FAITHFULNESS IN GOD'S SERVICE

What is faithfulness? What do we understand by faithfulness?

Ally: I think faithfulness is being "committed" to something or someone

Some synonyms of faithful include, loyalty, allegiance, fidelity. All these are strong words that we use in everyday speeches. They sure mean a lot to us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” Galatians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭NKJV

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭TPT

KJV actually renders the word "faithfulness" as "faith". The Greek word used there does not mean "faith" but "faithfulness". This means that faithfulness is already a fruit we have, produced in us by the Spirit of God residing in us. We can be faithful because we're born again. What this means is, God does not require from us what he has not given us capabilities to be or do

Having established what faithfulness means, what then is service? By English definition, service is an act of being of assistance to someone.

Ally: Doing something for someone

I want us to properly understand the terms used in the definition of service 

1. Assistance

2. Someone 

If we say God's service, it means we're being of assistance to God. Think about it for a minute

Will God, the God of the Heavens and Earth, that created everything by the word of mouth? Is there anything he cannot do? We all say "what God cannot do does not exist" and we say right. If so, why will God, needing no help require my service? i.e. my assistance?

We'll unravel as we proceed.

WHY SHOULD WE BE FAITHFUL IN GOD'S SERVICE?

1. God is faithful 

God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 NLT

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NLT

We see that scriptures established that God is faithful. Firmly committed to us. He is loyal. 

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13 NLT

2. God requires faithfulness 

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. Luke 12:42 NLT

The Lord Jesus himself told parables on faithfulness. It shows how highly he requires it.

3. The Apostles demanded faithfulness even as they were faithful

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 1 Corinthians 3:10 NLT

In 2 Timothy 2:2, we see a plan for 4 generations to receive the gospel simply on the premise of faithfulness. 

Paul was faithful and committed to Timothy

Timothy should be faithful in commuting to faithful men

The faithful men should be faithful in committing to others! What a big deal! 

Apostle Paul called himself a wise master builder! What an accolade!

4. We're beneficiaries of faithfulness

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NLT

Post resurrection, Jesus committed the gospel to 11 people. 11 unlearned people. Those 11 men ran with the gospel with faithfulness and that's why we've the gospel today. Think of Paul, who suffered many perils, yet wouldn't relent in the preaching of the gospel, even in prison, he still was concerned for his converts. 

What is going to happen to the next generation? Can they boast on our faithfulness as a reason while they heard the gospel?

5. Ministry requires it 

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 1 Corinthians 3:10 NLT

If you're going to build, it requires carefulness and faithfulness. We've been called to build men! We might say, oh, I'm not a pastor or evangelist or any 5 fold ministry. But all believer have a ministry of reconciliation

In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19 TPT

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF FAITHFUL MEN

The Bible is replete with men that served God, from the old testament to the new Testament and served with faithfulness.

a. Our Lord Jesus Christ 

We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! Hebrews 12:2 TPT

Jesus showed the example of faithfulness! Faithful to the end! I want us to know that Jesus died as a man like you and I, not with a body higher than ours with maybe higher threshold of pain, no! I mean Jesus could have taken the beatings, mockery, spitting, carrying the Cross etc. And then on the cross, even with nails and crown if thorns on, he could have looked at the people mocking his kingship and come down, pull out the nails and say "una no even worth am"😃

What made Jesus stay? Faithfulness to the cause! This is to say that faithfulness would require us pushing through the inconveniences, pain, rejection, tiredness, discouragements etc! 

I mean, how many of us leave our secular job (assisting a man)  because of tiredness?  Why then would we leave God's work?

b.  Moses

Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My household. Numbers 12:7 HCSB

See God boast of Moses' faithfulness! 

c. Timothy 

This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17 HCSB

We all know how Paul worked, yet he acknowledged Timothy's faithfulness. 

d. The disciples of Jesus 

The disciples of Jesus were faithful and supportive of Jesus' ministry and of course after his early ministry - Acts 4:19-20

e.  David and Jonathan: 1 Sam 23:15-17

f. Other believers in the bible 

 Epaphras - Col 1:7

Onesimus- Col 4:9

Silvanus - 1 Peter 5:12

Tychicus - Eph 6:21

The list is inexhaustible.

Jesus in Matthew 24:45 says 

“Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? Matthew 24:45 HCSB

The master cannot be in charge of his household, so he requires a faithful slave!

Ministry is doing for God, what God cannot do for himself. Think about it. Does God need help? No! But this one thing, he does! 

If we see service to God as the God who made the worlds relying on us to do stuff for him, to wins souls he died for, to cater to the needs of his body (the church), to look after that brother or sister, to give to that needy, to pray for that person, just this one thing and we cannot be faithful? 

Let's have a sober reflection. 

Faithfulness is big to God, it must matter to us. 

Just as we won't do our secular job anyhow, let's not do same for God.

This is the assistance, this is our service. And you know what, like we started with, it's not a demand from God, what we cannot give. 

Remember Galatians 5:22...the fruit of our spirit is... Faithfulness. We have it's! Let's draw from within!

EVANGELISM

We already started the conversation on Evangelism last month and some of us already started doing this physically.

First of all...:What is Evangelism?

Samson: Evangelism is the act of telling people about Jesus, the Good News, using every media available.

Ally: Evangelism, I think, is letting people know about Christ's sacrifice. Drawing men to accept Christ and serve God. Can be through speech, music, dance, etc etc

Chelsea: I think it is preaching the Gospel of Christ to people

Evangelism is simply sharing the gospel.

What is the Gospel? Good news

Let’s look at News stations for example. Imagine that they are hoarding news. Imagine they are shy to share news. Imagine Arise TV expects people to know the truth of what is happening by just looking at their body language.

It sounds odd, funny and stupid at the same time right? That’s because news is meant to be shared. It’s meant to be amplified. Everyone should know about it. If nobody shared the news, we’d live in ignorance about so many things and we will pay for it.

Imagine there is a curfew at 9pm today and the news houses refused to broadcast it. People will go out at that time and be arrested, because someone failed to do their job.

As believers, we’ve been called to broadcast. You are a broadcaster in this kingdom. Our duty is to share the gospel. It is the commission Jesus gave to everyone of us

So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 ERV

We’ve talked about following before here. Followership/discipleship is such a strong word

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans‬ ‭10:14‬ ‭NKJV

People do not become followers to who they don’t believe in. There is no way they can also believe in a person they’ve not heard about. The only way people get to know about Jesus is when we open our mouth to preach.

