GRACE: PURPOSE AND ABUSE //BY: NEJO HARRISON

Vol. 16.8.20

 

source: www.google.com

Definition: Grace simply is the undeserving favor of God to mankind. The New Testament described it with the word Charis, which expresses favor, goodwill and loving kindness granted by a superior to another. GRACE IS NOT EARNED, not a reward for work done. The first man the bible recorded to obtain favor was Noah... But Noah found grace (favor) in the sight of the Lord (Genesis 6:8 AMP); then Moses. In these two accounts, grace qualified them to do certain functions they naturally would not be able to. Moses was slow in speech, which automatically was not good for him to stand before Pharaoh, he also was a murderer, yet He was God's choice.

TYPES OF GRACE

There are two dimensions of grace I have discovered so far:

1. Saving Grace: This dimension of grace helps the unbeliever to come to Christ and become saved from hell and born into the kingdom of God. We must know there are some who wish they were saved, but still have not found the grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our coming to Christ was by God, not because you were born into a Christian family.

2. Enabling Grace: This grace supplies the ability to live Christ honoring life. Living above sin is enabled by this grace. ‘But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). It empowers us to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and act according to His will and also helps us to fulfill our various callings and purpose. It sustains us and equips us to walk in a manner that pleases God and develop into the image of Christ.

Without grace, no one can be saved, without grace, no one can stay saved and without grace, no one can grow as a Christian. Grace is the oxygen that the Christian needs to breathe.

Halleluiah

THE LAW AND GRACE, RELATIONSHIP AND DIFFERENCES

It is important we know that there are seven dispensations of the Bible also called Bible ages, characterized by changes in God's methods, relationship and dealings with mankind in relation to sin and man's responsibilities

These include:

1. Dispensation of innocence: from the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7) to expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:26)
2. Conscience: The eyes of man had been opened to the knowledge of good and bad, so conscience was the basis for judging man's behavior. This dispensation existed till the great flood (Genesis 7:11-23)
3. Man in authority: Began with the eight that survived the flood and elapsed till the confusion of languages (Genesis 11:1-9)
4. Dispensation of promise: from the call of Abram (Genesis 12:1-3) to the slavery of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 1:13-14).
5. Dispensation of Law: From wilderness experience (Exodus 24) to the death of Christ (Matthew 28:50-51)
6. Age of Grace: from Jesus' death to His return to take the Saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
7. Millennium dispensation: between the reign of Christ over restored church for a thousand year and Satan wages against the Lord, this ends the seven ages (Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11, Revelation 20:1-4) and this leads to the great judgement, the great white throne.

The last three are of significance to this study...

Law-Grace-Millennium...

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE.

Law was given through Moses, but Grace through Jesus Christ, we have to know that Mosaic LAW WAS GOOD... Romans 7:12. The law is holy, and so is the commandment holy, righteous and true, the Bible never showed the superiority of grace by negating the law. NO, they both are good enough to make the complete bible as both the old promises and new promises are relevant and applicable to our life today. Jesus speaking said, I never came to abolish the law, as many do today, BUT TO FULFIL IT. (Matthew 5:17). Jesus never elevated grace stepping on the law.

Scriptures states emphatically, THE LAW Is GOOD. (Romans 7:7)

The law tells us what to do, how to do it, the consequence for refusal, what God required of them, but was weak in that it does not empower man to achieve all these (Robert R. Kreger), it was also weak because it does not give much room for repentance and quick to pronounce judgement, so that called for a more superior one, Grace, which comes with the enabling power to fulfilling the law.

PURPOSE.

GOD'S GRACE IS INTENDED TO HELP US OUT OF SIN

With this in mind, God's grace is sufficient for us, everything necessary for us to live a pleasing and acceptable life to God is grace-packaged. God's grace is the means by which God reaches His loving hands to humanity to save them out of their sins and help them walk with Him only if they are willing to reach out their hands back to Him through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Peter three times denied Jesus, this looks worse compared to Judas' betrayal which was only once. But Peter found grace, while Judas was not accommodated to repent. Peter's repentance was so genuine that it was expressed with a cry. Peter repented and felt sorry, you see that grace does not glory in sin, rather, it helps us and accommodates us to repent.

