WRITE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS HERE(Put Your WhatsApp Number))

Name

Email *

Message *

Every genuine Christian hates backsliding. The mere mentioning of the word should fill a good believer with holy anger and grave watchfulness. 
1.    Result of Backsliding

(a)     Captivity and demonic oppression. Judges 4:1-3, 6: 1-6
When there is backsliding, God stops defending the backsliding and he becomes an easy prey for the enemy. The man who has been binding the devil before automatically enters into bondage.
(b)    Loss of divine provision:  Luke 15: 13 – 16. When the prodigal son moved far from the father, he entered into a season of “want”
        Provision is only sure when God is your shepherd.
(c)Unanswered Prayers:  I Sam. 28:6, Ps. 66:18, Prov 1:24, 28. When you begin to forsake the Lord, heaven is not obliged to hearken to your voice.
(d) Selfishness: Prov 14:14. A backslider will no longer be concerned with the things of God or fellow brethren. He regards his life first and all other things are secondary.
(e)Unfitness for the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:52, Rev. 3:16, Ex. 32: 33 Heb. 10:26-29. No backslider has right to eternal life; he has forfeited his heavenly inheritance and is lost forever. The door of mercy is closed and the kindness of the Almighty is kept at bay.
(f)Loss of Spiritual Power
(g)Loss of inner peace
(h)Loss of joy of salvation. Psalm 51:8, 12

II CURE FOR BACKSLIDING
The cross of Calvary is not only for salvation, it is also for restoration. The Like’s account of the prodigal son reveals the basic steps a backslider must take in order to get back home.
1.    Realization (Luke 15: 17). The backsliding must recognize his spiritual state. Without realization there is no recovery.
2.    Resolution: (Luke 15: 18). There is  the need to make a concrete decision to go back.
3.    Repentance: The backsliding must confess to God and be sorrowful for his sins (v. 18) Hosea 14: 1-2
4.    Renunciation: With the words of mouth, sins must be disowned. Luke 15: 18 – 21
5.    Reception: Christ must be received again like a small baby. John 1:12

The promise of God to backsliders remain: Jer. 3: 22, Hosea 14:4
Text:I Cor.10:12, Jude 11:16
Generally speaking, backsliding means turning away from the Lord. It refers to growing cold, losing interest in the Lord, the Bible, church attendance, prayer, witnessing and turning to the world and the old way of life.  (I King  11: 9, Rev.  2:4)
There are many things that ultimately result into backsliding, as you know, “curse causeless shall not come”1.    Love of the world. II Tim.  4:10, Ex. 32: 4- 6, I John 2: 15 – 17, I Sam 8:5.
Wanting to be like other “nations” in dressing, celebrations, conversations, and in marriage will take the Christian straight into the midst of the world. When Demas loved the world, he departed from God.
2.    Love of Money.  John 13:29,  I Tim 6: 9-10.  Some people are too desperate  to get money. Reckless pursuit of money is sure to take any Christian away from grace. We all need money, but the love of God should be supreme in our heart.
3.    Prayerlessness.  Heb 4:14 –16, 2 Cor. 10:3-5. The devil seeks to bring the believer down he can however be solidly resisted through prayers.
4.    Evil Association. I Kings 11: 4, John 18: 17, 25. I Cor. 15: 33, Prov. 13:20. Sin is contagious. If you associate with the wicked, you may soon learn their wicked acts. Evil companionship pollutes good men.
5.    Fear of Man. Matt 26:70 – 74. Fear of persecution, attack, and parental rejection has made many to look back into the world.
6.    Desire to be Independent. Luke 15: 12 -1 3. When a Christian begins to think that no one can really direct his life, when he begins to think he is mature enough to be independent without spiritual supervision, he is in for a fall.
7.    Other causes
(a)    Failure to read the Bible for spiritual instruction. John 5:39, 2 Tim 2:15.
(b)    Lack of spiritual growth. Once there is no growth, there will be death. There must be concrete attempt at spiritual growth.
(c)    Failure to maintain quiet time. Quite time is necessary to receive daily strength and guidance.  Without it becomes easily to enter into the devil’s trap.
(d)    Forsaking church attendance (Heb 10:25). There is a power obtainable from corporate worship, without it the Christian life become dull.
(e)    Not having spiritual partners – when you walk alone you
suffer alone. You need spiritual partners of the same sex to pray and share together. Ecc. 4:9-12
 (f)    Disobedience to the spirit of God.
Please take note that when causes are taken care of curse will not come.


Here is the summary of the second part of the teaching on 'The Man God Uses'
Main Text: Ezekiel 22:30

Characteristics Of Men That God Can Use
1.    A man willing to be used
2.    God uses people who are willing to serve him in small things faithfully.
3.    The man who is a good steward over what He has put him over.
4.    A man who has known the Lord.
5.    A man who relies upon God in regular fervent prayer.
6.    A man who trust God’s word, a man of the word.
7.    A man who is obedient to His Lord.
8.    A man who is led by the Holy Spirit.
9.    A man who is not seeking his own glory but seeking only to bring Glory to God.
10.    A man who is willing to suffer persecution..
11.    A man who will rather obey God rather than man. An uncompromising man.

