If there is anything I wish to God the Christian would accept, it is the fact that He has been given a heritage in the King domain of God. The truth of God’s word is that you and I have escaped the corruption of this world and have been made partakers of God’s own divine nature.
Ephesians 2:2 says Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
I love the way our walk was described …“in time past”.
Today we take a peep into the fact that the Christian has been set free from all powers of the evil one and we begin this discussion by referring to a parable of Jesus. The scene was not a favourite for the Pharisee’s. Jesus had made numerous comments about the unfaithfulness and the hard impenitent nature of their hearts. But then he capped it up with this parable describing the man possessed of evil. I have heard many make reference or even sight this parable in discussing about how the Christian ought to take heed lest he is possessed of a devil. A close look at the Word shows however we ought to take heed how we attribute all statements as being descriptive of the man born again.
Verse 44 of the 12th chapter of Mathew is insightful. The word of God says that unclean spirit came and findeth the place empty, swept and garnished.
We see from God’s word certain attributes of the Christian who is born of God. But the word “empty” is not found as an attribute of the man born again. You are not empty waiting to be filled with any thing that may just pass by. You are not a holiday resort for the devil and his cohorts.
If anything we realize that for being a child of God in Glory, the Christian has received the full measure of God’s spirit.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Gal 4:6
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1st John 4:13
God has filled you through and through. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:16 You are not empty rather you possess in you the very life of God.
The word of God is explicit on the fact that the life of the Christian is hid in Christ and in God. Let’s see what Col 1:14 says Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Once you and I were not the people of God but now are we His people that we may show forth the excellent virtues of the one who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. For “In Christ was life and this life is the light of men the light shineth in the darkness and darkness could not comprehend it not”.
You and I are not empty. I wish to God you would understand that in you is the life of God. Bible says this is the record that God has given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son Christ Jesus. Consider the fact that you have not received the Spirit which is if this world but the sprit which is of God. This is what you and I now possess as a heritage.
Dear believer, before you consider seeking for deliverance, realize you ought to ask yourself this question – Do I know the kind of Spirit I have been made of?
You’ve been delivered dear friend.
– Dr bolaji akanni
Are you worried at all this New Year?
Are your enemies too much for you?
He says: “…and they that strive with thee shall perish” Isaiah 41:11
Do you feel alone?
He assures: “…I the God of Isreal will not forsake them” Isaiah 41:17
Do you think that task is impossible?
He says: “…I will make the wilderness a pool of water” Isaiah 41: 18
Is the path slippery and you think you may fall?
He says: “…and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee” Isaiah 42:6
Do you think that fire would burn you?
His words: “…when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned” Isaiah 43:2
Is your life under threat?
He vows: “…therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life” Isaiah 43:4
Thinking He did same in the past and might not help this time around?
He promises: “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing” Isaiah 43:18,19.
Wondering if your finances would be enough?
He says: “And I will give thee the measures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places” Isaiah 45:3
Afraid your past sins might keep Him away from you?
He reminds: “I girded thee, though thou has not known me” Isaiah 45:5
What shall we then say…If God be for us, who can be against us?…He that spared not his own Son…how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8: 31-39)
The one who watches over Israel is telling you today: “…Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13)
– justoc okenna igbokwe
I have come to realize bible reading is much more than reading to be able to parrot back. But bible reading involves a study of the bible with a heart ready to receive and be instructed in what the Word says we are. We can’t truly have made a study when we walk in contradiction to what we have read. There must be a saving of the souls in accordance with the word. There must be an awakening unto transformation in line with the word. This is the will of God.
It should be hard for us to see what the word says about us and walk contrary. We should find it difficult to lay hold on hate when the word says we ought to love.
We should find it hard to live sinfully knowing that we have received the very nature of God. This awareness comes to bear on us from a proper study of the bible.
Just as a man finds it difficult to wear bra and put on lipsticks so also we should not be comfortable discovering who we are in Christ and walking in opposition to it. A walk outside of who we have been made in Christ is a walk out of reality.
Learn to read your bible with a view to walking as God as made you. “… And if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ”. (Eph 3:4 – Good News Bible)
– Dr bolaji akanni
If it ever would and not when it does!!!
This insight came to mind while praying and I am overwhelmed to have the opportunity of sharing it with you. It is remarkable to find out that God’s Word addresses us in view of our eternal heritage in Christ Jesus.
You and I were not made for mistakes rather we have the seed of God on our inside which is pure, holy and undefiled. I noticed with such joy how that when sins (act of omission or commission) are mentioned with respect to the believer, God’s word uses the word “if” and not “when”. “When” presupposes that an event is bound to happen. However, the word “if” is used to make us realize the uncertainty of a Christian sinning.
