22 KJV” Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews”.  He knew the Father and so related to Him in great reverence, in absolute obedience, and in absolute trust or faith.

We are here to fulfill the assignment of the Father. Men, who are the crown of God’s creation as well as God’s only habitation on earth and His means to express Himself on the earth, have sadly been deceived by Satan, to become sons of the devil. The main assignment that He has given to every child of His, is to win as many men as possible unto Him. There are a number of men who are bound by all kinds of evil spirits and evil afflictions. They must all be set free. Christ in you is equal to this task, but you must allow Him to save them, by walking to such people, as He speaks through you to them. When you stretch forth your hand to heal any sick person, it is Jesus touching that sick one through you.

Allow His spirit in you to give genuine worship unto Him. Give attention to the reading of the bible and prayer. Play your special role in His local body in which you find yourself. Continue to make your body habitable by His Spirit by keeping your vessel holy. Live your life in readiness for His second coming.

Dear one, if you have not made Jesus Lord of your life, then please you have no relationship with the Saviour. You are lost in your sins. Repent and make Jesus Lord of your life today.

Pray the following way and welcome Him into your life.

Dear heavenly father, I am a sinner. Forgive my sins. I confess Jesus as Lord of my life and I believe He rose up from the grave on the third day. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, Amen.

THOUGHT: LIFE IS GLORIOUS IF JESUS LIVES THROUGH YOU

FURTHER STUDIES

2Co 6:17,18 KJV” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.:”

1Th 4:3 KJV “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”.

We continue with our study on the presence of Christ in us as He deals with Satan. Satan’s ultimate goal in a Christian is to get you to deny your faith in the Lord. He would come along with all conditions to make you break your faith in God. He uses sinful acts to bring you down. He may use difficult challenges like sicknesses, or any form of hardship to break your confidence in God. In whatever condition he brings around you, he communicates alongside into your mind that God is not faithful. If you do not refuse or challenge him, he would go ahead to tell you, that God is not there at all. Never fall for this!

What is the way out of this? The scripture says you must put on the whole armour of God so that, you would be able to stand against the wiles, or tricks of the devil (Eph 6:12). The whole armour is basically about applying the word of God in various aspects of our lives. This means the Christian must invest time in taking in God’s word. This is basic yet very important, because, in these days of information, one may get so occupied with other ‘interesting ‘ information such that he or she would have no good time for the word of God. I said good time because many Christians hurriedly read a short portion of scripture or do not open their bibles altogether. They would only read a short biblical presentation, and quickly browse through WHATSAPP, TICTOK, INSTAGRAM, and many more.

Dear one if you live this way, you would not see or be aware of the damage you may be doing to yourself until Satan comes with a challenge. Acts 20:32, admonishes us to attend to the word because it will build you up, and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified. When the word is firmly rooted in you, you will know how to fill your mind and heart with the truth. The next is to maintain your hope of salvation which is your helmet. With your mind on the word, you would be prepared to be at peace always.  The next is to keep your heart upright in holy attitude and actions. This is the protector of your heart, that is righteousness. You would also have assurance and confidence in God’s word to apply that faith against any attack or challenge Satan raises against you. With the word in you, you would also know how to apply the word as a sword to cut down or fight off the attacks of the enemy by boldly speaking out the word.

THOUGHT: ALWAYS FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE WORD, AND APPLY IT EFFECTIVELY.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:25 KJV” But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Isaiah 54:17 KJV ” No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

We continue with our series of studies on our oneness with our lord Jesus. We understood through our identification with Christ that we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are in glory with our master. On earth presently, our Lord Jesus is also in every believer to express His life through us. We have looked at a number of areas of our lives where our Lord who lives in us must exert His life and authority through us. Please note, that true Christianity is all about expressing Christ through you. We have looked at expressing Christ with our very selves, towards others, and our relation to money, and now we consider how we allow Christ in us to confront Satan and his host of devils.

Satan is real and very active on this earth. To many elite ones, he tells them he does not exist. Everything that looks like him, he explains to them that it is science, psychology, or just some aliens out of this world. To others, he relates to them in person and uses them for all kinds of evil activities. To relate successfully to Satan, you must know the truth of God’s word and believe it wholeheartedly. You can never deal with Satan if you hold half-truths about any aspect of the word of God. Satan is eternally defeated by our master Jesus. Heb 2:14 KJV” Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Although defeated man’s probation time to live on this earth has not expired so, men are given the opportunity to prove their allegiance to God. Satan has the permission to function in this era. Satan’s means of taking humanity captive is through deception, lies, and all kinds of evil schemes.

