“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again” (1Thess 4:14)

It is Resurrection time again. Seating in this hotel room far away from home I remember my childhood in Romania. We never attended church as a family. Once a year, when visiting our grandparents in the village, we went to church with them. They were too old to remove the Christian faith from their heart. That is what we were told. The Government thought that with the new generation, religion (‘the opium of the masses’) shall be extinguished. Nobody had any use for religious people. They were not ‘practical’ enough for the state. That was the atmosphere in my country back then. I had no idea that God exists. I never prayed until I came to Nigeria and became saved in 1986.

I remember my childhood…At Easter time the tradition was to sew new dresses. At Christmas we had new clothes ‘winter style’. For Easter, the dresses were more beautiful, lighter and ready for spring time. My sister Adica and I were dressed like twins until we became teenagers. ‘It was easier for the dress maker to sew two identical dresses’- our mother told us each year. We always felt sorry for the hard working lady, but dreaming that one day we shall each have our own ‘style’.
Easter day was special not only for the new dresses, but that day we eat a special meal called ‘drob’. It was made from minced lamb meat mixed with special spices. We color eggs and arrange them in a basket in the sitting room. The poor people boiled their eggs with onion peels. They became beautifully brown in color. Others, who could afford it, bought powder colors. We learned different methods to color the eggs with different patterns. On Easter day each will take an egg and go outside to play a game. We tapped each other’s egg and say: “Hristos a anviat- Adevarat a anviat!” (translated: ‘Christ is resurrected, Indeed He is’). We had no idea what the sentence meant. It was a tradition passed on from the previous generations. The winner is the holder of the last intact egg. The losers get to eat their eggs. I was the proud winner of many such competitions having the strongest egg at last.

Today, looking back, all those games seem so childish. But I thank God for His presence in my life. I did not know God, but God knew me! What a revelation! While I was an ignorant sinner, Christ died for me! All those eggs and the games we played, mean nothing to me now. Except to say, that God is God and He knows His own from the foundation of the world.
God’s plan for us is perfect and wonderful. The Father sent His Son to live on earth as Man, to dwell among us, to suffer and died in our place. On the Cross the mighty exchange was approved by God. Christ became sin in our place that we may become the Righteousness of God in Him alone. There is no story greater than that! Angels try to understand such love…Yes, Easter is much more than rainbow eggs. Even as an unbeliever, in a Communist country long ago, though ignorant, now I see that truth could not be quenched. With each broken egg we declared the eternal revelation that Christ is Lord! That He is resurrected! Indeed He is!

If you are sad, lonely or sick, but you are a believer, please remember that today is not a standard for tomorrow. The weeping of Friday gave way to rejoicing on Sunday! Each day brings new mercies from God. Each day has the potential for a miracle from above. Your future is better than your past, for it shines with the glory of God! The power of resurrection is the greatest power in the universe. If the devil knew that Jesus will open the grave and tear the veil of separation between man and God, he would not have killed Christ. But he did not know…The devil, once created ‘perfect in wisdom and beauty’ became a loser and an ugly fool! Forever!
Forget the eggs…Come to the Cross! Come and see the price God paid for the salvation of your soul! It will change your life! You will never be the same! Come and see the true color of love! Come and taste that the Lord is good! Come as you are…Come to Jesus! I am there, waiting for you!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I am saved by the Blood of the Lamb!
I died to sin, to the world and to the devil!
I have hope!
I am healed!
I live forever!
Christ, my Lord is resurrected! Indeed He is!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“If, then, you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with true wealth? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?
No servant can be the slave of two masters; such a slave will hate one and love the other or will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God andmoney”
When the Pharisees heard all this, they made fun of Jesus, because they loved money” (Lk 16:11-14; GNT)

We are visiting a wealthy county. Things ‘work’ over here. The electrical power has not gone out, the streets are clean and the grass seems greener than at home… There are so many cars on the road, all driving fast. The fire trucks, the ambulances and the police cars are noisy and all over the place. If men could create a heaven on earth, this place may compete for the first place.
But the spiritual reality behind the glamour is another story. There is much talk about jobs, creating or losing them. There is much anxiety about money, paying the bills. There is no mercy if you are bankrupt. People are judged by their appearances. It is not just a matter of race discrimination, but the added element of social levels of power, different cars, houses and red carpet looks. Some say that the jobs available are ‘too low’ for them. They prefer to remain on welfare. They also say that to be seen as rich and successful you must be younger, thinner and drive an expensive car.

But I am only interested in what the Bible says. Jesus said that the love of money is a god who lusts after our hearts. Mammon wants to be worshipped. Jesus did not say that we cannot serve in the same time God and satan. He said that we cannot serve God and money!!! That makes money to be much more dangerous that we perceive it to be. Wealth wants to be worshipped. There is a magnetic attraction in the hearts of men to be seen as rich and powerful.

Spiritually, there are two extremes in our attitudes to worldly wealth. In the past, the poor believers were seen as more spiritual. That is why many gave up their estates. These days many preachers say that wealth is a proof of spirituality. I read that 90% of the believers believe that lie. That is why they run up and down, take two or three jobs or play the lottery, trying to get rich. In their hearts they desire to be seen spiritual and godly. Thinking that wealth is holy they run after it. But both these extremes are wrong. Our understanding of the value of money has to come from the Word of God and not from the financial gurus.

This is the truth from the Bible:
God is the owner of everything on earth. That includes all that you call your own. Everything you possess on earth is a loan from the Creator God. When you give an offering in the church, you do not do God a favor. Do not be proud if you are rich! Your whole salary is God’s. Do you believe that? Do you really believe that? Then the truth will humble you and free you from the anxiety to protect and fight for ‘your money’. You are (only) a steward to the richest Person in the Universe. He has promised to reward you for your faithfulness in serving Him. “For, as the scripture says, “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.” (1Cor 10:26)

Worldly wealth is useful only here, on the earth. It is to be used as a loan from God for His glory and for your own good. No man can take money beyond the grave. He can have an expensive coffin, but no money can be taken out from this world. “What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing!” (1Tim 6:7). Naked we were born, and ‘naked’ we shall go back to God. God proves by this law that worldly wealth is temporary and we are not the owners of our money on earth.