Paul speaking in vs 9 of 2 Corinthians 12 NIV, saying, ‘But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses’ He had prayed to God between vs 4-8 that God would deliver him from the consuming messenger of Satan (Pride), ‘To keep me from becoming conceited because if these surpassingly great revelations’ (2 Corinthians 12:7), he prayed for help, so God's grace was said to be available to help him,

By this we know that grace is God's provision to reconcile man to Himself. Sin does not dis-communicate one from the family of God immediately, but we lose our relationship with God, His Communion is deterred and a point comes when we lose our salvation completely. Yes it is possible. Demas was a beloved in Colossians 4:14, but in 2 Timothy 4:10, he had returned back to the world for the love of the world. Judas was one of the twelve but the love of money made him lose out. God instituted grace to help us from sin, it is therefore an abuse of grace to believe ‘once saved, is forever saved’; we have seen bible examples of how people through grace, help of Holy Spirit and conscious effort were able to work out their walk with God.

So we are asked to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12), it is conscious exercise with the provision of grace and the Spirit of God.

GRACE IS FREE BUT COST MUCH AND Hence, NOT CHEAP

That you were given a wristwatch free as a gift, does not imply that it was cheap, the giver might have purchased it with his hard earned money. Grace came to us free, but someone paid for it with his blood-his life (Leviticus 17:14). God went extremely, sending his beloved son to die a miserable death to take the penalties law could have condemned us to, Christ death shows how severe our penalties could have been. Grace was purchased for us free, we therefore should live a life that will demonstrate our gratitude to God and Jesus Christ not taking grace as a license to careless living. Whoever misuses grace will soon get to know it cost much after the expiration of grace dispensation by rapture or death and men pay for their life severely with their own blood. Many would wish they lived in the age of the law, where sin was addressed sin.

CONCLUSION.

Imagine then, the deep sorrow on the heart of God who lavishly poured His love out on us, only to have His people turn it to the very opposite of its intended purpose, rather than being a liberty and escape from sin, it became instead, a license to sin. The grace of God is so precious, therefore should not be abused, with the sense of falsely believing God is loose on his verdict concerning how we live our life regardless of our bold unwillingness to repent.

Remember He is still the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). The loving father and the consuming fire.

Except otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.

GOD BLESS YOU

Author

Nejo Harrison

harrisonnejo@gmail.com

If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.

The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group) ©2016

Basic Steps to Salvation //By: Akolawole Elijah

credit:http://christrescuemission.org/

Vol. 16.7.19

Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the law. ‘Whoever obeys the commands of the law will live. But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this. ‘You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is to bring Christ down). Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?’ (that is to bring Christ up from death). What it says is this: ‘God’s message is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ – that is, the message of faith that we preach. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God it is by our confession that we are saved. The Scriptures says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’. (Romans 10:5-11 Good News Translation) 

Before I analyze if there are steps to salvation I would like to bring out two important things from the above verse which are salvation and believe.

Now what is salvation? Salvation is the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences. It may also be called "deliverance" or "redemption" from sin and its effects. Salvation refers to the act of God's grace in delivering his people from bondage to sin and condemnation, transferring them to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), and giving them eternal life  (Romans 6:23)—all on the basis of what Christ accomplished in his atoning sacrifice . The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance, such as Paul’s deliverance from prison (Philippians 1:19).
More often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance. When Paul told the Philippian jailer what he must do to be saved, he was referring to the jailer’s eternal destiny (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25). But how do one now get saved?

I would like to give an illustration with this story of boarding a bus to a desired destination. The bus conductor – the one who convenes people into the bus (as popularly called in Lagos state (South West Nigeria) where I reside in) scream on his voice saying where the bus is heading towards. And the passengers going that route get on the bus. One thing worthy of note is the fact that irrespective of how the conductor appears (tattered, unkempt hair, smoked eyes etc.) the passengers would all rush into the bus in anticipation to where they are going. One thing is also worthy of note in this scenario, the bus conductor can decide who would board his vehicle through their dressing but the passengers does not pay much attention to who calls them into the bus. but are rather concerned about where the bus is heading towards (Moses and the Isrealites in the wilderness). In the course of the journey, the bus could be running at a high or low speed; in either scenario, occupants would raise their voice at the bus driver saying he should either reduce or increase the speed. Also in the course of the journey, if the bus has a dirty occupant in the bus (guest called upon to eat by the king-Mathew 22), passengers in the bus would avoid seating close to him and may even refuse to board the bus which most likely force the conductor to ask the passenger to alight from the vehicle so he does not cost him a loss (1 Corinthians.15:33).

In another case scenario, the driver could either be a rough or careful. If he is a rough driver, then, he is in for shouts and yelling from the occupants of the bus which he might either respond to positively or negatively.  The last scenario I would love to bring to our mind is that the bus might actually take you beyond the point you intend to alight or change the route entirely to a different route as beckoned by the bus conductor. All the listed scenarios are likely to come to play from the point of boarding a commercial bus in the state where I reside. I would like to use these scenarios in buttressing the word salvation as stated in the above scripture.