Why People Don’t Serve God
1.    Poor self image
2.    Inadequacy.
3.    Weakness
4.    Negative programming
5.    Fear.
6.    Laziness
7.    Sin
8.    Self – centeredness

Determining Factors (How much God can use a man)

1.    Potential.
2.    Availability
3.    Humility
4.    Purity.
The work of God is plenteous, a lot of harvest need to be done.
…Carriers are shattered; a man must go and mend them
…Homes are broken; a man must rise and specialize in repairing.
… Demons are on riot, a man is needed who will be angry and begin to set captive free.
… Children are been led astray by school mates and home video, God needs a man to go head long to the children and disciple them.
… A lot of Christians are shallow, God is in need of a man who will disciple them.

God sought for a man:  you said one man? yeah I mean one man.
What can one man do: Plenty, plenty, plenty

Examples Of What One Man Can Do
1.    One man challenged Pharaoh and release the children of Isreal….. Moses
2.    One man interceded for a ship on the high sea and an angel came down to keep them from destruction (Act 27)
3.    One man stood face to face with Goliath and removed a reproach from the people of God ……. David.
4.    One man started a whole nation when God was looking for a people to be called by his name.
5.    One man destroyed hundred of false prophets and brought honor to the name of God …….. Elijah.
6.    One man restricted the destructive propensity of the enemy and saved a whole race from annihilation……. Modecai
7.    One man yeah one man when the whole mankind was to be destroyed because of evil, one man build the art……… Noah.

Year one man can plant a church, one man can build a house fellowship, one man can preach the gospel, one man can mobilize the prayer giants.

Remember the one God uses.
I Cor 1:22 – 31
God choose the people we will never choose, God look at things we never see, God does not choose men based on their wisdom and he choose those we think are nonentities. Or what will you say about:
            Rahab ----------------------- An harlot
            Esther ----------------------  An orphan
            Paul -------------------- A persecutor and a murderer
Many were available and did their part.
John Wesley, Founder of Methodist movement rode 20 miles a day for 40 years, preached 40,000 sermons, wrote 400 books.
An Englishman was traveling through the country side and stopped and asked a man on the road, why is it that I can’t find a place where I can drink beer in this wretched village. the peasant laughed: Well you see my Lord, about 100 years ago a man named John Wesley came to this place to preach.

God Uses The Available
DL Moody could not pronounce dannal (Daniel). He made a difference.
Smith Wigglesworth …. First 25 years he and his wife ministered, his wife was the one preaching, he takes care of the children.
His wife taught him ABC, he was a plumber but mightily used by God.

What Kind of Man Will God Use?
… A man who is not afraid
… A man who gives his all
… A man who will never give up.


Demons are wicked spiritual forces.  And when humans are under their influence, there are signs (physical, psychological and spiritual) that will most of the time be obvious.
However in trying to know whether some symptoms are typical of demonic influence or not, one should differentiate carefully between the works of the devil and the works of the flesh.
I FLESH OR DEMONS
Many people attribute to the devil things that are really nothing more than the works of the flesh.
If anything is a demonic problem, the demon should be cast out, but as far as the works or the lusts of the flesh is concerned it is to be put off.
The flesh has its own lusts.  (II Pet. 2:11, Eph. 2:3, 4:22) because It is degenerate, it is never born again.  The only way you won’t have problems with the flesh (and even Satan) is to die and leave this world.  However, we all have the choice to allow the flesh to dominate us or to keep it under control. (Rom. 8:12-13
Common confusing works of he flesh    
·    Anger
Most cases of anger are not in anyway demonic.  If you let the flesh dominate you, you can lose control of your temper and do or say things you will forever  regret. Eph. 4:26: Means if you get angry about something you don’t have to let  your flesh take over. You have a choice.  You don’ have to give in to the dictates of your fleshy nature.
·    Fornication
Many people blame the devil when they fall into sexual sins, this is not totally correct.  It is true that we have demonical sexual perversion but it is not as common as people think.
·    Rom. 1:24-27: Here the scriptures say uncleanness resulted from burning lust or lust of their hearts.
If a young man get saved and he  was  used to having reckless affairs with woman before salvation, his flesh will want to keep on doing that.  That doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to have a devil cast out of him.