But then, Jesus talks about true riches. These are eternal life, spiritual fruitfulness, the deeper revelation of the Word of God, sanctification, becoming like Jesus Christ and anointing for ministry, to name just a few. These blessings radically change the character of a man. These make you ‘rich towards God’ (Lk 12:21; KJ) and have eternal value. These blessings are approved by God. They cannot be stolen by men or devils. They shall not be left in your grave. These blessings you can take them with you to heaven.
How do you know that you are rich towards God and that you despise Mammon? When, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, you are able not to be over-excited when you receive money and not to be over-depressed when you lose money. Pray for the gift of contentment, humility, a grateful heart and of true worship of God!

If you mock this letter, if you grumble against the truth, if you make fun at me, then sorry, you are a hypocrite who loves money more than God. You need to repent and come to the Cross of Christ! Over there is forgiveness of sin, freedom and peace!
Are you rich towards God?

In Christ I declare:
I serve God!
I hate mammon!
I am rich towards God!
By His grace alone!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“This is what the Lord says! I remember how eager you were to please Me as a young bride long ago, how you loved Me and followed Me even through the barren deserts…” (Jer 2:2, TLB)

God never forgets your holy beginning… He always remembers your first ‘I love You, Lord…’ The echo of your first worship song will always ring in His ears… Your first, timid steps of faith towards Him are recorded and kept on display on His wall of grace… Your simple beautiful wedding gown gently placed on your shoulders long ago… your dreams and your passion for Him at the very beginning… your very first crown and your genuine surprise when you received it… your ring of eternal pledge… your trembling voice saying ‘I do’ witnessed by the stars and angels alike… all these are pictures in His album…

God boasts about your love for Him… heaven has heard your story many times…one day, going up there, you shall be very surprised to see how many know your name and your testimony…for you dear Child of God, heaven will not be a strange place, like an cold airport where they look for fake visas and contraband stuff in your suitcase…not at all…heaven will be your promised marital home, your peaceful rest and your reward of love… your Bridegroom has gone ahead to prepare such a wonderful place for you…one day, in the future, He will come back again to take you there…This is His holy Pledge!

Meditate daily on the love of God! Think about His love for you! Never be tired of His romance! See it displayed on the Cross of Calvary! Do not allow the cares of this world hide His lovely face! Jesus Christ is your eternal Bridegroom! Stay virgin for Him alone! Love not any other created thing! Be holy as He is holy! Does not your spirit rejoice hearing such a word? Is your liver not smiling inside your belly? His death can never be in vain…Remember the beginning, long before God blessed you with ‘stuff’, long before the desert changed into a garden… remember the time you desired nothing more than just a smile, a touch from God, a fresh word from His lips or even a glimpse of His glory… all the blessings and gifts surrounding you, your wife, husband or children, even grandchildren, your houses and cars, your good health, your decrees and your promotions of life, let all these bow at the feet of Him who is the Owner and the Giver of them all.

Do not betray such a love…do not even think of betraying such a passion…God loves you more than you can ever know…He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to live and die for you, that you may be able to be a royal bride and the eternal joy of your Creator. When trials and temptations come ugly against you, please remember that the glory ahead cannot compare with the sufferings of the present…Let the hope of glory wash your soul today!
Be faithful to the end! Keep your gown spotless! Take care of your crown! For all must be complete and perfect to the glory of God!
May your pure love for the only Savior be re-kindled in your soul today!
May the passion for true holy spiritual and intimate worship be revived today!
‘Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever’ (Heb 13:8)

In Christ I declare:
Above all things, I love You Lord Jesus, my Savior and my Lord!
I shall wait for You, spotless and holy!
Come…
In Jesus name
Amen!

‘Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things’ (Phil 4:8)

We have just arrived at Istanbul airport. We had four suitcases trying to carry them all. A Turkish porter asked in ‘broken’ English if we needed help. We said ‘yes, please…’Immediately, he helped us carry them. We then tried to show appreciation and gave him money. He graciously refused saying: ‘Help is help, it cannot be paid with money. Helped offered from the heart is done for God…’ I observed that three fingers were missing on his left hand. I don’t know his religion, maybe he is a muslim… what I can say is this: today we encountered a gracious, lovely and admirable gift of welcome to Turkey, from ‘an ordinary man’ who could as well being an angel. God bless you brother! God bless Turkey! May the Word of God have free access to the hearts of men in this beautiful country! In Jesus name, Amen!

In Christ I declare:
The knowledge of God shall cover Turkey as the waters cover the sea!
In Jesus name,
Amen!

(A song of ascents)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

    which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

    so the Lord surrounds his people

    both now and forevermore” (Ps 125:1, 2)

My husband and I, we went on a ministry trip for about two weeks. We came back today. My body was tired but my spirit refreshed when I saw the brethren waiting for our weekly prophetic prayer meeting called ‘The Saturday Class’. It is so good to be among people who are truly born again, hungry for the Word of God, passionate in prayer and worship. Even dry bones shall rise again…

Prophetically speaking, we are on a journey, going higher on the Holy Mountain and closer to God. Today we got a fresh revelation from Psalm 125 which is called ‘a song of ascents’. This is one of the many musical poems the pilgrims of Israel sang when going to Jerusalem. Their desire was to go and worship at the temple, to meet with God. In Hebrew, the word ‘ascent’ means a journey towards a higher place. Jacob saw the ladder and heard the angels’ song.  It is the story of our spiritual journey, going up the stairs, to know God better. Once you hear this song you will never be the same again.

The song is about the God who surrounds His children. Like the mountains surround Jerusalem, so God surrounds us. His everlasting arms go round about our lives. There is much power in this revelation. Do you feel it? God surrounds you, strengths you and makes you secure in His love. You can never be shaken by fears of doubts.  Your blessings shall be secure. Once you trust this ‘surrounding’ God, you will never fear losing your salvation, divorce or poverty. God protects you ahead, behind, on the right and on the left, above and beneath. Nothing can destroy, puncture of penetrate this holy fence of fire. Please observe that this promise is given only to the children of God. The rest of the mankind wanders in a world of darkness, embarrassed, without anchor and without hope. No man can surround you like this. The greatest human love will be tired of protecting you selflessly. If your trust is in man, the enemy will break the wall of human protection and wound you at the place you least expect.

