The Light Bearer For The World Ministry

ISAIAH 1:1-31; JEREMIAH 7:1-28.

Our texts above paint a bleak picture of the then nation of Israel as a backslidden people, reeling under the influence of sinful and unrighteous conduct, yet still attempting to pursue a fervent religious life of vain works of piety, but to no avail.

“Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger, they are gone away backward… To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me? saith the LORD…” Isaiah 1:4-11.

How instructive this study is for the church today! If we aren’t sensitive in the Spirit, we might just slip away from acceptable worship and service to God into a life of mere religious observance, devoid of God’s recognition or acceptance. Sadly, this is the normal thing going on in Christendom today, and it would seem that no one is willing to take the initiative to amend their ways. But today, God is calling us to both examine and amend our ways, so that we can pursue a more purposeful course to heaven.

To help the reader easily understand and digest this important study, I am going to split it into three (3) short points.

1. The Vanity of Religious Observance Without Purity of Heart and Obedience to God.

Isaiah 1:1-15; Jeremiah 7:1-4, 8-11.

Like the backslidden nation of Israel of old, Christendom today is losing real touch with God and has favoured a superficial and more liberal approach to relating with Him: they want to experience His power and miracles without giving up the very habits that God’s Word has clearly forbidden them to practice.

Like sinful Israel, they want to be very religious and do stuff like pray, prophesy, speak in tongues, while dressing immorally to church and living to indulge their sinful desires. They want to please only themselves, not God. But God will not accept anyone on those terms unless they have come before Him to truly confess, repent of, and forsake their sins.

Isaiah.1:15: “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah.1:16: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,” (NKJV)

We can never hope to make ourselves acceptable to God here on earth, let alone be accepted into His holy, heavenly Kingdom, unless we deal with our sinful lives and obey His Word wholeheartedly.

Anyone who allows deceptive feelings, some surreal spiritual experiences, or some so-called prophetic declarations to give them a false assurance of peace with God, even while their life is still laden with iniquity, would sooner or later find out that God does not lower His standard of acceptance for anyone. He honours His Word, which people so often despise, above His name that they so often want to call and rely on.

Jeremiah 7:4 – “But do not be fooled by those who repeatedly promise your safety because the Temple of the LORD is here.
Jeremiah 7:5 – I will be merciful only if you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others… ” NLT.

As much as God loves us and is willing to forgive us all our sins, yet He could not do that until we meet the condition, which His Word clearly spells out, that all manner of sins must be sincerely repented of and genuinely forsaken by anyone who seeks fellowship with the Persons of the Godhead before that will be possible.

1John.1.5-9: “This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.
So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.
But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is,
then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong”.

2. The Impending Judgment on Willful Sinners in the Church.

Jeremiah 7:12-20; Isaiah 1:19-24.

Isaiah 1:28: “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, And those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed”. (NKJV)

We incur God’s wrath and displeasure when we consciously and wilfully continue in sin while all the time ignoring or disregarding God’s warning from His Word. Jeremiah 7:21-28.

Those who are quick to hide under the merits of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins must also be willing and ready to run away from those sins. To live otherwise would incur God’s wrath and judgment.

Romans1:18: “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves”.(NLT)

We cannot hope to enjoy the benefits of grace while at the same time refraining ourselves from embracing and living the Christ-like life that purchased it for us. That’d altogether be as though we love God only for what we hope to get from Him, not minding what He expects from us. And, as reluctant as we are to admit guilt in this matter, nevertheless, that is what is prevalent in Christendom today.

Jeremiah 7:27-28: “Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond.
Say to them, `This is the nation whose people will not obey the LORD their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips”. NLT

Holiness is no more admired, let alone practised, in Christendom today, except by just a small minority. Sin is flaunted under the guise of being civilised and sociable. It seems we have learned to create new societal values, which are alien to the truth of God, and also teach ourselves to evolve into fitting into them, but without considering that God’s ancient Word cannot be changed to fit into that ungodly mould along with us.

We may argue that the Bible is too ancient for today’s civilised world; however, no one can change the fact that this same truth in the Holy Bible, which we have learned to ignore without the slightest compunction any more, will still be the yardstick for God’s judgment when all has been said and done, and we appear before His throne to be judged.

Jeremiah 2:13: “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns–broken cisterns that can hold no water”. (NKJV)

3. THE BLESSINGS OF SELF-EXAMINATION AND TRUE PENITENCE
2 Corinthians 13:5-8; Isaiah 1:16-19; Jeremiah 7:5-7.

2 Corinthians 13:5:
“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.” (MSG)

God is always willing to welcome anyone who amends their ways and returns to Him with true penitence. The blessing of having true and intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ is the greatest blessing a Christian can ever desire, but it comes with the price tag of self-denial and total reliance on Him.

At this moment, we may want to find out if we have paid that price or not by looking at some of the parameters that are the ultimate red flags for exposing our lack of self-denial and total reliance on the leadership of Jesus Christ.

So I want to point out four signs that scream the warning that Jesus Christ is absent from a person’s life, and also two steps they should take to have Him come into their life.

A. THE RED FLAGS OF A DECLINING FAITH

i. The Absence Of God Consciousness.
It should really be a sad surprise to any longtime Christian living today that the new generation of believers would attempt to serve a God they are not even conscious of. From my many interactions with people during field evangelism, I have come to realize that most of them do not really have a God-consciousness as true Christians should have.

The closest some of them have come to that experience is that they have been baptized and are actively participating in church fellowships. There are no testimonies whatsoever of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. They simply do not know what it means or how it feels to have Jesus Christ in their heart.

Romans 8:9: “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” (NLT)

One of the first red flags that is easily obvious when a person is not living for God, but for self or others, is the absence of that witness in the heart that Jesus Christ lives and reigns there.

Jesus Christ may love us, but He would by no means impose Himself on us. If we open our hearts to Him, He will come in and stay with us, but if we shut Him out, He will walk away to where He is needed.

Revelation 3:20: “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.” (NLT)

ii. When You Do Not Have A Personal Witness Of The Holy Spirit That You’re God’s Child.
Romans 8:16: “For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.” (NLT)

Basically, there are two categories of people affected by this absence of the Holy Spirit’s witness: those who have never been born again, and those who have lost the experience along the line. The former may mistake the warmth they experience while participating in some religious activities as the ultimate sign that they belong to God. But as for the latter, they would easily know what is not the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s witness in their heart because they both had and lost that experience before.

Don’t get it wrong: anyone can feel the warmth of God’s presence in any place that He is present — at fellowships, prayer meetings, or during an anointed preacher’s ministration. But as soon as the gathering is over, everyone goes away with what they actually have: some with empty hearts and others with Spirit-filled hearts.

Those who are not born again, or who are backslidden, cannot experience God on a continuous personal basis because the life they live does not support His presence in their heart. It simply is not possible.

iii. When God Stops Speaking, Or Has Never Spoken.
It is not possible that, as a child of God, He does not speak to you at all. God always speaks with His children in ways they would never mistake for anything else. If you have stopped hearing from God, or have never heard from Him, that’s a red flag not to ignore. See John 10:1-5.

John 10:2-4:
“For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.” (NLT)

After King Saul fell out of favor with God due to his disobedience and rebellion against God’s authority and guidance through the hand of Prophet Samuel, God stopped speaking with him. The same thing still applies today where there is a willful departure from the grace that brought salvation to us, to a life of sin.

1 Samuel 28:5-6: “When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.” (NLT)

iv. When Your Conscience Does Not Feel The Guilt Of Sin Anymore.
Ephesians 4:19: “They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.” (NLT)

One of the Christian’s greatest assets is their conscience, and how to nurture and maintain its sensitivity is their daily preoccupation. If, therefore, you suddenly discover that you do not really care anymore if your actions are right or wrong, then it is a red flag that you have lost, or are losing, touch with God.

Apostle Paul once said this in Acts 24:16: “Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and everyone else.” (NLT)

Maintaining a clear conscience is not just about striving to feel good inside, because some people also feel good doing the wrong thing — that might include you. It is about getting a witness from God that your ways are right before Him, just as 1 John 3:21 says: “Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence.” (NLT)

The parameters above are not the only measure for ascertaining whether a person’s standing with God is flawed or upright. The Holy Spirit will always guide the true child of God into more truth on the matter, but it is sufficient that the ones discussed above serve as a guide for the time being.

God is never too busy to answer His children’s call, or too occupied that He would not seek fellowship with them. He is always available! So if any of His children — that might include you — have not been in touch with Him for a while, they should immediately take a careful inventory of their dealings with Him in recent times, and see where they may have fallen out with Him.

B. THE REMEDY FOR A LOST RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

i. Know Where You Have Fallen From.
Revelation 3:1-3.
Revelation 3:2: “Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God.” (NLT)

The only way to rise up again is to first admit that you have fallen. So many people find it hard to accept that they have fallen from grace, either because they are ashamed to admit it or they simply do not believe that they have fallen. Some unfortunate persons even go to the extent of ascribing infallibility to themselves, not minding that they are just mere imperfect mortals who cannot tell their right from their left except God helps them.

Proverbs 30:12: “There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness.” (NKJV)

If anyone is ever going to be washed from their sins and made right with God, they must first acknowledge those sins and deal with them according to God’s command, without making any excuses for indulging in them.

Psalm 51:4: “Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just.” (NLT)

Whatever we think of ourselves, or anyone else, is subject to God’s own view, because whether we stand or fall is in His prerogative to judge.

Revelation 3:17, 19: “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked… I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.” (NLT)

From the scripture above, consider what the Laodicean church thought of herself, and how Jesus Christ refuted those claims and gave His honest verdict. That is exactly what will happen to the proud sinner who will no longer be admonished to confess and forsake the obvious life of sin they are living in. Nevertheless, if they humble themselves before God, they will be forgiven their sins and be restored to fellowship with the Godhead.

ii. Repent Of All Known Sins And Re-dedicate Your Life To God.
Psalm 51:3:
“For I recognize my shameful deeds — they haunt me day and night… Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (NLT)

God loves truth and humility, and where they are exhibited by anyone, no matter the gravity of the sin they have committed against Him, they will be forgiven.

Isaiah 1:18:
“Come now, let us argue this out,” says the LORD. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.” (NLT)

No matter how far you have strayed from the light of God, and how deeply marred with sin your life has become, you must know that Jesus Christ will be the very first responder who will come to your rescue if only you are sincerely desirous of turning a new leaf in your life. He is your partner in your quest for a new beginning, or restoration from backsliding, and reconciliation with God. His finished work of redemption on the cross at Calvary proves it.

1 Corinthians 15:3:
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me — that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.” (NLT)

In rounding up this study, it is imperative to note that it is not uncommon sometimes to find a distraught person who, though forgiven by God, yet cannot forgive themselves because of the deep sorrow and regret they feel over their past life of sin. If you are presently in such a dilemma, then you must know that you are not alone. Apostle Paul also regretted his involvement in killing and persecuting Christians, and he spared no words in describing the terrible man that he thought he was. But he accepted the fact that God forgave him, and he forgave himself also.

1 Timothy 1:12-16:
“How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve Him, even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down His people, harming them in every way I could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus. This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life.”

There are other examples of people who initially felt completely unworthy of the grace and mercy of God shown to them, but who nevertheless eventually overcame their feelings and embraced the new life which God, through Jesus Christ, had given to them and moved on. Apostle Peter was also one of such persons. He literally asked Jesus Christ to go away from him as he thought that he was not worthy of His love. However, he would eventually overcome his sense of unworthiness and follow Jesus Christ.

You too can have a similar experience: just look into the Scriptures and you will find a host of forgiven sinners who, having obtained God’s forgiveness, never looked back again, but consecrated the rest of their lives to serving God acceptably.

(A Lesson on Determination)

ISAIAH 53:1-12; PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11; 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9; MATTHEW 11:28-30; TITUS 2:11-14

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The fall of man in the Garden of Eden necessitated the plan of salvation, which was perfectly executed and accomplished on the cross at Calvary. But the reason why some people still fail to see the need to embrace Christ’s finished work for their redemption is because they focus only on the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the hill of Calvary without giving much thought to the purpose that warranted it. However, Isaiah 53:10 reveals why that had to happen when it says the following prophetic words about Jesus Christ, even before He was born on earth:

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.” (NKJV)

If we focus only on the betrayal, arrest, trial, condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, it would paint only a picture of a tragedy foisted on a helpless man by a rogue disciple (Judas) and the politics of religion in those days. But far be it! Jesus had a more noble cause. Each time we think of the sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation, we must do so with the understanding that He could have declined to offer His life for our redemption, but nevertheless offered it that we might have our lost destiny restored to us again. That event was planned especially for you, that you might be united with God and have eternal life.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all…. And he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:6, 12B).

When our opening scripture, 2 Corinthians 8:9, alluded to the riches that Jesus Christ sacrificed for our benefit, it was not directly referring to material wealth because God wouldn’t have to sacrifice His Son to make anyone materially rich, seeing that He had made so many people, like Abraham, Isaac and Solomon, rich before that time without any sacrifice. All that God requires to bestow riches on anyone (if He wishes to do so) is a godly life, even as Proverbs 22:4 affirms:

“By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.” (NKJV)

So that allusion was, rather, a reference to the riches of His glorious and divine life, which Jesus Christ laid aside and “…made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:7-8 (NKJV).

He did that so that those who would believe in Him and choose to live like He did here on earth might share in His rich and glorious life, which He laid down for their sake, “…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7 (NKJV).

It was necessary to clarify that opening scripture before we delve into the study properly, so as to avoid mistaking that reference for something else, as we see being done by the proponents of the prosperity gospel.

We shall now, therefore, consider below the riches of Jesus Christ being contemplated in this study, which brought salvation to us.

1. The Riches of His Love

John 3:16; 15:13; Jeremiah 31:3

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

It was His love for us that made it possible for God to draw us to Himself, through Jesus Christ His Son, even when we were undeserving of such love.

Humanly speaking, it is not a normal thing for anyone to love a bad and obnoxious person, but that was who and what we were when God, through Jesus Christ, loved us so much that He gave up His Son to save us from that unfortunate state of affairs. God is so rich in His love for the sinner that He would spare no expense in seeing to it that their spiritual needs are adequately cared for through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-5:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (NKJV).

2. The Riches of His Humble Life

Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-8

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8.

Unless Jesus Christ had humbled Himself and taken on the lowly form of a mortal man, He could not have met the criteria for being the perfect sacrificial “Lamb of God” that should take away the sins of the world.

Humanly speaking, it is not easy to descend from a lofty position to a lowly one for the benefit of others, but that was what Jesus Christ did for us when He stripped Himself of His divinity and humbled Himself to become the object of mankind’s ridicule, just for their own salvation.

Isaiah 53:3: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (NKJV).

He felt no shame in carrying out His role as the sacrifice for our sin, even though He knew the ridicule, hatred and wickedness with which mankind and devils alike would treat Him. That was how rich and deep Christ’s humility was manifested for our sake, that we might be saved. We should also be made humble by that example—humble enough to confess Him as our Lord and Saviour to the world without shame!

3. The Riches of His Steadfastness

Luke 12:50; 9:51, 52; Matthew 16:21-23

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished!” Luke 12:50.

Jesus knew the fate that awaited Him at Jerusalem should He go there; Isaiah’s prophecy was to be accomplished there. See Isaiah 53:3-8. But, according to Philippians 2:7, Jesus placed more priority on our salvation than on saving His skin from the horrors that lay ahead of Him.

His disciples tried to discourage Him when they said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” John 11:8 (NKJV).

Yet for all that, He was undaunted; He remained resolute and steadfastly pursued the goal of our redemption, even when He knew that it was not to be accomplished without blood, pain and death.

“Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 (NKJV).

4. The Riches of His Faithfulness

Revelation 2:10; John 19:1-12; Hebrews 11:35; Isaiah 53:10

“…and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Hebrews 11:35.

Jesus knew it was God’s will that He should die for our sins, and His faithfulness to this cause could not be compromised, even when Pilate offered to set Him free. It was His choice to offer His life for our sins. We ought to be sobered by this. Always!

So far, the four points above have briefly shed light on the riches of Jesus Christ’s life which made His passion on the cross, for our sake, possible. And as has already been said, the riches contemplated here refer to His virtuous life, the fullness of which made Him the worthy Lamb of God for the atonement of the sins of the whole world.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

In the next two points below, we are going to consider the riches of Jesus Christ’s life after His glorious resurrection and see how we can benefit from His resurrected and glorified life.

5. The Riches of His Resurrected Life

John 10:14, 15, 17, 18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 43, 50-54; Revelation 20:4-6

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, we, too, can have a new life free from the manipulation of Satan and the dominion of sin, by which the unsaved soul is enslaved in unrighteousness. As born-again children of God, that power of transformation must be reflected in our lives every day until Jesus returns to give us the resurrection life. But for this to be possible, we must also be ready and determined to take on the opposition of the world to our faith in God, in much the same way as He did.

We must totally divorce our minds from the system of this world, which is not pleasing to God.

Romans 6:11-12:

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (NKJV).

It was the sheer personal determination of Jesus Christ to carry on with the redemption process that brought salvation to mankind, and it must also be the same personal determination that should help us to endure the tyranny of this unfriendly world so that we can share in His resurrected life. If at any point we relapse into sinful compromises with this world and would not be immediately reconciled back to God, then we would be counted as unworthy of the glory that should have been ours in Christ at our meeting with Him, whether at death or at the rapture of the Church.

Hebrews 10:35-36:

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (NKJV).

“…Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Hebrews 11:35 (NKJV).

6. The Riches of His Grace

Romans 6:1-14; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Ephesians 2:1-9; Hebrews 4:16

“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.” Ephesians 2:8.

All the riches of Jesus’ life are freely given to whosoever is willing to truly accept Him as their Lord and personal Saviour. It is a gift of love that must be received only with the same reciprocal love from a heart that is sincerely ready to obey God, shun ungodliness and submit totally to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If this harmony of spirit is achieved, it will be the point where the riches of His grace can restore to us the lost image and likeness of God, without which no one can enter the Kingdom of God.