The Solution To Flesh Problems.
·    Eph. 4:22, Col. 3:5,8 – Put off the works of the flesh deliberately (I Pet. 2:11, Matt. 5:29,30)
·    Rely on the Holy Spirit, Be filled and be obedient. Rom. 8:13, Rom. 8:5;; Gal.5:16.
·    Put on the new man, the good qualities imparted by the Holy Spirit.  Col. 3:12-14, Eph. 4:22-24.
·    Retain the word of God in your mind continuosly
    Demons exist.  They are alive and well.  They can be cast out but they cannot die.  To say demons should die, with the expectation that they cease from existing is very UN-scriptural and cheer was of time and efforts.         
In order to understand how demons can affect mankind, we need to the difference between the spirit, soul and body of man.  And we need to understand the difference between oppression, obsession and possession.
1.  WHO IS A MAN

Man is a spirit being, he has a soul (mind: well, intellect and emotion), and he lives in a body.  (I Thess. 5:23, Heb 4:12)
At salvation, the inward man, the spirit becomes a new creature; but the body and the mind still a new creature; but the body and the mind still remains the same.
The difference between the three spirit, soul and body can be appreciated by understanding that:
·    with the spirit, the spiritual realm is contacted
·    with the soul/mind the intellectual and emotional realm is contracted
·    with the body, the physical realm is contacted.

    The Soul

1.    After salvation, the soul, the mind can be renewed, saved, purified through the truth of God’s word. Jam. 1:21, I Pet. 1:22.
2.    it is the renewal of the mind that ultimately transforms us i.e. our actions.  Rom. 12:1-2  Please note that all the above scriptures were directed to born-again Christians

The Body
As believers there are very important roles we have to play as far as our bodies are concerned.  Since it is with this body – the five physical senses – (touch, taste smell, see, ear) that the physical world is contacted we cannot allow our body to do whatever it wants to do or else the devil will gain a foothold. (Eph. 5:27)

What To Do With Our Bodies
1.    Present it as a living sacrifice to God.  Rom. 12:1
2.    Crucify or mortify the deeds of the body, (Col. 3:5).
3.    Keep the body under subjection to your spirit man through adequate discipline (I Cor. 9:27).

3.    DEGREE OF DEMONIZATION

        a.     Oppression
Satanic influence, that tends to punish the victim.  Oppression is in levels and it could affect the body or the mind.  Sicknesses affecting the body are a form of oppression; though not all sicknesses are manifestation of satanic attack we must know that God is not the author sicknesses.
Fear is also a form of oppression.  The devil can oppress anyone but as Christians we must stand against it and resist it.  (Matt. 18:18, Lk. 10:19, Phil. 2:9-11, James 4:7).  Forced satanic attachments like spirit husband/wife are forms of oppression too.

b. Obsession (Lk. 22:3; John 13:2 NIV).
This is what happens when evil spirits literally begins to push someone around, with little ability to resist.
As a Christian, if you yield yourself to Satan and give him a place, he will exercise control over you. Anger, mental imbalance, sexual perversion, suicidal tendencies are all manifestations of demonic obsession.
     c.  Possession
Total possession means giving over: spirit, soul and body to an evil spirit.  To possess means to own.  Bearing in mind this specific definition, an active, spirit filled Christian cannot be possessed.  But if he sleeps in the spirit, backslide even momentarily; throw away his confession/profession anything can happen. (Matt. 5;2, 16,18)

Is Deliverance Prayer necessary for Christians?
1.    Yes, if the Christian is being influenced or attacked by unclean spirits.
2.    If he is just coming into the fold and has had unclean contacts resulting into demonic problems before.
3.    Not all Christians needed deliverance, as some will have us believe.  When did Jesus conduct deliverance for all the disciples?
4.    If he was a Christian, who slept off in the spirit and the evil seeds were sown.
That somebody is being prayed over for deliverance does not mean that he his fully possessed by unclean spirit.


Satanic invasion is only possible when we give him the opportunity or legal grounds to operate.  Satan and his angels are walking about looking for whom he may devour, which means some people cannot be devoured.  (I Pet. 5:8, Eph. 4:27).
Here are few ways through which demonic powers enter into their victims to afflict them

1.    Demonic Family Background:  A house or family given to demon worship will open the door for demonic invasion into the life of the innocent children in that family.  Apart from this demons can be inherited.  There could be intentional demon transfer into the life of the family members.

2.    From The Womb:  There have been babies who are already under demonic influence even when they are inside the womb.
Because of pregnancy problems or fear, people sometimes dedicate babies to demons before they were born after the order of Jere.1:5 “Before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee”

.3.    Attending places of pagan worship: When you attend places where Satan/demons are adored, you may end up going back home with demonic attachments (I Cor. 10:19-20).

4.    Sinful Acts/Habits:  Sometimes a single act may open the sometimes a single act may open the way to a demon.
The decision of Judas to betray Jesus open the door for Satan (Lk. 22:3).
The spirit of lust can enter when you watch dirty movies
Habitual exaggeration opens that door for lying spirit.
Frequent overeating opens the way for a demon of gluttony.
Persistent daydreaming opens the door for a spirit of fantasy.
Please take note that just as it is written, “wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will flock”, so also wherever sin in found Satan and his demons will concentrate (Matt. 24:28).