Many believers are satisfied too quickly. To be ‘barely saved’ is the silent ambition of many. The passion of a personal, intimate relationship with the Living God scares them to death. The price to pay they do not consider. But that is the secret of the knowledge of eternal life, that you may ‘know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent’ (Jn 17:3). Not just knowing about God in your head, but really knowing His Person, His Spirit and His Word.  This knowledge will transform the lowest worm into a butterfly.

We sang: “Surround me O Lord, surround me O Lord, let Your presence fill this place”

In Christ I declare:

I trust the living God!

I trust Jesus Christ!

I trust the Holy Spirit!

God surrounds me!

I am protected, strong and secure, now and forevermore!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18; NKJ).

The devil is very busy in the churches. Most of the time, he stays in the background and uses his human agents. He rarely attacks directly as an evil spirit. He deceives the believers thru false ‘servants of God’. The devil hates to be exposed. That is why prayer is so important. Pray that light will shine in the darkness. Pray that your eyes will open to see the truth!

The church is the Body of Christ. It is true that He has delegated His authority to human leaders who are apostles, prophets, pastors or teachers. But Jesus Christ is still the Head. The Holy Spirit hovers over the church to detect any danger coming from satan and even when men are deceived, God is never deceived. This is the promise of Jesus: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18; NKJ).

The word ‘build’ means to rise up an indestructible structure that is designed in heaven. It is made of bold, strong and living stones, each connected to the Head which is Christ! The word ‘prevail’ means to be able to overpower, to be strong and work, to be whole, to hold, to possess, to conceive, to make sick, to intimidate, to reign over it, to rest in it or to misuse.  The devil and his agents can never accomplish all these works! They shall be exposed as spies and traitors!  Even if all men are liars, God will forever be true! Jesus is Lord!

In Christ I declare:

We believe, therefore we speak: revival shall come to this land!

God shall be honored!

The Word of God shall be honored!

In Jesus name,

Amen!

Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not having learned of what had happened. And Peter said to her, Tell me, did you sell the land for so much? Yes, she said, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How could you two have agreed and conspired together to try to deceive the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also]. And instantly she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men entering found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And the whole church and all others who heard of these things were appalled [great awe and strange terror and dread seized them]” (Ac 5:7-11; AMP)

Sapphira’s responsibility was to be an exemplary and obedient wife to the husband in such a way that none will detect the secret evil behind the marriage. Peter’s rebuke to her was this: ‘Why did you agree with your husband to lie to the Holy Spirit?’ The word ‘agree’ means to be in total harmony, to sound alike, to speak with the same voice. This marriage was a well-rehearsed choir, a perverted spiritual unity sealed by hell. No man, not even Peter, knew about this secret initiation. It was only the Holy Spirit that knew the truth behind this couple’s secret plan. It is the Holy Spirit that revealed to Peter the truth and gave him the strength to expose satan. This was a sin against the Holy Spirit. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not just an influence. For you cannot lie to an idea. The Holy Spirit is God. He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. He judged this couple with instant death. Then the fear of God came upon the whole church and revival spread to all that area.

Don’t forget, liars are very good actors. This is their natural talent. That is why others are attracted to them. For as long as you desire free entertainment, you shall be deceived by them! It is hard to discover in them any anxiety of being caught or exposed. They do not fret; they seem confident and relaxed when speaking, comfortable in the midst of their deceptions. Like all good actors, they mentally rehearse their religious speeches or sermons, being prepared long before the public ‘battle’.

“Jesus quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher” (Lk 6:39, 40; TM)

This is a warning of possible danger coming from the Lord! Be careful when you chose your leaders, pastors, teachers and mentors! Do not follow them ‘blindly’. This is also a warning for the women: pray and seek God’s face about the gift of marriage! The devil will be very happy if you are deceived and you marry a religious unbeliever. Then you have to submit to a foolish man and to his wicked god, satan. I pray that these words will wake you up from spiritual slumber and spiritual laziness!

In Christ I declare:

I hate sin! I hate hypocrisy!

I love the righteousness of Jesus!

I arise and shine for my light has come!

All the glory to God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God” (Ac 5:1-4; AMP)

‘Satan’ is one of the devil’s names; it means the accuser, the enemy of God and man. He was the designer of this evil plan. It was an occult conspiracy to which husband and wife fully agreed. It is exactly the way a secret cult functions. Ananias and his wife chose to enroll in the army of the devil. They came as spies in the camp of God. They knew it was a dangerous mission. If they are exposed as the enemy’s agents, they can die. But they trusted the devil that he was ready to lead, sponsor and reward. Satan knew that the true believers were still young and spiritual warfare was not yet their major ministry. The strategy was to install a stronghold of lies, deception and religious hypocrisy in the middle of the young church. This occult structure will become a permanent fixture there. At the beginning, some brethren may raise some questions about the spiritual qualities of their leaders. But the devil hoped that the majority will take his agents for granted. With time, the believers will accept this stronghold of lies. They will learn to tolerate it, assuming it is normal to have such a bitter root amongst them. That was the plan. The devil was confident that the plan will work. Ananias and Sapphira were ready for action. Who can discover the truth?

They brought the money to the apostles’ feet, just the way they saw Brother Barnabas doing it. They waited for a compliment from Peter or at least the cry of ‘Praise the Lord’ from the congregation. But suddenly, Peter asked Ananias: ‘Why did you conceive this thing in your heart? You lied to God and not to men!’

The word ‘conceive’ in Hebrew means to lie down in a passive position ready to fulfill the purpose to be pregnant. In other words, Peter confronted him with this prophetic word: ‘Ananias, you accepted the proposal and the purpose of the devil to become his agent…you are heavily impregnated with his lies and wickedness! You are a danger to the church!’ Ananias was a bomb ready to explode. Before it could destroy the church, Peter defused its power. Only the Holy Spirit could have known!

In Christ I declare:

I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me into the whole truth!

I lean not on my own understanding!

I acknowledge God in all things!

God shall direct my path!

I am a child of God!

I am filled with the Holy Spirit!

The devil has nothing in me!

In Jesus name

Amen!