The grace of God did not come to us without cost to the Godhead: God grieved over the maltreatment and crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ, who also had to endure the agony of the ultimate sacrifice that brought salvation to sinful mankind.

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Matthew 27:46 (NKJV).

Today, we are called upon by our conscientious vow of allegiance to God to match the sacrifice which the Persons of the Godhead made for our salvation. Here also, there is a cost we must pay, but not in blood, pain and death (although that might be necessary if God so ordains it), but in unwavering self-determination, self-denial and separation from sin, to honour Him who died for our sins—even Jesus Christ our Lord.

“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13 (NKJV).

The hope of the true Believer, and the reason they could endure all the things they pass through in this life, is heaven, the glorious city of Almighty God, and the eternal home of the Redeemed of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

If heaven does not exist, then such hope as we have is vain, and all our restraint of the flesh and the pleasures of this sinful world would be to no benefit. As Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, puts it:
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”
(1st Corinthians 15:19).

But heaven does exist, and our hope and preparation for God’s holy city is not in vain. John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:9-27.

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God”
(Revelation 21:10).

But who gets to heaven in the end? What does it take to be among the blessed and ransomed of the LORD, who will eternally abide in the house of God in peace, joy and unending comfort?

They that would make heaven their final destiny and eternal home will be those who endure the trials of this life, keep vigil over their soul and remain holy and victorious till the end of their sojourn on earth. Concerning the saints of old time, who kept themselves away from sin for the sake of heaven, the Holy Scriptures has this to say:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

1. A CALL TO ENDURANCE IN THE RACE TO HEAVEN.

HEBREWS 12:1-13; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-15.

The journey to heaven begins in earnest at the point where we become born again. Until then, we are unknown and unqualified for heaven. John 3:1-3; Matthew 7:21-23.

However, as important as the requirement for a genuine salvation experience (or being born again) is to anyone who wants to enter into the Kingdom of God, we must, nevertheless, understand that the salvation experience is not an end in itself, because it can be lost if we do not continue walking daily with Jesus Christ. So, we need to diligently work out our relationship with Jesus Christ to perfection as Philippians 2:12 admonishes us.
” Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (NKJV)

Salvation through Jesus Christ is our only means to that glorious end, which is the final redemption and home -coming of the saved soul at death, or at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; whichever comes first. But in between the point of our salvation and eternal redemption, though, we have so much to contend with from the kingdom of Satan and his agents around us, and Jesus Christ wants us to not lose that battle, but to fight on courageously and overcome as He also did.

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3).

Therefore, to make our hope for heaven sure and our race there steady and swift, we are admonished to “… lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The following will help us achieve success in our race to heaven:

1. Self discipline – 1st Corinthians 9:24-27.
2. Personal determination – Philippians 3:13-14
3. Purposefulness – Hebrews 11:15-16

2. A CALL TO VIGILANCE IN THE SAFE GUARD OF OUR SALVATION:
Hebrews 12:14-17, 25-29; Philippians 3:16-19.

As we chart our course to heaven, we must not be unmindful of the fact that we will have to arrive at the golden gate of heaven with our salvation experience intact; for that is our passport to the golden city of God.

In our text, Esau is depicted as an example of the careless Christian who sold out to the world in the race to heaven and would later regret their action when turned away from the beautiful gate of heaven without mercy.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:15-17).

The road may be rough and muddy, yet we must appear pure and spotless in our garment of salvation. The blood of Jesus Christ at our disposal is enough to keep us pure and spotless. 1st John 1:5-7; Revelation 7:13-14.

The closing remark of our text gives a solemn warning to the end that if we are careless and negligent over the safeguard of our salvation, we certainly will not escape the scrutiny at the gate of heaven. Only the nature of Christ in the life of the true Believer can endure the shaking that is to test the Believer’s worthiness at heaven’s gate; every sinful habit and bad character cannot endure that shaking. Hebrews 12:25-29; 1st Corinthians 3:10-13.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is”
(1st Corinthians 3:13).

3. HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP FOR THE SAVED, THE SANCTIFIED AND THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN.

HEBREWS 12:18-24; PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21; LUKE 22:28-30.

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3:20).

There is a place of pride to be occupied in the golden city of heaven by the victorious Christian who persevered in the race to heaven, fought the good fight of faith and held out to the end of their race to heaven. Jesus said:

“Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me: That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”
(Luke 22:28-30).

Our admittance to heaven is uniquely planned by God Himself in such a way that only those who are qualified for heaven will eventually get there. No one gets there by mistake; no one can be forced into that holy city; no one can be deceived into getting there; no one can bribe their way into that city of delight:

“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, nor maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

There is a universal body of true Believers, drawn from all nations and tribes of the earth, whom the Bible refers to as the “… general assembly and church of the first born (Jesus Christ) which are registered in heaven…” (Hebrews 12:23).

Although they are drawn from different churches or religious organizations where Christ is preached and His holy virtues extolled and imbibed, nevertheless they are not so recognized because of their churches or organizations, but because of their salvation through Jesus Christ, which they possess and hold zealously to the end. Their membership is written in the book of life in heaven, far away from human manipulation or bias. No one’s name is registered there unless they are recognized by Jesus Christ as His own; and no one’s name remains in it if they have forsaken the LORD and refused to return to Him in repentance. Only the victorious Christian will make heaven their eternal home.

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels”
(Revelation 3:5).

We are now going to consider the third and last point in this study on prayer, which is:

3. THE ACT OF EFFECTIVE AND EFFECTUAL PRAYER

“Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17-18

We have come to the crux of this study, and we must give attention to it in order to get the best out of it. The scripture above reveals some very interesting and important components of an effective and effectual prayer life, which are:

1. PASSION
This is a powerful emotion that drives a person to pursue their interests and goals with a great sense of enthusiasm, dedication, and energy. We can capture this in one word, which is “ZEAL.” See an example of this in Apostle Paul’s testimony in Galatians 1:13-14:

“For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

While zeal, or passion, is an important factor in prayer, it alone cannot stand without EARNESTNESS, as we can see in the scriptures above. In that testimony, Apostle Paul was zealous for God, but in the wrong way. So also, prayer without earnestness may be zealously pursued in the wrong way. Passion without earnestness might just be a show of emotion without sincerity.

For instance, some of the Jews were very passionate about having Jesus Christ crucified by Pontius Pilate, but that was because they had not seriously and sincerely searched the Scriptures enough to understand that He was their Messiah. See what Jesus Christ said to some Jews in John 5:38-40.

“And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

In one sentence we can say that those Jews were zealous, or passionate, about their religion, yet without knowledge of its truths. So it is with anyone whose prayer life is based on ordinary passion without knowledge.

So, what is earnestness?

2. EARNESTNESS: This is the seriousness, sincerity, or intensity with which a person pursues a goal. Knowledge sustains earnestness: having good knowledge of the importance and necessity of prayer makes a person pursue it, not just with zeal or passion, but with the fruits of EARNESTNESS, which are seriousness, sincerity, or intensity. See an example in Luke 22:39-44:

VERSE 44: “And being in an agony he prayed more EARNESTLY: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.”

As humans, we are all capable of exhibiting emotions over the things that excite our minds, but without accurate knowledge of what those things are, our emotions could be misdirected and short-lived once we come to terms with our errors somewhere along the way.

For instance: Apostle Paul abandoned his zeal in persecuting the Church when he eventually found out the truth that he was fighting God. See 1 Timothy 1:12-13:

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

The same thing will happen to anyone whose prayers are misdirected: they will eventually give up either because God has refused to answer them, or because, in mercy, He has revealed to them that their prayers were wrongly offered.

However, let us consider Jesus Christ’s example of earnestness which was sustained by His perfect knowledge of God’s will for His mission on earth. See Luke 9:51-53:

VERSE 51: “And it came to pass when the time came that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

Jesus Christ’s seriousness and sincerity to go to Jerusalem and be crucified for the sins of sinful mankind was even apparent to those who were close enough to Him. Apostle Peter took Him aside to rebuke Him (Matthew 16:21-23) while the Samaritans outrightly rejected Him from sleeping in their village (Luke 9:51-53), yet He was undaunted by all that. He still pursued His mission to a conclusion.
This is how God expects a Christian to pursue spiritual matters, of which prayer is an important part.

We shall now consider three important acts of prayer which will give us the much-needed edge over our adversaries (Satan and all his agents) in the place of prayer, and also grant us an open heaven of answered prayer and intimate fellowship with God.

1. PRAYING WITH KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD:

Psalms 119:105, 130, 133.

“Through thy precepts, I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:104

As we have earlier said, knowledge of God’s will empowers the mind in the place of prayer.

1 John 5:14 plainly says: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he heareth us.”

No matter how passionately a person prays over a matter, unless it is according to God’s revealed will in the Holy Bible, it will at best be a vain oratory exercise. A prolonged period of prayer without answers might just be an indication that God’s will is not being met by that prayer.

Before Elijah pronounced the judgment of drought and famine in the land of Israel, he must have considered two important things:

A. First, he must have heard from the LORD God of Israel that this was what must be done; and he did hear! See 1 Kings 17:1-6.

VERSE 1: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, BEFORE WHOM I STAND, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

We are sure that Elijah heard from God because he said that he was standing in God’s presence when he declared those words.

B. He must have verified that he heard God correctly by making sure what he heard in God’s presence agreed with His revealed Holy Word: and it was! See Deuteronomy 11:16-17:

“Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.”

So, the utterances of Prophet Elijah were backed by God’s will, whether spoken audibly to him or as supported by God’s written word. In much the same way, our prayers must be supported by God’s word. If we claim that our prayer point is inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, we must do well to verify that it is also supported by His Holy Word, because God CANNOT direct or inspire anyone contrary to His Holy Word.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20

Some of the advantages of praying according to God’s verified will, by the Holy Bible, are:

A. No opposition of Satan, demons, or mankind can succeed against such prayer. See Matthew 4:1-11; Exodus 9:8-11; Luke 10:1-17.

VERSE 11: “And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and all the Egyptians.”

B. We shall have confidence in the place of prayer knowing we are ordering our prayers in line with God’s will. 1 John 3:21-22:

“Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

C. We shall be assured of God’s answers even if there seems to be a delay, because we have asked according to His will.

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:2-3

2. VISUALIZING YOUR PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT.
Genesis 13:14-15; 2 Kings 2:1-15

What a person can see has a profound effect on what they can achieve in life’s endeavours. In other words a person’s vision is vital to the achievement of their set goal.

The same thing applies to a Christian who is praying: if they can visualize their prayers by conjuring up in their mind’s eyes (their spirit) the picture of what they are praying for, or against, and the desired outcome, by actively and vividly following up the action of their prayer in their mind, great will be their achievements in prayer.

“And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.”
2 Kings 2:10

From our texts we can see this visualization strategy employed as follows:

A. God brought Abraham outside to “see” so he could have the picture of those things shown to him deeply etched in his memory, thus inspiring hope, which is an essential ingredient to faith that gives us victory in the place of prayer.

Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.”

SUBSTANCE in the context of that scripture stands for what you can see with the eyes of your mind (even when it is not physically before you) until it becomes a reality for you.

B. Elijah tasked Elisha to make sure he could see the moment of his ascension to heaven as a precondition for receiving the answer to his request for a double portion of his anointing.

The above points stress the importance of visualization of one’s object of prayer in order to successfully achieve an effective and effectual prayer life.

3. THE UNBEATABLE STRATEGY OF FOCUSING ON YOUR PRAYER TARGET.
Jeremiah 29:12-14

Verse 13:
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Giving full attention and unflinching focus to the things prayed for is vital to answered prayer, as we can see in the verse above. That God makes it a condition for the grant of an answer shows how important it actually is.

See what Proverbs 4:25-27 says.
VERSE 25: “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

We must know that any form of distraction during prayer can cut off our link to God’s divine presence and thus potentially sever our spiritual bond, which is what secures the victory for us in the place of prayer.

In conclusion, we must understand that while we are in prayer, what we see with the eyes of our mind and what our heart is focused and locked on must agree with what our mouth is praying, because it is a synergy of these three elements of prayer that makes prayer both effective and effectual.

THE END.

James 5:13-18 

INTRODUCTION

PRAYER is the means by which those who believe and have faith in the three Persons of the Godhead communicate with them. This communication (or prayer) can be done audibly or silently, depending on how the Holy Spirit gives the lead to the one who prays.
Furthermore, prayers can be offered in the tongues of men or in the tongues of angels, but, again, it all depends on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
See 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 8:26-28.
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26
Prayer is a deeply spiritual affair which, like any other spiritual matter of the Christian faith, must be done according to the leading of the Holy Spirit; otherwise, the purpose for praying would be defeated. This is more reason why the Christian must ensure that they are walking in the Spirit at all times, and not in the flesh.
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
Romans 8:8-9
It is very important to establish that a person’s prayer life is only effective to the degree of their spiritual life; and by this we mean their understanding and submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.
“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:27.
What, though, is the difference between the terms “effective” and “effectual” as they concern prayers? Let’s consider them.
I. Prayer on its own is an effective means of communication with the three Persons of the Godhead; the Christian who prays without fainting (or giving up) will accomplish much with God and His kingdom.
But there is an essential ingredient that makes a person more success-oriented in their prayer life, which is the second thing I want to explain.
II. A Christian is considered effectual in their prayer life when they know how to deploy the necessary spiritual strategy in getting their prayers answered.
It is worthy of note that some Christians (if not the most!) simply offer prayers to God at random without thoughtfully considering the following indices:
A. Whose will is being served in this prayer? Matthew 26:36-39.
B. What’s the right approach to the issue at hand — is it to pray or to take action? Exodus 14:10-16.
C. Are there some scriptural precedents to support the prayer? Nehemiah 1:8-9 (Deuteronomy 4:25-31); Deuteronomy 8:3 (Matthew 4:4); Hebrews 13:5 (Genesis 28:15; Joshua 1:5).
D. Can God, on the one hand, be persuaded to change His mind on the issue being prayed for? (Genesis 18:17-33; Exodus 32:9-14; Psalms 106:21-23), or can He, on the other hand, not be persuaded? (Deuteronomy 3:23-27; Ezekiel 14:12-20; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
E. Who gets the glory for the answer to the prayer? Acts 3:12-16; Acts 14:8-18.
The five points above are just some of the indices which Christians must carefully train themselves to know and deploy whenever they pray to God; there are others too, which we shall consider in the later part of this study, specifically when we deal with point 3.
We shall divide the study into (3) points, namely:
1.Why Pray?
2.Some Hindrances To Acceptable Prayer.
3.The Act of Effective and Effectual Prayer.

1.Why Pray?
Luke 18:1-8; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.

People offer prayer to God because it is taken for granted by all who know and serve Him that the common means of communication with Him is by prayer, just as we can see in Psalms 65:2.
“O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.”

But perhaps the most compelling reason for praying is that God has commanded it; so praying is a duty for all who know and serve God. He expects us to pray all the time because doing so connects us to Him and makes it possible for us to experience His love and involvement in our daily lives. Furthermore, God has also promised to hear and answer us when we pray.
Psalms 50:15:
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

With all these assurances from the Word of God, we have no reason to refrain from praying. In fact, Jesus Christ Himself was emphatic about this in the parable He gave in Luke 18:1-8.
Verse 1: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
The emphasis in the scripture above is to “always pray”.
Also in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are commanded to “pray without ceasing”, while in Colossians 4:2, we are admonished to “continue in prayer”.

All of the above scriptural references give the believer some valid reasons to pray.
We must understand that the way the spiritual world of God’s Kingdom works is quite different from the way ordinary people think here in the world. For instance, people expect God to interfere in their lives to bless them and to protect them from harm just because He is all-powerful and can do all things. Yes, God is all-powerful and is able to do all things, but, however, that is not how He does things: God respects our decisions (the exercise of our free will) and will most likely intervene for us, without prayer, only in situations where our will is not required, rather than in situations where we need to first exercise our will to request His intervention: this is why we need to always talk to Him in prayers about the things which concern us if we must see His intervention in our affairs all the time.
In Matthew 7:7, Jesus Christ says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you…”

This means that God’s intervention in our affairs has to be done at our request.
However, we must also bear in mind that, as much as God encourages us to pray for His intervention in our lives, He has also given some conditions that govern our prayers, and He will answer any prayer which meets the condition.
For instance, in James 4:1-3, God’s Word shows us some common mistakes which people make in approaching Him in prayers: any request that is made to God with the wrong motive will not be answered by Him because He does not support unrighteousness even in the faintest sense. So, as God does not interfere with our will, He also expects us to respect His will and to live by it so that whenever we ask anything of Him, our minds will have been already trained to ask it according to His Word of truth by which we live.
In 1 John 3:21-22, the Holy Bible says: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

SUMMARY.
In rounding up the first sub-topic of this study series, we need to draw our attention to the essential elements of the study, which are as follows:
i.Prayer is a duty because it is God’s command to all His children.
Jeremiah 33:3
ii.Prayer opens up our lives to feel God’s love and to experience His involvement in our daily affairs.
Psalms 107:4-9.
iii.Knowing God’s Word will help us to live according to His commandments and to pray according to His will.
Psalms 119:1-11.

We have concluded teaching on the first of the three points we have formulated and now must proceed to the second point.

2.Some Hindrances To Acceptable Prayer:
Isaiah 1:15-18.

As important as it is that God commands us to pray always, we must know that it is not all prayers that enjoy His acceptance. This is not because God chooses which prayer to accept or reject, but rather that Satan and his agents of darkness work hard to see to it that some prayers do not get to the throne of God in heaven, let alone be answered.
Satan has deployed so many strategies to hinder Christians from doing the will of Almighty God and, unless we are very careful to watch out for those satanic strategies, we will get hindered by them, not only in the place of prayer but also in other aspects of our daily Christian life. For instance, consider
1 Thessalonians 2:18:
“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

In the scripture above, Apostle Paul says that Satan hindered them from coming to see and encourage the brethren at Thessalonica.
Also in Psalms 109:5-7, King David described the spiritual state of a wicked person when he attempts to stand in prayer before God, where he wrote as follows:
“…let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.”