In all scenarios given above one thing is common to all – BELIEVE. All passengers instantly took the conductor for his words that he is heading towards the direction he proclaimed before they boarded his bus. What made them to believe this unknown person who they have never met or seen? A typical Lagos bus conductor is always rough looking and the intending passenger is most likely a well-dressed individual who would never mind the appearance of the driver or even how the bus looks especially when he/she is in haste.

I have asked myself severally why is it that a whole lot of us demonstrate believe in our daily routine unhesitant but when it comes to kingdom principles we find it difficult and keep asking how do I believe. From the scenarios highlighted above, we can easily get into the bus of an unknown driver but we don’t want to get into the bus of the conductor calling for salvation bus stop of our soul. So many keep asking how do I believe, what are the steps to believe. From the scripture it points it clearly that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord then you are safe. It’s that easy but the only way you can believe is by asking yourself and examining your live if it’s in line with who you believe in; are you keeping yourself perfect in that bus of salvation, are you living accordingly to how he wants it. In the bus scenarios highlighted above once the driver can’t go along with you he ask you to alight but Jesus is saying to me and you today that he is at the door of our heart calling for me and you.

In the Christian race, the very first thing God expects form you and me is believe and you would see it come into manifestation (Isiah. 1:19), but a whole lot of us want it the other way. We want to see before believing in our Christian journey. We are very quick at jumping into the bus all because the conductor announced that he is heading a certain direction, even when he might even be looking dirty yet we ignore his look and take him for his words that he would take us to that direction which he has mentioned but we aren’t willing to demonstrate such state of believe in God despite is several plea to me and you for the home He is going to prepare for us (John 14:2-3). A whole lot of teachings are on ground on steps to salvation but scripturally, the only thing God requires from you and me is to BELIEVE. It’s for us to trust him. Even thè theif that was nailed along with Jesus demostrated believe and it earned him eternity (Luke 23:42).

What is trust?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 | NIV  

 Trust is to belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. If you claim to trust God and all he has said then we must be ready to abide with what he wants (John 14:23). Just as we would not want the bus to forcefully alight us like he did for the children of Israel (Numbers. 14:30). He would give and provide you with all you need in your walk of salvation. There are times in a journey with him and it might seem like He is too slow and you would cry, and cry. There are times it could look stagnating, galloping, and dark but in all He has said cheer up  because he has overcome the world. All this are just there to prepare and empower you more through the journey of salvation. Every fellow has a different journey of salvation to be run; but to remain steadfast and unfailing, it’s for you to let him the driver be in total charge and trust him that he would give you a good landing (Proverbs. 3:5).

May we all remain rapture able at the end.

Author

Akolawole Elijah

bolusamsworld@yahoo.com

If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.

The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group) ©2016

#FROM THE ARCHIVE# INTIMACY WITH GOD (A tool in living a fulfilled Christian life and reigning with Christ). By: Oyesomi Rotimi .M

Vol. 16.6.19

Beloved,

Our Lord Jesus Christ explicitly and unequivocally make us to realize that the Word of God which He proclaim are spirit and life (John 6:63); meaning they never fade nor fail, but for refreshing and renewal daily. It is with this understanding we bring to you again FROM THE ARCHIVE of The Quiver this article (first published September 14, 2015) to refresh the soul of previous readers and enlighten the soul of new ones. God bless you mightily

Shalom

Editor-in-Chief

credit: google.com

Often times, and based on my experiences so far, I have come to discover that most Christians are strictly "CHURCH GOERS" full of "CHURCH ACTIVITIES", with little or no intimate, deep and full knowledge and understanding of the God they claim (or better still, pretend) they are worshipping and serving, His ways, methods and rules of operation. However, there are several factors contributing to this and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to highlight some of them below:

1. No Genuine Salvation: You can't claim to be genuinely born again, while you are still engaging in all the acts stated in Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21-22, Romans 1:29-31 and Galatians 5:19-21.

2. Dead or Crawling Devotional Time/Quiet Time with God: You can't understand and get close to God if you are too BUSY or LAZY to create time to study His word. God's Word gives LIFE to the dead or hopeless soul. It also gives meanings and understanding to life mysteries and unanswered questions.

3. Dead or Crawling Prayer and Fasting Life: It's impossible for a Christian to have access to the throne of GRACE AND MERCY AND POWER (all of and from God), without a continuous and fervent prayer life. God's promises for several lives and destinies have been altered, shattered and destroyed, simply because of the carefree attitude in the approach of the Christians to fervent prayer and fasting.