Jesus was very strategic in His time here on earth. He definitely could not reach everyone directly in His life time, so what did He do? He trained some directly with the commission to tell this good news and raise followers of Him (Christ). And these men in turn raised other men. And those ones, more men.

Somebody told somebody that told somebody that told another person till it got to us. If people had broken the chain, the gospel might probably have gone extinct today. We can’t afford to break the chain

Here’s the thing: A lot of us believers know that the gospel should be shared. We understand the importance of it. But we are sometimes still reluctant to share. Some of us are also looking for “perfect moments” Or people that will reach out to us like Nicodemus in John 3 to know about the gospel. We will most likely sleep here. It is our duty to reach out to unsaved people

Jesus said: Go ye into the world

Some of us are also trying to be politically correct. We do not want to come off offensive. So we only talk about Jesus to people that talk about Him with us. If we do it with outsiders, we are very diplomatic

We don’t want to offend anybody

Flash news: The gospel itself is offensive (to those on the path of destruction)

To everyone that is unsaved, this good news doesn’t first sound to them as good. In fact, they do not think on the good in the news at first but how it strips them. “How dare you come and tell me I’ve been on the wrong path all my life with my 2 PhDs”

I remember Maraji (Maraji is a Nigerian comedian) posting on IG that Jesus is the only way

Not Buddha 

Not Allah

Not Sango

Just Jesus

And guess what? Even Christians got offended. Their excuse? She said it on a Muslim festive day

“So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:20-21‬ ‭NLT

So many times we are trying to package the gospel in such a way that is not offensive so much that we water down the message itself. We want to translate the gospel in a way that our hearers will like. Feel good messages. There is no feel good way to tell someone that they are on a destructive path and are subjected to the wrath of God. Even when we show them what Christ has done for them

Have you noticed that usually when people accept Christ/meet Him, their first reaction borders tears and soberness? Anyone noticed this? That a new convert is most likely not jumping around at the time of conversion

Samson: Yes

It is because people do not accept to be made right unless first they acknowledge they’ve been wrong. You cannot tell someone to come and join path to life if they believe that is where they are already

The Gospel is truly good news. The acceptance of this news means stripping of self. Some people would rather die than be emptied in such a way.

So what we are doing with these people is pat them on the back and really deceive them that they are on the right path. That is wickedness. You see that first confrontation that brings people’s defense up? We cannot avoid it. This doesn’t mean you should go and be confronting people and be harsh on them in the name of preaching o.

The Gospel will do its work in its own. Ours is to just share it. It’s a loving news so share it lovingly. There’s a difference between sharing in love and patronizing people to avoid backlash. 

One thing God has been hammering to me is the aggressiveness we should apply to evangelism in this season. It’s not a once in a while thing. We evangelize like our lives depend on it

God cares for souls. God cares for men. And He is really counting on us to just tell them about Jesus.

Some of us, it is shame that stops us from preaching the gospel “So people don’t look at us as if we are too spiricoco”. We don’t want to look like uncool kids. 

Hell fire is not cool one bit. Please, preach the gospel to men. 

“So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans‬ ‭1:15-16‬ ‭NLT

How many believers look forward to evangelism? Paul looked forward to it. He was eager

By identifying strongly with this gospel, people will leave you. 

You are dating cool Christians? They will walk out on you  “How can my girlfriend be preaching and constituting a nuisance in public transport”. The person is a Christian too 😁

But will we stop?

No! You see that salvation for everyone who believes ehn, is our motivation. And truly, people will believe. I already explained the success part of evangelism to us before now

A strong evangelism key is prayer. Paul longed to preach the gospel in Rome but long before then he was praying for them

“God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.” Romans‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NLT

Pray for people. Don’t stop. Don’t be weary

Prayer opens the doors to soul winning. Prayer also gives you discernment and helps you with the right words in presenting the Gospel. Cos we can’t go to people reciting the same 4 lines (60s) pastor taught you. Jesus approached the Samaritan woman with discussion on water and introduced Himself as the living water.

Another thing is Love for people. When you love people, you automatically carry the burden to preach

Note that you can’t love people if you don’t love God. And your love for God is seen in how you love people. 

How best do you love he unsaved? Show them the father’s love. This is a prayer point for us all

That God should help the church love people truly so much that our hearts yearn for their salvation. There was a bad habit the Holy Spirit called my attention to

If I’m in a ride ehn (Uber or taxi) and I’m not in the mood or led to preach the gospel, I will fix my earpiece in. I don’t want to hear a word from the driver.

Don’t talk to me abeg

But you see, when I want to preach, I’m all smiles and ready. What if the driver wants to be silent?

What if he doesn’t want small talks like me too?

Another thing was, I used to set out with mindset to evangelize. So it’s like I’m looking for fish to catch with my net 😂😂

We want the Uber driver to listen by force but we don’t want to listen to them

God listens to people. God has an agenda for men o. But He listens to men 

He allows us express.

Genuinely listen and connect.

Also don’t listen to fish out what is wrong in what they are saying 

A lot of us believers do this (even with other believers ). It’s not good. Don’t wait for such perfect moments.

Be led by the spirit: If you are inviting anyone into a life of the spirit, then you yourself must be led by the spirit

Be very sensitive in evangelizing

Good news if not delivered rightly will sound bad

Who determines mode of delivery? The spirit! Allow Him lead you

I’m going to share the remaining part of the messages I got at the  spiritual pool on Feb 20

MESSAGE FROM SPIRITUAL POOL

Don’t stop with the evangelism (tell my children)

Broken men are all around

The walking wounded, all with covered up wounds

Even for believers, I am sending you with comfort to all men

Meet believers? Share your love for me with one another

Hold hands and offer to pray with them in the spirit

Pray with/for men

This is key. I’m doing something with it

My children walk wounded and broken

I want to spread my comfort 

I have rested it in you

Words and healings will flow

I am doing a new thing, a really new thing. I mean this and I wish you all will see it

Part 2

Preparation time is not over, don’t be in a hurry 

Slow down, speed.....

Slow down, speed

I give you influence 

Don’t keep shut about the gospel

You see me. I appear to you

Yes, I come to you!

I speak to you mouth to mouth

You hear clearly

Go back to the promises/word for 2020 and 2021

Dance/rejoice over them

For the Lord God does all He promise

Instructions come

More is coming....

For you,

You think I depart from you?

You think so?

Burn your incense before me 

Watch and see that it is acceptable 

I am with you till the very end of time

Did you miss out on any instruction?

Confused or you forgot something?