5.    Emotional Shock:  Frightening automobile accident took place right in front of a woman and she was attacked with the spirit of fear that day onward..
An unemployed man may be brooding over his inability to provide for the family.  Faultless remarks by the wife may invite a demon of anger or depression.

6.    Curses:  Curses can result in major demon activity affecting generations.
Curses have several sources
(a)    From God himself Gen. 12:3, Deut. 27:15-26.
(b)  From godly men acting on God’s behalf Josh. 6:26, I Kg.  16:34.
(c)    From persons having authority over us.
In Gen. 31:32 and Gen. 35:16, we see the curse of Jacob on Rachel who died in childbirth.
(d)    From Satanic Agents Num. 22:6.
(e)    From our own mouth

7.    Transference from other people:  Demons are transferred to others during sexual intercourse or demonic laying on of hands.
Normally the power flows from the one laying the hands but sometimes it can flow the other way!  This is why hands should not be laid indiscriminately.
Just as a man’s spirit can go out to others, so also evil spirits can during laying on of hands (Deut. 33:9).
8.    Involvement In Occult
 
9.    Charms and Fetishes in our homes Deut. 7:25,26, Acts 19:17-19

10.    Lack of ability to forgive Heb. 12:14-16, Matt.. 18:34-35

Demons are evil spirits without bodies with which to express themselves in this world.  Since they have no bodies of their own they wander around trying to find a body through which their mission will be carried out (Matt. 12:43).
Important things to note about demons:

1.    Demons can work miracles (Rev. 16:13-14, Exo. 7:11-12) it is easy for demons to trap sign seekers (2Thess. 2:9).  As Christ you should not follow you. (Mk. 16:16).
2.    Demons Talk:  They talk through a person’s mental and speech faculties in the same way that your spirit talks through your  own tongue. (Mk. 3:10,11, Lk. 4:4,41).
3.    Demons don’t surrender easily (Mk. 5:6-13).                          Therefore demonic attack should not be tackled casually it is secured (I Pet 5:8-9).
4.    Demons can call for reinforcement (Matt. 12:43-45, Jn. 5:14).  When a delivered person refuse to fully consecrate to Christ, it is possible for demons which was cast out to call  more wicked demons alongside himself to re-enter the person.
5.    Demon know those who have authority over them.  Acts 19:13-16.
Mary Magdalene was possessed of seven devils yet one man anointed by God drowe them all away. 
On the other hand seven men without divine authority could not cast even one devil away. (Mk. 16:17 note the plurality of devil’s).
6.    Demons can attack Christians: This should not be surprising, because Satan went to Eve in the Garden and also took Jesus, God’s own Son to the mountain of temptation.
However, our victory as God’s children is very sure I Jn. 5:4, Isa. 59:19, I Jn. 4:4.
7.    Demons torment and harass people using strange suggestions
8.    Demons cause diseases and afflictions
Most diseases are directly or indirectly caused by unclean spirits. (Matt. 8:16, Acts 10:38).  Though lack of rest or good diet could precipitate some bodily problems, it should be emphasized that sicknesses are not of God (Lk. 13:10-16).      If doctors were told to diagnose the woman of Lk. 13, they would have send she had arthritis of the spire or displaced vertebrae!
9.    Demons know their future Matt. 8:29.
10.    Demons fight against peace, as against Jesus who is the prince of peace.
(a)    They invade our mind with thoughts, suggestions, condemnations, accusation etc.
(b)    They attack our harmonious relationship with people – marriages friends and families.


Demons are  angels who decided to follow Lucifer the archangel in his insurrection against God.  They could therefore be safely called “the fallen angels”.  (Rev. 12:4,7-9).
    Jesus personally called some beings angel of the devil (Matt. 25:41) while the Pharisees even in their religious ignorance recognize the existence of demons/devils (Matt. 12:24).


The Nature of Demons:
1.    They are evil.  There are no good demons.  In fact they carry out the wishes and commands of Satan their master.  (I Sam. 10-11). 
2.    They are intelligent and wise (I King 22:22-24).
3.    They have knowledge and feelings Acts 19:15, Matt. 8:29.
4.    They are spirit beings without body, Lk. 24:29 they are rather very desperate to live in a borrowed body.
5.    They have miraculous powers and can deceive. (Rev. 16:13-16).


Where Does Demons Live?
1.    Principally demons live in the air above the earth (Eph. 2:2).
There are three heaven in the least.
(a)    The first heaven – the air space around us.
(b)    The second heaven – this is where Satan reigns
(c)    The third heaven – this is where the throne of God is (2 Cor. 12:1-4)
The second heaven is referred to as high places (Eph. 6:12).
2.    Demons also live in evil places and places where crime and murders have been committed.
3.    Demon can inhabit humans and when they are desperate can enter into animals.  Mk. 5:2,8,12.