4. An Ungrateful and Unthankful Christian: How can you claim you know God, when all you do is worry, complain, grumble, murmur, weep, feel down casted, depressed, disheartened, unhappy, embittered and so on. Your true knowledge of God and His promises in His Word, will always make you to be THANKFUL, GRATEFUL and PRAISEFUL, no matter how huge, big, tough, enormous, long and lasting your challenges, difficulties, troubles, problems, barriers, obstacles, trials, tribulations, battles, calamities, dissatisfactions, failures and disappointments are.

5. A Giving Christian: John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses in the Bible. This is where the greatest gift of all was demonstrated, as an example to show the relevance and importance of giving. Most often, we Christians always ASK and REQUEST from God, without giving back to Him either through our Tithes, Offerings (to church projects, needy offering, motherless baby homes, homes for the disabled, orphanage homes, prisons, evangelical outreaches and missionary fields). You can never receive something in your hands if they are closed. The same rule is also applicable to receiving from God! Note that for you to receive from God (whether spiritual or physical blessings), you must have a deep and close relationship with Him.

How to Develop an Intimacy with God

1. Total surrender and dedication of every aspect of your life to God, which is only possible by leaving your old form of life (sinful lifestyle) and become genuinely born again, as stated in (Matthew 15:19, Galatians 5: 19-21)

2. Continuous and fervent Prayer is the master key that moves mountains and shake the heavens. Praying knees brings about a prosperous and fulfilled life in Christ Jesus. So, pray without ceasing!!!  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

3. God needs our time always and require us to have constant fellowship and communion with Him both day and night, in season and out of season (Joshua 1:8; Colossians 3:16), so that we can grow in the full knowledge and stature of God, through the power of His word.

4. David understood what moves God most (that is, praises and thanksgiving), and as a result of this, God referred to him as a man after His own heart, despite some of King David's obvious & avoidable sins. Thank God at all times (when things are good and when they are bad), just as David did (Psalm 34:1)

.               In conclusion, if all the aforementioned factors above can be addressed, I strongly believe we will have more "DISCIPLES OF CHRIST" than just "BELIEVERS OF CHRIST" simply because, "DISCIPLESHIP" is the tool required in having and developing a genuine knowledge and understanding of God! Hence, this is one of the major requirements in making heaven and reigning with Christ when "RAPTURE" (which is extremely close) takes place.
 

Author 

 Oyesomi Rotimi .M (oyesomirotimichael@gmail.com)

If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.

The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group) ©2016

#HYMNLY#: PURGE ME HOLY SPIRIT //BY: OPEYEMI OGUNSUYI

credit:google.com

Vol. 16.6.18

1. Purge me, purge me Holy Spirit, I don't want to live with sin anymore

  Cleanse me, cleanse me O' God's spirit, I can't live with sin anymore

  Sin has eaten the fabrics of my soul

  It has made me frail and faint

  Purge me, purge me Holy Spirit, I don't want to live with sin anymore.

  Selah!

2. Teach me, teach me Holy Spirit, how to leave with sin no more

  Lead me, lead me O' God's spirit, how to walk with sin no more

 In this life full of sinful desires I pray

 With worldly passions calling I say

 Teach me, teach me Holy spirit, how to live with sin no more.

  

 Selah!

3. Guide me, guide me Holy Spirit, from devil's many snares, I pray

  Help me, help me O' Gods spirit, when Satan's trap I see

  Temptations know not the young or old

  He that stands must take heed lest he falls

  Guide me, guide me Holy Spirit, from devil's many snares, I pray.

   Selah!

4. Fan me, fan me Holy Spirit, till your fire I fully burn

  Prune me, prune me O' Gods Spirit, till your fruits only I bare

  So the world may see God's goodness in me

  And I may bare Christ abiding fruits

  Fan me, fan me Holy Spirit, till your fire I fully burn.

  Selah!

5. Prep me, prep me Holy Spirit, for that glorious day of the Lord

  Keep me, keep me O' Gods Spirit, for my husband that comes

  That I may behold Jesus my love

  And with him forever I shall be

  Prep me, prep me Holy Spirit, for that glorious day of the Lord. Amen. 

Selah!

Author

Opeyemi Ogunsuyi
Editor-in-Chief
The Quiver
opeyemiogunsuyi@gmail.com

If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.

The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group) ©2016

REVIEW: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS AND US (MATTHEW 4:1-11)//BY: YAROGLAH DAMILOLA M.

Vol. 16.5.17

credit:google.com

The temptations of Our Lord Jesus Christ are based on these three things: lust of the flesh, pride of life and lust of the eyes.

