Month: July 2026

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

In beginning this study, we need to familiarize ourselves with some terminologies, namely:

1. Intercession
The word intercession is the action of intervening on behalf of another person. Intercessory prayer, therefore, would mean the act of praying to God on behalf of others, whether they are aware of their need for such prayers or not.

“And Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Genesis 25:21.

2. An Intercessor
An intercessor is the person who offers prayers on behalf of another.
Interestingly, the greatest Intercessor of all time is Jesus Christ. He never ceases to make intercessions for us before the throne of God in heaven. Isaiah 53:10-12; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:22-25.

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

The quoted scriptures above give us a glimpse of what our Lord, Jesus Christ, does in heaven, among other things: He makes a continual intercession for His followers without ceasing. The phrase,
“He always lives to make intercession…” captures that essence. How fortunate we are!
Below is yet another scripture which speaks to this truth:
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32.

Apart from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God, too, is an Intercessor for the children of God, but unlike Jesus Christ, He only intercedes for us when we ourselves are
Praying. He re-packages our prayers and makes them more presentable to God. Then He offers them to Him in intercession, making a strong appeal to God for us to be heard and answered. Romans 8:26-27.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26.

Lastly, we as humans can be intercessors too. In fact, God is looking for intercessors today as He always has done in the ages past, but it is unfortunate to say that many people do not respond favourably to God’s call to stand in the gap as intercessors for others, as we shall see in the following texts of the study. Isaiah 59:14-16; Ezekiel 22:29-31.

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30.

Today, God is still looking for men and women, boys and girls who would consecrate their services to Him as intercessors, to hold back His judgment and, instead, turn His favour on mankind for their deliverance and salvation. It is left to us to decide if, like Isaiah, we would gladly rise up to the occasion and say, “Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8.

In the course of this study we shall be considering the following sub-topics:

1. The Principles of Intercessory Prayer.
2. The Requisite Qualities of an Intercessor.
3. Who Should We Intercede For? 1.The Principles of Intercessory Prayer.
   Intercessory Prayer, as earlier defined in the introductory part of this study, is the action of one or more persons intervening on behalf of another, or others, through prayer; whether those persons are aware of their need for such prayers or not.
   Intercessory Prayer is founded on a very interesting and divinely formulated principle which is designed by God to operate in the following ways:
   • 1.To circumvent any barrier created by a person’s self-will when it is exercised either in direct opposition to God’s will, or in ignorance of it.
   • 2.To act as reinforcement to a willing mind or an already existing prayer action initiated by anyone in line with God’s will, but which, nevertheless, is still deficient in achieving the answer sought.

In essence, therefore, we can say that intercessory prayer has the potential to persuade God to act favourably over a situation which, based on the prevailing circumstances surrounding it, He would ordinarily not have so acted, except for the sake of that intercessor(s). See Job 42:7-9.
“Therefore take now seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:8.

Let’s now undertake an in-depth study of the two modes of operation of intercessory prayer already identified above.

1. The Power to Circumvent Barriers through Intercessory Prayer

God created man, gave him the rules he should follow to enable his life to successfully unfold in the order and manner He had designed it; but He also gave man the liberty of choice because, by God’s own design, that is an inherent attribute of his being. As long as man could make the choices which are consistent with God’s will, he would remain in fellowship with God and find the true meaning and fulfillment of his life. Deuteronomy 30:15-16.

“And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’” Ezekiel 20:11.
“…Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20B.

But, on the other hand, if man makes a wrong exercise of his will in choosing what is not right in the sight of God, it would cause a breach in his relationship with God, who is the very source of his life, and that would result in a rapid deterioration of God’s original plan for his life. Deuteronomy 30:17-18.

“When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die.” Ezekiel 33:13.

Man, and that unfortunately, has habitually relied more on his own ways than on God’s, thus, coming into constant conflict with God’s ordained principles of life, and suffering dearly for it. But, thankfully, God who knew beforehand what mankind would make of the liberty of choice He granted them did not also leave them without a remedy for their transgressions. But the interesting thing about God’s remedy for man’s sins and failures is that it must be sought after for God to administer it; but here again, man is more likely to remain in sin than to turn away from it and seek God’s intervention, hence the need for an intercessor who could stand in the gap for unrepentant man and seek for God’s mercy and favour on his behalf. This remedy is a most interesting phenomenon, but we must forever be grateful that God has availed us of such underserved favour! See Hosea 7:8-16.

Hos.7.8 – “My people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, picking up their evil ways. Now they have become as worthless as a half-baked cake!
Hos.7.9 – Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become.
Hos.7.10 – His arrogance testifies against him, yet he doesn’t return to the LORD his God or even try to find him”. NLT

A situation such as the one captured in the scripture above necessitates the employment of intercessory prayer to mitigate; God would show mercy if only the fallen or erring sinner would seek it, but mostly they do not, so God searches for an intercessor to stand in the gap to avert the impending judgment that would otherwise fall on the sinner. Isaiah 59:14-16; Ezekiel 22:29-31.
Ezek.22.30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one”.

Why has God always sought for an intercessor to intervene on behalf of the wilful, or erring, sinner? Why can’t He just forgive them of His own accord, with no strings attached, or else to just go ahead and punish them as their sins demand? The answer is simply that God will not forgive the sin which the sinner has refused to acknowledge, as that would not satisfy His justice, yet He would not also hastily bring him to judgement because He still loves the sinner. Exodus 34:5-7; Ezekiel 18:23, 30-32.
So, God would rather that an intercessor circumvents that spiritual barrier created by man’s hardness of heart, and offer a plea of mercy on his behalf. See Exodus 32:7-14; Daniel 9:15-19.

2. The Reinforcement Ability of Intercessory Prayers
The Principle here is much the same as the one explained in the first point above, but with the exception that on this second point we are not dealing with an unwilling person, but with a willing mind and praying heart that needs a support from an intercessor. Here, the case of Queen Esther as recorded in Esther 4:1-17 readily comes to mind.

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16

Here we have the case of a willing person ready to pray and seek God’s intervention, but she was still soliciting for the support of some other intercessors as a means of reinforcement. The same can be said of Apostle Peter’s willingness to go with Jesus through His trying moments when He was to be arrested and crucified. Jesus told him that He had prayed for him to come through that ordeal because, as God, He saw into the future that, though Peter was willing, his faith and courage would not carry him through, except He reinforced his faith through intercession. Yes, Peter eventually attempted to go through the length with Jesus Christ’s ordeal, but fell short as He had earlier forewarned him. What brought Peter back to repentance and spiritual restoration was, obviously, Jesus Christ’s earlier intercession.
“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” Luke 22:31-32.

Sometimes the person being interceded for may not be aware of such prayer rally made on their behalf, except that they would notice that their situations dramatically changed for the better. This can happen to both individuals, or groups, in the first and second points discussed above. See Acts 12:1-11; Exodus 32:9-14.

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Acts 12:5.

Apostle Peter experienced an extraordinary miracle of deliverance from a maximum security prison, but he didn’t know that the secret of that divine imtervention was the relentless intercession offered on his behalf by the Church, until much later. We can also say the same thing about the Israelites when they incurred divine wrath because of the golden calf they made and worshipped. Little did they know destruction was to suddenly come upon them, had Moses not earnestly turned away God’s wrath from them through his intercessory prayers.

“Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people… Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people…” So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.” Exodus 32:11,12,14.

2. The Requisite Qualities of an Intercessor.
Having examined the principles of intercessory prayer in the first point under this study, we are now progressing into the next point of the study, as earlier captioned above. But we may have to, at this point, ask a very pertinent question: who may qualify as an intercessor before the LORD?
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30.

The fact that God is still looking for intercessors today, as much as He has done in the ages past, quickly drives home the conviction that there has always been a scarcity of intercessors. There may have been an army of praying men and women; boys and girls, both in the past and present generations of the worshippers of God, but it is clear that there have always been a few intercessors. You may want to ask why this is so; well it’s so because as passionate as most people are about praying, yet most of their prayer points are for themselves or those in whom they have some vested interest. These are the very things that would disqualify anyone to be an intercessor before the LORD. God requires a nobler virtue from those whom He’d accept as intercessors.
Below are some qualities which God requires of those who would stand in the gap between Him and mankind in general, or individual persons in particular:

1. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3.

The very first requirement any prospective intercessor should possess is a very good and working relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ. This is so because it would hardly be practicable to stand in the gap for anyone before God unless you have an intimate relationship with Him. God will only “…confirm the word of His servant, and perform the counsel of His messengers…” as His Word says. See Isaiah 44:24-26; 1 Samuel 3:19-21; Daniel 10:12.

“So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” 1 Samuel 3:19.

2. FAITHFULNESS TO GOD
An unfaithful man would make a bad mediator or intercessor before a Holy God. See 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Hebrews 3:1-5.

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2.

God needs a person whom He can depend on; a person who would be faithful to His call as an intercessor. Faithfulness here means that when God needs someone to intercede on behalf of another, He would get a prompt response from the intercessor, without any interference from issues like their own personal convenience. Let us view what faithfulness to a cause would seem like to God, from the example of His own Son, Jesus Christ, in the scripture below:
Mark.6.30 – “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught.
Mark.6.31 – Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Mark.6.32 – They left by boat for a quieter spot.
Mark.6.33 – But many people saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and met them as they landed.
Mark.6.34 – “A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things”. NLT
An intercessor, just like Jesus Christ and His disciples, must elevate the prevailing interest of God above their own so.as to minister to any one.

3. BURDEN FOR OTHERS
Daniel 9:1-19; 10:1-21.
Daniel was a man who had such a huge burden for his people, the Israelites and their land. Even in the event where his life was threatened with death in the lion’s den, on account of his faithfulness to intercessory prayer, Daniel still made intercession for his people to God Almighty. Daniel 6:1-10.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Daniel 6:10.

Nehemiah was also another man who showed such a huge burden for his nation Israel. See Nehemiah 1:1-11; 2:1-3.
“And I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?”” Nehemiah 2:3.

Moses, also, was a man with such a large heart for his people. Despite their incessant rebellion against God, and many conspiracies to stone him (Moses) to death, he still interceded for them before God. See Exodus 32:30-32; Numbers 14:11-20; Exodus 32:7-14.
“Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”” Exodus 32:31-32.

Apostle Paul was also a man whose burden for his people, the Israelites, was great; it was such that he wished, like Moses did, that he could be accursed for the sake of his people. Romans 9:1-5; 10:1-2.
“I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…” Romans 9:1-3.

The examples above should suffice for us to establish the importance of a burdened heart as a prerequisite for God to lay hands on the person He would use as an intercessor.

One striking thing, though, which is common to all the Bible characters mentioned above, was that they did not advance their personal interests before God in preference to that of their people for whom they entreated God’s favour. The same must apply to anyone who would be an intercessor before God for others. But who does God want us to intercede for? This question leads us to the third and final point of the study.

3. Who Should We Intercede For?
1 Timothy 2:1 – 8.
In answering the question posed above, we must reasonably give answer in line with God’s Word that we are to intercede for all of mankind.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…” 1 Timothy 2:1

In fact, we should offer intercessions for everything worth praying for, unless God commands us to do otherwise. We must understand here that as great as the leverage is which our God has given to us in the place of prayers, yet He reserves the right to reject or accept the prayers so offered and to also determine if we should pray for anyone or not. See an example of this in Ezekiel 14:12-20.
“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.” Jeremiah 7:16.

However, with all things being equal, God would have us make intercession for all men and for all things in accordance with His will.
From our opening text, from the scriptures, we can identify some specific points raised for prayer and intercession. They are as follows:

1. FOR ALL MEN: 1 Timothy 2:1.
The phrase “…for all men…” is quite broad and should not be taken to mean literally praying for the over seven billion humans on earth, individually. Rather, it makes better sense to say that the request given therein is for prayers to be offered for all manner of men in their different classifications, such as we can see listed in the following points below.

2. FOR KINGS AND PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY. 1 Timothy 2:2.
This includes every person vested with powers to govern, to lead, to guide, to instruct, to teach or to administer justice. This classification covers almost all the different strata of the society such as: government, corporate institutions, educational institutions, religious institutions, and all of that. The idea for this prayer request is so that “…we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence…” in the society, which will in turn afford us the right setting to do God’s work successfully and to live a meaningful life.
The current state of the world, however, suggests that the church has not been doing much on this aspect of intercessory prayer. We keep praying for souls to be won, and for our living standards to improve under a system that’s secretly or ( in some countries) openly wired to prevent us from doing or achieving that! How can that be possible without first interceeding for the salvation of our political leaders, or the people in whose hands lie the civil power and authority by which we are governed. If we let Satan, God’s enemy, controls them first, as we can be rest assured that He already does with some of them, then he will influence them to make and implement bad policies that will adversely affect how we serve God acceptably in our lands. On the other hand, if we fervently intercede for their salvation, they would, as genuinely saved children of God, be inspired by His Holy Spirit to make and implement good policies that will enable them to rule righteously.
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan “.

It is amazing that the Church has been given such leverage and power to determine her fate in the hands of the civil authorities, but would seem to have done nothing much with that stupendous amount of power! The fact that we still groan under the mis-rule of corrupt politicians and the burden of their bad governance presupposes that we have not been using the amazing power of God available to us through the ministry of intercessory prayers. I have heard people praying and asking God to “clear” (or kill) bad politicians troubling the country, but He will not do that for a lazy church who would not rather intercede for their salvation because that’s what Jesus Christ, His Son, offered His life to give to them: if the Church cannot see it in this light, then it seems that we have a serious problem to deal with!
Luke.9.56 “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them…”
A hateful and vengeful heart prays for the destruction of the wicked sinner, but a compassionate and living heart would intercede for their deliverance and salvation. That’s the kind of God’s heart, which an intercessor must pray to have.
Deut.5.29 “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

3. FOR THE SALVATION OF MANKIND. 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

I want to make this point brief. When the nation thrives under righteous leaders, and persons of authority, then our intercession for the salvation of its citizens becomes more fruitful and less burdensome. Proverbs14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people”.