ASK ME

I make all things clear

There is a visible mark on you

You are marked as mine and men see

You are equipped with boldness

For me, you are drunks

Full of the spirit

Give Him the reins

Allow Him lead

Let Him control

The lost are brought back and restored

Again,

Speed, flight, catching up.

THE GOSPEL

At the spiritual pool on the 31st, here's one of the things I got.

Abba says we go back to the basics, to our very foundation. Everybody, drink milk.

We will eat strong meat o but Milk is very important and a lot of us have missed its importance.

So here we are, with the milk of the word.

What exactly is the gospel?

Omotola: The message of Christ.

Jane: The Gospel is simply a message of Good news

Fola: The good news of salvation

Busayo: Good news of our redemption, reconciliation and salvation

Sumi: The Good news of Christ and salvation

Seun: Gospel is that Christ died and resurrected that we might be saved.

The Gospel of Christ

This is one of the most important question for us as believers. What we believe the gospel to be and what we think it is not plays a very huge role in our walk.

It matters what we believe about the gospel. The gospel is not in different facets that each group can hand-pick what they want to believe about it. It doesn't work this way.

The word Gospel means Good News as you all have rightly said.

1 Corinthians 15:3 The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it;

1 Corinthians 15:4 that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says;

The new testament opens us to 4 books

They are all titled The Gospel

The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

Now, note that all of these books centered round one person: Christ.

But then, the gospel is also people centered

The Gospel is God's plan for creation.

John 3:16 is one of the most beautiful presentation of the gospel.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

The Gospel of Christ is God's plan to save man and reconcile us to Himself.

But what exactly are we saving man from?

Why does man need to be saved?

This good news, was there a bad news before it?

This helps us to understand exactly what we believe

The bad news; Why man needs to be saved

You cannot preach a change of location to someone that doesn't know they are currently in a bad place, you end up sounding stupid. 

When Adam fell, a lot of things changed for mankind. We inherited a nature whose end is death and eternal damnation. Every man did. We inherited sin. Now, this is bad news. But only to those who understand this inheritance and the doom it spells

The bad news is that All have sinned and come short of the glory of God

But this bad news is adequately countered by the good news which we call the gospel of Christ :

Because God loves man so so much, He found a way to ensure man is forgiven of their sins and do not stand condemned. He did this by sending His only son Jesus Christ to carry the sins of man on himself through death. And on rising, the son Himself who knew no sin came up without any blame

Now, man is blameless and without sin should they believe in this Christ

Paul broke it down in 1st Corinthians 15:3-4. The first part placed so emphatically, of utmost importance: Christ died for our sins

The problem of sin has been dealt with completely

The next thing Paul mention is His burial and then His resurrection.

The Gospel is such a simple and straightforward message. It can be explained to anyone, even children can understand it.

A lot of us were  introduced to the message of the gospel as early as childhood: For God so loved the world...It's the basics we were all trained with. But a lot of things have happened over the years. We've tried to add to the gospel

It sounds too good to be true so there has to be more. There has to be an input from man.

There is only one version of the Gospel and it is that God loves mankind so much that He sent Christ to die for our sins and when we believe in Him, we do not die. We live forever

No addition, No subtraction.

Any plan for Salvation that reduces Christ is untrue

Any plan for salvation that doesn't reveal God's love so large and almost unreal is a lie

Any salvation plan that places a burden on man to be saved is also a lie.

I tell you this sincerely, as much as it breaks my heart to: There is no hope or salvation plan for those who do not believe in Christ

No matter how sincere and good they are, there is only one salvation plan the bible has made known and it is IN Christ. Salvation is offered to men on just one simple condition - a wholehearted faith in Christ Jesus.

This is the good news and we need to spread it. Do news houses keep their news to themselves? No! It is broadcast.

You need to broadcast this news.

This good news needs to be spread

No work can be good enough

No one can work hard enough

Niceness is not a Criteria

The Gospel is good news because all of the good of man can not save him so Christ (the goodness of God revealed in full) stepped in for us all. Christ, the only provision good enough to save

Another thing we make a mistake on is that we preach Christ as the good news, then have a little bit additions.

Another mistake we make: Doctrines do not save.

This part ehn

Social media is filled with so much heated arguments on church doctrines and some times we allow it to cause rifts amongst us. We look down on other believers with different church doctrines.

Sometimes, without knowing, we actually begin to question their salvation. We begin to question their belief based on doctrinal arguments

While some doctrinal inclinations actually reveal what people believe, we must be very careful to not mistake these things. We are not saved by doctrines or our knowledge of it. We are saved by our belief IN Christ Jesus!

This is our foundation. If we do not understand it, we will keep trying to do this to save.

This gospel is simply: Come as you are, I have made you clean. Just accept this and let's move from there.

Here's a truth I've found:

The minute man drops the burden of trying to be clean and make Heaven

He begins to see exactly how clean is has already been made in Christ Jesus

There's this hymn I love so much (I love hymns a lot actually as i grew up with them and the Spirit helped me see the depth to them). 

To God be the glory, great things He hath done (We will go to the second verse)

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood

To every believer the promise of God

The vilest offender who truly believes

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Perfect!

The Gospel is perfect!

Your salvation as purchased by the blood of Jesus is perfect!

No extra is needed.

Do we know what it means to be a vile offender? It really doesn't matter how bad people are. It doesn't matter how far they are gone. The most wicked person ever has a pardon in Christ Jesus. All they need to do is accept

There is only one way to be right with God and it is made known through the gospel.

How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? NIV Romans 10:14

How are people made right with God if they don't know the Gospel? How do they know the Gospel if they don't hear it? People are waiting for you to share this good news with them

A lot of people have heard the name Jesus and about Him but they do not really know the Gospel and what this Jesus has done for them. 

Another thing I want us to know is that the gospel is offensive. You know why it is? People hate to know the truth of where they currently stand. People hate the gospel not because Jesus really did anything to them bit because they hate to accept their current state of eternal damnation. How dare you tell them that with how good/nice they are, their works are not enough

How can they be on the damnation part of eternity? How can they be wrong? People hate to be on the wrong. And it is why we also that preach the gospel must be able to explain how man got here to them. 

It is why people are not offended with Jesus loves you, God loves you. But go on Twitter now and type: anyone that does not believe is bound for hell. Wait and see what your mentions will be like

As we go out to preach the gospel, please keep it in mind that the gospel is offensive.

People will react a certain way but we do not stop. We know exactly what is at stake. 