Your greatest means to totally have the resurrected Christ in you conquer¹ Satan ìs to respond to the Lord’s first call to us into discipleship. He said in Luke 14:26;” If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”  Men’s love for their lives, recognition, and persuasions from loved ones against certain daring stands for God, are among Satan’s greatest means of having advantage over Children of God. Do not love your life, or any family association above Christ. Confront anything the devil does with the truth, believing it and announcing the scripture to Him. Satan’s power under any condition cannot defeat anyone who approaches him this way. To be continued.

THOUGHT: TO DEFEAT SATAN, KNOW THE TRUTH AND WALK IN THE TRUTH.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 6:11 KJV “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”.

2Co 11:3 KJV ” But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.’

This study is a continuation of the previous studies. We began to consider the impact of Christ in us. We said it affects every aspect of our lives namely our very selves, others, our finances, the devil, and finally our relationship with God.

How do we relate to money when Jesus lives through us? The focus of the life of everyone dominated by Christ is to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you (Matt 6:33). This implies you seek riches for the purposes of glorifying God, through expanding the kingdom of God, and not the way the world craves lustfully for money (Doing even wrong and wicked acts to obtain money). The bible describes that, as the love for money that becomes the root of all evil. Having the right perspective about money the child of God must understand it is the father’s desire that His children prosper to glorify His name with their wealth.3Jn 1:2 KJV “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”.

In the light of all that has been said above every child of God ought to be very diligent with the work of his hands. God blesses the work of our hands. If you have no work seek one. Look out for a need and begin to meet that need. Never be idle. If no one would employ you, employ yourself. Pro 13:4 KJV “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”  Many children of God are not diligent with the works of their hands and so are always in want. Remember God calls on you to constantly seek the expansion of His kingdom in the hearts of men and also to bless the less privileged. Eph 4:28 KJV” Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” God always has the needy at heart.

Trust God with your money, by faithfully paying your tithe and giving your offerings. Prov 3:9 KJV” Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” The Holy Spirit writing through Apostle Paul says 2Co 9:6 KJV” But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully”. The only condition is to do it cheerfully, and the Lord will make all grace abound towards you, that having all sufficiency in all things, you would always abound to every good work. 2 Corinth 9:8.

Many have argued back and forth about certain forms of giving like tithe, and first fruits. Please understand from the bible, as said in both the Old and New Testaments that every form of giving is sowing, and there is always a corresponding harvest to every sowing. If you sow in the right spirit you will reap the harvest. Those who faithfully do it have their witness. Gen 8:22 KJV” While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease”.

THOUGHT: BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR LABOUR, AND TRUST GOD  WITH YOUR MONEY, AND YOU WILL NOT BE IN LACK.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 10:4 KJV “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich”.

Gal 6:9 KJV “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”.

In our last study, we realised that we are at this moment seated together in Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms. Eph 2:6. In a simultaneous way the Lord is living in us the children of God. We are therefore living in two worlds, heaven and earth. Our life on earth must be a superimposition of the heavenly nature. This heavenly nature is called Christ. Col 1:27 KJV 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”:

In light of the above revelations, how should the Christian handle his or her life on this earth plain?

The Christian has five major areas of operation

1. His relationship with himself

2. His relationship with his fellow men

3. His relationship to money and goals in life

4. His relationship to the devil and his angels or messengers

5. His relationship to God.

We will consider each area in the order stated. Firstly, your relationship with yourself. Your acknowledgment of Christ in you should first make you live at peace with yourself. Because the greater one lives in you nothing should threaten you. With Christ in you, do not allow the three negative forces in this life to control you. These forces are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. You should never fail to declare to yourself who you are, the fact that you are the light of the world and that your path is like the shining light that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

Secondly is your relationship with your fellow men.