Besides the prayer points explained above, we can also intercede on the following prayer points, namely:

1. FOR THE CHURCH:
Today’s Church faces so many challenges from both the physical and spiritual worlds; this calls for our earnest intercession. Ephesians 6:10-12.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
Victory here would ensure the growth and prosperity of the church.

2. FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Matthew 26:31.
A greedy and an unholy minister is the undoing of any congregation; and we have quite a number of them overseeing large churches today.
“All the dogs are greedy; They never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.” Isaiah 56:11.

Our prayers, therefore, should be for God to give us faithful ministers who will be willing to make sacrifices for the welfare of the church of Jesus Christ. See Acts 20:25-31; Jeremiah 23:1-4.
“And I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:4.

3. PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF OUR NATION: Jeremiah 29:1-7
“Also, seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” Jeremiah 29:7.

The place and priority of peace in any nation can never be overemphasized: we need peace in our nation for us to be able to lead a normal and fruitful life, both secular and ecclesiastical. The countries currently at war have little or no freedom to carry out their civic, secular or religious duties in peace.

4. PRAY FOR CHRISTIANS TO BE STEADFAST TO THE END: Matthew 24:12-13; 44-51; Revelation 2:8-10.
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13.

There are many challenges facing the body of Christ all over the world today, just as Jesus Christ foretold earlier. We must continue in intercessory prayers for one another so that our faith will not be lost to Satan. There is no price too great to pay for the victory that is mandatory for every Christian who must wear the crown of life reserved for the victorious saints in heaven. Intercessory Prayer holds the key for this victory!

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.

There’s hardly any victory in spiritual warfare without prayer, especially intercessory prayer, because God’s intervention in mankind’s contention with Satan and his kingdom is always the key to this victory, through that prayer.
Those who know this secret talk less but pray more about worrisome situations.
The faithful intercessor is God’s ready vessel to use as He wishes, when He wishes, wherever He wishes and at whatever time He wishes. As long as they make themselves available, God will always have a work at hand for them to be engaged with because there would always be the need for an intercessor until God’s eternal Kingdom established over the whole realms of humans and spirits existence in His own set time. But until then we must each strive to give ourselves to intercessory prayers so as to be able to change the old, yet subsisting, narrative of the scripture below:
Ezekekiel.22:30 “I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. I couldn’t find anyone. Not one”. (MSB)

      THE END

The consolation of the early Church, as they endured the trials of their time, was that Jesus Christ would come again to judge the living and the dead. When he wrote his second letter to them, Paul told the Christians at Corinth that this would come to pass.

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

Today also, the thought of Christ’s coming to judge the living and the dead should inspire this present Church of Jesus Christ to make more effort to be found acceptable before Him when He returns.
Matt.24.44 – “You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected”. NLT
The admonition above is important for the following reasons:

1. His coming will be sudden and catastrophic
There will be no time for last-minute repentance. The panic and confusion will be overwhelming.

“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible roar, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” 2 Peter 3:10 NLT
Read also: Matthew 24:29-31, 36-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Once a person’s brain signals a response to an impending danger, the whole body goes into a panic mode, and what’s important for that moment would be getting out of the danger zone. That’s how it would likely play out on the Lord’s day. People may not even be thinking of repentance in the midst of all the chaos around them. With the sky all ablaze with fire, the earth reeling from the impact of flying crafts falling from the sky, and high-rise buildings collapsing to the ground, the last thing anyone would want to do is to kneel down and pray. The human body is simply not wired to respond that way! Now is the time to turn to Jesus Christ and seek His forgiveness and mercy. Now is the time to repent — tomorrow might be too late!
Isa.55.6 “Seek GOD while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand”. (MSB)

2. His judgment will be without partiality
God is a just Judge. Only Christians who are found ready and worthy at that time will be recognized by the Lord. Careless Christians will be rejected and will have labored in vain. Sinners who repented just at the nick of time, before the Lord’s day, would have made the wisest decision of their lifetime, and this can be today, my friend!
See 2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT
“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.” 2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT
God’s love and mercy, through Jesus Christ, is just a prayer away from you right now. Say the prayer!

3. He will show no mercy at judgment
At the coming of the Lord, the era of mercy will have been gone for good. Now is the time of God’s mercy. In Revelation 19:12-15, the appearance of Christ shows us what that day will be like:
“His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God… From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.” Revelation 19:12-15 NLT
Read also: Revelation 19:11; Colossians 3:25; Galatians 6:7-9; Matthew 25:1-13.

Mercy — man’s only lifeline — is offered with love from God to all who will receive Jesus Christ today. Great will be the wrath and punishment of God on sinners and backsliders who spurn the mercy of God for the sake of personal gain, self-will, or outright rejection of Jesus Christ. See Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 12:28-29.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God… Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 10:31, 12:28 NLT

“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.” 2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT

The day of the Lord’s judgment is at hand. It has already been set in motion by God’s divine power, and no other power can turn it back!
We have just one choice to make between the two choices of either believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His salvation, or rejecting Him and preparing to meet Him at His judgment seat.

2Cor.5.10 – “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies”. NLT

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.” Jude 1:20-21 NLT

Prayer has always been the most effective way of communing with the Godhead. We pray whenever we seek audience or fellowship with any, or all, of the three members of the Godhead, namely: God the Father (Jehovah), God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost or Spirit of God).
Whether we are approaching them just for fellowship or to seek their intervention in the situations we face, we do that through prayer.
Ps.65.2: “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come”. (NIV)

Prayer is a general term for all forms of communication with God — whether by making a personal request for one’s self or on behalf of another, which is supplication; or by standing in the gap for another, which is intercession; or by offering praises, songs, or worship to God, which is fellowship. All of them are called prayer — an act of communion with God.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

From the text above we can understand that prayer is a spiritual matter because it involves communing with God, who is a Spirit. The Holy Bible says: “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 NLT
Let me clarify here that to worship God in spirit, or to pray in spirit, simply means doing so under the influence or guidance of the Holy Spirit. It does not only mean to pray or worship in the language of the Holy Spirit, popularly referred to as speaking in tongues. Praying in the spirit could also mean to pray in any human language, but under the leading of the Holy Spirit. So, whether we are praying in an unknown tongue or praying with the understanding in a known tongue, as long as we are being led by the Holy Spirit we are actually praying in the Spirit. The most important thing to be sure of is that He influences the prayer to suit God’s purpose for us.

Consider the case of Simeon who prayed over baby Jesus Christ by the leading of the Holy Ghost in Luke 2:25-33. It is evident that he did not speak in tongue doing that because Mary and Joseph could clearly understand what he was saying.
Luke.2.27-31: “That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people”. NLT

Consider also King David, when he wrote the following words in Ps.110.1: – “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” NLT.
When Jesus Christ would later comment on that Psalm, He said the following in Matt.22.43-44: “…How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘ (NIV).