Some Things Demons Can Do
1.    They can teach ( I Tim. 4:1); in which case they teach errors.
2.    They can tell fortunes Acts 16:16-17 what they say could be absolutely true, it is however for a different reason.  In the text the reason was so that people  could think Paul and Silas were in league with demons.
3.    They can imitate departed dead (I Sam. 28:3-9).
4.    They can go out and come back into men as they will except they are cast out and rejected Matt. 12:43-45.
5.    Demons can also travel Mk. 5:7,12
This world is not a playground it is a battleground.  Col.1:12-14  tells us that we have been rescued from darkness to the kingdom of light.  However the struggle still continues, because the kingdom of darkness is not ready to give up.
    Paul the Apostle said by the Holy Ghost that we are constantly wrestling against spiritual forces.  Actually this mortal warfare goes on every moment of the day, and it is coming to its climax in our day as this age comes to a close.

1.    Scriptural Evidences Of Constant Warfare
I Tim.1:18  We are to war a good war
Eph.6:11-12  Only mad men will put on battledress without a war
Joel 2:1-5,7,11: The believers of the last days who will usher in the day of the Lord are referred to as an army.
2 Cor.10:4  - There is a direct reference to warfare
Luke 10:19 – Serpents and scorpions represent powers of darkness, the believer will encounter them and they will attempt to hurt him.

2.    Examples of Ignorance

a.    Ananias and Sapphira  Acts 5:1-2 [They thought they were wise]  Acts 5:3 (Peter exposed satan)
b.    David and Joab in Numbering Israel
II Sam.24:3  David felt like numbering Israel, Joab disagreed initially but later succumbed to the word of the king.  None of them knew that Satan was hatching a fatal plan through them.  In  I Chr.21:1  - We now
understand that it was Satan who provoked David against God’s will.
c.    Job
All through his trials he couldn’t discern the hand of the adversary little wonder he remained long in the problem (Job1:6-12,21).  He thought the calamities came from the Lord!.

3.    Dangers Of Ignorance
The most dangerous thing that could happen to a man is to be in the midst of a war and not know!  He can be slain at anytime.
2 Cor.2:11 Ignorance gives the enemy an overwhelming advantage and upper-hand.
1.    Eve  Genesis 3:1-6
Eve never knew that Satan was after their dominion and that he was out to displace them.  It was after the deed was done, that in verse 13 she recognized what transpired between her and serpent as “classical deceit”. The ignorance of Eve led to the fall   of mankind.
2.    Judges 4:15-21 (Sisera)
Because of temporary relief, Sisera assumed he has escaped and gave himself to pleasure, drinking milk and sleeping off.  The man that both “stars” (Judges 5:20) and “men” could not conquer fell cheaply because he never knew he was still in the territory of the enemy. He stayed in a wrong place. Where are you? Whom are you staying with? Who is feeding you? The one who fed Sisera was the same person that killed him!
3.    Matthew 13:24-25
Men slept off, became unaware of the plan of the enemy, and his labour was corrupted.  Ignorance will lead to carelessness and this will allow the devil to frustrate us.
4.   Judges 16:4-21   (Samson)
Samson was busy talking and making love, he never knew he was in the midst of the last battle of his life.  If he knew Delilah was out to entice and sell him to the enemies, he would have been   more careful.
Ignorance in spiritual warfare is of fatal consequence.

Prayers: Lord I receive open eyes

SATAN meaning  the great opposer, or adversary, of God and man;  is the personal name of the devil.
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes sometimes refers to human enemies (1 Sam 29:4; Ps 109:6).). But whenever this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the great superhuman enemy of God, man, and good (1 Chron 21:1; Job 1:1-2:13). This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New Testament.


Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is “ the devil,” meaning “slanderer” or “false accuser.” Other titles by which Satan is identified in the New Testament include “the tempter” (1 Thess 3:5); “Beelzebub” (Matt 12:24); “the wicked one” (Matt 13:19,38); “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of   this age” (2 Cor 4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor 6:15), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev 12:10).

History OF Satan
 -Isa 14:12-15 and Ezek 28:11-19-furnish a picture of Satan’s original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position. These passages were addressed originally to the kings of Babylon and Tyre. But in their long-range implications, they refer to Satan himself.
He is an exalted angelic being, one of God’s creatures, who became proud and ambitious. He determined to take over the throne of God for himself. But God removed him from his position of great dignity and honor.
. In his fall from God’s favor, Satan persuaded one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion (Rev 12:3-4).
Throughout the Old Testament period he sought to destroy the messianic line. When the Messiah became a man, Satan tried to eliminate   Him (Rev 12:4-5). Rev 20 notes the final phases of Satan’s work. He will be bound for a thousand years and then finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:2,10).