So here's a breakdown again:

-Man had a need

-God loved man so he brought a solution

- Christ is the solution. He died for man's sins and resurrected. He dealt with the problem of sin once and for all

-Man believes IN Christ and is saved.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it  is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

For us that already believe, one of the major issues we have is that We are looking for deeper truths aka Rhema.

There is no "deeper" or greater truth than this guys. Everything flows from here, EVERYTHING

 

IS TITHING A WRONG DOCTRINE?

Why do we tithe when there's no mention of it in the NT?

ANSWER

(It's going to be a bit long but please stay with me)

Tithe was primarily mentioned in the old testament but does this necessarily mean it was cancelled in the new testament?

 In situations like this, we go back to the origin of tithing in the old testament.

Where was it first mentioned?

And why was it established?

The first mention of tithing in the bible is Abraham and Melchizedek. This happened after Abraham rescued Lot.

Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. He blessed Abram and said, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.  And we praise God Most High, who helped you defeat your enemies.” Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle.

Genesis 14:18‭-‬20 ERV

So the pattern here is:

1. Melchizedek approached Abraham, brought bread and wine and BLESSED HIM

2. Abraham proceeded to give The priest tithe after he had been blessed

The bible doesn't record that the priest asked for this.

Abraham gave of his own will, not to God but to the priest (maybe he was led to, we don't really know).

But we know for sure that the priest did not asl and God didn't tell Abraham to give.

Abraham gave from that which he was blessed with.

There is a pattern established here :

Man is blessed

Man gives

Second mention of tithing was Jacob.

“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:20-22‬ ‭NKJV

Just look at, nobody told Jacob to give a 10% but we can assume that the people over the years had read about God's dealing with man.

How He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave. 

So Jacob voluntarily entered into a covenant with God on tithing: God bless me and I will come with a percentage. 

So it also aligns with the principle we stated above

So far, we note that tithing has not been a requirement so far. It was done by those that have felt blessed. 

Let's move to the next mention, Moses and the law.

Back story:

The Isrealites had been in Egypt for a loooooooong while. I doubt they were still worshipping God.

And because they were staying with pagans, they had picked up habits.

Various habits (definitely bad and ungodly ones) 

It is why they were quick to build calves when Moses didn't come down early.

They had basically conformed to the lifestyle/culture  of their captors.

And though God kept dealing with them graciously, they did not see the goodness of God or were aware of it (because they had diluted well with pagans).

 It is why they grumbled and almost insulted God for manna, Even after they had seen the red sea part.

They were ungrateful and blind to the blessings they were receiving

Remember Abraham gave to the priest because he was blessed.

The Isrealites would never have on their own given anything to Moses their leader or the soon to be appointed priests cos they didn't see any blessing

The Isrealites were basically living outside of God's will for them.

So God set rules to guide them in the right path, cos if you leave them to do things by themselves everything will scatter.

The law was a need

These rules/laws, we see in Leviticus.

I will be focusing on the tithe part as that is what our discuss is on. 

“A tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord. This means the crops from fields and the fruit from trees—a tenth belongs to the Lord. “The priests will take every tenth animal from a person’s cattle or sheep. Every tenth animal will belong to the Lord.

Leviticus 27:30‭, ‬32 ERV

Note that in Leviticus, we had a bunch of dos and donts for the priests.

The large chunk of the work of keeping the people in check was on them.

God basically used them to serve his people

Now, let's move to Numbers.

The journey continues with the Isrealites and their stubbornness.

Because of sin, more and more laws.

God had to add some people to join Aaron in the priestly work.

 It's a long progression from Numbers 1 but I want us to go to Numbers 18

“Anything in Israel that is a special gift to God is yours.

Numbers 18:14 ERV

I will need everyone to personally Open numbers 18 and read the whole chapter.

Don't post, just read.

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself gave you responsibility over all the special gifts people give to me. All the holy gifts that the Israelites give to me, I give to you. You and your sons can share in these gifts. They will always belong to you. The people will bring gifts, grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These offerings are most holy. Your share in the most holy offerings will come from the parts that are not burned. All these things will be for you and your sons. “The Israelites will bring special gifts that you will lift up to me. I give these gifts to you and your sons and daughters. That is your share. Everyone in your family who is clean will be able to eat it.  When the people gather a harvest, they bring all the first things to the Lord. So these things I will give to you. And everyone in your family who is clean may eat it.  “A woman’s first baby and an animal’s first baby must be given to the Lord. That baby will belong to you. If the firstborn animal is unclean, then it must be bought back. If the baby is a child, that child must be bought back. But the meat from these animals will be yours. And also the breast that was lifted up to the Lord will be yours. And the right thigh from other offerings will be yours. I, the Lord, give you everything that the people offer as holy gifts. This is your share. I give it to you and your sons and daughters. This law will continue forever. It is an agreement with the Lord that cannot be broken. I make this promise to you and to your descendants.”  The Lord also said to Aaron, “You will not get any of the land. And you will not own anything that the other people own. I myself will be yours. The Israelites will get the land that I promised, but I am my gift to you.

Numbers 18:8‭-‬9‭, ‬11‭, ‬13‭, ‬15‭, ‬18‭-‬20 ERV

I've highlighted some major verses here

If you read the highlighted part i sent, God actually said This law will continue forever.

This law that entails me taking care of you completely, it will last forever.

Let me note a warning, if you give tithes and you are against it being spent by pastors, you should stop that.

Or if you see Pastor with new car, first thing you think is they are enjoying church money/tithe, your thoughts are against God's will o

From Numbers 18, we see that God concentrated the Priests to Himself. He had placed so much responsibility on them that did not allow them to do things others do. This responsibility is still as heavy today btw (Pastors dey try, forget) 

 But God had their welfare in mind. All the things that were being brought (asides the ones for burnt offering) belonged to the priest.

 So we see that these giving was majorly to take care of the priests.

"Speak to the Levites and tell them: The Israelites will give one-tenth of everything they own to the Lord. That one-tenth will belong to the Levites. But you must give one-tenth of that to the Lord as your offering. 

Numbers 18:26 ERV

You and your families can eat all that is left. This is your payment for the work you do in the Meeting Tent. 

Numbers 18:31 ERV

It feels like God is saying I care about you and I'm not just using you.

Yes, you will be doing my work but I will take care of you

Even the priests were to bring in a tithe. God was basically saying because it is I who have found a way to bless you, you will also give because you have been blessed

Next mention was when the Isrealites were about to move into the new land the Lord got for them

There you must bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, one-tenth of your crops and animals, your special gifts, any gifts you promised to him, any special gift you want to give, and the first animals born in your herds and flocks. You and your families will eat together at that place, and the Lord your God will be there with you. You will enjoy sharing the things you worked for there. You will remember that the Lord your God blessed you and gave you these good things.

