By: J.O. Lawal
Date: January 17, 2021
Series: From Pastor’s Desk
Number: Vol. 9, No. 37
Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I am delighted to welcome you to this new week and pray that your heart will be strengthened to walk in the fullness of God’s purpose for your life all through the week and the remaining part of the year, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
As we begin this week, I want to remind you of the words of our Lord Jesus, which say, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8NIV) Who did He say these words to? His first set of disciples! What did He say that they would receive, when the Spirit of God comes on them? Power! And what kind of power did He say that they would receive? It was God’s divine power to live as victors over sin and over the devil and all his works here on earth.
Now did these disciples receive this power, just as the Lord had promised them? Yes, they did! They received the power of God into their lives the very day the Holy Spirit was poured out on them (Acts 2:1-4). And from that time on, life was no longer business as usual for them. First, they began to live differently, in love and in the righteousness of God and in boldness. I mean that all these men and women, who were once selfish and loaded with all kinds of immoral ways, began to sell their things to take care of others and to live for the sole purpose of pleasing God. And that was because they were strengthened in their hearts with God’s power by the Holy Spirit in them. (Cf. Acts 2:44-46 & 4:32-37)
Then these brethren began to proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ and to frustrate and destroy the works of the devil everywhere they went. They had lived all their lives in fear of the devil and his wicked works before they met Jesus and were eventually filled with the Holy Spirit of God. But having been filled with the Spirit of God, they received the power of God to lose their fear of the devil and his works and their fear of men and their wickedness. So, everywhere they went, they boldly proclaimed Jesus and also set people free from Satan and his demons. (Cf. Acts 2:43, 4:31-33 & 5:12-16)
In like manner, as many of us that have received the Holy Spirit today have also received God’s power to live the way those disciples of old lived. We too have received God’s power to reject a life of unrighteousness and live in the love and righteousness of God every day. And if we are not walking in the love of God and practising His righteousness, it will not be because we are powerless to do so; rather, it will either be because we have refused to take advantage of His power in us or are totally ignorant that we now possess His very power in our lives.
Also, we have received His power to lose whatever fear we have of the devil and his demons and destroy their works wherever we go. I mean that we now have at work in us God’s power to heal the sick, raised the dead, drive out demons and even destroy bad habits in people’s lives. And remember that Jesus says,
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19NIV) So, it is totally unacceptable for us to still be living in fear of Satan, his demons, witches, wizards or any other worker of wickedness. What we need is to learn to utilise the power and authority that we already have to put these beings where they belong in our lives and affairs –under our feet (Rom 16:20).
Now how do we utilise God’s authority and power that are now ours? One way to do this is through prayer. James tells us in his epistle that the prayer of a righteous person makes tremendous power available and is dynamic in its working (James 5:16). In other words, each time we pray in accordance with the will of God, His power is released to bring about His will in our lives or world and to frustrate the works of the devil. So, if you want to continually see a mighty release of God’s power through your life, pray without ceasing. Another way to put to work God’s power and authority in our lives is to constantly speak His word to our situations. And we will speak His word to our situations, if we truly believe that it is true and will not fail (2Cor 4:13). Do you, for instance, believe that in Christ Jesus you are a master to Satan, his demons, witches, wizards, sicknesses, diseases and so forth? If you do, then, you will not hesitate to command them to stop their works wherever you come in contact with them.
So, as you go this week, make up your mind that you will take advantage of God’s power and authority that are already yours in Christ Jesus to enforce His will in your life and in your world. And remember that you are not alone in all this. The Spirit of God is in you and with you and will strengthen you to do what is right, as long as you are willing.
Do have a miracle filled week.
Copyright © 2021, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com/alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)