The prayer meeting was different today. The presence of God was heavy. Some brethren from the church were discovered in sexual sins. They repented but the pain was lingering on the congregation. This evening we forgot about our pain and entered in the pain of the Lord. We confessed and repented of the sin of lust and fornication. We confessed and repented of the sin of grieving the Holy Spirit. We ‘joined’ king David in prayer and song: “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord…and renew a right spirit within me…Cast me not away, from Your presence, O Lord…Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me…Restore unto me, the Joy of Thy salivation…and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps 51). Then the sermon followed…

“No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” (2Sam 13:12-15)

THE SIN OF LUST

Amnon is King David’s oldest son. He is the heir to the throne. For many years he was groomed that one day he will be the next king of Israel. Surely, he had private teachers. Among others, he learned Hebrew language, diplomacy, history, religion, the science of war and athletics. He had great dreams. But his story is sad beyond words. Just like Esau, who sold his birthright for a plate of stew, Amnon lost it all for five minutes of sexual pleasure. Yes, this is his story, his tragic fall from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the sea. He is known to the generations of believers as a wicked fool. Amnon’n sin destroyed the life of his sister, Tamar. Absalom killed him and promoted himself as the new heir to the throne. …..

What can we learned from this tragedy? The sin of lust is a sin of the heart. It stays invisible for a long time. Without repentance it will destroy a man, no matter how great he is. It becomes a slow poison and a bitter root for which men have no cure.

Some of the worst sins happen at home (rape, incest, abuse in marriage, bullying and siblings rivalry). Lust is attracted by ‘beauty’. Remember, once in eternity, the devil perfect in beauty, for God made him so (Ez 28:12).

Who commits the sin of lust? Lust is committed by ‘wicked fools’ like Amnon. Lust is a sign of immaturity; it is passionate impatience; like a spoiled child he says ‘I can’t wait! I want it now!’ The demon of lust is called to replace boredom, anxiety, laziness, sickness, loneliness. Lust is connected with bad friends: worldly, smart, entertaining; they tell you what you want but do not care about your soul, ministry, testimony or destiny.

Amnon did not care about Tamar, about her reputation or dreams of marriage. Lust is utterly selfish, not sensitive to the needs, desires or pains of another. Tamar pleaded with her brother to forget about his crazy desire. But he refused to listen for lust is stubborn like witchcraft.

Lust is extremely short –sighted, better said blind to the future consequences: Deception; Disgrace; Division and Death. Lust promises great things but it is a traitor. Lust does not satisfy. Amnon lost his crown and his life for five minutes of pleasure. The more you feed lust, the stronger it becomes (Rom 13:14). Dwelling in lust will lead to sinful activity! Remember this: Thoughts have consequences! Once you chose a path to go, you will not be able to control the consequences!

Lust is counted as a work of darkness. It is ugly, unclean and shameful! Tamar tore her princess dress and ran away naked.  Mathew Henry, a great man of God said this: ‘when a child of God talks about lust or the unfruitful works of darkness he should blush’ (Eph 5:8-13). Lust ends in death (Jam 1:13-15)!

What is the solution? The only remedy given to man is the Cross of Jesus Christ!!! The Blood shed on the Cross is the only chemistry that can cleanse a sinner. Come to Jesus! Come as you are! Come believing! Come worshipping God!

In Christ I declare:

I died to sin, to the world, to the flesh!

I am alive to God!

I no longer live but it is Christ who lives in me!

I plead the Blood of Jesus upon my body, soul, spirit, marriage, children, ministry and destiny!

We preach Christ crucified!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.
Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it” (Acts 5:1-5; AMP)

What is the background of the story?
The Holy Spirit has just being poured down on the day of Pentecost. The Church of Jesus Christ was born. Many people gave up their idols and became saved. The influence of the Word of God was increasing. The name of Jesus was held in high respect. Miracles of healing and deliverance accompanied the disciples everywhere. People desired to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
From the beginning of the church, there were two unique signs manifested among the believers, proving the filling with the Holy Spirit: boldness and generosity. People prayed with more confidence to be bold and so that they can resist the persecutions. The few wealthy ones among them sold property and gave the money to the apostles, to give to those in need.

I believe that satan was surprised at the influence and growth the church had in such a short time. So he decided to attack from within. This type of attack is always most dangerous. He tempted this couple to become his agents. This was the devil’s strategy: Ananias and his wife will pretend to be believers and infiltrate the church. They shall be bold and generous just like the others. That will give them a good chance to become leaders in the church. Satan will then be able to monitor and manipulate the brethren thru them, from a position of leadership in the Body of Christ.

Ananias was probably the leader and Sapphira agreed with him. Both were willing partners in crime. The wife had full knowledge of the evil plan. Interestingly, she obeyed the command of God to the wives (Eph 5:22). She submitted to her husband, but not ‘as unto the Lord’. She submitted to him as unto the devil. She completely understood the secret plan, including the part satan played in it. She connived with both the devil and her husband. The ‘connive’ it means to pretend ignorance, to tolerate or to be in secret sympathy with evil; to fail to oppose a crime. Like Jezebel, she made up her mind to encourage her husband in evil and to cover up for him. In case their evil was discovered, she will pretend ignorance and ‘female foolishness’. That was their reckless plan!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
The destiny of Ananias and Sapphira can never be mine!
As a wife, I submit to my husband as unto the Lord Jesus Christ!
I have to business with the devil!
I refuse to tolerate Jezebel!
I expose her wicked works and tale a public stand against her evil!
Jesus is Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT
I desire to give all the glory to God. The Holy Spirit gave me to share from the Book of Acts 5. It is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This is a very difficult passage to preach from. It is like doing major surgery without anesthesia. To my surprise, all went well. There was strength in my body, utterance on my tongue and courage in my heart. All of us we engaged in warfare against all evil spirits that try to destroy churches and marriages. The victory sounded its trumpet in our midst! All the glory to God!

“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God.
Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great dread and terror took possession of all who heard of it” (Acts 5:1-5; AMP)

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is a tragic one. But it is found in the Bible and we must learn great lessons from it, to apply them in our life. This incident happened when the church was still young and was experiencing its first revival. The Book of Acts is a great encouragement for us. For as long as we pray for revival, strange stories like these can happen again. The truth is that the devil is a liar and a loser. That can never change. He will continue to try to harm the Body of Christ. But this is the truth: Anybody involved with the devil will also end up in shame and pain. .