Deuteronomy 12:6‭-‬7 ERV

But be sure that you always share these meals with the Levites. Do this as long as you live in your land.

Deuteronomy 12:19 ERV

In this new mention, we see that the special offerings and maybe even burnt sacrifices they gave to the Lord were actually being ate by the people. They give to God, bless it and still share with the Priests. (Even after the priests had been giving instructions to remove theirs.) 

“Every year you must be sure to save one-tenth of all the crops that grow in your fields. Then you must go to the place the Lord chooses to be the home for his name. You will go there to be with the Lord your God. At that place you will eat the tenth of your crops—one-tenth of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first animals born in your herds and flocks. In this way you will always remember to respect the Lord your God. 

Deuteronomy 14:22‭-‬23 ERV

Provision for His servants is very important to God.

The next mention of tithing.

It also reiterates them eating their one tenth and enjoying before God who has blessed them

Now, if we notice a progression, for every time God gave rules to the people on how to live, He mentioned tithing.

He didn't suggest that they might have, He knew he had blessed them. So they will definitely have. And the tithing from our pattern is basically focus on God's blessings for them, as the Lord uses that channel to bless His priests too.

But don’t forget the Levites living in your town. Share your food with them because they don’t have a share of the land like you have.

Deuteronomy 14:27 ERV

Every time tithing was mentioned, the Levites were specifically mentioned too.

Now, from the old testament, the requirement wasn't just 10% sef, they gave way more than that.

“At the end of every three years, you must gather one-tenth of your harvest for that year. Store this food in your towns. Keep this food for the Levites, because they don’t have any land of their own. Also keep this food for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. This will provide enough for them to come and eat all they want. If you do this, the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do 

Deuteronomy 14:28‭-‬29 ERV

Now, there is a shift in our study. Previous verses had a pattern of tithing being as a result of blessings. Here, God attaches a blessing

So we give because we are blessed. Then we are even more blessed because we give!

I have blessed you, so you have enough to give back. But asides the normal 10% you bring, I want another 10% every 3 years for my priests only again

Note that if you do this one, I will bless you in all you do

Next mention of special offerings and the priests

“The tribe of Levi will not get any share of land in Israel. The priests come from that tribe and they will eat the special sacrifices that are offered as gifts to the Lord. That is the share for the people from the tribe of Levi.

Deuteronomy 18:1 ERV

Everyone is getting stuff in new land but dear Levites are still left out.

They don't have access.

There are so many things we do that our pastors can't do cos they 

But God made provision for Levites through what people brought for Him

“Every third year is the Year of Tithes. In that year, you must give one-tenth of your harvest to the Levites, to the foreigners living in your country, and to the widows and orphans. Then they will have plenty to eat in every city.

Deuteronomy 26:12 ERV

Again, the Lord mentions tithing to the Levites

As we read, I don't want us to see these just as commands. Look at the intent as I've been laying out.

Why did God do xyz? Why did the passage suggest this? Under what context was this said? It will help with your conclusion

Now to the reign of King Hezekiah

The people were supposed to give a part of their crops and things to the priests and Levites. So Hezekiah commanded the people living in Jerusalem to give them their share. In that way the priests and Levites could spend all of their time doing what the law of the Lord told them to do.

2 Chronicles 31:4 ERV

Now, God's purpose for these whole giving and tithing is seen. That the priests and Levites will be able to spend more time doing God's work instead of trying to make money like everyone else.

People all around the country heard about this command. So the Israelites gave the first part of their harvest of grain, grapes, oil, honey, and all the things they grew in their fields. They brought one-tenth of all these many things. The men of Israel and Judah living in the towns of Judah also brought one-tenth of their cattle and sheep. They also brought one-tenth of the things that were put in a special place that was only for the Lord their God. They brought all these things and put them in piles.  Azariah the high priest from Zadok’s family said to Hezekiah, “From the time that the people started bringing the offerings into the Lord’s house, we have had plenty to eat. We have eaten until we are full and there is still plenty left over! The Lord has really blessed his people. That is why we have so much left over.” 

2 Chronicles 31:5‭-‬6‭, ‬10 ERV

See this.. Apparently, the priests didn't have much to eat before tithes were brought in. The people brought to the Lord (read priests) and see the proclamation : The Lord has really blessed His people. It's only those who are blessed that give

In Nehemiah, we see that the Isrealites continued with this order of giving.

Nehemiah 10, 12 and 13 mentions how the people gave.

But something changed along the line.

In Amos when the servant of God brought a message about God punishing His people for all they had been doing, it was mentioned that Isreal should bring back her tithe. Means only one thing, Isreal stopped giving.

“But you people show that you don’t respect my name. You say that the Lord’s altar is unclean. And you don’t like the food from that altar. You smell the food and refuse to eat it. You say it is bad. Then you bring sick, crippled, and hurt animals to me. You try to give sick animals to me as sacrifices, but I will not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

Malachi 1:12‭-‬13 ERV

Now to Malachi, the people were bringing things even them could not eat to the altar as tithes and sacrifices (remember they were meant to eat some part of the burnt offerings). 

 They will sniff and quickly drop the food but expected that the priests and Levites would eat of it.

 Now, God doesn't feed on  animals or bread.

So if He was angry about this, it's most likely because of His servants.

The people He had placed to work tireless for others would be faced with eating bad/spoilt food. They'd do this even while giving their all to God.

God doesn't cheat.

He doesn't employ workers and refuse to pay them. And of course He didn't like this

“People should not steal things from God, but you stole things from me. “You say, ‘What did we steal from you?’ “You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts. In this way your whole nation has stolen things from me, so bad things are happening to you.”  The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything. I will not let pests destroy your crops. All your grapevines will produce grapes.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.  “People from other nations will be good to you. You will have a wonderful country.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.

Malachi 3:8‭-‬12 ERV

We see here that a curse had been activated. Bad things were happening to the Israelites because they refused to give. 

Now, the bible doesn't categorically tell us God cursed them on tithing. But I believe it came from the general curses in Deuteronomy if God's commands weren't kept.

Here is the angle I love to look from personally:

The Israelites attracted curses cos they gave as though they weren't blessed. They did not live as blessed people did so it was only normal for them to see it reflect in their lives. They gave as if they didn't have so they ended up not having. Now, we see even in this verse that people hold on to telling you tithe is a must or you are cursed if you don't , God wasn't really focused on the curse but on the blessing in Giving.

