Matters of the Kingdom (furnished unto good works)
Read time: 4 mins
Anchor Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Peter 1:1-8, Colossians 1:9-10
Introduction
God's desire is for believers to mature, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of Christ. The outcomes we seek depend on a specific kind of knowledge, often called spiritual light (Jeremiah 15:16). It is the understanding and practical application of this knowledge that brings transformation in our lives. Any knowledge that lacks this profitability is false light, but true light always dispels darkness (John 1:5).
Understanding your identity in Christ
We are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus the Christ, sharing in all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-7). As believers in Christ, we are privileged to enjoy many blessings, ultimately culminating in dominion (Romans 8:16-18). Through redemption, believers are granted access to seven dimensions of dominion:
i. Sin: We overcome the nature of sin by receiving Christ’s nature through repentance. By confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
ii. Death:
iii. Satan:
iv. Hell (Understood as a spiritual condition, not a physical location):
v. The grave:
vi. The World System: Dominated by renewing our minds through scriptural based transformation. (Romans 12:2).
vii. The Flesh: Subdued by daily dying to self in Christ.
Through grace, we are called to share in the life of Christ (Ephesians 1:8) and by mercy, we are invited into this redemptive relationship (Ephesians 1:7). Each of these dimensions is available to us, and our access to them reflects God’s intent for our lives, regardless of any struggles to fully realize them. John 3:16. It is a law that whosoever believes in him should not perish (spiritual death).
Believers hold a positional advantage: We are raised and seated with Christ in heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6) and co-heirs with access to divine wisdom, power, and glory.
Understanding how to obtain results with the word, Colossians 1:10
1. Access to the word of God: The word is the foundation (raw material) for obtaining results (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). Finding the right word gives us the “raw material” for success. God’s Word is both a Person (Jesus Christ) and a collection of his speaking, will and thoughts (the Logos). This dimension of the Word is known as the incorruptible seed, and we live and thrive by it (Matthew 4:4). All fruits come from seed. (1 Peter 1:23). The word breaks the barriers of complexes and every limiting belief systems. Its first assignment is internal transformation – building faith within us (James 1:1-4) so that it can work for us, enabling us to obtain promises like the elders of faith (See the message The Other side of faith).
Two Key Tests for Obtaining Promises:
i. Consistency with the word of God: Our requests must align with God’s will, which is clearly captured in Scripture. For any desired result, we must find the specific word that reveals God’s intention, whether for healing, prosperity, or favour. This alignment connects us to the light of our inheritance.
ii. God’s glory as the primary motive: We should desire results that glorify God, not those motivated by personal ambition, envy, or lust (James 4:3).
2. Find the condition that commits God to perform. We must find the conditions that engage God’s commitment to perform His word. Through the Spirit of understanding, we connect by faith to these conditions, engaging principles like diligence, responsibility, and excellence. This step is grace-dependent and is key to manifesting results.
3. The power of God: The power of God follows the priority of His Word. As we engage with the Word, we activate God’s power (Deuteronomy 28:1), which works through our obedience to His Word.
4. Understanding God's end time program – See the message titled Come up Hither, The Sounds of Revival, UK Canada, USA.
Understanding how to resist the devil: James 4:7 – Resist the devil
Satan uses various strategies to attack believers, reflected in the names that Scripture gives him them (1 Peter 8:8-9):
The Accuser of Brethren (Revelation 12:10). Satan brings accusations to create guilt and weaken believers’ assurance in god’s forgiveness.
The Deceiver: Satan uses deception to distort truth, leading believers away from God’s will.
The Adversary: Satan opposes believers, attempting to obstruct God’s plans for them.
The Thief (John 10:10): Satan aims to steal, kill, destroy, lie, and manipulate to rob us of what God has given. He targets several key areas:
i. Passion and Zeal for God: This is Satan’s primary target because a stolen passion limits a believers’ spiritual potential (Jeremiah 29:13-15; 2 Chronicles 15:12). Guarding our heart means guarding our passion for God (Proverbs 4:23).
ii. Spiritual Understanding: The enemy seeks to disrupt our capacity to understand spiritual truths. Often, this is done by creating offence toward those who teach us. Rejecting offence helps protect our spiritual understanding (Galatians 4:1).
iii. Confidence in God’s Word: Undermining our faith in God’s integrity weakens our trust in His promises. Sharing testimonies restores faith and counters the enemy’s attack (Luke 22:31-32; Hebrews 10:38).
iv. Joy: Satan targets our Joy, a vital element for spiritual harvest (Joel 1:12; Isaiah 12:3; Nehemiah 8:10b). Joy creates an atmosphere for receiving from God, and thanksgiving is a powerful tool to sustain our joy.
v. Time (years): The enemy uses distractions to steal our time, often through misuse of social media and other distractions, reducing our productivity and spiritual focus.
Conclusion
To effectively resist the devil, we must be aware of these strategies and guard what he seeks to steal. By maintaining zeal, understanding, faith, joy, and wise use of time, we fortify ourselves against his attacks.
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SUMMARISED BY:
Christopher Godswill Orji
Founder IPray Daily. A lover of God and a passionate advocate for the manifestation of the power of the God of the Bible.