The meaning of their names Ananias and Sapphira is ‘Grace and Beauty’. Clearly, they did not live according to their names. Each one was a religious hypocrite with great ambitious plans for the future. To them, the end justifies the means. They did not fear God but they loved the church. That is a formula for disaster for Christ is jealous over His Bride!
This is also the story of a failed marriage. Its foundation was wrong and it ended tragically. Marriage is a gift from God. Two are better than one! If one falls, the other one is there to lift him up (Ecc 4:9-12). But in this story, both fell down and there was no one to lift them up! What makes the story so dramatic is their occult soul tie; their agreement to live together or die together. They willingly agreed to share and encourage in one another’s sin.

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I reject every evil spirit of lies and deception!
I separate from every form of religious evil spirits!
My marriage has its foundation on the Rock called Christ crucified!
I plead the Blood of Jesus over my life, my marriage, my children, my ministry and my work!
I do not call conspiracy what everybody calls conspiracy!
My soul, my body, my marriage, my children, my ministry is not for sale!
Jesus is Lord!
The Holy Spirit is Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

“He even said to me: ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’ Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.” So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law” (Ru 2:21-23; NIV)

Miraculously, Ruth has found favor and employment with Boaz. He tells her that he is impressed with her past good deeds towards Naomi. He promised her protection and care. Naomi sees the hand of God in this and confirms the advice of Boaz. She tells Ruth that all labor is not the same; that there is great difference between ‘fields’, ministries, companies and employers. The godly ones, like Boaz, will bring ‘good’ to her. In other fields she may be ‘harmed’. So she tells her ‘to go with the women of Boaz’.

The understanding of these words in Hebrew brings added revelation. The word ‘good’ means God’s favor, the best option, something beautiful, prosperity and pleasure in the same time; wealth made with ease and without trouble. The word ‘go’ means to grow, to mature, to rise, to lead and be sent with God’s commandments and anointed utterance

In other words, if Ruth goes to the right place and she submits to the right man (husband, pastor or boss), she will have the best life she can ever imagine. Her job will be easy. Her salary will be higher than her labor. She will quickly rise to be a leader; she will be promoted and rewarded. She will be an inspiration and a mentor to others who follow her behind. She will fulfill her potential as a woman of God and as a preacher of God’s Word.

The word translated ‘harm’ is very interesting. It means to forcefully intercede, to pray until you reach the goal.

It also means to accidentally or violently impinge into another. To impinge means to dash into another, like a sharp collision that has an effect, to push and to wound; to violate; to trespass into another’s territory or rights, to advance, to invade and to conquer another’s property.

In other words, Naomi is warning Ruth! She reveals to her that in another field she will not be protected against evil men; she will lack a spiritual covering; she will be the victim of men who will take advantage of her, steal her property and make her a slave. She will be harmed and violated by them. The worst thing is that, if she settles or gets employment among the hirelings, rebellious and evil men, God will ignore her prayers. Selah!

Ruth is to follow the maidens, the female servants of Boaz. In Hebrew, the word ‘maiden’ is similar with the word ‘lion’. What a great revelation! Naomi advices Ruth to follow the true women of God, the servants of Christ, the humble and bold daughters of the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Hallelujah!

We are told that Ruth ‘stayed’ with Naomi. The word means to abide without interruption; to settle down, to endure to the end, to be patient until you get married. Ruth learned the art of being a godly wife long before her weeding day. Selah!

This is another reminder of the great value of a godly mentor. Words cannot describe the worth of a true mother on Christ, the spiritual covering for a single girl as she prepares herself to enter marriage. To whom do you submit? This spiritual positioning is very important and determines the quality of your life. It does not matter how rich or handsome the man is (husband, pastor or boss). It does not matter how hard you pray, sacrifice yourself or work. God looks at your spiritual boundaries and at your covering. That is how He decides if you shall be blessed or not!

The value of true mentors is eternal. A blind man (or woman) will lead another into a pit. Is your mentor blind and deaf to the Holy Spirit? Then you live in constant danger of failure and shame! Think of it! Follow the true shepherds who follow Christ alone! Your peace, your health, the destiny of your family and even your very life depend on who you follow! May the story of Ruth ignite or refresh in you the true passion to follow Jesus!

In Christ I declare:

God is real!

I am a child of God!

I am a daughter of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!

I praise God every day!

I abide in Christ!

I follow the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ my Lord!

I follow the true under- shepherds, my mentors and leaders who follow Christ alone!

I run away from hirelings, false prophets, evil men who are agents of the devil!

I received the gift of godly marriage from God!

My children are my inheritance and reward from God!

I work a little and my salary is big!

My marriage, my ministry and my work are a pleasure to me!

I bless my mentors and pastors!

I bless my husband and children!

My cup runs over…I testify to the overflow of God’s blessings!

In Jesus name

Amen!

LOOK FOR MALIA

“Malia, the paragon of God’s love to Father’s House Ministries, an ambassador of Christ indeed

Her focus is Crystal clear, her single purpose: living for Jesus

So come and look for Malia

If you want a Christian woman’s example to lead you to Jesus, look for Malia

If you want an example of a mother to show you what motherhood entails, look for Malia

If you want an example of a helpmeet indeed, look for Malia

If you want an example of a life full of God’s wisdom, look for Malia

If you want to see a life depended on the Holy Spirit, look for Malia

She has proven to be a dependable child of God

Come without cunning, come let’s go with Malia

You are certain to settle with Jesus

Her destination is not in doubt- heaven!

So come and look for Malia, a woman amongst women…

Her door is open to who-so-ever-will

Coming through, you find warmth and welcome

Her devotion and love for God, her family and church family

Leaves indelible imprints in the minds of all who encounter her

She epitomizes one intoxicated with ‘the whiskey’ of the Holy Spirit

Being so full emits divine wisdom that has made her a great encourager

Her extreme confidence in her God brings hope to difficult situations

She seeks the good even in worse cases

She is gifted with eagle eyes to pull out the best in others

You can’t leave her presence feeling hopeless

She took after her Father and Friend- Jesus

She is a warrior, a true lioness of the tribe of Judah

Her amplified words in warfare prayers

‘Don’t be sorry for the devil!’ she said- will keep you on the pathway of prayers

Malia indeed, a blessing to our generation

To Father’s House Bible Church, particularly to the Women Fellowship

Thank You God for Malia!