1st John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And ifany man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, … [Gal 6:1]
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, … [Jam 5:19]
For if we sin willfully… [Heb 10:26]
If they shall fall away, [Heb 6:6]
You and I are not bound to sin. Sin does not have dominion over us. Rather we are dead to sin. We have that choice to say “Yes” and “No” and thank God for his enablement. Have you pondered over scriptures? The bible says that he has made us a peculiar people zealous for Good works. It is he who works within us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure.
Ephesians describes us that we are God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus unto Good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
You were not made for destruction. God is not apprehensive over you for he knows what he has deposited within you. You were not made to fall. In fact, you were not made for that fall. The Christian is to live a victorious life in God for he has been set free from the bondage of sin that he had no power against.
No wonder scripture is replete with verses giving insight into all you now have and the victorious path which you walk. The best you have for a man that falls is encouragement to rise up for he was not made for that mire.
You and I have partaken of the glory of God. Let this manifest always. Do not be deceived. You have been set free to live a life of righteousness. Those thoughts and habits don’t define you. What defines you is the Word. Lay them aside and walk in the reality of who God has made you.
– Dr bolaji akanni
Do you want to spoil a birthday party? Scream aloud “How many people are Saints here?” Music stops and were you to see the chaos you caused in the minds of those gathered you would wish for time to travel back.
But this tag which others have found so difficult to identify with is Paul’s opening address in a great deal of his letters even to a church as the Corinthian church. This lends credence to the fact that we ought to identify with the Word of God and not in the supposed meekness of our imagination.
1st Corinthians 1:1 bear record of Paul’s address under inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He addressed Ephesians (Eph. 1:1 – 2), Colossians (Col. 1:2), Philippians (Phil. 1:1), Corinthians (1st Cor. 1:1 – 2), Romans (Rom 1:7), as Saints. And it is really nothing to be amazed about because anyone born again is a Saint. 1st Corinthians 1:2 … ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours’
This is because the man born gain has passed from death to life, from light to darkness. Once we were darkness but now are we children of light. The very core of our being radiates the very light of God.
Even the Corinthian church with their track record were reminded that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Spirit had washed them and made them holy and acceptable to God.
The exception to a saintly behavior should not becloud our vision or be taken as the norm outside the rule of God.
I personally loved to make various animal calls delighting in the puzzled looks of my puppy and the chickens. One of the animal calls I made with such ease was that of a cock crowing. So easily those unknowing cocks responded to one they thought was a brother in companion. But in spite of this “gifting” I did not deny my humanity. I didn’t suddenly view myself as a cock in the midst of chickens or humans alike.
So also you are; in spite of your shortcomings, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. No wonder Hebrews 3 and verse 1 says “wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”
1st John 4:17b says “…as God is so are we upon the face of the earth”.
Principles from scriptures says it is from this view we should act and not the other way round i.e. not a sinner who should celebrate every good He does in Christ as some rare feat rather as a Saint who when He is told to bask a little in what he has done would hastily reply “what else did you expect?”
Finally let us remind ourselves of an admonition in Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 3. He said “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” Consider verse 3 –He said fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you as becometh saints. Simply because you are a SAINT. Don’t let anyone mislead you into some false humility. This is who you are in Christ Jesus.
– Dr bolaji akanni
When I spoke on access sometime and I wanted to just quickly remind us that the access you and I have to God does not presuppose that we may at other times not be in union with God.
In simple terms you and I are not accessing God. Rather we have been given access. There is a whole lot of difference between I am entering occasionally into a place and when I have entered or rather I am in a place.
Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God by whom also we have access by faith into this Grace that we now stand in. Rom 5:1
This brings me also to a very important fact. Do you realize you are a carrier of the presence God? I know God may have been designated to various locations or coordinates and you may have even been taught various means of trying to get to God. But scriptures reveal that the man who is born again is the dwelling place of God.
Consider for a moment 1st Corinthians 2:11 – 12: For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit.
But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
Sometime ago I rushed to get to church. I couldn’t wait to get inside those four walls and start praying. I was rushing to leave my house and get off to church where I could start praying till it struck me. God does not dwell in temples made by human hands (Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24). I am the carrier of the presence of God.
Till it struck me how could I not have realized that I am the temple of God and God’s spirit indwells me? (1st Cor. 3:16, 1st Cor. 6:19)
Till it struck me … neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. And I am that circumcision that worships God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. (John 4:22 – 24, Phil 3:3)
Till it struck me, it is in God that I live move and have my being. Acts 17:28
Till it struck me, His spirit is not here for a while but is abiding forever in me. John 14:16 – 18
Friends, the man born again who is you and I if you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ have been sealed with the Spirit of God (Eph 1:13). God’s spirit indwells us now. We have all been made to drink into this same spirit of God.