We see this happening also with Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3:1-7.
The first verse specifically says: “And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.”
That’s quite an effrontery! But the question to ask is: what gave Satan that effrontery to confront the high priest right in God’s presence?
Well, we must understand that Satan cherishes his work as an accuser and spoiler of good things for God’s people, so we must not allow him to work against us in the place of prayer.
However, verse three gives the reason why Satan had the boldness to accuse God’s high priest in God’s presence; it says:
“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.”
In spiritual matters, a filthy garment signifies a sinful life. So the sinful life of a person will expose them to satanic hindrances at the place of prayer or in other aspects of their Christian life.
See also Revelation 12:10.
If we must overcome Satan, our accuser, at the place of prayer and in our Christian duties, then we must not touch whatever belongs to him and his kingdom. But Satan knows how dependent mankind has become on the polluted things of this world which he invented; that’s why he comes boldly before God to accuse and to condemn them before Him.
See 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 7:1.

If we want to overcome Satan and his agents at the place of prayer, then we must follow the admonition of God’s Word in
1 Peter 2:11, which says: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

In rounding up this part of the study, we must address another subtle area where Satan unleashes his tactics against Christians who have not succumbed to his temptation to fall into the common sins being freely committed in the world. We must be careful to address this area because many prayers of God’s children get hindered due to their ignorance of such subtle satanic strategies.
Let us consider some of those strategies. They are:
i. Lack of faith.
We may not readily know what damage a lack of faith does to a Christian until we know the scriptures that point it out.
See the following:
A. Romans 14:23
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

B. John 3:18
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

C. James 1:6-7
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”

ii. Fear.
Another subtle strategy of Satan is to use fear to hinder Christians from being acceptable before God.
Consider the following scriptures:
A. Matthew 25:24-30.
Verse 25
“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.”

B. Revelation 21:8
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

C. Jeremiah 1:8, 17
“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD…Thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.”

iii. Wrong Motives.
Praying with the wrong motive in the heart can render one’s prayers unacceptable before God. See the following scriptures:

A. James 4:3
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

B. Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

C. Matthew 15:7-9.
Verse 8
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

SUMMARY:
We have looked into the various strategies employed by the kingdom of Satan to stop us from praying or, if they failed, to make sure our prayers are hindered from acceptance before God.
We must now, more than ever before, be resolved to win our battles against Satan and his dark kingdom in the place of prayer by doing the following:
A. Keeping ourselves free from sin. 1 John 2:1-6; 3:2-3; 5:18-21;

B. Breaking free from the world and the deceitful things it offers and/or promises.
1 John 2:15-17; James 4:1-4.

C. Breaking free from the damning consequences of lack of faith, fear, and wrong motives in the place of prayer.

To Be Continued.

Hebrews: 6:7-8: “For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned”. (NKJV)

A careful study of the Scriptures will reveal to us that God’s plan of redemption for mankind was designed to be propagated by the redeemed in a chain-like fashion—that is, one person sharing their experience of God’s love, forgiveness and mercy with others, with the sole aim of convincing them to also accept the Lord Jesus into their lives. See John 1:35-45.

John.1:40-42: “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).

With this strategy, every redeemed person is supposed to be kept preoccupied with the business of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We can see how this was demonstrated in the scripture passage above: John the Baptizer pointed out Jesus Christ to his disciples as the long awaited Saviour of the sinner. Two of the disciples followed him immediately, with one of them eventually bringing his own brother along to meet Jesus Christ.
Today we are expected to toe that line of action in discipling more and more people, and teaching them about Jesus Christ.
Mark.16:15: “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. (NKJV)

Both the old and new Christian faithful are commanded to engage in preaching the gospel of salvation to the lost people of the world.
As it was with the boy-child Jesus, the newly converted Christian’s motto should be,
“…I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).
On the other hand, as it was with the man Jesus, so also the mature Christian’s motto should be: “…My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34).

Every Christian, irrespective of the depth of their spiritual experience, is duty bound to engage in a fruitful propagation of the gospel of salvation wherever they are: the new convert can begin with the story of how they came to know Jesus Christ, while the mature can go further sharing from the scriptures the message of God’s love and plan of salvation for the sinner.
To the demon-possessed man whom He had just set free from the bondage of satan, Jesus Christ had this to say:
“…Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19).

All persons redeemed by grace are obligated to spread this message of redemption to those yet unsaved, with the genuine hope and fervent prayer that they might also be saved. They’re to do this with the urgency and dedication that this commission demands.
John.20:2: “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (NKJV)

Where our passion for sharing the gospel of salvation with others matches our zeal for the Lord our God, we become fruitful Christians and an asset to His Kingdom.
John.15:8 “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples”. (NKJV)

On the other hand, where our zeal for the Lord is not complemented by a corresponding passion for the salvation of the perishing souls around us, then our place in God’s plan for His Kingdom becomes shrouded in doubt. This is a dangerous position for a Christian to be in.
John.15:6: “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned”. (NKJV)

Below are some points we shall look into in this study:

1. The Causes And Effects Of Fruitlessness

“For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:7-8).

Fruitlessness does not occur in isolation. Rather, it is occasioned by a deliberate, nonchalant attitude (which usually begins with a seemingly innocent excuse) of not doing what we are convinced God would have us do at the moment.
Luke.14.18-20:“But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’
And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’
Still another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ (NKJV)

When we drink in the rain of God’s mercies and are nourished by the riches of His love, it is only natural for us to want to lead others into this same experience because that is how we came into it. However, at whatever time we find out that we cannot do this cheerfully and without any prompting, then something is fundamentally wrong with our relationship with God. Jesus Christ once said in Matthew 12:30“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (NKJV)

When nothing is done to arrest or address this deliberate attitude of not preaching the gospel to others, all our spiritual potential would eventually become dormant, and, in effect, we become spiritually fruitless.
A fruitless Christian is like a conduit pipe through which the grace and mercies of God are wastefully drained. This explains God’s severity on fruitlessness:
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9).

Read also the following Scriptures: John 15:1, 2, 5, 6; Revelation 3:1-3.

2. The Cure For Fruitlessness

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” (John 15:16).

Perhaps the antidote to fruitlessness is to have the knowledge and awareness that God has called appointed and equipped the Christian to bear fruit that will positively affect the lives of others around them. But even so that is dependent on whether that Christian truly loves God and their neighbours.
2Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again”. (NKJV)

Loving God automatically translates into loving others and doing for them what Christ would have done were He to be in our position.

The cure for fruitlessness simply lies in our willingness to acknowledge our faults and shortcomings and to ask for God’s forgiveness. After this, we can re-ignite the fire of our lost passion for souls by endeavoring to see the lost through the eyes of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 9:36-38: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (NKJV)
Read the following: Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 6:31-34; John 4:31-36. The decision to be fruitfully engaged in sharing the love and mercy of God with others, or otherwise, rests squarely on us: we can decide today, and now, to be obedient to the Lord’s command to reach out to the lost with the gospel, or not. That’s not for heaven to decide because it is our call. Will we obey? The answer truly rests with each one of us.

A covenant is an agreement between two or more persons for the performance or non-performance of an act or acts. Below are examples of these two aspects of a covenant:

A. COVENANT OF PERFORMANCE:
Genesis 6:7-22; 15:1-21; 17:1-13

As the term implies, this is a covenant (or a promise) between two or more persons to perform an act or acts. God was going to destroy the then-known world, but Noah found favour with God and was spared (along with his family) from that destruction. Genesis 6:7, 8, 17, 18.

We also see Abraham, who obtained favour from God Almighty. God covenanted to make him a father of nations and to give him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession. Genesis 17:1-8.

B. COVENANT OF NON-PERFORMANCE:
Genesis 9:8-17; Joshua 2:1-21; 6:20-27; 9:1-27

After sparing Noah and his family from the flood that destroyed the then-known world, God later covenanted never again to destroy all living things, and the token of that covenant is the rainbow, which, up till now, still appears to assure mankind of God’s faithful promise not to destroy the world with a flood again. So, this type of covenant prohibits the parties bound by it from performing an act or acts.

Below is yet another example of this covenant:

Joshua’s mandate was to lead the Israelites to possess the Promised Land of Canaan. He was to destroy all the natives of that land entirely, but a twist of events led to their making two covenants of non-performance: firstly, with a woman (Rahab) and her family (Joshua 2:12-14), and secondly, with a whole nation (Gibeon) in Joshua 9:1-15.

Why are covenants necessary? Well, they are necessary for certain reasons we shall explore more deeply in the course of this study. But suffice it to say that covenants serve as a reasonable ground for assurance, security, hope, mutual trust, peace of mind, and proof of honesty.

All of the above would not have been necessary if the world had continued in the peace and holiness in which God had ordained it to flourish, prosper, and continue forever. But due to the breach caused by sin, mankind has always looked up to a higher power to help them survive the evils that threaten their present existence in this life and their eternal destiny after death.

The foregoing is just the introductory part of the study. In the subsequent parts below we shall be looking at the following subtitles:

1. The Guiding Principles of a Covenant Relationship.
2. The Necessity of Living a Covenanted Life in Christ.
3. The Present and Future Benefits and Rewards of a Good Covenant Relationship with God. 1.The Guiding Principle of a Covenant Relationship
   Psalm 50:1-23; Deuteronomy 4:1-14.

We started this study by stating that a covenant is broadly divided into two, namely:

1. The covenant to perform an act or acts.
2. The covenant not to perform an act or acts.

The various covenants in the Holy Bible (which we shall come across subsequently) each fall under one of the two divisions of God’s covenant. Wherever a covenant is brokered between two or more parties, it is either to perform an act or acts or not to perform them.

At the very root of this performance or non-performance of acts lies the principle of the covenant.

A principle, as we know it, is a set of ideas formulated to govern the performance of an activity or activities in a well-defined way in order to achieve a set goal or purpose. Therefore, a covenant is defined and governed by the principles under which it is established.

In the Old Testament, the principles under which the Old Covenant was established are called the statutes and judgments. They are a set of ideas formulated by God for the Israelites as a guide towards living a defined life aimed at fostering a cordial relationship between Him and them.
Deuteronomy 4:1-9; 14:1-21.

The covenant is binding only on the parties who swore allegiance to it and, by extension, to any foreigner who freely chooses to pledge allegiance to Almighty God and to live by the tenets of His covenant with the Israelites. Numbers 15:14-16; Isaiah 56:1-8.

The observance of these principles (statutes and judgments), which govern the covenant between God and His people, forms the basis for rewards, blessings, and the imputation of righteousness and holiness on all the faithful.
Genesis 15:1-6; Deuteronomy 4:39-40; 6:17-25.

“So you shall keep His commandment which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; and I shall rescue you, and you will honour Me.” Psalm 50:14-15.

“And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this command before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:25.

Conversely, the non-performance of these principles (statutes and judgments), which govern God’s people, brings about God’s judgment. All defaulters (both those who are parties to the covenant but failed to keep it and those who are not parties to it) will have no basis for claiming the benefits of God’s covenant and, thus, stand in jeopardy of being alienated from the blessings of God now and of suffering eternal damnation after death.
Ephesians 2:11-12; Psalm 50:16-23; Isaiah 1:1-31.

“But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to tell of My statutes, and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you…’” Psalm 50:16-17.

As it was with the Old Testament, so is it now with the New Testament; they are all governed by principles, the observance or non-observance of which determines the eternal destiny of every soul. But the principles governing the New Testament (or New Covenant) are somewhat different from those of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the principles are not based on the observance of statutes, ordinances, or judgments, but on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, who imparts His very life to all who come into this covenant relationship with Him.

Broadly speaking, in the Old Covenant, righteousness is sought through the observance of so many laws, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, whereas in the New Covenant, righteousness is attained through the inward transformation of the heart by Jesus Christ’s presence there. But He can only come into that heart through the covenant of His blood, when it is accepted in simple faith and in obedience to turn away from all sin and unrighteousness.
Ephesians 2:6-17; John 3:16-17; 10:22-29; Matthew 11:25-30; John 15:1-5; 17:1-3; Romans 10:8-13; 8:31-32.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16.

On the other hand, those who reject the simple principle of this New Covenant in Jesus Christ (whether as backsliders or as those who have never accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour) would be cut off from the benefits inherent in it, both now and forever, unless they have recourse to it before the rapture or the time of their death, whichever comes first. John 3:18-19; 15:6.

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”. John 3:18.

We shall conclude here by saying that the guiding principle of the covenant relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, is such that seeks to bring all beneficiaries into an everlasting relationship with God, which throws open to them the unlimited favours, blessings and privileges made available to them only by that means. The treasures of God’s riches through Christ are simply beyond human understanding. They are unsearchable and inexhaustible. Time and eternity cannot suffice to fully unravel these treasures because they are the very essence of the life of God Himself! All of these are ours for the asking, but only if we keep faith with God, through Jesus Christ our savior. Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; John 16:27-29.

The blessings of God’s covenant provides for both our spiritual and material needs, both now and for eternity. There is no limit to what you can ask as long as it is done in righteousness and within the bounds of God’s Word, which is the very principle governing His covenant with us.

“He who did not spare His own son, but delivered Him for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

2.The Necessity Of Living A Covenanted Life In Christ.
Matthew 26:26-30; John 17:1-26; 1 Corinthians 6:14-20.

Before delving further into this second subtitle, I want to say that the first subtitle, The Guiding Principle of a Covenant Relationship, actually set the tone for this study proper. It is intended to help us understand the divine idea behind any covenant relationship with God and also to help us see the need to enter into that covenant relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, His Holy Son.

“But the one who joins himself with the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17.

In doing justice to this second subtitle of the study we need to ask the leading question: Why is it necessary for anyone to be joined with Jesus Christ in a covenant relationship?
We shall answer this very important question by the points raised below, namely:

1. Because man is created a free moral agent.
2. Because God’s plan of redemption is based on a covenant.
3. Because the benefits of this new covenant must be sought for in order to be received.

We shall develop the points outlined above in the following manner for an in-depth study, namely:

1. MAN AS A FREE MORAL AGENT. Micah 6:8; Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 24:1-15; Revelation 22:17; John 7:14-17.

God did not create mankind as robots already programmed to do His will; rather, He created them with the liberty to choose to love, obey, and serve Him willingly, or not to. Nevertheless, He gave them a conscience, which serves as a monitor to let them know if their decisions are for or against Him, thus making man accountable for his decisions.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

God is love, and His relationship with us is governed by the rhythms of true love, which are unforced. By contrast, however, let us consider how business is done in the corporate world: hardly would any business corporation survive on the kind of principle existing between God and mankind because they operate on the principles of a master-and-servant or hire-and-fire relationship. The corporation spells out the conditions of service for all employees, who, in turn, undertake to abide by them. Here, loyalty is forced and discipline enforced against any breach of the conditions of service. There is nothing like love and compassion, but duty and loyalty. But with God, everything is about love; both the restrictions and liberty He gives us are based on love and for our sole benefit.

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity…” Deuteronomy 30:15.

“And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” Joshua 24:15.

However, knowing the inclination of man’s heart towards evil (Jeremiah 24:7), God offers us the advantage of allowing Him to direct and guide us successfully throughout our tenure on earth if we, on the other hand, would relinquish our rights to personal assertion over to Him. This, in a nutshell, is what God’s covenant with us entails, provided there’s a mutual agreement to walk by the tenets of the covenant.

Based on this mutual agreement between God and man, a covenant relationship is forged for man’s sole benefit; God can now act on man’s behalf to do what is beneficial for him, even without seeking his consent any further, because his rights are well protected. There is no entertainment of fears because God is perfect in all His ways, and we can rest assured that He would do what is needful for our eternal benefit.

As we, on our part, yield completely to Him in line with the terms of His covenant, we come to realize that God’s warnings to us, through His Word, the Holy Bible, are only loving counsel, and His restrictions are just honest and loving guides towards living a righteous and holy life. If we understand it this way, we would strive not to sin deliberately against God. We’d embrace the holy life enshrined in our covenant with Him, and no fun would be lost forsaking our sinful past! Psalm 119:1-11; Hebrews 12:3-11.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word… Thy word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:9, 11.

We have previously emphasized the need for man to join himself in covenant with God through Jesus Christ because, as a free moral creature of God, his choices might not always be the perfect choices to lead him aright in his walk with God.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12.

So, man needs a perfect Helper whom he can trust to safeguard his relinquished rights to self-determination under a safe and fair covenant.
When man joins himself with Christ in a covenant relationship, part of the many benefits he enjoys from Him is that the Lord intervenes in times of man’s weakness to help him do what God expects and approves of as acceptable conduct. Romans 8:22-28; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

“But the one who joins himself with the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17.

We shall now consider the second reason why man should enter into a covenant relationship with God.

2. THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. Jeremiah 31:31-37; Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 14:15-17; 16:12-14; Matthew 26:26-30.

Why is it necessary for anyone to be joined with Christ in a covenant relationship? It is necessary because the redemption of mankind was made possible under a covenant; so, no one benefits from it except through that same covenant and with the same Mediator, Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Under the new covenant of grace, man’s effort at obtaining God’s salvation, with the ultimate benefit of enjoying eternal life in heaven (provided he continues in the covenant), is drastically whittled down to just believing, accepting, and walking in the grace of the new covenant. Romans 10:1-13.

This is a far cry from the old covenant, where so much work was needed to prove man’s acceptability. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27.

“And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins…’” Matthew 26:27-28.

The penalty for sin has been finally paid for everyone under this new covenant, and the grace to transit from the old life of sin to the new life of holiness has been fully secured; but all of it remains dormant for them until they, of their own will, consciously activate it through the unconditional acceptance of the Mediator of the covenant (Jesus Christ) as their personal Lord and Saviour. John 10:25-29; 11:25-27; Acts 8:34-39; Acts 16:29-34.

“…that if you confess with your mouth (not another person’s mouth) Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart (not anyone believing for you) that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved…”
Romans 10:9.

Below are some salient points to ponder:

(i) Each prospective beneficiary of the new covenant must activate it on a personal basis. No one does it on behalf of another. Acts 2:33.

(ii) Children born to already saved parents cannot just grow up into this covenant; they must be taught the principles of this covenant diligently to help convince them to accept it when they are of age.
2 Timothy 3:14-15.