The point I’m stressing here is that to do anything in the Spirit simply means doing it under the inspiration, anointing or guidance of the Holy Spirit. It could be prayer or singing in a known or unknown tongue. It could be the carrying out of any service to God — what’s important is that the Holy Spirit initiates and leads it according to God’s will.
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Romans 8:26-27 NLT

Now to the actual subject of Praying in the Spirit: it involves visualizing the object of your prayer in your mind, or spirit, and being able to see it accomplished in that dimension according to your prayer.
This is how we can accomplish much in the place of prayer because that is also how God operates: He visualizes what He wants to be made and then speaks it into existence.
Rom.4.17: “…the God who gives life to the dead _and calls things that are not as though they were”._ (NIV)
This principle applies to just anything which is right to ask God for in prayer, as Jesus Christ also pointed out in Mark 11:24 NLT.
“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

Visualizing Your Prayer: Hebrews 11:13 – 16, NLT
Prayer becomes more effective when there is less distraction and more focus. This happens when we learn to pray with the object of our petition clearly in view in our minds. In other words, we must learn to visualize what we are praying for in our minds and allow our spirit to connect with it. The faithful saints of old times lived that way. Although they did not live to see the fulfilment of some of the prophecies given in their time, yet they believed those prophecies (or promises), saw them through the eyes of their spirit and, therefore, were persuaded of their fulfilment at God’s set time.

For instance, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said this of Abraham:
John.8.56 – “Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. _He saw it and was glad.”_ NLT.
It was not a literal sighting of the Messiah that Abraham had. It was a spiritual sighting — the same way God wants us to visualize His promises in the spirit and pray for their fulfilment. This is what praying in the spirit would mean to anyone who walks with God in the Spirit.
Heb.11.13: “These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God ‘s] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth”. (AMP)

It is easy for faith to build up rapidly and in overwhelming measure when we visualize the object of our prayer, and we shall establish this fact by looking at the following scriptures for similar recorded experiences of spiritually or physically seeing the object of one’s desire in order to bring it to manifestation:

1. ABRAHAM: Genesis 13:14-18; Genesis 15:1-6.
   In a vision at night, God stimulated Abraham’s faith by guiding him on the principle of visualization.
   Gen.15.5 – “Then the LORD brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that–too many to count!”
   Gen.15.6 – And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith”. NLT
2. JACOB: Genesis 30:37 – 39 (see Genesis 31:10-12)
   Jacob did an incredible thing with this principle of visualizing: when God showed him in a dream that the male goats mating the ewes in Laban’s flock were all streaked, speckled and spotted, he cut tree branches and marked their barks to look streaked, speckled and spotted, then he placed them where the herds were wont to mate. And sure enough they gave birth to a totally new breed of streaked, speckled and spotted kids, which hitherto were not seen among those mating flocks.
   Gen.31.10 – “During the mating season, I had a dream and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted.
   Gen.31.11 – Then in my dream, the angel of God said to me, Jacob!' And I replied,Yes, I’m listening!’
   Gen.31.12 – The angel said, `Look, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen all that Laban has done to you”.
   That’s how powerful and effective this principle of visualizing one’s desire, while praying, can be.
3. ELIJAH and ELISHA: 2 Kings 2:9-15
   To be eligible for the double portion of his anointing, which he had requested, Elijah stimulated the faith of his spiritual son and mentee, Elisha, by telling him that it would only be made possible if he could see the moment of his ascension into heaven. I believe that from that moment onward Elisha became focused both spiritually and physically. I believe he started visualizing how that ascension would take place, and that must have helped him catch the moment it happened, therefore fulfilling the proviso given.
   2Kgs.2.11 “As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire parted the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
   2Kgs.2.12 _And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces”._ (AMP)
4. JESUS CHRIST: Hebrews 12:1-3
   “…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT
   Jesus Christ saw the future redemption of lost mankind, and He considered that a great consolation for the cup of suffering He must have to drink to make that happen.
   Isa.53.10 “Still, it’s what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it–life, life, and more life. And GOD’s plan will deeply prosper through him.
   Isa.53.11 Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,” as he himself carries the burden of their sins”. (MSB)
5. EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN: Hebrews 12:2
   Today, God calls every Christian to prayer — continuous prayer! The need is urgent now as ever before because without prayer there’d be little or no activity between mankind and God, and that’s to our disadvantage. God can do anything but not until there’s obedience to His call to ceaseless prayer! Just as a Litigant cannot move the court to grant any relief they seek from it, without first filing a cause and praying the court to grant it, no more can any Christian hope to continually enjoy God’s intervention in their life unless they pray without ceasing. And the best strategy for getting results from our prayer is by praying in the spirit and visualizing the process.
   “We do this _by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”_ Hebrews 12:2 NLT

All the people mentioned above received great revelations and answers to prayer because they could clearly see and focus on the object of their desires. This allowed their minds to dwell richly on it, while they prayed, and thereafter, until faith overcame doubt and brought those desires to fulfilment.
Ps.16.8 “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken”. (NIV)

If Jacob could achieve such a great feat by helping his flock to visualize the kind of offspring they’d deliver through looking at some streaked, speckled and spotted tree barks, then we, as God’s own children, can achieve even greater results in prayer than Jacob did with his animals.
It is high time we changed our traditional way of praying and launched into the deep waters of the Spirit, praying in the spirit while seeing the desired outcome with the eyes of our minds!
2Cor.3.18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”. (NKJV)

The End

That the human race is plagued with sin and imperfection is no longer news. What is, however, is the glad tiding that we can regain the image and likeness of God, which was our original nature before the fall of Adam and Eve.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27.

But no sooner had man fallen and lost his innocence and perfection than God set in motion the rhythm of grace that was to redeem and reconcile him back to his original estate. However, unless this work of grace is fully achieved in anyone’s life, so that Jesus Christ becomes the Lord of their life, they will still be estranged from God and be eternally damned in hell should they die without genuine repentance in that condition.
John 3:35-36: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Although there are three definite works of grace for the perfection of the sinner, which are, namely: salvation, sanctification, and Holy Ghost baptism, they are, however, maintained in the genuine Christian’s life by four divine resources, which have been made available to them by God. These divine resources are as outlined and discussed below:

1. THE BLOOD OF JESUS
John 1:29; Hebrews 9:11-28; Matthew 26:17-28; 1 John 1:1-7; Revelation 7:9-17.

“…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7.
In this present dispensation of grace, the blood of Jesus Christ functions as the only cleansing agent for all manner of sins.
Unconfessed sins in the life of anyone strengthen the hand of Satan and his agents against them, but the blood-washed Christian overcomes them because they have nothing to accuse him of. See Revelation 12:10-11; Romans 8:1-2.
Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
The blood of Jesus, when constantly applied in one’s life by the prayer of faith, keeps the Christian pure and holy. However, let us be wary of the negative trend we see around these days, where people shout “the blood of Jesus!” at just anything that disgusts them or arouses their emotions. That is quite demeaning and disrespectful to our Lord Jesus Christ. Such people can be sure that they will not get answers by such frivolous use of the blood of Jesus Christ. Unless they repent and desist from such practices, they will more likely earn His wrath.
Hebrews 10:29: “…Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

2. THE NAME OF JESUS
Mark 16:17,18; Luke 10:17-19; Acts 3:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 4:29,30; John 14:14; Proverbs 18:10.
“…wherefore God also hath 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
The name of Jesus Christ in the mouth of His faithful follower is the most potent weapon or resource, depending on whether you are dealing with Satan and his agents in spiritual warfare or advancing the cause of God’s kingdom and His righteousness through constructive, positive utterances sanctioned by the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” Luke 10:17.