When I hear people refer to a national carrier as the plane or ship that is of the official vessel country (Bearing the countries logo, etc). I marvel at the awesome wonder of God in making the Christian a carrier; not of a logo, but of the presence of God.
And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive……) John 7:37 – 39b
Have you believed? You have received this spirit.
Dr bolaji akanni
I don’t know about you but I am deeply encouraged by the articles on prayer. You might want to check Prayers in the Lifeline Centre.
It keeps reminding me of the glorious heritage we have in Christ Jesus. That is access. Access; not to a representation of God as it was in the Old Testament, but access to God himself. You and I have been ushered into the very presence of God. I just love it. Think of this – It is in Him we live, we move and we have our being Acts 17:28. I love the last part – it is in God I have my very existence. Col 3:3 says our life is hid in Christ with God. There is no struggle here. I am not attempting to get in. I am in already.
Is this a feeling I should have only at the place of prayer? No!! It is not even a feeling it is the consciousness that anywhere, I am in constant communion, fellowship, bond with the father. It is in actual sense the reality of my being. Eph 2:6 says that you and I have been raised up together with Christ Jesus and have been made to sit together with him in heavenly places. Verse 22 says that we are being built a spiritual temple for the habitation of God through the Spirit. Friends, we are in.
Away with that beggarly mentality of trying always to get in somehow by hook or crook. Through songs and tears. But you don’t need to ‘tear’ your way in. Romans 5:1 says that since we have been made righteous by faith we have access by faith into this grace that we now stand in. This is the reality friends we have access like none other.
Heb 12:18 – 22 says it in a way I love. After comparing the events at Mount Sinai – unlike the children of Israel who were told expressly not to approach the mount, a phrase is used to describe us. He (the writer of Hebrews) says WE HAVE COME (toMount Zion, to the city of the living God). I am not coming, I shall not come, I will not be coming. I HAVE COME
This is our heritage friends. What an access. This would re-order your prayers. Relate with Him as a father. Don’t fear. You are not afar off. You have been brought near.
Remember, He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit together with Him. 1st Cor. 6:17
– Dr bolaji akanni
The reason you are not in Heaven after believing Jesus Christ is to carry out a work. This work otherwise called the ministry is to let every man understand what it is God has done in Christ Jesus.
It may come in various forms, through separate means but the aim is to get another person to partake of this glorious grace that we have been called into. The only means however is by preaching the Gospel to them. It has pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those that would believe.
How would they believe friends if they don’t hear? How would they hear if no one goes to tell them? All of us big, small, known, unknown, clergy, laity has been given this responsibility. This is work for the congregation and for the pastors, for leaders and for followers. No one is left out.
The aim here friends is not primarily to make a man a member of your church. While this may serve as a means to him hearing the truth of the lord and saviour Jesus Christ, the issue more importantly is for him to hear the message of salvation. This is of paramount importance. So much the more that barely after being told of who we have been made in Jesus we are immediately informed of this new responsibility.
Don’t wait for a congregation. Don’t wait for a pulpit. Tell that person beside you. Tell him about the glorious work of Jesus.
– Dr bolaji akanni
We are living in a day and age where everything is customized. From T – shirts, to shoes. Even haircuts. Nobody likes to be among the majority. Everybody wants to have his own version of everything. “I am doing it this way because that is the way I want it” is a popular expression. That is the way I like it.
A problem however is that Christianity is now also being defined by the person. Each person has his own idea of how he ought to live as a Christian. Haven’t you heard “Well that is my own way of loving, I cannot kill myself”. Or “I cannot do what he is doing as a Christian but I can do this one”.
Christianity however is beyond what each of us wants to make of it. It is a life and not a religion that considers the input of each individual person. It is not defined by factions or by groups. Not by a person.
Rather we all have been called into a unique lifestyle. The very life of God. I love the way Ephesians 4:20 puts it … ‘you have not so learned Christ’. It is he who defined the standard when he birthed us as new creatures. While your personal opinion is important. It is given significance only when it has been subjected to the will of God in Christ Jesus.
The early church all walked with oneness by giving heed to the apostles’ doctrine. Let us learn to peer over the word understanding who we have been made in Christ. Let us learn to exalt the word above our differences. Let us learn to exalt the new creature above our desires or our shortcomings.
Let us learn only to walk according to one rule. That is the rule of the new creature. Gal 5:15 – 16
Peace
Dr bolaji akanni
– anonymous |