(iii) You cannot cajole, force, or deceive anyone into this covenant because it works by the will of the one who yields to Christ of their own accord. The least you could do is to intercede for them, that God would touch and turn their hearts to Jesus Christ, so that they may be saved. Revelation 22:17.
This makes prayer for our unsaved neighbours and relatives imperative.

(iv) There is no other covenant in heaven or on earth that can substitute for the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ. All other covenants, creeds, articles of belief and/or faith in the name of any other mediator (other than Jesus Christ) are merely professions of dead faith, which are neither binding on nor recognized by the Godhead and are, thus, of no benefit to their adherents, whoever they are and whatever religious persuasion they belong to. Romans 10:4; John 8:21, 24; 14:6; Hebrews 10:26-31.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” John 14:6.

(v) For those of us who are so privileged to be in this new and everlasting covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ, it is imperative to know that it is a lifelong relationship that must be renewed as often as we can or deem necessary, not because we have to remind God of His obligation towards the covenant (because He does not forget like humans), but because we sometimes fall short of our obligations towards this covenant.

The following scriptures give instances of such renewal for our admonition: Exodus 32:1 gives the account of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God’s covenant; Exodus 33:1-23 tells us about Israel’s sorrow and repentance when God refused to go along with them because of the breach of the covenant, and how, afterwards, He accepted their repentance and forgave them; Exodus 34:1-35 tells us how the Lord renewed the covenant with the Israelites and even graciously added more glory to it. Verses 29-35.

The new covenant, unlike the old one, is written in the heart (or spirit) of the beneficiary and so must be renewed through spiritual means as well, to wit: by the washing of the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2) and/or by the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Whereas the washing by the blood of Jesus Christ renews the heart and takes away all sins therein, the Lord’s Supper, on the other hand, renews our hope in Jesus Christ daily until He returns for us or calls us to Himself, whichever comes first. But the cumulative effect of both is the renewal of our covenant with the Lord, which ensures that we live a covenanted life daily in Christ till the end.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
1 Corinthians 11:26.

Let us now consider the third and final reason why we should seek a covenant relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

3. THE INTERCESSORY ROLE OF CHRIST FOR THE SEEKER. Psalm 50:14-23; Matthew 10:32-33; John 17:6-10; Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 7:17-25.

Why is it necessary for the seeker of the benefits of the New Covenant to be joined with Christ in a covenant relationship? It is necessary because the benefits of the New Covenant must come from God through an intermediary. Jesus is the only intermediary between God and the human race. All the covenant blessings we seek, desire, and ask for must be through Jesus Christ, but this can be possible only if we have an existing covenant relationship with Him in the first place. John 3:31-36; 10:7-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15.

“…I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9.

Consider the important facts below:

1. No mortal being can approach God directly except through the One He has chosen, who is Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 6:13-16; John 6:45-46; Exodus 33:18-23. “…Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:16.
2. Jesus is the only access to God for everyone willing to approach Him, whether they are saints or sinners. John 14:16; 6:37; Matthew 11:27-30.
3. Jesus is the Intercessor for only those who have a covenant relationship with God through Him. Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 7:22-25. “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.” John 17:9.
4. Jesus, being our Intercessor before God in heaven, guarantees the benefits of our covenant with Him once we ask in prayer through faith, because He confesses our allegiance with Him to God, His Father. Matthew 10:32; Philippians 4:19. “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. 3.The Present and Future Benefits and Rewards of a Good Covenant Relationship with God
   Matthew 26:26-30; John 17:1-26; 1 Corinthians 6:14-20.

So far, we have studied under two sub-titles, namely:

1. The Guiding Principles of a Covenant Relationship.
2. The Necessity of Living a Covenanted Life in Christ.

We shall now be considering the third, and last, sub-title of this study, which is as outlined above, but we shall consider it under two points, namely:

1. Maximizing Our Present Benefits in the New Covenant.
2. Holding Unto God’s Covenant in Hope of Our Future Reward in Heaven.

1.Maximizing Our Present Benefits in the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Luke 22:17-20; Hebrews 9:11-15.

The New Covenant was initiated by God Himself a great while before Jesus Christ was manifested in the flesh to seal it with His blood and, thus, activate it for the benefit of all those who, through grace, are drawn by God into the riches of this eternal covenant.

“And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood…’” Luke 22:20.

The operation of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ has opened to us who are saved a great door of opportunity to reap the benefits which God had beforehand prepared for the heirs of salvation. Romans 8:31-32; 1 Corinthians 2:12.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.

For every covenant child of God’s kingdom, there are endless possibilities at our disposal, just for the asking under the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ.
When we invoke this covenant, God listens and acts for our benefit because the blood of Jesus Christ speaks in intercession for us before His throne. Hebrews 12:22-24.

“…and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:24.

The main point of this final part of the study would be to help us understand how to invoke the covenant of the blood of Jesus for our benefit. But before doing so, let us examine the scriptural records of those who invoked the covenant of God and how they fared. Take, for instance, the following Bible characters:

1. JACOB: Genesis 28:10-22; 30:25-43; 35:1-15.

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee.’”
Genesis 28:20-22.

In his moment of despair and uncertainty, Jacob made a vow to God to seek His blessings and protection, for which, in return, he (Jacob) would serve the LORD only, give Him a tenth of all his increase, and build an altar to the name of the LORD.
The Holy Bible records that God fulfilled His part of the covenant (Genesis 30:43; 31:20-29) , while Jacob also did his own part (Genesis 35:1-7).

2. JEPHTHAH: Judges 11:29-40.

In the face of impending danger of warfare, Jephthah made a covenant with God, asking for victory, for which in return he too would dedicate to the LORD the first thing that came out of his house to meet him as he returned from battle.
God fulfilled His part of the covenant (Judges 11:32-33), while Jephthah faithfully (even though painstakingly) kept his own part of the covenant (Judges 11:34-35). It wasn’t easy for Jephthah to dedicate his only child as a nun all her life because he may have hoped to have his genealogy sustained through her, but, nevertheless, he kept his covenant with God.

“And it came about at the end of two months that she returned to her father, who did to her according to the vow which he had made; and she had no relations with a man…”
Judges 11:39.

3. HANNAH: 1 Samuel 1:1-28.

Hannah’s many years of barrenness came to an immediate end when she decided to do something different from what she had been doing for the many years past since she knew she was barren: she made a covenant with God.

“And she made a vow and said, ‘O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget Thy maidservant, but wilt give Thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.’”
1 Samuel 1:11.

God answered Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19-20), while she, on her part, dedicated the son He gave to her, Samuel, to His services all his life as she had covenanted (1 Samuel 1:24-28).

Worthy of note is that the three Bible characters discussed above were Israelites, a people under an everlasting covenant with God (Jeremiah 31:35-36; 33:19-26), but that, nevertheless, did not guarantee that their problems would be taken away because that covenant was a general one, made to many people on a general (not a specific or personal) term. That general, national covenant guaranteed acceptance before God, on a general term, for any Israelite who kept to it faithfully; but they had to invoke it on a personal level for it to minister to their personal needs.
The same is the case with the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ; it was made for all of mankind.
“And He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the covenant which is to be shed on behalf of many.’”
Mark 14:24.

However, the fact above notwithstanding, anyone who hopes to benefit personally and specifically from this general covenant must invoke it on that personal and specific level in order to enjoy its benefits.

Having examined the scriptural records of some Bible characters who invoked the covenant of God and how it fared with them, we are going to learn how to apply the same biblical principles they employed by asking from God in a covenant prayer, with the view to achieving the same or better results than they achieved, seeing that we are under the grace of a better covenant.

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”
Hebrews 8:6.

Below are some time-tested Bible principles that have proved helpful in obtaining the promises of God through covenant prayers:

1. Be Moderate in Asking:
Genesis 28:20-21; James 4:3; Luke 21:34; Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-12

“And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”
1 Timothy 6:8.

Most of the things we have come to accept as the basic necessities of life, which we must possess, have been foisted on us by greed and societal pressures, not by God. The Word of God advocates moderation, unless where God Himself decides to bestow riches on whomever He wishes to. God does not encourage greed, and spiritually unhealthy competitions, therefore He will not honour any prayer borne out by any of them.
2 Chronicles 1:7-13; Deuteronomy 17:14-20; Psalm 62:10.
“…If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.”
Psalm 62:10.

In his covenant prayer, Jacob was moderate to a fault in what he requested from God. When you place side by side what God promised him in Genesis 28:13-15 against what he requested in Genesis 28:20-21, you would better appreciate this point. It is not for us to tell God what our future needs are or how He should go about taking care of them; what we should ask from Him are the very basics of everyday life while we occupy ourselves with the works and demands of His Kingdom’s administration here on earth, and allow Him to add to us whatsoever He deems fit for us to have in furtherance to that. Matthew 6:31-34.

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33.

2. Be Selfless in Asking:
Genesis 32:1-14; 13:14; 18:17-33; Judges 11:29-40; 1 Samuel 1:9-11

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasure.” James 4:3.

Jephthah’s covenant prayer was not made for his own benefit, but for the benefit of Israel as the people of God: he sacrificed his only child to a life-long consecration and service to God so Israel could be saved from her enemy. Judges 11:1-11, 29-35.

Hannah also prayed for a child whom she planned to raise up for the work of God’s Kingdom. She raised Samuel to be a Nazirite to the LORD all his life. She selflessly tore off the strong bond between herself and her barely two-year-old son so that he could begin his service to the LORD all his life. 1 Samuel 1:24-28.

“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh, although the child was young… And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So, I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD…’”
1 Samuel 1:24-28.

God delights in prayers that place His interests and those of others first before that of the seeker. Before we pray, we must be sure our requests, if granted, would glorify God first and would not jeopardize the godly expectations of other people. To pray otherwise would be asking in vain. Romans 12:9-10; 14:19; 1 Corinthians 8:13.

“Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.”
1 Corinthians 8:13.

3. Be Humble in Asking:
Genesis 28:20-22; Judges 11:30-31; 1 Samuel 1:11; James 4:13-16; Matthew 26:36-39.

Although we have the right to boldly approach the throne of God in prayer and lay before Him our requests, we must never presume to do this in a manner that suggests (even in the slightest way!) that such a right is the reward of our personal merits. No, it is not! Our right to gain access into the presence of God is absolutely based on the undeserved merits of Jesus Christ. We must both respect this and be humbled by it, giving Him honour.

Jacob, Jephthah, and Hannah, in their covenant prayers, began their requests with the word “If,” thus humbly allowing the LORD the choice of answering or rejecting their requests. That was not doubt, but humility.
“…Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that…’” James 4:15.

Storming into God’s presence with a barrage of demanding words and commanding instructions, all in the name of faith, is hardly the best way to get God’s audience, let alone receive His answer or blessing. Most people’s prayers are already rejected before they are even offered to God, because He sees us all and understands our thoughts even before they become words.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.’” James 4:6.

2.Holding Unto God’s Covenant in Hope of Our Future Reward in Heaven.Hebrews 10:32-39; Revelation 3:10-13; 21:1-8; 22:1-21; 1 Timothy 4:8-10.

In concluding this study with the last point above, I want to draw the reader’s attention to the fact that the greatest reward of living in a covenant relationship with God for a lifetime is the promise of eternal life in heaven. Granted that our covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ guarantees many blessings in our present temporal life on earth, yet that is a very little consolation when compared with the eternal reward of heaven if we continue steadfastly with Him in our covenant relationship to the very end.

“For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8.

We have studied the Scriptures, under the first point, to see how we can reap the present benefits available to us in the covenant of the blood of Jesus Christ; and now, under the second point, we shall explore the possibility of reaping the eternal rewards of this covenant in God’s heavenly kingdom.

Whether we are holding onto God’s covenant for the temporal earthly blessings or the eternal heavenly ones it offers, or both, the principles are pretty much the same; the only difference, however, lies with the desire of the seeker.

Jacob, Jephthah, and Hannah all sought earthly blessings in their covenant prayers. Jacob asked for a modest blessing of food, clothing, and protection; Jephthah asked for victory over the enemy of his nation, Israel; Hannah asked for the blessing of a son. Each of these seekers got their desires and enjoyed them while they lasted.

Jacob became rich, but he died and left those riches (Genesis 49:33); Jephthah won the battle over the Ammonites, but in the process of time that victory faded away, and the Israelites soon found themselves under Philistine dominance (Judges 12:7; 13:1); Hannah got Samuel, who did great and mighty exploits for the Lord, but he lived out His life and eventually died (1 Samuel 15:34-35; 28:3).

As beneficial as all those blessings were to their beneficiaries, there came a day when those blessings ceased to be, either because of unfaithfulness to God or due to natural causes like death.

“…While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

How can we hold on to the New Covenant of the blood of Jesus to the end and, therefore, enjoy forever the rewards of this covenant in heaven? Below are some Bible principles that will prove helpful:

1. Ask more for spiritual blessings than for physical ones.
Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 5:8; 6:33; 22:37.

What we ask from God is what He gives. If we use all the grace and privileges available to us in asking for earthly blessings, that is what we shall get, but to the detriment of our spiritual life and, by consequence, a possible loss of the hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven.

Asking God, in a covenant prayer, to help us love Him (Matthew 22:37), to help us focus more on heavenly things (Colossians 3:1-4), and to live in purity of heart and conduct would certainly help us remain in God’s covenant to the end.

2. Set specific and achievable periodic spiritual goals, backed up with a covenant prayer, and pursue them zealously over the set period of time; thus, get yourself occupied with God’s work as you await your eternal union with Him.
Luke 19:12-13, 15-19; Matthew 24:44-51.

You can covenant with God to declare and set aside a particular month to be a time of holy consecration unto Him, and to prayerfully commit yourself to prayers, fasting, and evangelism throughout it. This way, God will find you a ready vessel for service in His hands during that covenanted month, and you can be sure He will not forget your commitment to His causes.
Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 4:1-5; John 4:34-38.

3. Purposefully devise a means for bringing fellow brethren in the church together to pray for revival and growth in the church; groom them for purpose-driven visitation teamwork over a specific timeframe, or continuously, as God gives the grace.
Acts 13:1-5; 15:30-36; Malachi 3:16-18.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28.

There are many other things we could engage in doing for the Lord under a covenant prayer as we await the time of our departure from this world, either by death or by the rapture of the true Church of Christ.

If we have bound ourselves in covenant to serve the Lord with all our heart and, in return, ask Him to remember us on the last day, He would be happy and willing to do just that.

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’”
Malachi 3:16-17.

A Summary Of The Whole Study

This Bible study undertaken under the title, subtitles and points canvassed above comes to an end with a summary of all that has been said so far, the details of which can be seen below:

In Part One of the study, we defined covenant to be an agreement between two or more persons for the performance or non-performance of an act or acts.

In any covenant where parties bind themselves under oath to perform an act, whether in return for a favour or not, it is known as a covenant of performance. Conversely, where the oath upon the parties restrains them from doing any act or acts, it is known as a covenant of non-performance.

In Genesis 17:1-19, God made a covenant with Abram (whose covenant name became Abraham) to perform certain acts in his life and for his future generation, on the condition that Abram would also perform certain acts in return. Below were those terms of agreement:

i) That Abraham would serve God with a blameless (or holy) heart.
Genesis 17:1.

ii) That he and all the male members of his household must be circumcised.
Genesis 17:9-14.

On God’s part, He promised to do the following if Abraham faithfully kept his own part of the covenant:

i) That He (God) would multiply Abram from a household into many nations.

ii) That He would be God to him and his descendants, make him exceedingly fruitful (prosperous), and would change both his name and his wife’s name to Abraham and Sarah, respectively, to reflect this covenant promise.
Genesis 17:4-8, 15-19.

In Nehemiah 10:28-31, also, we see an example of a covenant of non-performance; verses 30-31 spell out what the Israelites would refrain from doing in keeping with the oath of their covenant with God.

In Part Two of the study, we talked about The Guiding Principles of a Covenant Relationship. We defined a principle to be a set of ideas formulated to govern the performance of an activity or activities in a well-defined way in order to achieve a set goal or purpose. With this definition, we can now say that a covenant is defined and governed by the principles under which it is established.

While the Old Covenant was governed by principles called statutes, ordinances, and judgments Deuteronomy 4:1-9; 4:1-2, the New Covenant, on the other hand, is not based on the observance of such statutes, ordinances, and judgments, but on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who imparts His very life into all who come into a covenant relationship with Him.

So, broadly speaking, in the Old Testament, righteousness was sought through the observance of the law, statutes, ordinances, and judgments, whereas in the New Testament, it is attained through the inward transformation of the heart by Jesus Christ, once the covenant of His blood is accepted and believed on in simple faith and obedience to hold on to Him as Lord and Saviour, while renouncing Satan and all acts of sin.
Ephesians 2:6-17; John 3:16-17; 10:22-29; Matthew 11:25-30; John 15:1-5; 17:1-3; Romans 10:8-13; 8:31-32.

In Part Three, we studied under the subtitle, The Necessity of Living a Covenanted Life in Christ, and developed three sub-topics to help us better understand the teaching. They were:

1. Man As A Free Moral Agent
   Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 24:1-15….
2. The Covenant Of Redemption Through Jesus Christ
   Jeremiah 31:31-37; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 26:26-30.
3. The Intercessory Role Of Christ For The Seeker
   Matthew 10:32-33; John 17:6-10; Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 7:17-25.

Man, as a free moral agent, cannot always know and do what is right in the manner God wants. Therefore, it is necessary for him to surrender his life to a perfect God through Jesus Christ, in a covenant relationship, so that He could help him live the life acceptable to God.
Proverbs 14:12; 1 Corinthians 6:17.

In Part Four, finally, we looked at the topic, The Present and Future Benefits and Rewards of a Good Covenant Relationship with God.

We developed two points for the study as follows:

A. Maximizing Our Present Benefits in the New Covenant
Romans 8:31-32.

1. Be moderate in asking: Genesis 28:20-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-12.
2. Be selfless in asking: 1 Samuel 1:9; James 4:3.
3. Be humble in asking: James 4:13-16; Matthew 26:36-39.