Happy Birthday Anniversary Malia!

‘As your days are, so shall your strength be’ (Deut 32:25)

In Jesus name, Amen!

We love you with the love of Christ!”

(This is my card from Mercy, my daughter in Christ, here in Warri, Nigeria. She gave it to me on my 60^th birthday. Most people call me Malia. I want to give all glory to God for sending me to Nigeria as a missionary pastor! May these words be a point of contact to bless all servants of Christ, especially the women, all over the world! May your lives be fruitful and blessed unto the end! In Jesus name Amen!)

A THIEF OF HEARTS
“Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel… The conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2Sam 15:12, 6, 13)
Absalom was an angry, bitter and over ambitious man. Once in Jerusalem, he decided on a plan to take over his father’s throne. Early in the mornings he will go to the gate of the city and offer free advice to the people who come seeking justice. It is not that there were no courts to judge these cases. But before the courts opened, he will be there, available for counsel. He was the heir to the throne but he presented himself as the new high judge of the city. He gave false hopes to all who sought justice. He greeted them with kisses. He sounded as a true spiritual ‘vigilante’. He promises justice to all. It is easy to promise impossible things when you are in opposition. That is how worldly politicians gain the votes of the people. But when they win the office, they forget all the sweet words and the people who so easily got deceived by them.

Absalom ‘provides himself’ with a chariot, horses and fifty men running ahead. Rebellious men carefully groom their public image. It reflects their heart. He wanted to be king, so he will dress and behave like one. His father David was too simple for his liking. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a pagan king. Surely, he dressed better than David. He also probably admired Joseph and wanted to be like him. He read that Pharaoh gave him a chariot and bodyguards. Men like Absalom love to be seen as successful. They like the visibility that comes with positions of authority. The dream of many pastors is to appear on the TV. For them, that is the climax of ‘anointing in ministry’. They dress fashionably, marry women who behave like them and preach sermons that all people love. They insist that others respect them. Like Haman, they do not tolerate opposition and are cruel with anyone who ignores them.

Surprisingly, the people of Israel loved Absalom. They did not see the deception behind the glamour. They always wanted a man who looks like a king, handsome, confident and tough. That is why God gave them Saul in the first place. Absalom is the son of David but he has the spirit of Saul. God gave them a king according to their heart’s desire. So Absalom led a conspiracy and by a spirit of rebellion and witchcraft, stole their hearts. The word ‘stole’ means to deceive, to carry away secretly. Conspiracy is an unlawful allegiance or treason, when men join themselves together to do evil. The witch came with smiles and sweet promises of a better future. During one of the romantic kisses, he put his hand in their chest and stole the hearts; one by one. During the time of King Saul, men had no weapons. During the reign of this new king, men lost even their hearts and became slaves to evil.

King David was the true anointed king of Israel. He is the lawful approved authority of God. But the men of Israel desire a handsome but selfish king, proud and rebellious, just like them. He stole their hearts, the center of their minds, emotions and wills. He stole their vision and spiritual understanding. After the damage done by the spirit of rebellion and witchcraft, what was left behind was only the dead shell of broken dreams and failed destinies.

Finally, here are some questions: is your heart still in your body? (I am not talking about your natural heart, but about your spiritual one). Is your spiritual vision clear? Is your spiritual understating functioning well? Is your conscience sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Or do you make mistake upon mistake, led astray by the design of covens and false political prophets? Take your spiritual pulse…are you still alive? Examine yourself if you are still in the faith! For nothing else matters today; nothing is more important than this!

In Christ I declare:
I am a child of God!
I am born again, saved by grace thru faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Blood!
I reject all rebellion and witchcraft spirits!
I destroy every occult spell upon my life!
I take my heart back from the hands of the devourer!
I totally surrender to Jesus Christ my Lord!
In Jesus name
Amen!

HE WANTS MORE THAN A KISS

“Let me have an interview with the king; then if he finds that I am guilty of murder, let him execute me.”
So Joab told the king what Absalom had said. Then at last David summoned Absalom, and he came and bowed low before the king, and David kissed him” (2Sam 14:32, 33; LB)

Have you seen a witch in a movie? That is fiction. Have you seen a witch in the church? That one is real! You do not have to imagine it. Study the life of Absalom and you shall see who a witch is and what he can do. Rebellion is like witchcraft (1Sam 15:23). The story of Absalom occupies seven chapters in the Bible (2Sam 13-19). God wants us to study the tragic of life of this young man. He had it all and lost it all. We are to take the warnings of the Word of God very seriously.
Absalom, the handsome son of King David died long ago. But his spirit lives on a does a lot of harm in the churches, especially to the young believers. There are many lessons here for all of us. So, what is the story?

Absalom was a prince in Israel. He was the second son of King David. His older brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar. He was deeply hurt. We try to understand that… But what is hard to understand is this: he chose not to forgive his brother. The pain remained trapped in his heart and with time, it became a bitter root. From that moment on, his life takes a turn towards destruction and nobody could stop its downhill fall. His bitterness defines him and leads him to become a criminal, a traitor and a witch. He nurses his grudge against his brother for two whole years. He deceives his father and brothers that all things are well. He invites Amnon to a party and in ‘cold blood’ kills him at the table. He then runs away to his mother’s pagan family in Geshur (in today Syria).

After about three years, he comes back to Jerusalem and manipulates his way back to his father’s heart. David forgets the past and gives him a welcome kiss. But this time he wants more than a kiss…he wants his father’s throne!

Absalom was a very handsome man. Everybody admired his long hair. Once a year, he trims his ‘crown’ of hair in a public ‘barber shop’. If it was today, the video cameras had to be on so that all will watch the event. If beauty was enough to become a king, surely, Absalom should have been one. But his rebellion ends in a disaster. His long hair was good enough to attract the women of Israel but was a liability as a soldier. His beautiful hair got entangled in the branches of a large oak tree. Even nature fought against him. He was killed there, hanging between heaven and earth.