Characteristics of satan.
·    As a result of his original status and authority, Satan has great power and dignity. So great is his strength that Michael the archangel viewed him as a foe too powerful to oppose (Jude 9).
·    Satan’s influence in worldly affairs is also clearly revealed (John 12:31). His various titles reflect his control of the world system: “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4), and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). The Bible declares, “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
·    Satan exercises his evil power through demons (Matt 12:24; 25:41; Rev 12:7,9).
·    Satan also has high intelligence. Through it he deceived Adam and Eve and took over their rule of the world for himself (Gen 1:26; 3:1-7; 2 Cor 11:3). His cleverness enables him to carry out his deceptive work almost at will.
Yet satan’s attributes, impressive as they are, are not limitless. His power is subject to God’s restrictions (Job 1:12; Luke 4:6; 2 Thess 2:7-8).
The reins of God on his activities are illustrated by Satan’s request to God for permission to afflict Job (Job 1:7-12).
·    Satan’s nature is malicious. His efforts in opposing God, His people, and His truth are tireless (Job 1:7; 2:2; Matt 13:28). He is always opposed to man’s best interests (1 Chron 21:1; Zech 3:1-2). Through his role in introducing sin into the human family (Gen 3), Satan has gained the power of death-a power which Christ has  broken through His crucifixion and resurrection (Heb 2:14-15).

Methods of satan

         Of the various methods used by Satan in carrying out his evil work, none is more characteristic than
·    TEMPTATION (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5). Satan leads people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct suggestion, as in the case of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2,27); sometimes through his agents who disguise themselves as messengers of God (2 Thess 2:9; 1 John 4:1); and sometimes through a person’s own weaknesses (1 Cor 7:5). He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead Him into compromise by promising Him worldly authority and power (Luke 4:5-8).
Along with his work of tempting mankind, Satan also delights in
·  DECEPTION (1 Tim 3:6-7; 2 Tim 2:26; John 8:32,44). The great falsehood which he uses so frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is apparent in practically all his temptations (Gen 3:4-5). As the great deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (2 Cor 11:13-15).
Satan’s methods are designed ultimately to silence the gospel. He seeks to stop the spread of God’s Word (Matt 13:19; 1 Thess 2:17-18). When the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind people’s understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message (2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Thess 2:9-10). At times he opposes the work of God by violent means (John 13:2,27; 1 Peter 5:8; Rev 12:13-17).
He brings disorder into the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1-2; 2 Cor 12:7;
Heb 2:14). Sometimes God allows him to afflict His people for purposes of correction (1 Tim 1:20).

Satan's Defeat.
·    Satan is destined to fail in his continuing rebellion against God. His final defeat is predicted in the New Testament (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Rev 12:9; 20:10).
·    The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan’s final defeat (Heb 2:14-15; 1 Peter 3:18,22).
·    Strength for a Christian’s victory over sin and demons has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that “the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Rom 16:20). But such personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan’s temptations (Eph 4:25-27; 1 Peter 5:8-9). To help Christians win this battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ’s blood (Rev 12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Heb 7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Eph 6:13-18).

Genesis 31:34 – 35
34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.

Genesis 35:16,19
And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Here is the tragedy of a woman who stole graven image, sat on the same and died a strange death during child birth.
When Joseph, her first son was crowned in Egypt, when Jacob (her husband) was invited down to Egypt, Rachael was not there. In the days of the glorification of her son, her position was empty:
In the name of Jesus your position will not be empty.

When God deems it fit to lift up your household and give your family a new song your position will not be vacant.
It is obvious from the scriptures that sin is killer. It destroys without remedy.
Rachael stole a strange god into the household of Jacob and sat on it. What she sat on inside the tent killed her during child delivery.
How can you be with the covenant children and still be working against the covenant. Wont he corrupt you with flatteries as He said in His word?
Daniel 11:32
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries…

Can you notice that Rachael never confessed to that sin? See, what you are sitting upon today, may unseat you tomorrow.
What you are hiding today may block you from your position tomorrow.

Numbers 32:23(NIV)
But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Judas, a disciple, chosen by the Lord as an officer among the disciples was secretly stealing the money of the team. At the end however, what he was sitting on, grounded his ministry, ruined his future and ultimately killed him,. If God did not spare the angels that sinned, He will not overlook your hidden offense for too long. It’s better to go to God and set yourself free.

What of Samson? Everywhere he appears, he seems to be involved with one woman or the other. Go and check your Bible, he’s always around women! And before long what he sat on put him into bondage, brought shame to him, stole away his sight and strength and eventually killed him.

The question I want you to address is this: What are you sitting on?

Judas’ position among the twelve became empty because of what he sat on.
Rachael, sit of honour was vacant (when Joseph ascended the throne) because of what she sat on. Samson throne became empty because of various immoral relationship he was sitting on! What are you sitting on?

Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

You cant hide anything from the eye of the all seeing God. Is it not better to expose yourself to God and repent before your position is declared vacant.
Here is the second part of this very important article on time.We've already discussed 10 points

11) INSUFFICIENT DELEGATION

Time is wasted when they are expended on tasks that can easily be performed by others. It is better to put ten men to work than to do the work of ten men. Leaders who don't delegate  will suffocate and be paralyzed before they enter into the red.