B. Holding Unto God’s Covenant in Hope of Our Future Reward in Heaven
Hebrews 10:32-39; Revelation 3:10-13; 21:1-8; 22:1-21; 1 Timothy 4:8-10.

Worthy of note is the solemn fact that unless we hold this covenant relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ unto the end, we cannot hope to enjoy the eternal benefits of our redemption in the heavenly kingdom of our Lord.

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Hebrews 10:38-39.

THE END

Introduction

Galatians 6:14: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead.” (NLT)

The cross was a torture instrument used during the era of the Roman Empire. It consisted of a horizontal piece of wood intersecting a vertical one near its upper end. The victim was nailed to it in this manner: each hand was nailed to one end of the horizontal beam, while the feet were nailed to the base of the vertical beam. The cross was then erected vertically with the victim fastened to it.
Jesus Christ, in fulfilment of God’s mission of redemption for lost mankind, was nailed to the cross in exactly this manner.
The Holy Bible’s record of the crucifixion, according to the gospel of Matthew 27:35 says:
“After they had finished nailing Him to the cross and were waiting for Him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for His clothes.” (MSB)

According to historians, death by crucifixion was slow and extremely painful, often lasting several days. As a result, execution by means of the cross was dreaded. It was usually reserved for notorious offenders such as thieves, murderers, rebels, and prisoners of war.
In today’s civilized world, however, such barbaric torture has become history. Whenever the cross is mentioned in relation to suffering, it is generally understood in a symbolic sense, as in this study titled “The Christian and the Cross.”
In this context, the cross symbolizes the trials and pains a Christian encounters because of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As unpleasant and undesirable as it may seem, suffering for one’s faith in Jesus Christ is to be accepted as the will of God. See 1 Peter 2:19–25 and 2 Timothy 3:12.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” (Philippians 1:29–30, NKJV)
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38, NKJV)
Why is the cross a necessary part of the Christian life? It is because it puts our love for God to the test. Until you love the Lord with “…all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength…” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NKJV), you cannot be worthy of His Kingdom. The cross helps the Christian attain this love for, and harmony with, Almighty God through complete separation from the world and its sinful practices.
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1–2, NKJV)

In this study, which is divided into five (5) parts, we shall use the letters of the word C-R-O-S-S to explain the topic fully, with each letter representing a sub-topic as follows:
C – Crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20–21; Romans 6:11–19; Colossians 3:5–9.
R – Resurrected with Christ. Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 6:18–22.
O – Overcoming with Christ. Philippians 4:13; 1 John 2:13–14; 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:57.
S – Suffering with Christ.
1 Peter 4:1–2; Luke 9:23–26.
S – Saved at Last in Christ. Matthew 10:22; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58.

1. CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
Text: Galatians 2:20–21; Romans 6:11–19; Colossians 3:5–9

We explained the crucifixion in the introductory part of this study as an excruciating form of torture that often lasted several days, unless the victim was aided to die more quickly by some other means. See an example of such assisted deaths in John 19:31–33. (NLT):
“The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.”

We also explained that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and remained hanging on the cross until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), when He finally died. Six excruciating hours! That illustrates how terrible death by crucifixion was. See Mark 15:25–37.
Today, we shall explain the symbolism of Christ’s literal crucifixion as it relates to the Christian life. The anthem of every born-again child of God should always be in the words of Galatians 2:20, which says:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”. (NKJV)

Below is a comparative representation of the passage above:
The Literal Crucifixion Versus the Symbolic Crucifixion

1. Jesus fulfilled His mission to save sinners on the cross.
   See Mark 15:25:
   “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him”. (NKJV).
   True Christianity, likewise, begins with the symbolic death (crucifixion) of the Christian to this world and its sins. See Colossians 3:5–9.
   Gal.5.24 “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires… “
   Gal.6.14 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”. (NKJV)
2. Jesus Christ demonstrated that He accepted His unjust crucifixion in faith when He prayed for His assailants, saying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do…” Luke 23:34 (NKJV).
   Likewise, the Christian who is symbolically crucified with Christ must relinquish every desire for personal retaliation against persecutors.
   Matt.5.39- “But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too.
   Matt.5.40 – If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
   Matt.5.41 – If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles”. NLT
3. The people mocked and reviled Jesus as He suffered on the cross, yet He endured in silence. See Mark 15:29–32 and Luke 23:35–37.
   1Pet.2.23 “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;” (NKJV)
   To be symbolically associated with the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we too must be willing to endure reproach faithfully and patiently for His sake, just as He did. Hebrews 11:24–26; Matthew 5:10–12;
   2 Corinthians 11:21–33;
   2 Timothy 3:10–14; 1 Peter 3:8–17
   2Tim.4.5:“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”. (NKJV)
4. Despite His agony, Jesus remembered the spiritual needs of a sinner. In Luke 23:39–43, Jesus comforted the repentant thief who was crucified beside Him and assured him that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. He did this in fulfilment of the prophecy recorded in Isaiah 53:5–6, which says: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”. (NKJV).
   In the same way, the crucified Christian must remain committed to winning souls for God’s Kingdom regardless of present unfavourable circumstances.
   2 Timothy 4:1–2; Acts 20:17–38; Philemon 1:7–13; Acts 8:1–4; Matthew 10:22–23.
   John 4:34: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (NKJV)
5. Because Jesus remained faithful to God, even on the cross, until He died, His persecutors—who had earlier mocked and jeered at Him as He hung in agony—later acknowledged His innocence and righteousness when conviction gripped their hearts. Luke23:44–48.
   John.10.15: “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep”. (NKJV)
   That was precisely why Jesus endured the violence of those who persecuted Him: so that they—and indeed the whole world—might be won to God.
   Similarly, if we are to be the light of salvation that Jesus has called us to be in the world, we must patiently remain faithful to Him and continue to bear our cross with endurance until He, who placed it upon our shoulders, removes it in His own time. No amount of pressure from the world or Satan should cause us to surrender our faith.
   Heb.10.36: “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise”: (NKJV)
   Although the message of the cross and the symbolic life of crucifixion are not popular in much of Christendom today, this does not diminish the solemn warning of Jesus Christ in Matt.10.38:
   ” And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me”. (NKJV)

If we are willing to face this truth and embrace it wholeheartedly, we will not perish with those who believe—and even teach—that Christ died so they might inherit the world. Rather, we shall understand that His purpose was to redeem us from it.
1 Timothy 6:3: “Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life…”
1 Timothy 6:5: “These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don’t tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich.”
To embrace such a mindset is to miss the true message of the cross, just as the Holy Scriptures declare in 1 Corinthians 1.18:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”. (NKJV)

2. RESURRECTED WITH CHRIST
Texts: Romans 6:1–23; Colossians 3:1–25; Philippians 3:10–11; Hebrews 11:35; 1 Peter 1:3
In the divine order of God’s plan of salvation for mankind, Jesus Christ first had to die in order to deal with the problem of sin and make atonement for humanity. He then rose from the dead to impart the new life He had secured for us through His death and resurrection. Consequently, everyone who believes in Him, repents of their sins, and accepts His offer of forgiveness is lifted above the dominion of sin.
This same divine order must also be reflected in our lives if we are to stand complete in Him.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were literal, whereas ours must first be symbolic before they become literal at the resurrection of the dead. The Word of God declares in Romans 6:5: “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection”, (NKJV).

In this second part of the study, we shall consider three important areas, namely:
1.The Resurrected Christian and the New Life
Text: Colossians 3:1–11
The opening verses of Colossians chapter three call upon every believer to demonstrate the reality of the new life in Christ when it says: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth”. Colossians 3:1-2(NKJV)

Verses three and four provide compelling reasons why Jesus Christ requires this evidence from us by adding: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”.Colossians 3:3-4 (NKJV).
Compare the scripture above with Philippians 3:10–11; 1 Peter 1:3; Hebrews 11:35.
Verses five through eleven then issue a solemn command beginning with: _”Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness…”
See Colossians 3:5–11 (NKJV).

Until we demonstrate this new life, justify our profession by our conduct, and obey God’s solemn charge to live as those who have been raised with Christ, we cannot attain the final and literal resurrection of those who die in right standing with God through Jesus Christ. See Revelation 20:4-6.
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years”. Revelation 20:4 (NKJV)

2. The Resurrected Christian in Family Life
   Text: Colossians 3:12–21
   More than anywhere else, our new life in Christ should first be evident within our own families. This will help us win our loved ones to Christ and establish a strong foundation for effective soul-winning through the testimony of a Christ-centred home.
   If we consider 1 Timothy 5:8 from a spiritual perspective—and not merely an economic one—we can better appreciate this truth.
   1Timothy 5.8:“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever”. (NKJV)
   To cultivate such a Christ-centred home, we must:
   a. Practise genuine forgiveness within our families so that we may also receive God’s forgiveness.
   See Colossians 3:12–13.
   b. Love one another and willingly submit to one another where Scripture requires it, even when doing so challenges our personal preferences. See Colossians 3:14–15, 18–21; 1 Peter 3:1–6
   c. Build and faithfully maintain a family altar devoted to prayer, praise, thanksgiving, worship, and the regular study and sharing of God’s Word. See Colossians 3:16–17; Malachi 3:16–18
   Through such consistent family fellowship, we can confidently expect the fulfilment of God’s promise, which says, “…For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children”. See Isaiah 49:25 (NKJV). 3.The Resurrected Christian in the Workplace and Community
   Texts: Colossians 3:22–25; Romans 12:14–21
   Just as Jesus Christ gave His life to save and transform us, so our new life should be devoted to positively influencing those around us—whether in our workplace, our neighbourhood, or wherever God places us.
   Matt.5.14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
   Matt.5.16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”. (NKJV)

We allow the light of our resurrected life to shine by:
a. Showing kindness, honesty, and integrity even toward those who neither love us nor share our Christian convictions.
See Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 2:12
b. Being diligent in carrying out our professional responsibilities, secular duties, and civic obligations, even when no personal advantage is to be gained. See Colossians 3:22–24; Colossians 4:1
c. Living peaceably and humbly with everyone, even when doing so requires us to forgo our personal rights or opportunities for retaliation. See Romans 12:16–21; Hebrews 12:14–15
Heb.12.14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord”: (NKJV)

Living the resurrected life is not always easy. Nevertheless, we must remember that it was not easy for our Lord Jesus Christ to bear the cross from which our resurrection life has come. We now share in that life, and we shall continue to share in it forever on the day of the final resurrection—provided we faithfully bear our cross and remain identified with the likeness of His life until the end. See John 6:53–57.

“This is a true saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:11–12 (NLT)

3.OVERCOMING WITH CHRIST
Texts: 1 John 2:13–14; 4:4

We begin this third part of the study by observing that the symbolic cross is a prominent feature of the Christian life, and for good reason. Just as the literal cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified at Calvary demonstrated God’s love in allowing His Son to suffer at the hands of sinful men, it also demonstrated the love of Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down His life for our salvation without complaint.
Isa.53.6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”.
Isa.53.7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth”. (NKJV)
For love to be genuine, it must be demonstrated; otherwise, it cannot truly be known as love. In this regard, the cross of Jesus Christ at Calvary stands as the greatest proof that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love the world—and continue to do so.
Had God not loved us, He would not have sent His Son to save undeserving sinners (John 3:16). Likewise, had Jesus Christ not loved us, He would not have willingly surrendered Himself to be scourged, mocked, and crucified for a world that rejected Him before Pontius Pilate and chose a murderer instead. See John 3:16; John 18:38–40; John 10:11.
Yet both the Father and the Son overcame the ordeal of the cross for our sake. In doing so, They established the standard for everyone who desires to inherit Their heavenly Kingdom and share in its eternal glory.
Rev.3.21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”. (NKJV)

What must the Christian overcome? The Christian must overcome the world and every sinful indulgence it offers.
See 1 John 2:15–17; Galatians 5:19–21.
Why must we overcome?
Because overcoming proves both our love for God and the genuineness of our faith. It also demonstrates our gratitude for what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection. See John 14:15; 1 Timothy 1:15–16; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15.
To overcome requires conscious, deliberate, and continuous resistance against sin and every influence that seeks to separate us from God.
1Cor.9.26 “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air”.
1Cor.9.27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified”. (NKJV)

Striving against sin is the lifelong calling of every Christian. It is not a battle fought occasionally, but one that continues throughout our earthly pilgrimage. See Matthew 10:22.
If victory is to be certain, we must not focus on the pain, trials, persecution, and sacrifices associated with bearing the cross. Rather, our attention must remain fixed on the eternal glory awaiting those who endure faithfully, just as Jesus Christ endured.
See Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Heb.12.2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. (NKJV)

Love for God is the great motivating force behind every overcomer.
God demonstrated His love by giving His Son, Jesus Christ, into the hands of wicked men because of our sins. They tortured and crucified Him, yet God did not intervene, because His sacrificial death was necessary to accomplish the atonement for our sins. See John 3:16; Romans 5:8.
Isa.53.10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand”.
Isa.53.11“He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities”. (NKJV)

Jesus Christ likewise proved His love for both His Father and for us by willingly laying down His life so that salvation might become available to all who believe.
See 1 Corinthians 15:3; John 10:11; John 10:17.
The Father overcame the sorrow of not sparing His beloved Son the horror and agony of dying on the cross, even when He could easily have done that, but for the fact that His death was necessary for our sake.
The Son also willingly endured the agony of drinking the cup of suffering prepared for Him and, therefore, overcame the temptation to abandon His redemption mission to earth.
Matt.26.39 “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Matt.26.42 “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (NKJV)

Both overcame because of love.
Likewise, we must overcome every circumstance that tests our love for God and for Jesus Christ. If we truly love Them, we will remain obedient to Their Word regardless of the cost.
John.14.15 “If you love me, obey my commandments”. (NLT)

To overcome involves resisting sin; exercising self-control over worldly desires; remaining loyal to God despite pressure from Satan and the world; patiently enduring hardship because of one’s faith; and walking daily in faith and obedience to God’s known will .
Daniel provides an excellent example. See Daniel 1:8:
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself”. (NKJV)

Daniel refused the king’s food, most likely because it violated the dietary laws given to Israel.
See Leviticus 11:1–31.
For a young man who had survived the siege of Judah, been carried away captive to Babylon, and probably endured hunger along the journey, the king’s table must have been an enormous temptation. Nevertheless, Daniel surrendered the temporary pleasure of royal delicacies in order to remain faithful to God’s commandments.
Instead, he chose vegetables and water, trusting God to honour his obedience. See Daniel 1:5, 11–16.
His victory undoubtedly involved sacrifice and personal struggle, just as it did for Jesus Christ.
Heb.13.12 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate”.
Heb.13.13 “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach”. (NKJV)

4.SUFFERING WITH CHRIST
Texts: 1 Peter 4:1–2; Luke 9:23–26
To suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ does not necessarily mean living in deprivation of life’s basic necessities or enduring hardship simply because of poverty. Even unbelievers experience such difficulties. Rather, it means willingly foregoing anything that a believer cannot enjoy without offending God or violating a clear conscience.
God’s desire for His children is that they should prosper and be in good health, even as their souls prosper.
See 3 John 2 (NKJV).
Notice that the prosperity of the soul is given priority over physical prosperity. This teaches that, for the true child of God, spiritual well-being must always take precedence over material comfort, because eternal life is of greater value than this world’s temporal gain. See Hebrews 11:35–38.
Accepting the cross is not always easy, just as it was not easy for our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet because He endured it faithfully, we also should endure whatever trials accompany our Christian walk. The following truths explain why.

1.Our Kingdom Is Not of This World
Texts: John 18:36; John 17:16; Philippians 3:20–21
Jesus Christ’s primary mission is to save us from this present world and prepare us for His heavenly Kingdom, which will become our eternal home.
Therefore, any temporary affliction we endure in this life cannot be compared with the eternal glory that awaits us if we remain faithful to Him. See John 14:1–3.

2.We Have Been Called Out of the World and Its Ways
Texts: 2 Corinthians 6:14–18; 1 John 2:15–17; Ephesians 4:17–19, 25–31
As born-again Christians, we have been called to make a difference in the world through lives transformed by the power of Christ. Our conduct should continually point others to Jesus Christ. If this mission is to be fulfilled, we must remain steadfast in our faith and unwavering in our obedience to God’s call. See Jude 22–23; Philippians 2:15

3.We Have Been Called to Holiness
Texts: 1 Peter 1:13–16; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:8; Romans 12:1–2; Jude 20
The Kingdom that Jesus Christ is preparing for us is a holy Kingdom. Therefore, only those who both believe in and practise holiness will inherit it.
This holy life can only be maintained as we patiently endure trials and overcome every temptation the world presents in an effort to rob us of our spiritual purity. See Revelation 21:10–27.

4.We Risk Losing Our Identity as Citizens of Heaven if We Compromise with the World
Texts: Proverbs 24:21–22; James 4:4; Revelation 3:14–19
None of us is indispensable to God. He does not need us in order to accomplish His purposes. Rather, He graciously invites us to labour together with Him so that we may share in the blessings of His Kingdom.
If we become proud, self-confident, or turn away from Him, He will allow us to reap the consequences of our own choices.
Therefore, we must faithfully bear our cross and maintain our allegiance to God at all times.
See 2Chronicles 15:1–2; 2 Timothy 2:12

5.Refusing to Compromise with the World Will Inevitably Bring Opposition
Texts: John 17:14; John 16:1–3; John 15:18–21
The world requires no additional reason to oppose believers beyond the fact that we have separated ourselves from its sinful values.
Had Jesus Christ compromised with the religious leaders of His day—overlooking their hypocrisy and applauding their false spirituality—they would never have persecuted Him.
But He refused to compromise.
Instead, He endured persecution because of His unwavering commitment to truth, righteousness, and holiness.
Heb.1.9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (NKJV)

Likewise, we must arm ourselves with the same attitude of unwavering obedience and faithful endurance.
1Pet.4.1 – “So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.
1Pet.4.2 – And you won’t spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God”. NLT.