What are the lessons?
Rebellion always ends in tragedy!
Rebellion never gives glory to God!
God can never use a rebellious man in ministry!

In Christ I declare:
I destroy every connection in the spirit realm between me and the spirit of Absalom!
I destroy every link I ever had with the evil spirit of rebellion and witchcraft!
I destroy every bewitching spell over my soul!
I reject all evil spirits that influence my mind or my emotions!
I bring to God all my past of pain!
I uproot bitterness from my heart!
I humble myself under the hand of the Living God; in due time He will lift me up!
Jesus is Lord over my life, my marriage, my family, my ministry and church!
In Jesus name
Amen!

 
“Wonders, wonders of grace and mercy! The dear Lord revealed Himself to me again this morning, as my covenant God in Christ. I would praise Him for renewed tokens of salvation and temporal mercies, coming as covenant blessings. The Lord bless my blessings, and only give what He will bless to me. Never had anyone so rich a Banker, so kind a Husband, so tender a Shepherd, and so forbearing a Captain—as I have in my glorious Christ.

The more I venture, the more He encourages; the bolder I am, the kinder He grows; the more I expect, the more He gives. I cannot tire or wear Him out, for He is full, yes, fullness of grace, mercy, love, and compassion. The one-half of His glory has never been expressed by mortal tongue, nor the thousandth part of His ravishments and condescension conceived by those who have not felt them.

This, this is my—oh yes!—MY Beloved, and this is my Friend! Hasten the day when in His full-orbed glory I shall lose my sorrows and my sins forever! Oh, what mercy to have another love-glimpse. Praise, oh, praise God, my covenant God; join me, you saints on earth, and in heaven, to adore and magnify Him for His mercy—amazing mercy—to a vile Magdalene…
Hallelujah!
Amen”
(from the diary of Sis. Ruth Bryan, 1805-1860)

In the natural things were not easy. There is much construction on our street. People have to park their cars far away. This evening there was a heavy rain outside.  But the brethren ignored all these obstacles and still came to meet with God. The prayer meeting started well. The grace of God was with us. Everybody was sober and attentive. There is no greater encouragement for a Bible teacher than to see the students coming to the class. To God be all the glory! The following was our message!

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb 12:14, 15; LBT)

THE ROOT

The root is the underground (invisible) part of a plant. Roots make up around one-third of the total dry weight of a plant. These are the main functions of the roots:

*To anchor and support plants

*To absorb and conduct water and minerals to the leaves and the fruits

*To store products of photosynthesis (carbohydrates, sugars, proteins)

*For winter survival of perennials

It is difficult to predict the root spread of any plant.  Under favorable growing conditions, the typical root spreads very fast. For example, I read that the total length of root tissues in a single rye plant is around 380 miles!

THE BITTER ROOT

Bitterness is the result of a past painful injury that has not been healed. It comes from broken promises, lost dreams, proud, unrealistic expectations, childhood neglect or sexual abuse. Bitterness starts with blaming God for the pain. Its root is in rejecting Christ crucified, the only mediator between God and man. Bitterness is lack of peace between God and man. God chastises His people. That is He loving work as a Father. We should be grateful for His corrections. Jonah was angry with God. He eventually repented when rebuked by Him. Absalom was angry with his father and brother but he never repented and died a bitter rebellious man. What a loss…

The work of the Holy Spirit is to create the loving bond between the believers, the unity of the Spirit. Bitterness destroys this holy bond of peace and love. Bitterness is a major source of divisions in the churches, quarrels and divorces even among the believers.

.

THE BITING ROOT

Bitterness starts as a personal sin but its spreads very fast. Your heart is God’s garden. He plants holy seeds.  “If the root is holy, so are the branches”. God has to right to visit anytime and delight in what He finds there. Look carefully, inspect and be jealous over your heart, for out of it overflows the Word of life. The Holy Spirit plants seeds of love, joy, peace, patience and kindness that will become sweet fruits.

The devil plants weeds to spoil the beauty and the value of the garden. These strange plants cause trouble everywhere. Weeds are very difficult the remove. One of it is called ‘the root of bitterness’. It grows very deep. ‘Bitterness’ comes from the word ‘to bite’. Bitterness is like a poisonous snake in the garden. When it is little, it looks nice and innocent. It adds ‘color’ to the garden…or so we think…But one day it will manifest and will try to bite the gardener. It causes trouble to the other good plants. It oppresses, harasses and annoys them. It pollutes them so that they become weak and sad.

Spiritual weakness and depression may be a sign that a spell of bitterness is over you. Pray and find its source. Separate it quickly before more damage is done! Remove the ‘snake’ from your garden! Every plant the Father has not planted shall be uprooted at last!

A bitter man takes the grace of God for granted, he wastes all its loving warnings and rebukes. He is an enemy of the Cross. The word ‘fall short’ means to be inferior, to be deficient or to miss its blessings. It is like man going to the airport to board the only plane that goes to heaven. Somebody paid for his ticket. But he comes too late. He missed it!  Esau cried at the “Airport of Life” but his tears could not manufacture another plane. This is so sad…

Pray that God reveals if there is any root of bitterness in your heart. Try to remember the most painful event in your life, the greatest disappointment. How did you survive that pain? The only solution for anger is found at the Cross of Christ. Any other location will recycle your pain into false hope and bitterness. Any other god will plant a snake in the garden of your heart.

Before I close…This is a good time to appreciate the grace of God over your life. Worship God who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! There is no other Word I have for better than that…

In Christ I declare:

I repent of every connection I had with bitter people who are angry with God!

I repent for indulging in atheism!

I uproot every root of bitterness!

I kill the biting snake of rebellion deposited in my heart!

Holy Spirit please come and fill me…

In Jesus name

Amen!

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment” (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

Paul was attacked by an evil spirit of Python as he was going to the place of prayer. This evil spirit possessed a slave girl who met him on the way. This slave girl was a false prophetess who spoke under the inspiration of the Python spirit. Paul knew that, regarding this girl, there are only two options:

If she was sent by God, then she will be an asset to their ministry, ‘preparing the way for the Lord’. In that case, Paul was supposed to welcome, encourage and mentor her as anew believer.

