How to live above forces of evil

By Pastor (Dr.) Elisha Olusheye

Dear Reader,
This week, our topic of discussion is entitled, “How to live above the forces of evil”. This victory is needed greatly by our nation’s leaders, and is a necessity to every human being irrespective of age, sex, tribe, religion, education, occupation, or position in life.

The eternal programme of God has provided for us the power to overcome evil if we would obey His voice. In Genesis 1:31, the Bible says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…” But evil entered the world through the disobedience of Eve and Adam. Even till today disobedience still destroys. Hence we now experience all forms of problems, temptations, trials, sickness, poverty, frustrations, wars, hunger, death, and other various attacks of Satan, our arch enemy.

In this regard I wish to draw your special attention to the worthy example of the life and ministry of Daniel, a man of God in government service, who trusted God by faith and obeyed His commands; hence he was able to overcome the forces of evil.

In Daniel 6:3-5 the Bible says, “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. (4) So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him…”.

At this time of King Darius of Media and Persia, Daniel was one of his top three administrators. He was working with those who did not believe in his God or His scruples, but Daniel worked more conscientiously, efficiently and capably than all the rest. Thus, he attracted the attention of the pagan king and earned a place of respect.

The jealous officials couldn’t find anything about Daniel’s life to criticise, so they attacked his religion. Despite their clandestine contrivances they did not succeed in terminating his life nor could they discredit his ministry. Rather, they all paid dearly with their own lives, for their conspiracy.

Therefore, in order to be able to live the much needed victorious Christian life, above the forces of evil, I urge you to take special note of the following four simple rules:

1. Fear God: In Deuteronomy 6:13, 14, the Bible says, “Fear the Lord your God …” In order to live above our enemies, sickness, and all the forces of evil, we must fear God and love Him with all our hearts and strength (Deut. 6:5). The fear of the Lord will cause us to be holy as God is holy. The Bible says, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”.

The fear of the Lord is far more than a mere Biblical doctrine, but helps the believer to live a life of obedience to the commandments of God and speak a resounding “No” to sin. The fear of the Lord has a sanctifying effect on God’s people.

2. Love One Another: We should also take into consideration the advice of Apostle Paul in Romans 13:9, 10, the power to overcome all sins and to be right with God, which says, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself …” If we love our fellow human beings as commanded by God, there will be no more discriminations, ethnic conflicts, religious intolerance, political upheavals, dishonesty, hatred, corruption and bloodshed. This is the challenge to us all, to love one another even as God loves us and graciously gave us Jesus Christ His Son as the Saviour of the sinful world (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).

If we love as we ought, we will neither keep malice nor grudge one another. We will have consideration for other less fortunate Nigerians; we will cooperate more actively with our government functionaries, and they too will have the genuine love and interest of our country and her citizenry, for the greatest good of all of us. Many of the civilized and developed countries are good examples. So long as Nigerians refuse to live in love with fellow Nigerians they can never experience God’s lasting peace.

3. Be contented and faithful: In I Timothy 6:6-10, the Bible says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain that we can take nothing out of it.... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”

Despite almost overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believes that money brings happiness. Rich people craving grater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruine and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives some guidelines: (1) realize that one day riches will be gone; (2) be content with what you have; (3) monitor what you are willing to do to get more money; (4) love people more than money; (5) love God’s work more than money; and (6) freely share what you have with others.

4. Have Faith: Always maintain a living, victorious faith in Christ. Victorious life is a gift received from God by faith, just like our salvation. The secret of victory is in the indwelling Christ. Keep in touch with Christ through prayers and Bible reading. Avoid the spirit of fault-finding, criticism, uncharitableness, hatred, envy and anything inconsistent with His perfect love (John 15:4-8).

Finally, in John 16:33, our Lord Jesus Christ admonishes us that in spite of the immediate struggles that human beings may face in this world, all people of God should take courage because we are not alone. Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles. I fervently pray that God will give us the enabling power to be able to live above the forces of evil henceforth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The dawn of open doors (2)

By Pastor S.S.Jemigbon

As God has pronounced the dawn of open doors, the excitement that goes with freedom should thrill and excite you; to begin to loose or free yourself from pains, sadness, sorrow, weeping or tears, sighing, shame etc. (Psalm 126:2) says “then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing...” You should be excited at God’s declaration; because every form of oppression, depression, suppression in your life by the devil is over.

When God makes a declaration, no one dares withstand it.
In Acts 16:24, when a damsel possessed with a spirit of divination was delivered by Paul; he and Silas were thrown into the prisons. Imagine powers standing on the way of one’s freedom – open doors! These servants of God who were thrown into prisons experienced open doors by the power of God as evident in the earthquake. “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:26).

Whenever captors are stubborn and would not allow the captives go, God must bring pains, woes in any form for them to give in. Pharaoh gave in when it was time for the Israelites to go. The keeper of the prison in the case of Paul and Silas had his own experience of the mighty hand of God.

When open doors come, good things must follow. In the case of the Israelites, there was a wealth transfer (Ex. 12:35,36). Things they had lost or were deprived of were given to them. Your blessings that have been withheld from you will be restored to you.

All that the locust had eaten over the years – in enemies of the land, in-laws family, ancestral influence; and environmental thieves, must be yielded back at God’s command.

God has said the Israelites will be favoured when they will be leaving the land because they won’t go empty-handed (Ex. 3:21-22) and so it was at God’s command. When you experience open doors, it is not going to be quiet or hidden.

Your enemy must hear of what God has done in your life. When Joseph was released from the prison and given a place at the palace; it was not hidden. Those who were instrumental to his imprisonment heard of it, and saw it. The Egyptians watched helplessly as the Israelites were leaving Egypt. They could not do anything. Your enemies cannot do anything since God has declared you are free!

His love, He will joy over thee with singing.
Chorus: “What a mighty God we serve, what a mighty God we serve, heaven and earth adores Him, Angels bow before Him, what a mighty God we serve. Joy comes to us because we are object of God’s love and delight. In the midst of us all is the mighty God. Anybody who is still entertaining fear should examine himself. It is our joy and hope that God is with us.

One thing strikes one mind whenone reads Psalm 126:4 It reveals that Israelites were people whom God turned their captivity, and others were going out, yet they were still in captivity. Hear them out “Turn again our captivity O Lord...” They did not realize God had brought them freedom. The same went for the Israelites as evident in their comments on their way out of Egypt. Some of them still preferred the bondage. These are the people referred to as children of perdition whom God speaks about on several occasions. When God says “I have released you”, “I will help you” etc; people are still far away from God’s programme. God has declared an open door for you. Why not get connected to it for actualization.

Awake from your slumber. Paul charges such people in Ephesians 5”14; “Awake thou that sleepiest and arise from the death and Christ shall give thee light.” Don’t remain in bondage. God has set you free don’t put yourself back. I am particularly elated by the worlds of Psalm 126:2b”... then said they among the heathens, the Lord hath done great things for them”. It is time for the enemy to carry the news of your freedom. They will speak of what God has done in your life.

It is your time to shine; and no one is there to stop you. You will become a celebrity life Joseph, who became a source of provision for his family who were instrumental to his woes. You will stand out in the crowd as God has moved you from obscurity to limelight. Arise and Shine for thy light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee for advancement. Shine on, it is your time to shine, flourish and blossom.

(Concluded)

Pastor S.S. Jemigbon,
Tel: 01-7741673,
01-4966033,
01-4965264.
E-Mail: taclawna@hyperia.com