In fact, He even asks that they put Him to test and see.

This is the last mention of tithing in the old testament. We've reviewed all the mentions and surrounding situations.

Now let's go over the major points again. 

1. We are blessed first

2. Then we Give special offerings and tithes. We are blessed even more aftee giving 

3. Special offerings and tithes were majorly for the priests and Levites as God wanted to take care of them

4. God cared deeply about His servants

Now to the New testament

This next scripture is actually the only mention of tithing by Jesus (correct if I'm wrong please) 

“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give God a tenth of the food you get, even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—being fair, showing mercy, and being faithful. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things. 

Matthew 23:23 ERV

The teachers of the law were holding on to tithing (I'm guessing because of the blessings attached to it)

They were giving because they'd get more according to laid down principles and probably to show off too. Yet their hearts weren't really focused on God. 

Was Jesus saying don't tithe? No! He was only saying they had misplaced priorities then intent too.

Let's go to Hebrews.

No one knows who his father or mother was or where he came from. And no one knows when he was born or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God in that he will always be a priest. 

Hebrews 7:3 ERV

Melchizedek is mentioned again, but in a new light. Remember Melchizedek is the first priest to collect tithes. He was not from the line of Levi or Aron. Note that these priestly lines were from Abraham, which means Abraham had paid a tithe on behalf of his lineage even to Melchizedek. 

Now those from the family of Levi are the ones who get a tenth from the people. But we can say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it. 

Hebrews 7:9 ERV

This priest Melchizedek is now likened to Christ..

You can see that Melchizedek was very great. Abraham, our great ancestor, gave him a tenth of everything he won in battle. 

Hebrews 7:4 ERV

Abraham voluntarily gave to Melchizedek (the one likened to Christ). And this tithe is greater than anything the Levites received

The people were given the law under the system of priests from the tribe of Levi. But no one could be made spiritually perfect through that system of priests. So there was a need for another priest to come. I mean a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron. 

Hebrews 7:11 ERV

Nobody was made right by the order given to the Levites priest, So we had to go back to the first order.

That of Abraham, a man of great faith, received the blessing of the Lord by Faith and gave it to the priest Melchizedek

The Lord has made a promise with an oath and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever— the kind of priest Melchizedek was.”

Psalms 110:4 ERV

A psalm of David.

We see a foreshadow into the person of Christ and His coming. His forever priesthood

Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. He blessed Abram and said, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.  And we praise God Most High, who helped you defeat your enemies.” Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle.

Genesis 14:18‭-‬20 ERV

Let's go back to this mystery priest, Melchizedek.

Melchizedek brought bread and wine! Kai 😭😭🔥🔥🔥

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

1 Corinthians 11:25 NLT

The new covenant was established right here between Abraham and Melchizedek (our mystery priest). This covenant was later activated fully with the death of Christ,

What was Abraham's response when the priest brought the token of this covenant and blessed him? Abraham WILLINGLY gave a tenth of everything he got from war.

Omo 😭😭😭😭 The bible is such a sweet piece of work.

Types, shadows.. Everywhere

At this point, we all should be having same conclusion to this o

Melchizedek brought bread and wine

The body and blood of Christ

All of it a foreshadow

Christ giving Himself to us, blessing us, we giving our lives in return

Now, let's go back to the beginning.

Tithing by the first 2 people was done out of will.

Out of what God has already done.

He had to enforce for the Israelites to do same because they had taken in the culture of the world (read Egypt).

For us, we do not need anything enforced. We see God's intent for His servants that they be taken care of And we give in accordance with this.

Again, don't police your pastor because you gave. Abraham did not care what Melchizedek did with his tithe, he had received something greater (a covenant for you and I), that was all that mattered. The church has bodies that tend to managing funds, allow them do this.

Face what you've received.

We are also a people who have given their lives forever to the High Priest Jesus having been blessed by Him with eternal life and partaken of his body and blood. Now that we are a part of this new covenant, we keep God's covenant to His servants. Or align rather by giving

And we do not wait for rules in the new testament to specifically say we should give. Nah! We are not of that order.

We are of the order of Abraham, the one whose blessing we also now enjoy. 

The Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us. And with that hope we can come near to God. 

Hebrews 7:19 ERV

The law made nothing perfect.

Upon the give tithe every year and 3 years, did the people still give?

The law sets God's perfect standard but it doesn't make people keep it.

And this is where Christ comes in

We have the mind of Christ, so we live God's perfect standard without being forced

We have been saved by Christ, so even when we fail in these laws, we are still in Him

Christ became a curse, so every thing we do not do in scripture doesn't attract a curse to us!

Which means if Christians actually do not want to tithe, nobody will flog them. 

(Except they enter into a covenant with God with their mouth sha. Because now they've activated with the power in their tongues).

It only exposes one thing, they are not responding appropriately to the new covenant we now have with God. And are yet to discern spiritually what this really means. We pray for such people, teach and encourage them.

Don't blackmail or tell them God will curse them. He won't.

To our questions.

- Tithing is not wrong

- The old pointed to the new.

I hope this has been explained adequately.

2021, OUR YEAR OF THE NEW

2021, OUR YEAR OF THE NEW

Got this first week in December. Kept praying about it and asked for a confirmation through word alive members. Both of the scripture and the word. The confirmations came (though the people that confirmed didn't know 😂)

THE NEW:

A New comes

It is different from your old normal.

Though different, I have prepared you for it. Do not be afraid.

In this new, you find your place in me, purpose, destiny and life.

 

The Spirit is the compass for the new.

He guides you into the new

He leads inside of the new

 

Don't hold on to the former, to the things which are old

The new is here, for you.

Focus on it!

Let go

A NEW ARMY is here

(prepared by and for me)

You receive new directions/directives. Follow through

Some of them will not make sense. Follow through!

Some of them look impossible and without necessary provisions. Follow through!

New Career paths. Don't be scared to switch.

New relationships

New dimensions in walk with God and knowledge of Him.

NEW HUNGER

Brand New Sight

Brand New Wings

Previous unpredictable events begin to happen

New Names. 

New Technologies

New Ministries

New Songs

New Generals

New Rankings

Not an upgrade of the old; NEW

I AM ALL SOVEREIGN 

THE BEGINNING 

I AM YOUR NEWNESS

You've been patching. No more! 

I AM SOURCE IN THE NEW

Everything in the new is strategically positioned

Nothing in the New happens outside of the Spirit. 