But if she was an agent of the devil, she was to be rebuked or delivered. Her shout was not to proclaim the Gospel; it was not to the glory of God! Her shout was a warning to the other demons. She was telling them to run away with their ‘captives’, to prevent their salvation, healing or deliverance.

The gift of discerning the spirits is very useful in situations like these. I am sure that all this time Paul prayed in the Spirit. Because he was not sure about this girl, so he allowed her to shout. He listened not only to her words, but to the tone of her voice. Demons can be detected by their voice. After ‘few days’ he sensed that his spirit became ‘grieved’. The word means to be angry, sorely annoyed, worn out and worried. The same word also means to become poor, a beggar; to work hard for your daily bread and still starve. The Python was trying to come closer and spiritually bind his feet, his chest and his hands. The result will be slow motion, difficulty of breathing and weakness of hands. This will manifest as tiredness, inability to pray or to be led by the Holy Spirit. The weakness of hands leads to poverty. This Python evil spirit is responsible for many cases of chronic depression, fatigue, laziness, anxiety, backsliding and poverty.

The following are some guidelines on how to survive python attacks in the natural:

The best thing is to avoid an encounter by keeping alert for snakes. But if the python is attacking you, trying to coil around your body, do this:

*Wrap your non-dominant arm (left) around your ribs for stability and protection.

*Grab the snake’s head with your free hand, and pull it backwards to break its neck and to unwind the coil

*Stay calm if the snake loops around you. Struggling prompts the snake to squeeze you more

*If you have a knife, with one swift motion, thrust it though the top of the snake’s head

*ALWAYS carry your knife when going to snake territory! Keep your knife as sharp as possible: it may save your life!

Spiritually speaking this means to always watch and pray! We wrestle against principalities and power, wickedness in high places! Train yourself and be ready for warfare! Put on the whole armor of God! Do not forget your shield of faith to protect your heart! Use the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God! Pray with understanding and also pray in tongues! The Holy Spirit in you is stronger than the python! Fear not! God is with you! Jesus has defeated all demons on the Cross of Calvary! In Christ the victory is sure! Once you are free, intercede for others!

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I reject the evil spirit of fear!

I receive power love and sound mind!

I am healed and delivered!

I confront, reject and defeat the evil spirit of Python!

Led by the Holy Spirit I enter the enemy’s territory and I free the captives of the evil spirit of Python!

I saw the devil falling and running!

My family is delivered!

My victory is sure!

To the glory of God!

In Jesus name

Amen!

 
This is the road entering the ancient city of Philippi (in today Greece). You see the ruins of the church there. It was around this place that Apostle Paul delivered the slave girl from an evil spirit of divination called ‘python’.

He wrote to the believers in that church:
“I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8; AMP)

“As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling. She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! And she did this for many days. Then Paul, being sorely annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit within her, I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out that very moment (Ac 16:16-18; AMP)

The slave girl in the passage above looks vulnerable, innocent, friendly and helpful. She was ‘advertising’ Paul and his ministry. These are good and truthful words but, do not forget, she is an agent of the devil. Is that possible? Yes! That is the power of deception!  She was shouting on the road that Paul and the rest believers are ‘the servants of the Most High God’. In Greek, this ‘loud shout’ is like the sound of a raven. What she was saying is true but the sound of her voice had something sinister about it. The scientists say that the raven’s calls can express a wide range of emotions: tenderness, happiness, surprise or rage. Ravens can easily imitate other birds and they can even be taught the human speech.  The devil’s agents are professional liars and successful manipulators!!!

She told everybody that Paul preaches’ the way of salvation’. In Greek the word means salvation, healing and deliverance. Paul was not totally sure about the motives of this girl trying to join the evangelistic team. He probably felt some anxiety concerning her appearance and especially the sound of her voice. There was something strange about it. Not quite right! Jesus said that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and run away when they hear a stranger (Jn 10). This is a practical question: Do you recognize the voice of Jesus in the voice of other ‘brethren’? To be spiritually deaf is a tragedy for you may follow a hireling, a thief or an agent of the devil. Many have been deceived! When you talk to someone, wait for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and your ears! Wait for the ‘sign of peace’ in your spirit. Without it, do not move! Do not trust! Do not follow! Wait and Pray!!!

This is standard evil strategy: The devil first attacks with deception. No demon come and ‘introduces himself’ to you saying: ‘I am a devil…’ He comes as ‘an angel of light’, thru the church or another ministry. As a believer, I am not suspicious on any stranger. But I remain watchful and calm. Long ago I prayed that my spiritual and physical reflexes should be totally under the control of the Holy Spirit. God has answered that prayer and it has been a great blessing to me. As a pastor, every day, different people come to my office for prayer or counseling. I remain calm trusting the Holy Spirit to have His way. Sometimes, the needy person looks obviously ‘fake’. I still remain calm. No need to get angry. Once the light shines, the darkness is paralyzed. But there are other times when the person looks ‘born again’ and speaks good words. Suddenly, from my spirit I get angry and put a stop to that conversation. I immediately find myself ready for ‘battle’ the whole armor in place. With the authority as an ambassador for Christ, I confront the demon hiding behind the religious grab. This is the same reaction for me when in the past, as a doctor I see an emergency. I become focused, alert, calm and active in the same time. This ‘anger’ is totally under the control of the Holy Spirit. I never lose my temper and I never regret it. I am not afraid. My words increase in intensity. They go like arrows straight to the target. Fruits of deliverance manifest immediately. So I totally identify with what the Apostle Paul experienced on that road to Philippi.

“The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]” (1Jn 3:8; AMP)

This is my testimony, my experience, my belief and my encouragement to you: No need to fear! It is possible to be victorious in all spiritual battles! If you are a child of God then you qualify to pray for others that they may be set free! Be holy! Be strong! Let’s put the devil to shame! Enroll in the army that knows no defeat! The truth is marching on…

In Christ I declare:

I am a child of God!

I watch and pray always!

The python is dead!

The devil is a loser!

I am lead in triumphant procession as I continue to do ministry!

I get stronger and wiser every day!

I preach the Gospel of Christ Crucified!

My ministry is fruitful!

I set the captives free!

To God be all the glory!

In Jesus name

Amen!