Jesus Christ answers to His name whenever and wherever His faithful children call upon Him. This should give us the boldness to call upon His name whenever the need arises.
John 16:24: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
The Holy Bible gives us assurance that our confidence in the name of the Lord can never be betrayed because it is a formidable name in all situations and circumstances standing against the true believer.
Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

3. THE WORD OF GOD.
Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:1-11; 37:29-31; 119:97-105; John 5:39; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 6:1-25.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” Psalm 119:11.
God’s Word is given to us for two main reasons, namely: to give us knowledge of the truth which can save us (John 8:32) and to warn us of the things which could condemn us before God (Romans 1:18).
To lack the knowledge of God’s Word, therefore, leaves anyone bereft of the godly wisdom they would require to order their ways in righteousness and to refrain from doing evil each day of their life. Consistent study and meditation in the Word of God results in a consistent, victorious Christian life.
“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word… Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:101,104

The devil knows how important the knowledge of God’s Word is to overcoming his wiles, so he endeavors to keep as many people as he can from reading the Holy Bible. It is imperative to note here that whoever wants to overcome Satan and the lure of this sinful world should make God’s Word their daily companion.
Some people fall into sin not because they actually planned on doing that, but because they overlooked certain red flags which only a good knowledge of God’s Holy Word could have alerted them to.
Psalms 119:9: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
Furthermore, reading the Word of God gives a massive boost to the believer’s faith in God’s promises. Each time we read the Holy Bible we are confronted with what is possible for God to do for us. Not reading it leaves us in the dark as to what is rightly ours according to God’s divine providence.
Psalms 19:8, 10-13: “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:15-17; 16:7-15; Acts 4:23-31; Micah 3:8; Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit of God is given to each truly saved believer for the fulfillment of two purposes, namely:

1. To guide them throughout their Christian walk with Jesus Christ, and their service to God, on earth.
   “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26.
2. To be the divine seal of their redemption.
   Eph. 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
   Eph. 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (NKJV)

Having the Holy Spirit in our life, therefore, is a great asset. However, we must understand that He cannot be compelled to remain with anyone whose ways are not pleasing to God. As He is holy, so must all be holy who want to enjoy His continued presence in their life. They must abstain from sin and also be ready to reprove, not compromise with, anyone who practices it.
“But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3:8.

The Holy Spirit is the true companion of the true Christian. He never leaves nor forsakes us as long as we, too, are willing to submit to His instructions and obey when He leads us.
Where this harmony is achieved between the Holy Spirit and the faithful Christian, our labor for God’s Kingdom becomes joyful and the journey to Heaven easier because He will be with us all through the journey victoriously.
Finally, the Holy Spirit can help us to know God more intimately and to enable us to have a deeper understanding of the yet unseen riches and glories of His eternal Kingdom, if only we can yield completely to Him and give Him the chance to reveal them to us from His own divine perspective as one of the three persons of the Godhead.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

The Christian who embraces and diligently operates in all the four divine resources which God has made available to them will come to fully understand and appreciate God’s grand plan for the redemption and perfection of their soul. Conversely, anyone who falls short of the benefit of the use of even one of them would suffer the lack of the rest, unless they repent of and forsake whatever sin it was that has deprived them of that benefit.

Dear reader, I invite you to get more serious with reading the Word Of God, The Holy Bible, praying in the Name Of Jesus Christ, letting the Blood Of Jesus Christ continually wash your life, and practicing communion with the Holy Spirit all day long. If you can do this effectively, God helping you, you will never lack God’s divine guidance throughout the rest of your life.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21.

Mal.3.16 – “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.
Mal.3.17 – “They will be my people,” says the LORD Almighty. “On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.
Mal.3.18 – Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” NLT

A JEWEL is defined as “a precious stone or a piece of hard, shining mineral cut into shape and polished for use as an ornament for beautifying the body or the home.” Below are some examples of jewels depicted in the writings of the Holy Bible:
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst…” — Revelation 21:19-20 KJV

God’s kingdom is beautified with some of the rarest jewels of inestimable value, as we have seen in the quoted portion of the Scriptures above. But God’s greatest jewels are the redeemed souls of the people who have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and personal Saviour, even as we have read in the opening text above. God says of them:

“And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” — Malachi 3:17 KJV

We can understand from the text as a whole that God is making up His jewels from among the people of the world, and His selection process is still ongoing. He will choose from among the peoples of every nation and tribes of the earth, and the process will be free and fair because God is not biased toward anyone. See Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25. His eyes are constantly roving throughout the earth in search of people who are upright in heart and godly in their character, that He may make them part of His collection of precious jewels, to be redeemed at last from this sinful world and translated into His eternal and glorious heavenly kingdom. As a redeemed soul, you must show yourself capable of good works, through the available grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that you may be among God’s chosen jewels.
“For his eyes (God’s) are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” — Job 34:21 KJV
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” — 2 Chronicles 16:9. KJV

Below are three (3) sub-topics for the purpose of expanding the study for a better understanding:
1. GOD CHOOSES HIS JEWELS BASED ON THEIR WORKS.
Malachi 3:16; 1 Corinthians 3:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10
God looks out for those whose works are acceptable to Him and encourages them to keep up with what they do. They stand a chance of becoming His treasured jewels, whose names He would command to be written before Him for an everlasting record in the Book of Life in heaven.
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God… I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” — Revelation 2:18-19 KJV
As for those whose works are less than acceptable to Him, God gives them a warning to change their sinful habits and unrighteous works so that they could be among His chosen jewels.
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: … I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot… Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear…” — Revelation 3:14-18 KJV

2. GOD TESTS AND PROVES HIS JEWELS BY TRIALS AND HARDSHIP
Zechariah 13:7-9; 1 Peter 1:3-8; 4:12-16
The jewel that shines the brightest is the one on which the craftsman had spent much time polishing it to perfection. Even so, God looks for an opportunity to work more on our lives in order to bring us to perfection, provided we do not deny Him the opportunity, which, sadly, we often do without realizing it.
“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” — Zechariah 13:9 KJV
Trials and hardship help the righteous to re-evaluate their lives in order to refocus, re-strategize, and re-launch their lives into serving God better than ever before. See Hebrews 12:6-11; Revelation 2:8-10; Philippians 3:3
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10 KJV
Patience and endurance in the face of trials will keep us steadfast in the race to heaven and cause us to shine the brightest as God’s own chosen jewels.

3. GOD WILL REWARD HIS TRUSTED JEWELS WITH ETERNAL LIFE
John 10:27-29; Revelation 21:12-14; John 14:1-3; Hebrews 10:35-39
“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 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 10:37-39 KJV.