With Christ in you, you must understand you are light to those in darkness. You have a duty to reveal the life of God to them. In this light, you must sincerely love all men. You must be humble to serve men with the word of God and in other aspects of relating to men. The Bible said Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and found favour with God and men (Luke 2:52). Favour from men is a function of usefulness to them and God’s hand working through you. Be useful to all you relate to, through service and faithfulness. Christ in you is your sufficiency, and so, never take advantage of any man. You must consciously seek the lost and win them to the Lord (Luke 19:10). Learn about ministering the power of God to those who have been bound by the devil, and set them free. One major role you have to play in the lives of men is to intercede always for the salvation, peace, and preservation of men around you, and those who are far away. Let your light shine (the Christ in you) before men, that they may glorify your Father in heaven.

We will consider the other spheres of relationship in our next study

THOUGHT:  CHRIST IN US HAS GIVEN US A VERY GREAT ADVANTAGE IN LIFE, WHICH MUST BE USED VERY WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 4:4,5 KJV “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:24 KJV “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world”.

During the Lord’s prayer for the disciples, He requested that the Father allow the disciples to be with Him, in His glorious state. A few questions arise out of this request. Did He refer to only the men that had been given to Him? Secondly, when are His people to be with Him? Is it in their present lifetime, or when they depart this earth? For the first question, the Lord stated in verse 20 as follows “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” His prayer was not only for the disciples He had with Him, then, but for all those who will be receiving the gospel from them. This included all that received the gospel from the apostle and also all that have come to faith in Jesus up till now.

To the second question, were they to be with Him, to behold His glory, during their lifetime, here on earth, or when they have left this place? We may be helped by the Pauline revelation in Ephesians 2:6, which says ” And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” This scripture refers to our identification with Christ through baptism into His death, burial, resurrection, and glorification. We have been glorified together with Jesus, and we are presently seated with Him in heavenly places. This is a mystery. How could we be physically present on earth, and at the same time be spiritually seated in Christ, in glory? This is all by His grace.

What is the significance of this truth?  It shows our inseparable union with our Lord Jesus. In Heaven, He is physically present, while we are in Him. On earth, we are also physically present while He is in us. We must exercise His authority on this earth. Whatever we do, must be done with the understanding that we have a superior authority above every power or principality. We should never be intimidated by anything in this life. When the child of God cowards in fear He has brought that glorious authority of the resurrected and glorified Lord so low. Refuse to subject your life to sin, sicknesses or devils, for they are far below our status in our Lord Jesus. We do so by believing in our heart what the word says, forcefully declaring our victory and supremacy over Satan, sin, sicknesses and all forms of negativity.

THOUGHT: WE HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED WITH OUR LORD JESUS, MAKE IT REAL BY YOUR AGGRESIVE DECLARATION OF YOUR DOMINANCE ON THIS EARTH.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mat 11:12 KJV “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

Rom 10:10,11 KJV” For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:23 KJV” I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”.

The Lord expresses another effect or impact of the unity of the church on the world. He says the unity of the church will make the world know that the Father sent Him, and secondly, that the Father loves us, just as He has loved the Son. What would bring the world to such knowledge? The degree of the manifestation of His power through the church would bring the world into knowing that, the Father loves the Christians just as He loves the Son. This means the present lack of unity among Christians is indeed bringing a very big loss to the Church. The church is missing out on the glory of our Lord Jesus, and so missing out in manifesting the power of God as the Lord intended. The church is the body of Christ, and should have just continued with what the Lord started.

We have seen pockets of manifestation of the power of God in a few men and women of God. The desire of the Lord is that the body of Christ should reveal this amazing power of God. A picture of it would be any Christian at any time should be able to operate in that mighty power of Christ. It also means when Christians gather at whatever locality, they should manifest that power and miracle grace of God. This is what would bring the world to its knees and proclaim that God loves the church just as He loved the Son.

What does this information mean to us? It means we must work very hard to live in harmony with all brethren. Christians must have a kingdom mindset, rather than a local church mindset. This also means ministers of the gospel who see the church of God as one, and also work towards having that oneness would surely experience that glory of Christ in their life and in their respective congregations. I pray the leadership of churches shall tone down on things or practices that divide the church, and seek to do things that unite the church instead. How wonderful would it be if all orthodox churches, including Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, all Pentecostal and the Charismatic churches should gather at one of the stadia to hold a crusade or an all-night prayer meeting. Can you imagine the impact on the unbelieving world as a whole? One may ask how would the offering be shared? The offering could be given to a hospital or support a deprived community.

THOUGHT: THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH IS POSSIBLE, LET’S WORK TOWARDS IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 17:21 KJV “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

John 17:11 KJV” And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”