He is the HOW of the New

Follow Him! 

 

IT'S TIME... 

You have waited for it 

It is time to SWITCH ON

In the NEW, YOU SEE YOUR WAY. 

YOU WALK IN DIRECTED PATHS

Full living of life in Christ

I made paths through the red sea for the Isrealites

Now, water makes a path in the desert.

No restrictions in expectations

Adjust

The misdirection, loneliness and confusion ends.

It is time to drop the baggage from your past. The new takes no baggage from the old

Dreams become reality

Fresh water flows

Crooked roads are not repaired. Don't try to fix them. They become completely new straight paths

Hardened hearts are broken and rendered completely

Lost Hope renewed

In the new year, light shines.

Clarity comes.

Men see.

Hearts are ignited afresh

The NEW is seen in science and medicine

NEW all over the world

Things that were not, become

You BECOME

YOU BE!

There are no limits in the new

The new calls us out of the ordinary

You make moves that are not ordinary in this season

The new breaks us into an unlimited supernatural realm

The NEW brings with it FLIGHT

Speed!

The NEW brings an invading army

The rising army, They are here!

Open yourself to it

You are not a spectator in the New.

I use you to drive the new.

There is wholeness in the New

No limit to this wholeness.

I'm breaking down barriers from the old

Do not confine me to my doings in the past

Honor exists in the New, for you.

In the new, there is no holding back.

A new wave of the prophetic and manifestations of the sons of God

A new standard is raised

There is a rising of the sons of God all over the nations of the earth

This season ushers the beginning of the New..

The beginning of God's New

Embrace it

Miracles exist here.. In/for/through you

For Word Alive (General, gotten on the 31st)

I'm not done with Word Alive

Follow the scriptures more strictly.

Do not get tired

Dedicate more time and do it from your heart

Meet more often with me

You will see why I raised this army soon.

The ones that have not been growing, it happens all of a sudden. They have flight

I am raising strong men through you

God sends angels to keep you abreast of everything

You all should be ready to get Naked before me

I show you things about yourself

I raise and carry you in the New

Structure

Structure Word Alive

Word Alive is a Force

A lot of generals arise from here

These ones I've placed under you will handle divisions and get their own promotion/badge. 

More activeness and growth comes in 2021

Even you will be shocked. 

Signs accompany you

The prophetic meeting continues 

Quarter 2: Visit to Cameroon. 

Through this ministry, something new is birth. 

You have a place in all I'm about to do

These ones were led here divinely for such a time as this. 

Be focused! 

Be led! 

You will be remembered in History

WILES OF THE DEVIL

Wiles simply means tricks, strategies, tactics, deceit etc

Wiles are basically tricks or manipulative strategies aimed at deceiving

Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NLT

Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 AMP

First, it says to wear the armor of God (in full). And it gives a why: Wear it so you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Against all of the strategies of the devil. To be able to successfully stand up against the strategies of the devil

Now, here’s what I’ve found amongst Christians, we believe since we are saved we are automatically excluded from the devil’s list. This is untrue

Yes, we’ve been brought to a higher standing. We are seated with Christ

The devil has been defeated. But we must understand that the devil still has little time in the world and he will fight to make sure as many people go down with him.

The devil will fight believers. He will wage war against believers. And if believers do not understand his wiles (first that it exists), they will not successfully stand against it.

In fact, they have no chance against him. Imagine fighting an already defeated man and losing

But there are believers losing daily to the enemy, who has already been defeated on their behalf. Why? Ignorance

What we will be doing tonight is laying out the strategies of the devil (and if time permits us, the full armor of God)

You have to be aware. The person fighting is already on the floor defeated. It’s like allowing someone without hands and legs to beat you up in a fist fight

The scripture we just read, the enemy is not bringing gun to this fight. He is not bringing cutlass or bombs. Only deception, tricks, lies, manipulations 

You know people that cannot fight by their strategy. The devil understands the gullibility of men so he uses this well against them.

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

It is consistent with his character to lie! He is the father of lies! If they say the devil is expert at anything, it is lies (add failure to this)

And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “ N ow the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Revelation 12:9‭-‬11 AMP

I need us to take note of these key words. The devil doesn’t leave you alone after the first time. He keeps coming back 

John 10:10 says the thief comes not but to steal , kill and destroy.

This particular thief doesn’t have a gun or physical equipment that destroy.

He has cunny strategies.

A lot of us are focused on village people kind of attacks. Like this is what we think of when we think of the devil but he masters at something else actually: Lies. Deceit!

What are some of the strategies the devil uses?

1. Did God really say?

This one is the oldest trick in the book. From Adam down to Remi, I’m certain the devil has used this one against every believer

Genesis  2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from a particular tree. They had received an instruction from God

The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 ERV

What did the devil do? He approached them and tried to cast a doubt on God’s word

While Eve could see the serpent directly then, we most likely can’t see him directly. So all that we can see is the tactics, the funny strategies. But know that the enemy is tricky so he doesn’t keep them in plain sight for you except you know him and his ways well

One thing the enemy does a lot is to cast doubt on what God has told you. I’ve been here before.

God tells you I’m doing xyz at this time. You heard Him clearly when He said this and you believed wholeheartedly. Then something starts happening and before you know it , you are wondering if God really said so. You are telling yourself maybe you heard wrongly or its the interpretation

I’ve experienced this a lot of times.

Only one person is responsible for this, the devil! The minute you start wondering “Did God really say?” Know that the devil is fighting and you are not standing against him well

He will twist what God said to you

He will try to make you “unbelieve” what you received

He cannot undo what God does

But the devil can make you change position with his tricks

He puts you in a place where you are not ready to receive what God has said with his lies

Anything that makes you re-examine what God has said to you is not from God and you need to clock immediately that it is battle time. Be alert!

Satan wants you to accept what God has not said about you. He cannot change what God has said so he tries to make you believe something else because he knows faith is a key ingredient to receiving

2. Worry and Anxiety

This looks like a normal thing but I found recently that it is a strong tool of the devil. The minute you notice you are getting too worried or anxious about something, know that the devil is at work. Worry and anxiety are huge signs of unbelief.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

Say this to the devil every time he tries to make you worry about those things. Worry and anxiety puts you in a wilderness position. You get stuck.

You geT stuck first in your mind (belief) then it happens in the physical. The Israelites stayed 40years in the wilderness cos they were stuck first in unbelief. They kept worrying about the seemingly unright things around them.

Stop worrying about the things that do not seem to be right. That is what the enemy wants you to see. 