It may seem like it’s been a long wait for the return of Jesus Christ to take us to heaven, but no matter how long the wait has been, God’s Word assures us that it will soon be over and the Lord will come to take His chosen jewels with Him to heaven. The most important thing for us now is not the long wait, but what we should be doing while waiting for the Lord’s return. See 1 John 3:1-3
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” — 1 John 3:3 KJV.
Our waiting time should be spent mostly in:

1. Pursuing a holy and righteous lifestyle. — Hebrews 12:14
2. Praying, studying the Word of God, and preaching the gospel. — Acts 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 15; 4:1-5

“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” — John 13:17

Matt. 18:32 – “Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.
Matt. 18:33 – Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'”
Matt. 18:34 – Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.
Matt. 18:35 – “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” NLT

Today’s teaching is on the topic of forgiveness, which is now a rare virtue in a hurting, vengeful, and fault-finding world where people look for just anyone to blame for their pain. But, the current situation of the world notwithstanding, our text vividly captures the essence of forgiveness from God’s own viewpoint. He forgives us so that we can, in turn, learn to forgive others. As we practice the virtue of forgiving others for whatever wrongs they have committed against us, God also holds open for us the door to His heart, where we can always find full forgiveness for our own trespasses.
Matt. 6:12 – “…and forgive us our debts, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”
The Lord’s Prayer above makes it clear that we can only ask for God’s forgiveness on the condition that we have also forgiven those who have trespassed against us. However, we must be careful how we practice forgiveness because it must meet certain criteria for it to be acceptable to God.

1. FORGIVENESS THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD:
Matthew 18:35
Forgiveness is a sacrifice; therefore, any forgiveness that is not done with a sacrificial spirit may not have been properly done. Forgiveness is a conscious decision aimed at refraining from the vengeful desire to do any act or say any word to another person that their attitude or action toward us deserves. In exercising forgiveness, we deny ourselves the right to seek redress for any wrong done to us. Although this may not always be easy to do, that is exactly what God’s Word commands us to do in this new dispensation of grace.
In contrast, however, during the old dispensation of the Law, it was proper to seek redress for damages done to one’s person or body because the Old Testament law prescribed “a tooth for a tooth” or “an eye for an eye” as a system of justice. However, Christ’s ministry changed that and instead prescribed forgiveness, even for those we think are undeserving of it.
Matt. 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'”
Matt. 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matt. 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matt. 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
From Jesus Christ’s admonition above, it follows, then, that the common impulsive attitude of first giving vent to our anger before pronouncing forgiveness to our offenders is not acceptable before God on the simple grounds that it was not done sacrificially with love. The only exception to this rule, though, would be in the case where we are not the beneficiaries of such a show of anger. For instance, when we are angry at what is offensive to God, just as Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest of God, did, then the anger would be considered justified, provided we do not allow it to continue after our point is made.
Num. 25:11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them.” (NIV)
Eph. 4:26 – And “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Eph. 4:27 – for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.” NLT

Where we choose to satisfy ourselves by releasing the thunder and volcano within us, we have in effect denied our trespassers the benefit of our forgiveness. In such a case, the sentence of Holy Scripture is clearly spelled out.
Mark 11:26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.” (AMP)

2. FORGIVENESS AS PRACTICED IN THE SCRIPTURES
Having now seen, from the foregoing, the dangers of maintaining an unforgiving attitude, we will do well to fall back to the Scriptures and get ourselves acquainted with the practice of the early saints as it regards forgiveness by studying how they practically applied that principle in their own lives.
The martyr Stephen, as he was being brutally murdered by the people he had wanted to save, did not cry out to God for vengeance against them but pleaded for their forgiveness (Acts 7:54-60).
So, also, in Hebrews 11:36-38, we are given a glimpse of the horrible life which our predecessors were forced to live by unbelievers and the backslidden religious leaders of that time. When strong, able-bodied brothers in the Lord would not retaliate against their persecutors, we can reasonably conclude that their actions were a result of their deep understanding of the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” NLT

Unless we have reached the point in our personal lives where we can honestly say, without fear of being contradicted by our conscience, that we have obeyed Christ just like the early Christians did, we have not practiced forgiveness as God would have us do.

3. FORGIVENESS AS A TOOL FOR WINNING OTHERS TO CHRIST
Love is something you do. There is no better way to show love to your trespassers than by forgiving them unconditionally. An old, popular Christian hymn says, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” More than anything else, forgiving others when we are suffering as a result of their actions tends to melt their hearts and bring them to repentance.
The crowd that cheered and jeered as Jesus Christ hung in agony from His cross was not the same that left the scene of the crucifixion after He had uttered His last prayer for their forgiveness before He died. See Luke 23:20, 21, 33-37, 44-48.
Luke 23:48 – “And when the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw all that had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.” NLT

Paul the Apostle gave wise counsel when he said:
Rom. 12:19 – “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, ‘I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,’ says the Lord.
Rom. 12:20 – Instead, do what the Scriptures say: ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.'”
Rom. 12:21 – Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.” NLT

In practicing the counsel given above, however, we must avoid the error of weaponizing forgiveness against anyone. By that I mean that the end goal of showing kindness to those who offend us should not be to make them feel ashamed or regret their actions against us. It should rather demonstrate our love for them. This is also the reason why God forgives us: that we may know that He still loves us, our sins and shortcomings notwithstanding. This is the reason we must also forgive others, their offenses and uncharitable deeds against us notwithstanding!
Matt. 5:44 – “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Matt. 5:45 – In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.” NLT

When we preach that God loves a cheerful giver, it also includes those who give forgiveness cheerfully!

Evidence abounds not only in print, audio, and visual media, but also from the events of everyday life, that the Rapture, which will herald the coming of the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth, is quite at hand. The strivings among the nations, one against the other, and the degradation of nature, are some of the obvious signs which Jesus Christ had earlier warned His disciples to look out for in judging the imminence of the Rapture and His eventual second coming to rule over the earth.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places…” Matthew 24:7.

Jesus had not only given us the signs to look out for, but also what preparations to make against the yet unknown day of the Rapture. He said to His disciples:

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28.

Below are some of the areas that the children of God should make adequate preparations as they await the events of the rapture:

1. Have a Modest Plan for Your Life. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy 2:1-3
“…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:2b; Luke 21:35.
Keep it simple. Do not get yourself entangled with the things of this life so much that they will demand too much of your attention and time to manage. Remember, you have your soul’s eternal destiny to worry about and your future with Jesus Christ in heaven to prepare for. So do not allow the temporal things of this world to spoil your chances of gaining the eternal ones of heaven.
Luke 21:34 “But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose.” AMP[lest]

2. Be Earnest in Prayer. Psalm 55:16, 17; 5:7; 28:1, 2; Hebrews 5:7-10; Luke 22:39-44; Jeremiah 29:13
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared…” Hebrews 5:7.
Keep praying, not only when you need something from God, but mostly because you want to have and maintain fellowship with Him. You might just be having one of those intimate prayer fellowships with Him one day when the celestial trumpeters will give that distinct blast that will herald the Rapture of God’s saints — and you inclusive — to heaven.
Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Mark 13:33 “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” NKJV

3. Constantly Study the Bible. Acts 17:10, 11; 2 Timothy 2:15; John 5:39
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39.
Read the Holy Bible as if your entire life and hope of heaven depend on it, because it actually does. Let the Word of God guide your steps in the dangerous terrain of this treacherous world because you cannot be too sure what is right to do unless your knowledge of God’s Word comes in handy. Those who presume to navigate life’s complex roads purely on their own initiative, without the light of God’s Word, are bound to fail!
Psalm 119:9 “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules.”
Psalm 119:10 “I have tried my best to find you — don’t let me wander from your commands.”
Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” NLT