12)MALORGANIZATION IN THE SYSTEM

When there are no distinct line of organizational structure, time may be wasted as there will be frequent meetings during which “who" to do "what" will be appointed.

13)LAZINESS
Lazy people must necessarily waste time on bed, in the house doing routine cleaning etc. If you are too lazy to do what you ought to do on time, you will find yourself doing what you ought to have done yesterday, today.
14) LACK OF PLANNING
When you don't even know what you should be doing per time, you are not only wasting your hours, you are wasting your life. Every minute spent in planning saves ten minutes in execution. It is therefore helpful to write a list of the things that have to be done and to rank them in the order of importance.

15) CRISIS
Interpersonal crisis occurring frequently will unavoidably be wasting the time of the leader. He may need to sit down for hours talking and settling differences. Time that could have been invested doing other things is therefore wasted.

16) SICKNESS

Time spent on the sick bed are wasted times. Frequent sickness is a terrible time devourer. Adequate precautions should therefore be taken to avoid sickness as much as possible. Such precautions include
·                     Effective prayers
·                     Adequate rest
·                     Regular exercises
·                     Use of prophylactics
·                     Right use of the tongue
·                     Good nutrition
·                     Personal hygiene

17) LACK OF PRIORITIES

When you attempt to perform too many tasks at the same time, time is consumed and the work remain undone. There is therefore the need for a realistic priority scale, so that first thing can be done first. Things which matter most  never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

18)TELEVISION SETS

Television and movies can be useful when it comes to relaxation and specific edification. But a lot of people are grounded in life, wasting precious hours because of programs and plays that have nothing to add to their destinies. Hours that could be used in active meditation, planning and programming are consumed and wasted before the television set. Meanwhile most people that appear on T.V because of distinction are too busy to watch  T.V

19) READING

Readers are leaders. People who will not read today may not amount to much tomorrow. However, some readings are nothing but sheer waste of time. Reading of newspaper at prime periods or reading fictional writings can become stubborn time wasters. Romantic novels, entertainment magazines may not really add anything to you, but destroy your time.

20) WORRY, FEAR AND PANIC

Whenever there is much difficulties and overwhelming problems a lot of time may be wasted in unnecessary thinking, anticipation and panic. Meanwhile, most things people worry about never happen, as such time used in worrying is wasted.


Time is a gift of God given to men on a non-repeatable basis. It is the measurable period of time in which things happen. Everything you are today and everything you become tomorrow will be determine by the way you think and the way you use your time.


Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? …
John 11:9
Time is short, but time is sufficient too. To say there is no time is to admit your failure as time manager. There is time but it must be managed efficiently for maximum production.
 Here are some twenty time killers you must avoid if you want to live a fruitful life

1)      INDECISION
When decisions are delayed, time is wasted, efficiency reduced and achievement frustrated. Delaying of action or putting off of action steals time and ruins life. According to 2Cor. 6:2, God works in the divine today. In other words we may say there is urgency with God.
If you read Songs Of Solomon.5:2-6 You will find out that because of indecision the man wasted time and his beloved, his heart desire could not be found any longer !

2) INDISCIPLINE
If we do not control ourselves, we may not wake up to perform our task. You may need to force yourself to do something even when you don’t feel like. If we are not disciplined our time could be:
a)   Controlled by domineering people
b)   Swallowed by things that appeal to the flesh
c)   Governed by the tyranny of the immediate urgent
d)   Used in unimportant conversations
e)   Wasted in day dreaming

 f)  Used in doing things we should delegate

3) PRAYERLESSNESS
The devil is around to steal, to kill and to destroy. If your time must be preserved, you need to take the battle to the gate of the enemy in warfare. Apart, God is the giver of time, he could prompt you through his spirit so you do not squander it !

4) LACK OF PERSONAL ORGANIZATION

·    Can you ever find what you want, when you want it?
·    Is your desk in a mess?
·    Is your whole office upside down that you cannot concentrate on what you are doing per time?
·    Do you have a good filing system?
    Answer to all these questions will tell you how organized you are, and where some of your time is going.

5) MEETINGS
Meetings, fraternal gatherings, special round table meetings could affect the time allocated to other tasks. Not all meetings should be attended; you can send representatives, all depending on your priorities.

6) FREQUENT INTERRUPTIONS

Interruptions are part of daily living but when they become too frequent they can become unwanted time waste.
a)   Visitors: when you give all attention to all visitors and pretend as if they are welcomed at all times, they will stay long and waste your time. Visitors should be screened and given appointment times.
b)   Telephone calls: just one telephone call can break your momentum. The solution is (i) use of voice mails (ii) take phone off the hook (iii) switch off the mobile phone (iv) give your mobile phone to another person to answer.

7) AFTERNOON LETHARGY
Tired feeling after heavy lunch, high environmental temperature can cause drowsiness, sluggishness and an inability to concentrate. All this will delay action and waste precious hours.