5.SAVED AT LAST IN CHRIST
Texts: Matthew 10:22; Philippians 3:20–21; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58

The climax of our relationship with Jesus Christ will be realized in our final redemption, when we shall be forever saved in Him, with no further fear of falling into sin or eternal condemnation.
This is the ultimate hope of everyone who sincerely serves God and walks before Him in spirit and in truth. To be eternally secure in Christ—with nothing to lose and everything to gain—is the glorious expectation of every faithful believer.
All that is required is steadfast courage, unwavering determination, and perseverance until the end.
Matt.10.22 “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved”. (NKJV)

We may have been crucified with Christ. We may have experienced the new life of His resurrection. We may have overcome countless temptations and endured suffering for His sake. Yet if we fail to persevere to the very end, all our sacrifices will have been in vain.
2Cor.6.1 “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain”. (NKJV)
The cross accompanies the Christian throughout life’s journey, helping us remain on the narrow way that leads to eternal life. It constantly reminds us that the path to glory is the way of the cross.
Although this way may never be popular with the world, our concern should never be the approval of men, but the approval of God. What truly matters is that the way of the cross leads safely to our eternal home.

To remain faithful until the end and be saved at last in Christ, we must continually practise the following.

1. Keep Alive the Hope of Christ’s Return
Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:51–56; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–18; Acts 1:9–11; 2 Peter 3:11–12
The hope of the Lord’s return purifies the believer’s life, strengthens perseverance during trials, and keeps our hearts focused upon eternity rather than the temporary pleasures of this present world.
1 John 3:2–3 (NKJV).

2. Strive Daily to Live a Victorious Christian Life
Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 4:4; 2 Peter 3:14
Victory is not achieved by occasional faithfulness but by daily obedience.
Every temptation resisted, every sinful desire denied, and every act of obedience strengthens our walk with Christ and prepares us for His appearing.
See 1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV).

3. Remain Actively Engaged in God’s Kingdom
Texts: Luke 19:12–13; 1 Corinthians 15:58
Every believer has been entrusted with responsibilities in God’s Kingdom.
Until the Lord returns, we should devote ourselves wholeheartedly to His work, knowing that faithful labour in His service is never wasted.
Rev.14.13 “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”‘ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (NKJV)

The End

INTRODUCTION
God, the Supreme Being and Author of all creation, can use whomever He chooses at anywhere, anytime, and any day, with or without advance notice.
And in doing that, God relates with mankind in two different ways, namely:

1. Firstly, He relates with us in a Creator and creature, or a Master and servant relationship, which is that primary or common way that He relates with all of mankind, irrespective of their religion, race, or colour. Similarly, He relates with all animals, non-living things, and nature at large in this same way, too. See Psalms 119:89-91 (NKJV)

“They stand this day according to Your ordinances, FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOUR SERVANTS.” Psalms 119:91 (NKJV)

In Psalms 148:1-14 the Psalmist sums it up when he calls on all of God’s creation, living and non-living, to praise and worship Him in acknowledging His sovereignty over them.
Under this relationship, God doesn’t require any pre-qualifications from the person or thing He chooses to use. They do not necessarily have to know Him or be in His service prior to the time He chooses to use them. All He simply does is to command their obedience to His will, and it is done.
Below are some examples of this in the Holy Scriptures:
A. Assyria: In Isaiah 10:5-7 (NKJV) God uses an ungodly and idolatrous nation to carry out His judgment on the sinful nations of the world — even against His own backslidden people, the Israelites!

B. God also did the same thing above, in two different time lines, with Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (Jeremiah 27:1-11)
and Cyrus king of Persia (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-7; Ezra 1:1-4)
C.God also used the sorcerer, Balaam of Moab, and his donkey to do His bidding in Numbers 22:15-35.
D. In the epic story of the fleeing Prophet, Jonah, and his eventual arrest and repatriation by God’s chosen vessel ( a fish! ) we see how God can speak even to animals to carry out His will! Jonah 1:14-17; 2:1-10.

Jonah.1.17:“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights”.
Jonah.2.10: “So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land”. (NKJV)

E.Pharaoh of Egypt: The following scriptures reveal God’s plan in raising up one of the Pharoahs of Egypt as a means for the manifestation of His power to the then known world. Exodus 4:21-23; Romans 9:17-18.
Rom.9.17: “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (NKJV)

2. Secondly, God relates with a chosen and privileged set of people, or persons, in a Father and children, Master and stewards, or God and Worshippers kind of relationship, which is to be preferred to the first kind of relationship earlier described above. These categories of persons have a dual relationship with God; firstly as His creatures and servants by creation, then, secondly, as His Children and stewards of the riches of His Kingdom, by grace.

To be under this kind of relationship with God, a pre-qualification is required, which is that you must be born again and fully committed to serving Him, with your spirit, soul, and body totally in submission to Him. See the following scriptures: John 4:23-24; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 2:9-10; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Colossians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:22-25; Isaiah 52:11.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25 (NKJV)

In summarizing this introductory part of the study, therefore, we can say that God uses whomever He pleases, but what He uses them for can be greatly varied depending on what kind of relationship they have with Him. God can use just anyone for those common services that do not, of necessity, require that the persons being used should be filled with His Spirit. But for those unique services of His Kingdom which require the divine enablement of His Holy Spirit, God always chooses a vessel whom His Holy Spirit can comfortably indwell and work with. So, therefore, God has two types of vessels or persons He uses, and each type is determined by the nature of their relationship with Him, as explained in 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV):

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

In the succeeding stages of this study we shall be studying the following sub-titles, namely:

1. Suited for God’s Purpose
2. Chosen for Holy Use
3. Prepared for Good Works 1.SUITED FOR GOD’S PURPOSE Psalms 8:1-9; Isaiah 43:21; Genesis 2:7, 15, 16, 17, 19; Revelation 4:11; Psalms 145:1-21

When you look at the works of God’s hands and consider all the things that He has brought into existence, both in the heavens and on the earth, one pertinent question comes to mind: why has God made them?
The answer to this question is revealed in a measure allowable to us to enable us to live according to God’s revealed will.

Deut.29.29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law”. (NKJV)

In my attempt to provide a reasonable and scripture based answer to this question, I have come up with an explanatory theory for why God created the physical heavens and the earth and made man to rule over them. From that theory, it would seem He did that in order to fulfill the following:

1. HIS PURPOSE: If God had no purpose for His works, He wouldn’t have made them in the first place. This purpose is made manifest in the following scriptures: Isaiah 43:21; Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

The purpose, therefore, is for His works to praise and worship Him as the supreme and sovereign God that He is, to the exclusion of any other contender. Psalms 145:1-21 (NKJV)

2. HIS REASON: We must, however, understand that behind every purpose there has to be a reason or basis. If all God wanted from mankind and His other works on earth was just praises and worship, then we are bound to ask if that has not been accorded to Him by the higher spirit creatures living with Him in heaven .
No doubt, heaven and all its inhabitants praise and worship God in a way we humans cannot even comprehend. So, it is not for the want of their services that God made us. He made all beings and creatures, both on the earth and in heaven, with each of them serving a purpose peculiar to their nature and make. However, from the revelation of the Holy scriptures, it would seem that God actually made us to address an issue of grave concern raised by some of His spirit creatures who had earlier rebelled against His rule. Psalms 8:1-2; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Revelation 12:1-9
Rev.12.7, 8 “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer”. (NKJV)

We can deduce from the preceding scriptures that some of God’s spirit creatures, notably Satan, had challenged God’s supremacy and had ventured to wrest power from Him, much against the better judgment that it was impossible to succeed at that. So, having failed, it would seem that it became necessary that they must be judged and punished for their crime, but before that a basis for that judgment must first be established.

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalms 8:2 (NKJV)

3. HIS STRATEGY: God is just in all His ways, even to His enemies, namely: Satan and all fallen angels. He could have condemned them in judgment using the loyalty of the remainder of His heavenly subjects as the basis for His decision, but in order to give His enemies an even fairer trial, God created man, a lesser being, ( the “babes and nursing infants”) and placed them in a less glorious habitat (earth) and allowed them the liberty to make choices of their own free will.
Heb.2.6-7: “But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands”. (NKJV)

The possible explanation for this strategy might be as follows:

A. If God had used the loyalty of His faithful heavenly subjects as a basis for condemning the unfaithful ones, even though this would still have been fair enough, it might have been argued that such judgment would be faulty because it will have been based on a loyalty that was forced on the following grounds:
i. The loyal angels had a firsthand knowledge about Satan’s defeat, and had leaned that no rebellion can succeed in heaven against God, so none of them would dare to be disloyal to Him anymore.
ii. The visible presence of God and all the benefits of living with Him in heaven would have been more than enough consolation to risk losing by any sensible subject in heaven.

B. God created lesser beings and placed them in a less glorious habitat with far lesser privileges than what the angels enjoyed in heaven. Moreover, He placed them at a great distance from heaven, while at the same time allowing Satan the liberty to try and test their loyalty to Him, through manifold temptations, therefore giving him an even better chance at proving (as his rebellion seem to have falsely suggested) that God’s ways are unjust and that, given the liberty, His creation would reject His rule as he, Satan, and the others did. Psalms 8:3-5; Revelation 12:9-17; Job 1:6-22; 1 Peter 5:8-11; James 1:2-4, 12 (NKJV)

God gave Satan such leverage to prove the following truths, which would be vital in condemning Satan and his army of fallen angels.

i. That even in the worst case scenario, foisted on man by Satan and demons, God would not lack a man on earth that would still acknowledge and serve Him loyally and without dissent. Job 1:6-22; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:21-33; Philippians 3:7-16 (NKJV)

Job.2.3 “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (NKJV)

The strong grounds here for Satan’s condemnation is that he fell into sin of his own accord, whereas man only does so under his influence. But even at that, God still finds among mankind those who remained loyal to Him despite Satan’s temptations and trials.

“In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Job 1:22 (NKJV)

ii. That God would not lack a man on earth to obey and serve Him even without first seeing Him or the glories of heaven which He has promised His loyal servants. Hebrews 11:7-10; 1 Peter 1:1-7 (NKJV)

“Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” 1 Peter 1:8 (NKJV)

The condemnation here on Satan and all demons is that, even while still in their elevated positions in heaven, where they enjoyed the visible presence of God and all the riches of His kingdom, they could still rebel against His rule, whereas man, who has not enjoyed these privileges, was content to obey and serve God.

All through the Scriptures, we read the true account of ordinary men and women, both young and old alike, who faithfully and loyally served God in their humble estate. Even the ones among them who fell in their battle against Satan, and sinned, still demonstrated the genuineness of their loyalty to and preference for God’s rule by returning to Him in repentance. Psalms 51:1-17; Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; 1 Timothy 1:12-16 (NKJV)

Ps.51.1-4: “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight– That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge”. (NKJV)

The fact notwithstanding that Satan has corrupted a lot of people with sin, yet God’s point has been made out and His purpose achieved because, over the years, mortal man has triumphed over sin and Satan and were admitted into heaven. There are: Enoch (Hebrews 11:5); Prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:1, 11); The penitent thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43); Disciple Stephen (Acts 7:54-60); Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8); ProphetMoses (Mark 9:1-9); The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Mark 12:24-27); just to mention but a few! Even the obedience of just one of these saints was enough to have satisfied God and given Him a basis to judge Satan and his angels in righteousness.

Today is our time to carry out God’s purpose for our creation, as have done all our beloved brethren who have loyally and faithfully served in the most difficult of times and situations. If we choose not to follow in their path, we can be assured that others would do so in fulfillment of God’s word:

“One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Psalms 145:4 (NKJV)

“This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” Isaiah 43:21 (NKJV)

2.CHOSEN FOR HOLY USE
*Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:15-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NKJV)
A summary of the last point titled *Suited for God’s Purpose* is that all of God’s creation were created to fulfill His divine purpose. Isaiah 43:21; Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
After creating us, however, God gives to each one of us the liberty of choice to determine on our own which of His purposes should be fulfilled in us — for there are two options open to everyone, namely:

1. Vessels of honor – Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:21; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NKJV)

2. Vessels of dishonor – Psalms 50:16-22; Revelation 22:15; Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)

Our study under th is second point seeks to encourage us to strive to be on the list of God’s honorable vessels who are chosen for holy use, now in this present life and forever in His eternal kingdom in the new world to come.
Luke.22.28-30: “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (NKJV)

The question to ask now is: How does God choose His vessel of honor for holy use?
We must understand that this has more to do with us than with God. We are the ones who must determine if God chooses us at all for holy use, or not. God is not partial. His grace and mercy are open to all who are willing to accept them in child-like faith and simple obedience. He is willing to use whoever makes himself or herself available for His holy use.

“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV)

Below are some practical steps which, if taken with due diligence and sincerity, would make us God’s vessels of choice for holy use:

1. You must constantly and consciously initiate the move towards holiness every day and at every time of your life. 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:21; Matthew 5:6; Psalms 39:1 (NKJV)

2. You must strive for God’s presence in your life all the time, and to ensure that nothing disconnects you from His presence. Psalms 37:3-9; 42:1-2; James 4:7-10 (NKJV)

3. You must give utmost priority to reading and meditating in God’s Word always, and allow it to be your only standard for what is right or wrong; acceptable or unacceptable. Joshua 1:8; Psalms 119:1-11; 1 Peter 1:23; Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

4. Have constant fellowship with people of godly and holy disposition like yourself, whether at work, home, or in the church. Malachi 3:16-18; Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-35 (NKJV)

5. Be careful to practice the truth you know, with an utmost sense of duty and respinsibility, in the following ways:

i. Evangelism: 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NKJV)
ii. Prayer: 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Colossians 4:2-4; Luke 18:1-8; Acts 6:4 (NKJV)
iii. Fasting: Acts 13:1-3; Joel 2:12, 15 (NKJV)
iv. Setting a Godly example: 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Peter 3:1-6; 2 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:11-25 (NKJV)

If we, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, endure to live our lives in the way and manner outlined above, God, no doubt, will make us His treasured vessel of honor chosen and made fit for holy use.

3.PREPARED FOR GOOD WORKS
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15-21 (NKJV)

We have so far studied under the first and second sub-topics, namely:
1. Suited for God’s Purpose
2. Chosen for Holy Use

A harmony of these first two points would give us the following understanding:

1. That every creature of God is suited for His own use and pleasure, as He chooses, and at whatever time, and place He desires. Psalms 119:90-91; Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

2. That a selected number of God’s creatures are chosen for a holy and noble use in the affairs of His Kingdom here on earth and, then, forever in heaven, provided they on their own part have also committed and consecrated their lives to Him, with the intention to continue to do so for as long as they live. 2 Timothy 2:20-21; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NKJV)

3. That whatever God chooses to do with any of His creatures would, to a large extent, be dependent on the way and manner they presented their lives before Him, because He sees and considers all the ways of men, to give to everyone as their ways demand. God would never be unjust to anyone. Proverbs 11:20; 15:3; Psalms 34:15-16 (NKJV)

“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.” Psalms 18:25-26 (NKJV)

Today we are considering the final point under this series, which is captioned “Prepared for Good Works”.
It is possible for someone to be a chosen vessel for God’s use and yet to still live an underachieved life in the services of His Kingdom, largely because that person has failed to prepare himself for the work which God has chosen him to do.
Every chosen vessel for God’s work gets prepared for the job in two ways:

1. Personal preparation which has to do with our own conscious efforts at making ourselves fit for the work, or ministry, which the Lord has committed into our hands.

“Study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

2. Circumstantial or experiential preparation which is God’s own way of preparing His vessels by allowing them to pass through certain experiences or circumstances of life, either:
a . As a way of strengthening their faith and helping them to learn to live by it.
b. Or just to let them learn how to let Him have His way with them in every situation of their lives, so as to teach them total submission to His will in order to make for a successful mission. Isaiah 45:9; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:21; Isaiah 43:1-2; Deuteronomy 8:3; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 5:4-10 (NKJV)

“And He humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:3 (NKJV)

A careful look at some accounts of the Holy Scriptures in this regard will reveal how certain persons, though chosen by God to serve in His Kingdom, nevertheless fell short of that call because of inadequate preparation. Some of such Bible characters are:
1. Judas Iscariot: John 6:70-71; Acts 1:15-20 (NKJV)
Acts.1.25: “…to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” (NKJV)

2. Demas: 2 Timothy 4:9-10 (NKJV)
2Tim.4.10: “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica–Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia”. (NKJV)

3. Prophet Balaam: Deuteronomy 23:3-5; 2 Peter 2:15-16 (NKJV)
Deut.23.5:“Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you”. (NKJV)

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” Luke 12:47 (NKJV)

We shall expand this last point of study to cover three important areas in which every Christian should, and must of necessity, prepare themselves for the work of God’s Kingdom. They are as follows:

1. Total Commitment to good works in the Church
2. Transformational works of good conduct/character in the society
3. Impactful works of good example in the Family.