4. Be Always Spirit-Filled and Spiritually Conscious. Galatians 5:16, 22-25; Romans 8:1-2, 9-17; Ephesians 4:30
“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
If you want to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, then you have to be on good terms with the Holy Spirit; your life must be conducive for Him to live in. As He is holy, He must, therefore, find your life holy to dwell in also.
One identifying mark of those who are on course to heaven is that they carry the presence of the Holy Spirit, not only in the over-hyped tongue speaking, but in the mostly unsung holy character, which cannot be mistaken for anything else but that it is the very life of God in them!
Galatians 5:22 “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
Galatians 5:23 “gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.”
Galatians 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
Galatians 5:25 “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” NLT

5. Be Ardent in Evangelism. Mark 6:7-13; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; John 4:23-24; Romans 10:14-16
“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” Mark 6:12.
Witnessing to people about the redemption story: how God loved us and sent His Son Jesus Christ to make atonement for our sins, which had hitherto separated us from Him (Isaiah 59:2, John 3:16); how He is transforming sinners into saints as they believe and accept His Son Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of their life (2 Corinthians 5:17); how He is preparing a place for them in heaven, with the promise to return to earth to take them to be with Him in heaven forever (John 14:1-3); that is the primary assignment which Jesus Christ has given to everyone who believes in Him.
Matthew 28:18 “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.’”
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NLT

6. Be in Constant Fellowship with Other Believers. Malachi 3:16, 17; Hebrews 10:23-25
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25.
Keeping in touch with those who practice the Christian faith in truth and sincerity, through church meetings and scheduled visitations, is one sure way to keep yourself spiritually connected, edified, and positively occupied with the things of God while waiting for the Rapture to take place.
Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him.”
Malachi 3:17 “‘They will be my people,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child.’” NLT

7. Have Occasional Personal Retreats. Mark 6:30-32; Luke 4:42
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35.
Withdrawing yourself, once in a while, from the hustle and bustle of your daily activities, in order to wait on God for personal renewal and spiritual refreshment, is a must for every heaven-conscious child of God. This is important because it is often so easy to get too occupied — even with spiritual activities — to notice that we are missing out on some intimate moments with God, like waiting to receive direction for tomorrow from Him, or just wanting to know the next task He has for us to do for Him.
God wants to spend time with us in order to prepare us for the Rapture, but unless we create that time for Him, it will not be possible for Him to easily fulfill that desire.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” MSG

8. Subject Every Doctrine to Rigorous Biblical Scrutiny. 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Ephesians 4:14, 15; Isaiah 8:20; Mark 7:6-13; 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“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.
What you hear and believe becomes what you practice. What you practice becomes your spiritual identity before God and mankind. Your spiritual identity determines your eternal destiny. So, be careful where you attend fellowship and who ministers to you. This is about your eternal destiny. As you would not consciously allow a quack doctor to attend to your health issues, so you should not allow just anyone to guide your spiritual destiny unless you have proven confidence that what they believe, preach, and practice is totally in line with God’s Holy Word.
Luke 8:18 “So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.” NLT

9. Be Careful Who You Partner With In Life Or Ministry. 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Acts 20:28-30; 1 Peter 5:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 18-21; 2 Timothy 2:22
“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22.
You are as good — or otherwise — as the company you keep. Keeping the right friends or having the right partner can add a boost to your hope of heavenly candidacy for the Rapture of the saints.
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.” AMP

10. Render a Good Account of Yourself to All Men. Acts 20:17-38; 1 Timothy 4:12; Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Peter 2:11, 12; Matthew 5:13-16
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12.
What people see and comment about your life might just be a true reflection of how you stand before Almighty God also. So, try and give a good account of yourself wherever you are.
Acts 24:16 “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” NIV

We may not really know the day and time of the rapture of the saints, but knowing that we are daily preparing ourselves for this event can be very comforting to us and inspiring to those who look up to us for hope in a dying and soon-ending world.

“And every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3.

I am continuing this literature with the fifth (5) and last point, having written the first part up to point 4 titled Why The Splitting Of God’s Redemption Plan Into Two Phases Became Necessary. Please, follow me as I explore the fifth point.

5. What All Of This Means For Us Today
In rounding up this work, it is imperative to let the reader know that I have tried my utmost best to avoid being tedious, by trimming down the number of words I needed to use, in order to win their interest, while also at the same time doing justice to this literature by furnishing the reader with enough scriptural proof so that their conviction on the subject would be absolutely based on God’s Word alone. What I have eventually ended up with can best be described as an abridged version of what I would otherwise have written were this to be a fully detailed work.

But, be that as it may, I have kept until now what I would consider the most poignant aspect of the expose, and it has to do with the tragic twist which Satan has subtly introduced into some people’s perception of the redemption project of God. Since knowing that he cannot stop God from carrying out His redemption plan for mankind, Satan has inspired and commissioned an army of false prophets, preachers and teachers to craftfully distort the teaching on the subject of redemption in a way that will be misleading to mankind. Although Jesus Christ and His immediate disciples had earlier given the Church the warning of this impending evil, yet it is sad to admit that, in recent times, the success rate of this satanic campaign to propagate a misleading redemption gospel is alarming. However, and that happily, God has also promised His faithful children that Satan’s efforts would be defeated, nevertheless, and his loyalists judged and punished.

2 Thess. 2:9 – “This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
2 Thess. 2:10 – He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.
2 Thess. 2:11 – So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies.
2 Thess. 2:12 – Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do.” NLT

God has faithfully played His own part in re-opening the way back to His Kingdom, through His redemption road map, to anyone who is willing to faithfully accept and follow it.

Our part now is to diligently study the Holy Scriptures in order to properly acquaint ourselves with the truth it offers with regards to the subject. This has become necessary because the message of God’s redemption through Jesus Christ has been deliberately compromised through some subtle means, which only a diligent study of the Holy Bible, and prayer for God’s guidance on the matter will help unravel.

I have no doubt that there are a lot of sincere people out there who have already accepted, or are really desirous of accepting God’s redemption through Jesus Christ, but unless they’re well guided by God’s Word, they might just be listening to the wrong preachers. To such persons I will recommend that they do the only sensible thing that the scriptures below suggest:

Isa. 8:20 “Tell them, ‘No, we’re going to study the Scriptures.’ People who try the other ways get nowhere — a dead end!” (MSG)
Acts 17:11 – “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. _They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.”_ NLT

Below are some important guides to help the sincere seeker of God’s redemption to successfully navigate through the maze of satanic doctrines which is keeping a lot of people religiously active but, sadly, very far from being truly saved.

1. Avoid Treating Salvation As A Quick Fix Formula To Be Recited
God wants to be intimately connected with the sinner. No one becomes saved because they casually recited the “sinner’s prayer”, even as important as that may be. Every part of the process leading to the salvation of the sinner has its rightful place and time, and must be taken seriously. God respects our choices; no one should be pre-empted into making a decision to accept His redemption when they’re not convinced that they want to do it. The preacher may preach his sermon and make a plea for the sinner to repent and turn their lives over to Jesus Christ. However, that’s as far as they can possibly go: the Holy Spirit will have to finish it up by convicting the sinner of their sin, while also helping them to see their need for God’s forgiveness and salvation. If this happens (as it is bound to happen where the truth is sincerely and faithfully preached) the outpouring of grief and regret over their sins will be noticeable.