These people had manna falling from heaven daily and somehow they didn’t see it. It’s very possible that things will be happening for you, like heavy moves of God and you won’t see it.

You will be seeing other things to worry about. This also is the devil

One thing that cancels anxiety and worry is thanksgiving. Find something to be thankful for, stay on it and your eyes will be opened to what God is doing and why you should never worry

3. Taking lightly the devil and his tactics

This one is a huge problem and it’s so rampant amongst believers. A lot of people have confused resist the devil with dismiss the devil. The enemy is not just theological myth

Passive neglect of the devil is a tool the enemy himself uses. He wants you to believe he doesn’t exist to you. What happens when you don’t show up to a battle? You lose!

You have an enemy, be alert.

Of course, some Christians overemphasize/amplify the power of the devil, but this should not lead to passive neglect of the devil

These teachings are becoming common. There is a balance. The devil exists. Though defeated, he is still here for a while and his major targets are believers. He is waging a war against us, which is not physical. We must stand against him, from the place of victory (because this is where we fight from)

We do not pretend that the enemy is not fighting against us

The devil stood against Jesus

He stood against God Himself

Do you think he didn’t know Jesus is God?

Do you think he didn’t know Christ was not his match?

Yet he stood

Don’t pretend as if he is not standing against you. Position appropriately. Recognize the devil for what he is exactly and treat accordingly

4. Love for unsound doctrine

If you hate truth, there is a problem. 

“When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:1-5‬ ‭CEV‬‬

The time is coming when people will have itchy ears. They will go to places where they are told what they wish to hear.

“Don’t be unequally yoked”. Pastor is judgmental so let’s change church to where they understand and allow her to grow spiritually/come to Christ.

“Don’t kiss before marriage”. Holier than thou attitude. So we move to where they allow kissing but just a lirru bit of it

The Bible expressly says something but it is feeling like an attack. So the people talking are “sin conscious”. They don’t understand Grace

If everything the Bible clearly states is becoming like an attack and you are now used to going to people that give a soft landing of that word or requote to make it acceptable, there might be an issue o. That’s where the devil starts from.

Sound doctrine sometimes can come off as harsh (mostly cos of the state of the heart)

Imagine the man Christ told to leave his family, “Let the dead bury the dead”. For a willing heart, it’s to jump up in joy and start following o. For someone that doesn’t want to hear the truth:

“Why will Jesus say that? Doesn’t he have family or feelings? Does he not know we are humans?”

Always looking for soft landing or sugar coated truths is a tactic the enemy uses. Know this and stand appropriately

5. Trivializing sin and exaggerating the pleasures of sin

One of the tactic of the enemy is to make sin look normal.

“oh! It’s just a flaw”

“Everyone has weak point”

“Nobody is without sin”

He makes you feel comfortable in sin.

“It’s just kissing/lies/sex. God is not counting sin. He forgives”

It’s not “Just”

Before you know it, that sin becomes to pleasurable . You begin to enjoy and look forward to it then you move to normalizing it as one of your flaws or who you are.

This is a tactic of the devil. Be aware

Never act on immediate pleasures. Stop to think immediately you are tempted, this helps.

Every time I’m tempted to do something wrongly, I notice I’m in a hurry to. I don’t want to think about it at that moment. I start thinking and regretting when the deed is done.

The reason the enemy wants that process rushed is because he knows if you think, you won’t go ahead. You are stronger than you actually think. So always pause before you do. It frustrates the devil

6. Emotions

“I’m a very emotional person”

Erhm... good o but please be careful that this is not your drive. You cannot be led by the spirit and your emotions at the same time. It’s pick 1

The enemy targets our emotions as an opening. He crawls in immediately. 

Feel your emotions 

Feel completely, but please don’t be led by how you feel

“I get angry easily”. It is an opening for the devil

7. Logic

I know those of us that are not very emotional people are already feeling exempted from the tactics of the devil. The person you are dealing with is cunning. Most people that are not 100% in touch with their emotions are usually logical.

Logic is very good o. But logic is also very dangerous.

The devil likes it when you think you can think well. You have plenty common sense.

He wants you to feel this way about yourself and assert it.

If you go to churches and people are making trouble, look well and you will find that it is us “logical people”. The devil wants you to think you think better than other believers or people around you. You have more common sense than everybody.

It’s a lie.

While God gave us this “common sense”, God wants us to be led by the spirit instead.

8. Refusing the diagnosis of God

“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: “Here is a message from the one who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. “I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have left is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God. So don’t forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. You will not know when I will come.  “But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy. Everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not remove their names from the book of life. I will say that they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:1‭-‬6 ERV

We will focus on verse 1

You have a name that you are alive but you are dead

We say that Jesus is the great physician. We come to Him for healing but one thing most of us miss is that this physician also diagnoses. Because He knows you well, He knows exactly who you are on the inside.

The devil likes us to live a lie. The devil wants the church in Sardis to believe the “alive reputation” when they were actually dead

A lot of Christians refuse the diagnosis of Christ (it comes as conviction most times)

When the Spirit brings something that you do to your notice or send people to tell you, be ready to accept.

Don’t be in a hurry to defend your self to God. He sees you completely. Take the diagnosis, accept it and use the prescribed medications

Even earthly doctors give diagnosis and prescribe medications

How much more God? When God tells you what is wrong with you, a solution follows. Don’t let pride hold you back. The enemy is counting on this. Even the church in Sardis had a way out

9. Twisting scripture

The enemy wants us to twist scripture to suit us. When the devil wanted to tempt Jesus, he brought scripture and twisted it subtly just a little. When the enemy wants to twist God’s word, he is not as obvious as we expect. Be alert in the spirit

10. Disobedience

This is a tactic of the enemy.

On the other end of obedience is a huge price we always have to pay. When God says do xyz, He is not talking for talking sake, there is something He is trying to shield you from. There is always something sacrificed on the altar of disobedience, something costly. The devil wants us to lose that something so he is looking forward to us disobeying. He entices us with by the fruit of disobedience

Be alert!

There are so many other tactics in the devil’s play book, we will probably never finish if we sit on his lying ass.

But I want us to know one thing, the devil is a liar. The Bible says he is the father of lies.

There is only one thing that cancels lie and it is Truth. Jesus Christ is Truth

Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 ERV

Let the teaching of Christ dwell in you richly

The enemy is banking on lying and twisting the truth. There is only one counter, the truth Christ says

Let it dwell inside of you Richly

Confess daily if you have to. Make it your truth

May God help us all to stand against the wiles of the devil

Amen