1. Total Commitment to Good Works in the Church.
Every Christian whom God has suited for His own purpose, chosen for holy use and prepared for good works, must of necessity be given a platform to perform all of the above functions which God, through Jesus Christ, has called them to do for the glory of His Kingdom. That platform comes to us in a threefold ministry in the following fields, namely: in the church (which we are considering now), in the family and in the society.
This platform, basically, is God’s own way of giving us the much needed opportunity to work out our new life (or salvation) in Christ, which would in turn determine our placement, or displacement, in His Kingdom.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)

But we might want to ask: why is this necessary at all? The answer simply and straightforwardly is that because we were saved from bad and sinful works, we would, after salvation, be placed on a probation period to see if we would, in consistency with our new life in Christ, strive to manifest good works, which is the proof of this new life in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Now, manifesting good works is the sole responsibility of every born again Christian, and all we need to do this is richly provided for by God’s grace, through His Son Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13; 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV)

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:8 (NKJV)

To the extent that we are able, through God’s grace, to work out our salvation by the light of the good works we show forth every day, our salvation in Christ is also to that same extent affirmed, confirmed and sustained by the Spirit of God.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

Conversely, where we fail to bear fruits of good works after our salvation, the Bible warns us, in no uncertain terms, that we would risk the loss of our salvation when we, as a fruitless branch in the Vine, are cut off from the life of God in Christ Jesus. John 15:1-8; Luke 3:7-9; 13:6-9 (NKJV)

“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:9 (NKJV)

In what ways can we be totally committed to doing good works in the church of the living God?
Well, we can do this practically in the following ways:

a) By offering our time to do certain tasks in the church, like cleaning the meeting hall, sweeping and weeding the compound, and watering the flowers so as to maintain a clean environment around it. Deuteronomy 23:14 (NKJV)

b) By using our money to beautify the church. 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 (NKJV)

c) By continually coming to the church at our private times to offer prayers for the success of God’s work there, and also for our members’ collective, all-round success and progress in life, business and ministry. 2 Chronicles 6:1-42; 7:1-16 (NKJV)

d) By being faithful towards the financing of the work of God in the church through prompt payment of tithes, generous giving of offerings and sacrificial donation of gifts for the smooth running of the affairs of the church. Malachi 3:8-12; Luke 6:38; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 9:6-14; Acts 4:32-37 (NKJV)

e) By using our talents to build, edify, strengthen and encourage others in the house of God in the following areas of services: choir, ushering, sanitation team, technicians, prayer warriors, Sunday school teaching, children church and by embarking on godly visitations etc. Ephesians 4:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:4-28; Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)

The list above is not exhaustive because there may be other areas of Christian services which the Holy Spirit Himself may reveal to us in the due course of time. But in the meantime, let us imbibe the lesson in the scripture:

“Therefore let us, as many as are belowmature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” Philippians 3:15-16 (NKJV)

Having emphasized the need for the true child of God to be totally committed to good works in the church of the living God, we must, Just like the young Jesus at God’s Temple at Jerusalem, be ready to truly say to all who care to ask us, that we must be busy at our Heavenly Father’s business. Luke 2:46-49 (NKJV)

“And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?'” Luke 2:49 (NKJV)

For the Christian, the principle for true commitment is: God first, others second, then me next. Our commitment to God must begin, firstly, in God’s house, then, secondly, to the world out there and, thirdly, to us and our personal interest.
In line with the above principle, therefore, we have already dealt with the first point , which is: Total Commitment to Good Works in the Church. Now we shall proceed to take the second.

2. Transformational Works of Good Conduct/Character in the Society.
Matthew 5:14-16; Acts 9:36-41; 1 Timothy 5:9-10; 6:17-19; 3:7; 1 Peter 2:11-18; Philippians 2:14-15 (NKJV)
Our new life in Jesus Christ is likened to a lamp that gives out light to people in darkness, and as moths and other insects are drawn to any source of light in a dark place, so must the life of the true Christian attract the unbelieving and sinful people of this dark world. If that is not happening, then, there has to be a reason as to why, some of which may be that:

i. Your light is not strategically placed: this is unacceptable with God. Matthew 5:14; John 7:2-4
John.7.4: “For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” (NKJV)

ii. Your light is hidden: this also, is not acceptable with God. Matthew 5:15; 10:32-33 (NKJV)
Matt.5.15: “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house”. (NKJV)

iii. Your light has been removed by God because your commitment to His work is inconsistent. Revelation 2:1-5 (NKJV)
Rev.2.5: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent”. (NKJV)

iv. Your light has simply been snuffed out by continued unrighteous and sinful conducts which cannot support it to keep burning and shining: this also, as all the others, is not acceptable before God. Luke 11:34-36; Ephesians 5:8-16; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-10 (NKJV)
Eph.5.11-12: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret”. (NKJV)

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Luke 11:34-35 (NKJV)

Our call and appointment as members of the body of Christ is for the sole purpose of showing forth the light of His life in us for the world to see and come to Him and, therefore, be saved like us.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV)

When Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world, He, by that statement, entrusted to us, all the born again Christians, a great responsibility which we must discharge every day of our life, for as long as we would live in this world. This is the greatest responsibility which a Christian owes to any unsaved person around them.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

A true Christian must always wake up to a new day with the consciousness that God expects them to manifest Him to the lost souls of this world, through a life of holiness, righteousness, truth and love. We must be the light that reveals the darkness in which they are bound and lost, so that they may come out and be saved. For this to be made possible in our lives, we must daily live by the following principles:

1. We must come to that point of realization that whoever we are, wherever we are, or whatever we possess is to be used for the sole purpose of manifesting Christ to the unsaved people around us. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; John 9:4-5 (NKJV)

“To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NKJV)

2. We must always be careful to examine our circumstances, or the situations of our life, at any given time to see if it affords us the opportunity to shine forth the light of Christ, or not. Acts 16:16-34; Philippians 1:12-20 (NKJV)

“According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20 (NKJV)

3. Our choice of career, or any other significant opportunities that come our way, must be viewed with just one important question at the heart of it: will it afford me maximum opportunity to be the light God wants me to be? Philippians 3:1-14; 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV)

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” Philippians 3:7 (NKJV)

4. Our choice of association with others must be, first, for the sole aim of showing them God’s love, and exposing them to the light of Jesus Christ which we carry in our lives. Luke 19:1-10; 15:1-7; 5:27-32 (NKJV)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NKJV)

5. Our choice of residence or location of property mustn’t even be driven by such indices as beauty, comfort or security of the place, even as important as they may be; instead the first thing we should consider is whether living there will afford us the opportunity to impact the lives of our potential neighbors or not. Matthew 13:53-58; 10:5-7; Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV)

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.'” Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV)

God places us in strategic places of His choice so we could be able to transform the world around us from darkness to light, and to turn the hearts of the people around us from Satan to Jesus Christ. Our everyday endeavors and routines of life must include this task as well. Success in life should be measured by how much of God’s will (not ours) we are fulfilling each passing day.
Wherever you are, therefore, should be viewed as God’s location for you to shine His Light to the Lost. This leads us to the third, and last, point.

3. Impactful Works of Good Conduct in the Family.
1 Timothy 3:1-12; Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4; Titus 1:5-6; 2:1-6 (NKJV)
Our good works in the Church of the Living God and among our neighbors in the community would not be complete if they are not extended to our families. God is as interested in seeing that we also maintain good works in our family as He is in other areas of our Christian endeavours. As a matter of fact, for any church worker to fail to impact their family positively with God’s word, and by the transformational power of a godly example, would be counter-productive to the successes they may have recorded in other Christian field of services. It is my belief that the scriptures below may not be applied only from an economic perspective in the family, but also from a spiritual point of view:

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)

If failure in one’s obligation towards their family’s economic needs would be judged with such severity, then failure to fulfill one’s spiritual obligation towards their family wouldn’t be treated any less severely: the scripture is replete with such instances.
1 Samuel 2:22-36; 3:10-14; 1 Kings 1:5-6; Proverbs 29:15, 17 (NKJV)

“For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” 1 Samuel 3:13 (NKJV)

Eli’s successes as God’s servant were marred by his negligence in raising up his sons in the fear of the Lord. David’s over pampering of his son, Adonijah, made him rebellious, and it would eventually cost him his life under the reign of his step brother, King Solomon. See 1 Kings 2:13-25 (NKJV)

God is much concerned that a Christian worker’s family must be well nurtured in His Word and in the practice of the daily Christian walk; failure here is not acceptable with God.
Every Christian worker must be “…one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.” 1 Timothy 3:4 (NKJV)

If we must be successful in the continued discharge of our services as God’s children, in the church and in the society at large, we must also aim to achieve the same feat also in our family, “…for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” 1 Timothy 3:5 (NKJV)

If our foremost ambition in raising children is not to make them citizens of heaven, by God’s grace, then it is not worth the trouble bearing children; for of what use is it raising up kids only to lose them to eternal hell fire? Children who are not properly raised for Jesus Christ would eventually become fathers and mothers of corrupt moral values, who would also raise up children of like character and, thus, pollute their family lineage. In order to avoid this, every Christian worker for Christ must live and work for God with the following principles firmly embedded in their hearts:

1. That the family is God’s own unique concept by which He aims at populating the earth with godly people who would manifest His glory and show forth His praises by the life they live here and now on earth, so that He could let them live that way forever in His glorious kingdom of heaven in the future world to come.
With this in mind, both married couples, and those prospecting to get married, should view marriage and child bearing in this light.
Contracting marriage on the basis of love alone, with no regard to spiritual compatibility, is not only wrong, but is also outside of this plan of God, because it cannot support the making of a spiritual family where godly children are raised. Genesis 18:17-19; Ezra 9:1-3; Malachi 2:15 (NKJV)

“And the LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.'” Genesis 18:17-19 (NKJV)

2. That every couple, or prospecting couples, should understand that marriage and the raising of children is another form of soul winning campaign for the sole aim of populating God’s Kingdom, which can be made possible through the following means;
a. By prayerfully choosing a spiritually compatible partner with whom to embark on this lifelong campaign. Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 1 Kings 11:1-2 (NKJV)
b. By prayerfully raising up, and nurturing every child born to the family, in the Word, and ways of God’s Kingdom, until they are spiritually matured enough to carry on with this same godly family tradition. Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:14-15; Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)
c. By safeguarding this godly family tradition from worldly corruption, while at the same time using it to influence and win the world around us to Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 2:11-12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:21 (NKJV)

3. That both parents and children must realize that they must team up together as one to safeguard their collective interest in promoting God’s Kingdom, through a holy family life: no member of the family must allow themselves to be the weak link by which Satan’s kingdom makes a damaging incursion into the family to degrade its godly values. Psalm 133:1-3; John 17:9-11; Ephesians 6:1-4 (NKJV)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … For there the LORD commanded the blessing — Life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1, 3 (NKJV)

4. That each member of the family must strive to be spiritually and morally upright through a disciplined life of personal devotions to, and dependence on Jesus Christ for help through prayer, fasting and the study of God’s Holy Word, the Bible. Jude 1:20-21 (NKJV)

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21 (NKJV)

5. That every member of the family must live with the consciousness of heaven at heart, and to make it a point of duty to encourage other members, with or without a word, to aspire to get to heaven at last. 1 Peter 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

In every generation, since creation, God has always looked out for someone through whom He could establish His will and purpose here on earth. Any one whom He so uses to achieve these must be one whom He has endued with the virtues and/or character enunciated in this study. If we are willing and obedient, we can be the Vessel That God Uses.

THE END

( Introduction ).

The subject of Deliverance as a doctrinal teaching in Christianity is very broad, but for the purpose of this study, we are going to touch on that aspect of the subject which is basic to our continued standing as genuine Christians.

“Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36.

From the scriptures quoted above Jesus gives us the understanding of what deliverance is and who needs to be delivered. From His statements above we can deduce as follows:

1. That the primary cause of satanic bondage, or the common spiritual doorway for demonic possession and oppression is sin. See John 8:34.

“Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14.

2. That sin (unless it is confessed and renounced) gives Satan and his demons the legal right to hold the sinner under bondage, and that alone could deny him or her the right to eternal life in heaven – the seeming insignificance of such sin, to the sinner, notwithstanding!
See John 8:35.

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.” 1 John 3:8a.

3. That the only hope of the sinner’s deliverance from such satanic bondage or demonic possession is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. See John 8:36.

“…for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
1John 3:8b.

From the foregoing, therefore, we can define Deliverance, in the context of this study, as the undoing or the voiding of the claim of a lesser power over a soul by a greater and more superior power. See the following Scriptures: Luke 11:21-22; Isaiah 49:24-26.

“And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.” Isaiah 10:27.

The only Anointing before which all satanic and demonic powers (indeed all powers!) in all spheres of their existence bow, is that Anointing which is upon Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, and which also is at the disposal of anyone who believes in Him and calls upon His name. See Luke 4:18-19; Philippians 2:9-11; Mark 16:17.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19.

We shall divide this teaching into three (3) sub-topics namely:

1. The Doorways To Demonic Possession And Oppression.
1 Corinthians 10:19-21
2. Momentary and Persistent Demonic Possessions. Matthew 12:43-45
3. One Deliverer, Multiple Deliverances. Luke 4:17-19

THE DOORWAYS TO DEMONIC POSSESSION AND OPPRESSION.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:19-21.

The first step in receiving deliverance from satanic interferences is to know how the victim got exposed to Satan in the first instance, otherwise the efforts at deliverance would not yield any lasting positive results. Satan has no power to interfere with anyone except they give him an invitation to do so, and the majority of Satan’s victims do so unconsciously, but all the same in a way and manner that is spiritually legal and binding on them.
“…For some have already turned aside after Satan.” 1 Timothy 5:15.

Now, nobody in their right mind would consciously invite Satan into their lives, except, of course, they did not know the dangerous things which he is capable of doing to them. But then, Satan doesn’t wait for a conscious invitation from anyone (even though there are some people who invite him that way) because he is aware that there is already so much enlightenment among mankind about who he really is. So he uses deceptive methods to get people to unconsciously invite him into their lives– methods like luring people into pornography, premarital or extramarital sex, ungodly music, violent games and movies, just to mention but a few. Those are some of the doorways by which demon spirits (Satan included) gain entrance into the lives of unsuspecting victims.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which DECEIVES the whole world; he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.

“Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the WILES of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11.

MOMENTARY AND PERSISTENT DEMONIC POSSESSION. MATTHEW 12:43-45

Demons are spirit beings who have the ability to inhabit almost any physical object unless that which is under the divine protection of God. There are quite a number of demons roaming the earth in search of a body to inhabit, mostly the human body, for easy control and manipulation of the possessed person. But they would also settle for other animate or inanimate objects which they could also use as a means to achieve the same goal of manipulation of mankind in order to separate them from the love of God and, by that means, ruin their lives now in time and their souls in eternity, if they died without salvation and deliverance from such demon possession. Consider an example with the case of Judas Iscariot given below:

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief Priests and captains, how he might betray Him (Jesus Christ) unto them.” Luke 22:3-4.

As is evidenced in the quoted scripture above, Satan and his demons possess people for the sole purpose of influencing them to do evil. If it is an object that they possess (like jewelries, electronic devices, clothing items, automobiles, etc.) they use such things as a channel to lure people into the sins of pride and lust. See 1 John 2:15-17.

“For all that is in the world, the LUST OF THE FLESH, and the LUST OF THE EYES, and the PRIDE OF LIFE, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16.

All the objects that promote lusts and pride in people do so because they are possessed or controlled by Satan and his demons. The world at large (with the exception of only those who bear the mark of Jesus Christ – Galatians 6:17) is under the influence and control of Satan and his demons. See John 14:30;
2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 John 5:18-19; Luke 4:5-7.

“…In whom the god of this world, (Satan) has 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.” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

The point we are trying to make out here is that this present corrupt world, and its activities, is dominated by Satan and demons. Jesus has already won the victory that would usher in a new world in the future, when the tenure of Grace is over and those redeemed by it, through Christ, are gathered together as one sheepfold under one shepherd (John 10:15-16), but that time is still yet to come. For now Satan still controls the world and is busy winning more and more followers through demonic
possession and manipulation. Anyone who wants to remain on the Lord’s side must be vigilant and carefully watch against the many wiles of Satan and his horde of demons.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9.

How does Satan control the world? Well, he does that by controlling the people of the world through the activities of his army of demons (or fallen angels) strategically placed at different levels and territories all over the world. They exercise their control of mankind through one of the following methods:
1. Momentary Possession
2. Persistent Possession

MOMENTARY POSSESSION
As it was with the case of Job in the days of old, so it is still with the redeemed people of God today: they have a protective shield of God around them so that Satan cannot touch or control them, not until they lost that protection through a relapse back into the life of sin. See Job 1:1-22; 2:1-10.

Because Job was righteous and upright in all his ways, God “… made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side.” All the devil needed to do in order to break through God’s protective shield around Job was to cause him to commit a sin and to leave it unconfessed; but try as he could, the devil did not succeed because in spite of all his losses and sufferings, which came upon him when Satan sought and got God’s permission to try him, the Bible records that “… in all this Job sinned not.” Job 1:22.

Again, after a second attack on Job in order to force him to sin against God, we still read, yet again, the Bible’s record that “… in all this, did not Job sin with his lips.” Job 2:10.

What the devil was actually trying to achieve was to force Job into a moment of rage against God because of his losses and, thus, create a doorway for a MOMENTARY POSSESSION in Job’s life. But because Job remained patient through all his ordeal, he created no such doorway for Satan to manipulate his life. See James 1:2-4; 5:7-11.

“Behold we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11.

From the foregoing, therefore, we can define Momentary Possession as that which occurs briefly in the life of a righteous and upright person, through a careless or an unguarded moment in their lives, but from which they quickly recovered because of the prevailing sense of God-consciousness in their lives. This experience is mostly common with the people who have a right standing with God. However, where they fail to
recover from such relapse and, thus, leave the doorway created by that momentary sin still open. God’s Spirit leaves them and demons enter them and seize control of their lives. We find examples of this in the following accounts of the scriptures, but the characters here, except for Judas Iscariot, recovered from their momentary possession and prevailed over Satan.

Apostle Peter: Matthew 16:13-23. Judging by the quick turn of events in Peter’s life (at one moment receiving divine congratulations for a spiritual exploit, in verses 17-19, and at the next moment receiving a sharp rebuke for reasoning carnally), we can reasonably suggest that Peter’s success at revealing Jesus’ divine identity may have made him become too presumptuous, or even proud, so as to take it upon himself to discourage the Savior of the world from forging ahead with His God-ordained plan of redemption. The fact that Jesus Christ addressed Peter by the name “Satan” clearly revealed the master mind behind Peter’s utterances – but how could Satan so easily manipulate him? Most likely by that doorway of prideful presumption of infallibility, which still exposes most Christians to a momentary possession immediately after some wonderful and uplifting spiritual experiences like: Preaching a powerful message; ending a marathon fast; healing the sick and delivering the oppressed; just emerging from a life-transforming revival crusade – and so on.
In Luke 22:31-34, 54-62, we see that Peter exhibited the same prideful presumption when the Lord foretold his denial of Him, but, and that thankfully, Peter wept in repentance when he eventually realized his failings and, thus, shut that satanic doorway to his life.