Acts 2:37 – “Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’
Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’.”

However, there have been some sad cases where people had been assured that they’d be blessed with finances, or good health, and so on, if only they’d repeat the sinner’s prayer. Well, that may be alright to do if their initial intention in approaching God’s altar was to ask for His forgiveness and accept His redemption; otherwise, using repentance as a leverage to get God’s blessing will not result in a genuine redemption of the soul. The next point below complements this truth.

2. Do Not Seek The Physical Blessing Above The Spiritual New Life
Forget about the much-hyped prosperity gospel as it does little or no good to anyone who wants to be truly redeemed. Do not get me wrong – God has a plan to prosper His children, but only after their redemption has been guaranteed. The proponents of the prosperity gospel will hardly dwell much on that fact because their speeches are focused more on acquiring wealth to live the best life money can afford now. However, a closer look at the gospel of Jesus Christ will show that such a view is not even contemplated in God’s plan for this first phase of His redemption project; it belongs to the second phase. But this does not mean that God will not take care of His children now before the consummation of the second phase, which is the restoration of redeemed mankind’s lost glory and prosperity in the new heaven and new earth; it just means that He will restrict that care to just their needs, not their wants. There’s a world of difference between the two, namely:

i. A person’s needs are those things that are essential for their daily survival and functioning. They’re the basic necessities of life — the continued deprivation of which could jeopardize a person’s existence. God’s Word focuses on just two of them, namely: food and clothing.
1 Tim. 6:8 – “So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”
In the Holy Bible God’s Word promises to meet those basic needs, (not our wants) if we give priority to seeking His Kingdom’s interest.
Matt. 6:31 – “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.
Matt. 6:32 – Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs,
Matt. 6:33 – and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” NLT

You’ll have noticed already that the emphasis above is on those two basic needs of mankind and, even at that, God still says we should not freak out when they seem to be lacking because He’d supply them to us.

Consider also Apostle Paul’s admonition to the Christians at Philippi below:
Phil. 4:19 – “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” NLT

Notice also that the promise made is to supply our needs. However, in contrast, let us consider below what God’s Word says about wants.

ii. A person’s want is any thing they desire in order to improve the quality of their physical life, the deprivation of which can only cause some temporary inconveniences or disappointments, but certainly not a threat to their existence. While some of our wants are tolerable with God, however, man’s disposition towards acquiring them might not be. For instance, the excessive desire among mankind for riches, fame, beauty, fancy clothes, lavish vacations, luxurious lifestyle (the list goes on!) are just some of the wants the mind craves for. However, they’re not part of the basic needs of life; rather, they’re the desires which feed the lust and pride of the unregenerate mind of the unredeemed person; it is akin to that same spiritually unnecessary desire which the deceptive words of the devil diffused into the mind of Eve at Eden, which led to her corruption.
1 Tim. 6:9 “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (NIV)

The Holy Bible seriously warns against indulging those desires because they’re a distraction to the first phase of God’s redemption plan for mankind, which is mainly the restoration of mankind’s corrupted spirit back to a semblance of God’s image and likeness. God wants the redeemed Christian to be mainly focused on seeing the accomplishment of His work of grace in their life, while trusting in Him to take care of their needs. But if we follow the error of the prosperity gospel, by craving for the gold and glory of this present sinful world (which indeed God plans to give us, but in the future fully restored new world) then we’d still remain corrupted and be thrown off His plan for good. That’d be very, very sad!
Rom. 8:8 – “That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

If we truly love God’s plan of salvation for us, we’d follow it all through faithfully, not minding the sacrifices it requires.
1 John 2:15 – Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.
1 John 2:16 – For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.
1 John 2:17 – And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” NLT

Let’s put the view above into context: imagine that a house with people inside is on fire and a rescue effort is being launched; what do you think would be the rescuers’ first instinct?
To save the people, of course! Once they’d achieved that, then they could shift attention to the house itself. But would that move mean that the house is not important also? Of course not! It simply means that on the scale of preference, the occupants’ lives come first. In much the same way God wants us to be focused on the redemption of the soul over and above the gratification of the body as this is the priority in His scale of preference, with regards to His redemption project. If the soul is redeemed in this first phase of the project, it will eventually successfully transition into the second phase, in God’s new world, where all the deprivation it had earlier endured would be more than compensated for.
2 Cor. 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Cor. 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (NIV)

3. Do Not Compromise On Holiness
Heb. 12:14 – “Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” NLT

Holiness is the absence of corruption in the God-image and God-likeness in which God created mankind. We know, however, that earlier on from the beginning sin had brought corruption upon them. So to be holy, therefore, means to be transformed into God’s image and likeness once again.
Lev. 20:7 “Set yourselves apart for a holy life. Live a holy life, because I am GOD, your God.” (MSG)
You’re under probation: from the first day you turned your life over to Jesus Christ for redemption, until the day you leave this world (either by natural death or by the rapture of the church), heaven counts on you to work out, on your own part, God’s redemption plan for your own salvation. Your personal choices play a very important role here.
Phil. 2:12 “Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).” (AMP)

Those who eventually transition into the next phase of God’s redemption plan (from this sinful and chaotic world) would be the ones whose lifetime on earth was carefully spent in alignment with God’s will, purpose and plan for them. Such a life would include the scrutiny of both your inward and outward, or public and secret life. It will affect your choice of friends, entertainment, adornment, career, etc. Simply put, living a holy life means living entirely for God’s glory, and not for your own pleasure.
Col. 3:17 “Let every detail in your lives — words, actions, whatever — be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” (MSG)
In essence, whatever God’s Word does not approve of is not right to do for the person who wants to be holy.

Satan has raised preachers who strongly preach against the need for living a holy life, wrongly stressing that God’s grace, as a covering for man’s shortcomings, has taken care of that. At first that might sound right and reassuring, but wait! Does it agree with the scriptures of truth, by which we are made wise for the salvation of our soul? 2 Timothy 3:15. I do not believe that is the scriptural view of the workings of God’s grace. That’s almost the same thing as saying that because you have a laundry soap, or detergent, stored up in your house, your clothes would never get dirty anymore, no matter how careless you are wearing them. Grace is not an immunization against sin but, rather, a divine empowerment with the knowledge to not sin.
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” (NIV)
If Grace immunizes against sin, as some Preachers seem to make it look, then there’d be no more need to watch against being contaminated with the sins of this world, as we are being admonished throughout the Holy Scriptures. But no! Grace is not a safeguard against sin as vaccines are against diseases. Grace, instead, teaches you to stay holy after you have been washed clean from your sins.
1 John 5:18 “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” (NKJV)

In conclusion, I want to say that the above three sub-points under this fifth final point, are not the exclusive things to watch out for against the wiles of Satan, but they’re some of the most important. If anyone starts off wrongly in the redemption road to salvation, chases around the temporal blessings they see, and lives an unholy, unprincipled loose life, they’d no doubt miss out on God’s road map to redemption.

With much prayer and sincere longings, the Holy Spirit will guide the genuine Seeker into more truths.
The End