A lot of times we find ourselves tempted of one thing or the other. Sometimes we fall, and other times we overcome. The truth is behind every temptation is a subtle devil with a motive. His motive might be hidden from us but he knows its long run cost if we are overcome by that temptation.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil and His failure would have cost us our salvation but all thanks to God the Father who did not leave His Son for the sake of His love for us.

Part I: Led by the Spirit

We might wonder why the Spirit of God would lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

First, temptation is an examination to test your strengths and weaknesses for a journey or greater experience. The temptation of Jesus was just to confirm that he was ready for His ministry.

Secondly, He needed to have victory over the devil before He commenced His ministry. Just imagine that these temptations hadn’t happened at the beginning, the devil would have caused so much havoc during His ministry and Jesus would have to face rebuking the devil at every attempt to disrupt His work.

Part II: The Temptations

1 John 2:16 KJV

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 NLT

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

The temptations of Our Lord Jesus Christ are based on these three things: Lust of the flesh, Pride of life and Lust of the eyes.

A.        Lust of the Flesh

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Matthew 4:2-3 KJV

This temptation was based on cravings for physical pleasure or needs. He was hungered, he needed to satisfy that need with food. The need for survival, food, money, clothing, shelter and even sex has made us target for temptation from the devil. For instance, being tempted with bribe at work to do unlawful things, to deal in illegal businesses just to survive, to sleep with a boss to get the job or promotion, etc.Doing things to meet our needs in a wrongful manner are the temptations of the Lust of the flesh.

B.                       Pride of Life

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Matthew 4:5-6 KJV

Jesus knows His ability and His capacity. He had the power to do anything He wanted, He knows His authority as God in the flesh. He didn’t even need the angels to bear Him up if he jumped. But He didn’t show His powers just to prove the devil right. He did everything according to purpose and to the Glory of God. There are times we are tempted to show our abilities and possessions in a way that doesn’t glorify God but we should always reference God.

Look at the challenge, "if thou be the Son of God". The question is, doesn’t the devil know that Jesus is the Son of God? He sure knows and Jesus doesn’t need to prove Himself.

If you have a gift for instance, spiritual or ministerial or possession and achievements, there is no need to show off to boast or boost your ego. Everything you do must be to the glory of God.

As a child of God, when you minister in a congregation, and you are complimented for your performance, you should never forget that it is God who has done it and He would share His glory with no man or thing, therefore, give all the gory to God. It should be noted that the devil also knows the Scriptures and he can use it against you, you must therefore ask that the Holy Spirit give you an in depth understanding of the Scriptures so as not to fall and fail in life.

C.                       Lust of the eyes

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Matthew 4:8-9 KJV

It is human nature to desire what they see. We see beautiful things that are not necessarily a need but we try to get them: From the mansions to the cars and other luxuries of life. The devil showed Jesus the glory of the world with the mind to get Him carried away with the desire for it and bow to him, but he was disappointed because the glory Jesus had and would get at the fulfilment of this purpose was greater. A lot of people would do anything to have the glory of this world that fades and end up losing an eternal glory. Many are in bondage today because of their cravings for what they see.  When you are tempted to bow and worship the devil for the glory of this world, remember the scripture that says, “…the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:18 KJV)

If our Lord Jesus had bowed to the devil for the glory of this world, He would have lost everything, the authority and power (Philippians 2:9-11, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 5:12), But now, He has overcome for us, he endured the cross, despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Thank You Jesus!

                                                                                                                                                        

Part III: It is written

Jesus said, “…the words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life”. John 6:63KJV

For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and sprit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12KJV

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89KJV

… Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7KJV

The only language or weapon of resistance that the devil understands is the Word of God.

If God had said, he magnifies his Word above all his names, who then is the devil to resist the Word of God and not flee at His word. The Word of God is powerful; it’s a weapon of war in times of temptations. The Word of God is the key to conquer the devil at such times.

Our Lord Jesus Christ led by example and resisted the devil with the written Word of God. (Matthew 4:4,7&10) We must familiarise ourselves with the scriptures to help us in times of temptations. The Word of God is there to strengthen us and guide our footsteps at every step of the way through temptations.

In Conclusion, the victory has been won over Satan, it is left for us to tap into that grace to overcome as our Saviour has done at every point in time we find ourselves in one temptation or the other because the devil has not gone to sleep, but he is walking about seeking whom to devour (1Peter 5:8)

And don’t forget, James 1:13-15 KJV says,

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

MAY GOD HELP US! AMEN!!!

Author

Yaroglah Damilola M.

Technical Editor

The Quiver

oluwamautin@gmail.com

If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you choose to impact lives.

The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group) ©2016