Life Capsule for Today Date:20th September, 2023
Theme: Victory over stagnation (4)
Text:
Jer 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. NIV
Topic: Reasons for stagnation (2)
Today’s Reading:
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV
Words of the Ministry:
Yesterday we began looking at the various reasons why believers suffer same fate of stagnation as unbelievers despite God’s several provisions ranging from his word, his spirit and power. We learnt that the first reason is God himself. We said many suffer stagnation because of their attitude towards God. An example was made of pride, the bible admonishes us to be weary of pride as God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. As man could suffer continuous resistance in a certain phase of his life due to pride towards God. So is forgiveness, God said if you don’t forgive you would not be forgiven and your prayers would not be answered, a vast majority of believers today suffer from stagnation due to unforgiveness. Another reason is stinginess; many also suffer stagnation financially because they are too stingy. Today we are looking at the second reason why believers suffer stagnation, and that reason is why the devil is also called Satan.
The bible describes the devil as a wounded lion seeking who he may devour (1 Pet 5.8), he has not and can never repent, many believers take his activities for granted. While the unbelievers are his captives until they repent, believers are to resist him as we are no more his captives as a result of Jesus’s death and resurrection. The devil has bound many believers today due to their ignorance, many have believed a false gospel that teaches that there is no need for spiritual warfare as Christ has done it all. They don’t realize that like Adam, we are liberated to keep our Sphere and the world around us under control (Gen 1.27). God would not do for us what we can do for ourselves. Many saints with good visions, ideas and goals have been stagnated because of their ignorance, they accredit some of their failures to God in the name of spiritual dealing, some have resulted to fate, saying if it pleases God, he would address it. I like to emphasize that God through redemption have given us the keys as a Church to bind and loose, the government of the kingdom is upon the Church, we are to enforce his will and if we don’t rise, God would not rise.
The bible admonishes us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can withstand the devil and afterwards stand (Eph 6.11), we wrestle against principalities and powers, evil spirits and demons, that don’t have human feeling nor sympathy, all they know is to steal, kill and destroy. The earlier the believers realizes he is at war in this world the better. Our day to day attitude towards the world must be that of a solider and a pilgrim, we are not of this world and at the same time we are to establish the kingdom of God on earth. The devil at times does his havoc of stagnation through human agents like witches, wizards and other individual that avail themselves. We must look beyond them and deal with the demon behind them through prayers, another trap believers fall into is to transfer hatred to human agents, we are to show them love (Luk 6.28) and also be watchful (Mat 10.16). I like to conclude with an admonition from Paul Rom 12:11-12” 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”, May God grant us light.
Bible in One Year: Hosea 7-14
For further fellowship send us an email on godmanvideos@gmail.comor visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting, Word feast comes up every Wednesday by 5pm and Prayer Gym every Saturday by 7am while PENIEL comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Suite A10, Ahser Office Complex, beside Living Faith Church, Opposite Hassan Stores, Arab Road, Kubwa Abuja.