James and John: Luke 9:51-56. After a powerful spiritual encounter on Mount Olives (Luke 9:28-36), James and his brother John lived up to their surname Boanerges (meaning the Sons of Thunder) when they asked Jesus for permission to invoke fire upon some Samaritans because they angered them by their impolite response to Jesus’ request to lodge in their village for the night. Here, anger was the doorway to that momentary possession of the two brothers.

“But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, you know not what manner of spirit you are of.” Luke 9:55.

Jesus, there above, was clearly telling them that the spirit under whose influence they had acted was not of God, but of Satan. He qualified that statement by saying “for the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…” Luke 9:56.

Today, most pulpits are manned by thunder and brimstone-breathing preachers who dish out the death sentence on perceived enemies in the name of Jesus Christ, least realizing that the sinners’ Savior would rather have such enemies’ lives saved, rather than destroyed, because He paid dearly for their redemption. No man who truly knows the price He paid for the sinner would dare to refuse Him the right to reap the fruit of His suffering on that same sinner – no matter how much evil they have committed against anyone. Vengeance belongs to Him (God) alone!
Having examined the experiences of Apostles Peter, James and John, with regards to the incidence of momentary demonic possession, from which they quickly recovered and prevailed against the tempter, Satan, we can now look at the last example.

Judas Iscariot: Luke 22:1-6; John 13:21-27.
From the beginning, Judas Iscariot, no doubt, was no less a faithful follower of Jesus Christ than the other disciples; to think otherwise would be overlooking the Bible’s account which clearly suggests so. For instance, he was one of the few disciples who stuck with Jesus Christ when all others left. John 6:66-69. Even though Jesus Christ being, in essence, God in the flesh knew how Judas would eventually become compromised in the later part of his walk with Him; still it did not detract from the fact that Judas Iscariot was at that initial time a faithful disciple, judging by the following accounts:

1. Judas Iscariot made the list when Jesus chose 12 of His multitude of disciples to confer on them the ministry of Apostleship. Luke 6:12-17.
2. Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 disciples who received divine impartation from Jesus Christ to minister healing and deliverance, and to win souls into God’s kingdom through evangelism. Luke 9:1-6, 10.
3. Even after Judas Iscariot’s backsliding and eventual death by suicide, Apostle Peter, in seeking replacement for Judas, admitted to the fact that he was once a chosen vessel in the hand of the Lord for the services of God’s kingdom. Acts 1:15-17.

“For he (Judas) was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.” Acts 1:17.

How, though, did such a promising Apostle become compromised and overtaken by eternal darkness? The scriptures actually shed light on Judas’ slow but progressive decline from a faithful Apostle to an apostate soul swallowed up in perdition. John 12:3-6 reveals that Judas Iscariot had a problem in faithfully handling the group’s money committed to his stewardship.

“This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” John 12:6.

Again Matthew 26:14-16 reveals how Judas’ love for money so much destroyed his heart and conscience that he initiated the move which led to Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and crucifixion.

“And he said unto them, what will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:15.
Therefore, by the time he sat at the last supper with his Master Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot’s heart was already compromised and bereft of all virtue; it was, therefore, easy for Satan to freely enter him because he had long created a doorway for that satanic possession.
“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Him (Jesus Christ) unto them.” Luke 22:3-4.

In all the three (3) instances of momentary demonic possessions discussed so far, we can find one fact that was common to all the victims, which is that Satan entered and manipulated them (in the cases of Peter – Matthew 16:23 – and Judas – Luke 22:3-4) or a strange spirit (in the case of James and John – Luke 9:55) influenced them.

Those spirits (Satan or demons) could influence those Apostles because they allowed their emotions to create a doorway for them to come in at those moments:

1. For Peter it was most likely prideful presumption that opened the doorway. Matthew 16:21-23; Luke 22:31-33.
2. For James and his brother John it was anger that opened the spiritual doorway. Luke 9:51-54.
3. For Judas Iscariot it was the greed and love of money that opened the doorway for his fall and damnation. John 12:3-6; Matthew 26:14-16.

Another fact that was also common to all of those Apostles in the times of their ordeal was that Jesus Christ ministered to all of them in order to help them overcome that moment of their trial, but how they each responded determined their fate:

1. Jesus sharply rebuked Peter in Matthew 16:23 and he held his peace and, thus, was restored.
But in Luke 22:31-32 Jesus prayed for Peter, but Peter refused to accept that (Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:33) and, therefore, he fell (Luke 22:54-61). But, thankfully, Peter did not give in to darkness, but fought back to repentance in penitent tears (Luke 22:62).

2. Jesus rebuked the two brothers, James and John, for their anger and they held their peace and, thus, were restored. Luke 9:55-56.

3. But in his case, Jesus Christ clearly warned Judas of the consequences of what he was about to do (Luke 22:21-22) and openly told him that he (Judas) was the betrayer (Matthew 26:25). Yet Judas did not relent and fight back the temptation but simply left the scene to pursue his ambition of betrayal for money (John 13:27-30).

Judas didn’t recover from his Momentary Demonic Possession and, thus, slipped into a Persistent Demonic Possession, as we shall consider in the next point.

We must, therefore, constantly be on the watch against the wiles of Satan which are aimed at compromising the security of our hearts in order to open a spiritual doorway for him to manipulate and lead us astray. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

KING SAUL
1 SAMUEL 9:1-27; 10:1-26; 13:1-14; 15:1-31; 16:1-14.

Next we shall be considering Saul, the first king of Israel. Below are some sterling qualities found in the man Saul when he was not yet anointed as king of Israel:

1. He was a handsome and good-mannered, young man from a wealthy family (1 Samuel 9:1-3). Yet, with all of those credentials, Saul was still a humble and godly fellow (1 Samuel 9:21).
2. He was a sanctified (1 Samuel 10:9) and Spirit-filled young man (1 Samuel 10:10).
3. He was a modest man because, even though he knew in advance that he was the anointed king of Israel, he was not brazen during the selection process but instead went into hiding (1 Samuel 10:20-24) obviously because he felt so little about himself, as the LORD would later confirm (1 Samuel 15:16-17).
4. He was a man with a big heart because even when some of his subjects despised him and did not recognize him as king, he simply tolerated them and held his peace (1 Samuel 10:27). With all those personal qualities he was endowed with, it was, therefore, not surprising that God chose Saul above all the other Israelites, at that time, as the anointed king.

“And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of! This same shall reign over my people.”
1 Samuel 10:17.

But (as it is mostly the case with some successful people) Saul couldn’t handle his success well, but became self-opinionated and proud just only after a few years on the throne of Israel. Below are some of the accounts of his departure from the modest and godly life he once dedicated to God:

1. Just after two (2) years on the throne Saul had become so arrogant as to despise prophet Samuel and usurp his authority as priest of God. 1 Samuel 13:1-12.
2. Saul did not only despise Samuel, as shown above, but also disobeyed God’s express command, choosing instead to do what he felt was convenient for him and his army. 1 Samuel 15:1-11.
3. Saul had become so arrogant and proud that even after his conquest of Amalek, he did not deem it fit to report back to Samuel by whom God had sent him on
that military campaign; instead Saul started touring the cities of Israel, obviously to court, and to receive, the praises of his subjects for his victory over Amalek. 1 Samuel 15:12).
4. Twice Saul deliberately gave Samuel a misleading account of his military mission to utterly destroy Amalek by claiming he did exactly as God had commanded, when in actual fact he didn’t (1 Samuel 15:13-21). It was only after Samuel had passed God’s verdict of rejection on him that King Saul now became humbled and admitted to the truth.

“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and your words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” 1 Samuel 15:24

5. After God had rejected Saul as king, it was only natural that His presence also should leave him because of his impenitence, his belated repentance notwithstanding, because it was only after the verdict of rejection had been passed on him that Saul (perhaps fearing the consequence of it) began to repent and confess his sins to God. But, alas! The deed had been done.

“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” 1 Samuel 16:14

The account of King Saul above is so much like that of Judas Iscariot: both of them, against all good conscience, would not be persuaded to renounce their sins, resist the devil and, thus, be restored back to true fellowship with God. They both continued headlong in their sins (Judas in his love for money and Saul in his arrogance and pride) until they slipped into a persistent demonic possession from which neither of them did recover. Just like Judas, also, Satan drove Saul to take his own life in the end after succeeding in destroying his relationship with the LORD (1 Samuel 28:5-7) and, thus, causing his ultimate defeat in battle (1 Samuel 31:1-5).

The same is also true about anyone who refuses the gentle persuasion of the Holy Spirit to desist from sin (whether done in the secret or in open sight). In the long run their conscience would become dead by reason of a persistent demonic possession and thus, hasten upon them that fate which awaits the unrepentant sinner.

“He, who being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1

May we never treat lightly God’s grace which moves the erring soul to godly sorrow and repentance. While the mercy of God yet smiles, may we make haste to amend our ways before judgment frowns and the opportunity is lost forever! Isaiah 55:6-7

ONE DELIVERER, DIVERSE DELIVERANCES.
LUKE 4:17-19

In concluding this study series, it would be helpful to recapture the previous sub-topics we have so far covered in the course of the study, which are:
1. The Doorway to Demonic Possession and Oppression
2. Momentary and Persistent Demonic Possessions.

The first sub-topic explains the ways or means by which demonic beings gain access and control over the human body, while the second sub-topic explains the two different natures of such demonic manipulations: while the one is temporary and opportunistic (that is, exploiting immediate opportunity), the other is persistent and obstinate (that is, not easily letting go or giving up).
But as diverse as the doorways of demonic possessions and manipulations are, so also are the ways in which the Deliverer, Jesus Christ, sets the captives free from Satan and all demons.

1. ONE DELIVERER
Luke 4:17-19; Acts 4:7-12; Philippians 2:5-11

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

There is no humanly possible way by which we can ascertain the number of fallen angels (demons) roaming the universe, with particular focus on the earth, but there must be quite a huge number of them, judging by the obvious influence they exert on mankind on a daily basis. See Revelation 12:9; 13:4-9; 1 John 5:19.

The huge number of demons and their diverse activities, however, does not pose any problems to God as far as deliverance is concerned because His Son, Jesus Christ, is the one solution which works for all cases of demonic possessions and manipulations; and we should be grateful for this!

“Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: 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.” Philippians 2:9-11

Furthermore, Jesus Christ has made it even much easier for the cases of demonic interferences in human lives to be easily dealt with by delegating His own authority to whosoever believes in and calls on Him to cast them out. This is such bad news for Satan and all his angels! See Matthew 10:1-8; Mark 16:17-20; Luke 9:1-2; 10:1, 17-19.

“And these signs shall follow them who believe; in my name shall they cast out devils.” Mark 16:17

2. DIVERSE DELIVERANCES
We can clearly see in the scriptures the different ways Jesus healed the blind, the lame, raised the dead, etc. He could anoint the blind eyes with clay mixed with His spittle and say, “go and wash” (John 9:1-7); He could touch the eyes of the blind and simply say, “according to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:27); He could spit into the eyes of the blind and restored their sight (Mark 8:22-26); or He could simply say to the blind, “go your way; thy faith hath made thee whole” (Mark 10:46-52). And they all saw. To the dead He could say, “Talitha Cumi”, in that soft tone characteristic of reassuring faith, and raise them back to life; or He could cry out for Lazarus to “come forth” with a loud voice characteristic of faith triumphing over the hearts of incredulous onlookers (Mark 5:35-42; John 11:43-46). And they all came back to life!
The same is characteristic of His ability to touch every aspect of the human life needing deliverance from demonic and satanic manipulations. He could heal the brokenhearted, give recovery of sight to the spiritually blind, deliver the demon-oppressed and open the prison house of Satan to set his captives free with not so much as a fight from Satan. But the possessed and oppressed of the devil must be willing to let Him set them free by wholeheartedly submitting to His Lordship.

3. YOUR SURE STEPS TO A DEMON-FREE LIFE
“But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possession.” Obadiah 1:17

As great as the power and authority are, which God has given unto mankind against Satan and all his angels, it is still clear that they are still struggling to effectively use this awesome power at their disposal because Satan sees to it that man abuses the condition precedent for the use of God’s authority in the name of Jesus Christ. God’s Word stipulates that His power is to work in “…those who believe…” Mark 16:17 or in those who are “…His disciples…” Luke 9:1.
The key, then, lies in just two words, namely: “Believing” and “discipleship”. The two must work in harmony, however, to be able to fulfill the condition for enjoyment of Christ’s divine power and authority. To “believe” alone and not actively pursue the object of such belief (in this case the ways of Jesus Christ) is to believe in vain; the promises of God cannot avail anyone that way. The scripture below is clear on this:

“As He spoke these words, many believed on Him (this is passive and unavailing faith). Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, if you continue in my Word (This is now the active faith which avails much!) then are you my disciples indeed.” John 8:30-31

A disciple, therefore, is someone who, firstly, believes in Jesus Christ, then, secondly, continues to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ.

The main purpose for “continuing in Christ’s Word”, as we shall see in the next verse below, is so that the disciple may learn and grow in the Word and get to know the divine rights and privileges made available to them in Christ and, thus, become liberated from all the antics, wiles and lies of Satan, by which he gains control and manipulates the lives of his victims.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32.

From the foregoing, therefore, we can say that the steps to living a demon-free life are as given below:

1. Deliverance: Luke 4:18
Anyone who is not walking in earnest with Christ must be doing so with Satan and his demons because there is no middle ground between the two Kingdoms. Therefore, a person’s deliverance must begin with their acceptance of Jesus Christ into their lives, with a firm resolve to pursue and consummate this new relationship. According to Jesus Himself, this is necessary in order “…to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18.
This is actually what true deliverance is in all its essence.

2. Holiness: 2 Corinthians 7:1
Without having been delivered from the power of Satan, no one can live a holy life; the presence of Satan in one’s life renders it unholy. While salvation is given to the sinner through God’s grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) with nothing more required of them than to have an active faith in Jesus Christ; holiness of life, on the other hand, requires more than just having faith in Jesus Christ; it is a divine reformation of character which must involve the active participation of the saved person. See Eph. 2:10; 4:1-3; 17-32.

“Having therefore these promises (of salvation in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18), dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1

Holiness is the anchor of the soul; it is what preserves the work of salvation and deliverance of the soul, done by Jesus Christ, from the power of Satan.

Holiness comes about through the work of God’s grace in conjunction with the cooperation of the Believer. God supplies the grace and the means for holiness, but that alone cannot make the Believer holy unless he or she willingly and consciously brings those unreformed character traits (with no strings attached!) under the lethal blow of God’s sanctifying power. Other than that, the grace and means thus given us in Christ would remain unutilized. We must take the initiative for living a holy life, as a demonstration of our willingness and sincerity to live for Jesus and to be like Him, before He will richly supply the grace and the means; that is why the scriptures tell us to “…cleanse OURSELVES (it is our initiative!) from all filthiness of the flesh (visible sins) and spirit (sinful emotions within the heart)…”
2 Corinthians 7:1.

Below are some other supporting scriptures which place such burden upon the Believer who seeks a holy life: Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-3, 17-32; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Matthew 18:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; Titus 2:11-14.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

3. Possessing what’s yours in Christ. Obadiah 1:17; 2 Peter 1:1-11
“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Any person who is born again, and delivered from the power of Satan and his demons, at first instance, must live a holy life in order to be able to possess (or re-possess, if they’ve just been restored from a relapse into sin) what God has freely and richly provided to the heirs of His salvation, through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
The three key words clearly shown are: Deliverance, Holiness and Possessions, and they are expressly mentioned in Obadiah 1:17. We have expounded on the first two words and must proceed now to reconcile with the last one.

Satan’s prisoners are not allowed any rights or the freedom of self-actualization as ordained by God for His chief creation, which is man. Satan knows the huge potentials which God has deposited in man, and he knows that if man is left unoccupied by sin and ungodliness, he will definitely achieve and fulfill his God-given destiny. Concerning this, the Bible says in 2 Peter 1:3 that, “According as His Divine Power has given unto us all things that pertain unto LIFE and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him (Jesus Christ) who has called us to Glory and virtue”. It is, therefore, no wonder why Satan and his agents so desperately want to possess anyone they could. It is so that they could make them fail to achieve what God has destined for them and thus, lose their place with Him forever. That is why we must strive to live a demon-free life in Christ always!

The phrase “…and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions” is very instructive here because it explains how we can possess (on a first instance) or re-possess (in subsequent instances) what God has freely given to us through Jesus Christ. The word “possess” in the context of the scripture above is an active (not passive) word; it means to take action in obtaining or recovery of a thing from someone, or something. This scripture would have meant something entirely different for us if it used the word “receive” instead of “POSSESS”. If you were to “receive” anything, you’d have to patiently await the giver’s pleasure, but to “possess” it, you’d have to initiate the action to seize or hold on to it as your own possession. This is exactly what God wants us to do with what’s freely offered to us in Christ after our deliverance from Satan and demons, and our empowerment through the life of holiness, so that we would not be empty and unfruitful, thus risking a relapse into demonic possession. Matthew 12:43-45

What are those possessions which we are required to possess back into our lives in order to keep us totally beyond the reach of Satan and his demons? They are as follows:

1. Our bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 4:1-5; 1 Peter 2:11
Our bodies here consist of our whole being – our emotional, physical and spiritual lives.

“That everyone of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
1 Thessalonians 4:4
No doubt Satan will always try to stage a comeback into the life of the liberated child of God, but it is our duty to resist him firmly and to possess and protect our bodies against all his sinful wiles.

2. Our character: 1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Galatians 5:22-25
A good and godly character is not the product of chance but of a conscious and concerted effort, coupled with prayers and faith in God. We are to give no room for the cultivation of unholy characters in our lives, but by “…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (and) bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” we are to resist them firmly. See the case of Cain in Genesis 4:6-7 who did nothing to refuse the lure of sin waiting at the door of his heart; he ended up a villain and was rejected by God.

3. Our Place and Blessings in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:1-12; Revelation 3:11
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…” Ephesians 1:3

We are to firmly and earnestly contend for our place in Christ and to hold onto it as our eternal possession. This is our guarantee that we would enjoy all the benefits of God’s Kingdom available to us here and now on earth and forever in Heaven.

“I am coming soon, keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.” Rev. 3:11 (GNB)

The End