8) LENGHTY COUNSEL

Problems are not removed through one lengthy counsel. Counsels longer than 30 minutes may no longer be effective. Leaders must understand the power of following up counsels and the efficacy of special assignments for the counselor.

9) GOSSIP
Gossip consumes time. You may know when it started but you may never not be able to control when it will end. It drains the brain, destroys your day, reduces your worth and wastes your hours.

10) INABILITY TO SAY NO
A leader who wants to be successful must not be a yes man. He needs to know how to say No. When you are always saying yes, you will accept to do what you cannot do and you may go to places where you shouldn't go and waste your precious time.
When a man is born again, the spirit of God enters into him (1John 4:13)and begins to communicate/relate with his spirit (Romans 8:15,16).At the point of new birth his rejuvenated spirit is young no matter the physical age. Some people however will refuse to grow up spiritually in the things of God and we say their spirit is undeveloped. An undeveloped spirit has low spiritual rating as far as God is concerned (Job 32:7-9)
 Symptoms Of An Undeveloped Spirit

1. Inability to discern the voice of God and receive divine revelation 1Sam 3:1-7, Lk 24:25-27, 30-32
2. Inability to incubate vision and get correct timing Gen 37:5-9(Hab 2:3). Joseph could have kept quiet. Look at the man Nehemiah who kept his vision safe. (Neh 2:11-13)
Moses had an inner conviction that God will use him, he did not know the timing, he went ahead prematurely and lost 40 years in the wilderness keeping animals. Undeveloped spirit drove the man of God into the midst of animals.

(Isaiah52:12;28:16). Kings business require haste, yet every vision has an appointed time. People are perishing of course, yet that doesn’t call for zeal without knowledge: they have been perishing before you were born!
 Jesus – the saviour was in the world yet  he didn’t die & shed his blood in haste, or he would have wasted it. He waited for 30years—the age of enthronement. People were going to hell even though he was in the world! He didn't allow baseless zeal to push him out of divine timing.

3. Low level of spiritual understanding  (Heb 5:11-14, 1Cor 13:1, Mt 16:22)
   This causes division, unprofitable argument, hasty decision, easy manipulation, doctrinal instability and prejudice, inability to flow with the body of Christ and carnal competition.

4. Inability to recognise danger
Samson was strong in the anointing but he did not know that the smallest of the unbeliever, is a serious danger.
No anointing can handle unequal yoke. Anointing is not a sign of developed spirit. Kids can’t recognise fire until they are burnt.
Only people of undeveloped spirit talk evil of ministers (they are flames of fire). Korah &Co could not perceive danger of rebellion and their ministry ended.
The fact that someone prophesy to you that you will be great doesn’t mean you should pull others down. No one needs to come down before you go up. The only one who needed to come down has gone down and climb up to come down no more so that he might pull you up.
Miriam was elderly but he got burnt for touching Moses.

5. Inability to handle Success (Physical and Spiritual)
  2Chr 26: 15-16,1Tim 3:6 (nothing is received except it be from God) 1Cor 4:7.  When some were praying for jod,they could fast,pray and attend every church service.But now that job is here...the same job will not allow them to serve God again! We must all recall that Solomon success killed him,lest we fall into the same trap

6. Inability to handle Prophecies
·  Eli is grown up but he surrendered cheaply to prophesy 1Sam 3:18
Peter also began to argue with Jesus instead of going to God in fasting and prayer:when Jesus predicted his fall and denial.That was an acute symptom of undeveloped spirit.  ·  To argue with the kings of kings is nothing but foolishness.·  Thank God for Hezekiah,he did not accept the prophecy of Isaiah...rather through fervent prayers he  reverse the bad future.

Developing The Spirit Man
  1.The Word of God:It’s the heavenly Manna to be eaten – read, studied and meditated upon Acts 17:11, Eze 2:8-10, 33, II Tim 2:15, I Pet 2:2, Tim 3:16-17


2.Prayers

3.Experience and exposure:Books, tapes, hot Spiritual Environ can help in the development of the spirit man

 4.Discipline
























Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD

SPECIAL ATTENTION

SPECIAL ATTENTION
Honourary Doctorate For Xtian Leaders

Popular Posts

About Me

My photo
Bishop(Dr) Sola Adetunji is the founding President of Chapel Of His Power and Divine Power Bible College. He was born in Ibadan, Nigeria and attended primary and secondary school in Osogbo before studying Pharmacy at the University of Ile-Ife, graduating with a Second Class Upper degree in 1987. Adetunji is an amazon author of several works and is happily married to Toyin, an ordained Minister of God, with whom he has three daughters and one son: Progress, Praise, Perfect and Paul. He has contributed numerous sermons to Sermon Central and other websites including youtube on topics such as understanding success, overcoming anger, deliverance, the authority of believers, and others. He is the convener of Singles Ready To Marry group on Facebook and Whatsapp.
Powered by Blogger.

About Visitors

Site Visitors

Flag Counter