THIS IS WHY MANY CAN’T RESIST THE DEVIL

Dear Folks,

It was late at night or very early in the morning, probably 1:0oam, I just discovered the truth about the believer in a new way. ‘RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.’ James 4:7. Imagine my joy. Hulala! Suddenly I became a little taller, I felt like a giant – in fact like a bulldozer – ready to bulldoze the devil not only from my life, and ministry but if possible from the world.

So I began to exercise the word of God in prayer – ‘devil get out of my ministry, you have no permission in my spirit, soul and body…I began to blow tongues…common now’. After staying in prayer battling with God’s word for like an hour. I heard the spirit say to me, ‘READ THAT VERSE AGAIN’. Why? I mean by now I can quote it. When He kept pressing me, I read it, and then it was the same. ‘Resist the devil, and He will flee from you’.

By now I was familiar with that verse. But how many times have we missed out on God’s mind, treasure and revelation because we are used to that verse? So, He said, ‘the whole verse’. Then I saw it… ‘SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’. James 4:7. THEN I SAW IT. FIRST, YOU MUST SUBMIT TO GOD! Immediately I stopped praying – I was on to something new – Rev!

Many times, believers are exercising so much energy resisting the devil, and you can see for yourself that instead of the devil fleeing, he is building strongholds and pavilions around you. We must learn to do the first thing first, which is to submit to God – then resisting the devil will be like a stroll in the park. But we must learn to do the first thing first – the first thing is not resisting the devil, it is submitting to God. God doesn’t help you to submit, it is you that submit – ‘submit yourselves’ – it’s a decision you must make. No need to be spiritual about that.

THEREFORE SUBMIT TO GOD! The reason the devil has given Christians so much hell, is because most Christians are not submitted to God.

The question I asked which you should ask is how do I submit to God? Especially a God I cannot see, and I cannot walk to His office to take order? THE WAY THAT YOU SUBMIT TO GOD IS BY BEING SUBMITTED TO HIS WORD, because God and His word are one. This means that if you submit yourselves to the Word, then and only then can you have the right to resist the devil. The Bible does not say fight him. It says resist him. And the Bible says, he will flee from you. So you are in a faith fight – but that fight is dependent on submission to God’s word.

The Greek word submit ishupotasso. The hupo means "under" and the tasso means "to arrange." This word and a root of it are also translated by the words subject and subjection. The word's full meaning is "to obey, put under, be subject to, submit oneself unto, put in subjection under or be under obedience or obedient to." The word was used as a military term meaning "to arrange troop divisions in a military fashion under the command of a leader." 

In order to resist the devil therefore you must put yourself under the Word of God. The word of God is the leader and you must obey it. You must be subjected fully to God’s word – in complete obedience! IF (note the word IF) you live such a word controlled and dominated life, then you will resist the devil and he will flee.

The devil is not as powerful as he seems, it is just that we have refused to live in subjection to God’s word. The Bible says concerning Jesus, ‘WITH BURNT OFFERINGS AND SIN OFFERINGS YOU WERE NOT PLEASED. THEN I SAID, ‘HERE I AM—IT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE SCROLL. I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, MY GOD’. Hebrews 10:6-7. He was submitted to doing what was written concerning him in the scroll. We also must stand and be committed to that which is written in the eternal scroll of God – His word!

Again submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will be on the highway – fleeing! Be sure to keep the devil at bay – keep him fleeing by submitting to God’s word, THEN RESIST HIM. Amen!

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

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WHAT I LEARNT FROM APOLLOS

Dear Folks,

So we were introduced to the character called Apollos in Acts 18:24-28. The Bible said concerning him that he was a Jew, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in scriptures. Now, that is an awesome Curriculum Vitae! That should make any man BOUNCE with horizontal shoulders. Winks! The Bible further said, he was ‘INSTRUCTED IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD AND BEING FERVENT IN SPIRIT, HE SPAKE AND TAUGHT DILIGENTLY THE THINGS OF THE LORD…’ He was a fantastic guy, a fire brand preacher. But there was a problem, HE KNEW ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

So when Aquila and Pricilla, people with better understanding of the good news heard him, the Bible said they, ‘…THEY TOOK HIM UNTO THEM, AND EXPOUNDED UNTO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY’. Acts 18:26. Just then something hit me about this episode, which I believe we must consider if we also shall attain greater heights in life and ministry. THE HUMBLE SPIRIT POSSESSED BY APOLLOS.

Now I believe at this time Apollos was pretty popular amongst the Hellenist Jews. He taught the things of the Lord passionately. He was not a young or new preacher. And the Bible says he was pretty good at what He did. Yet when he was invited for more knowledge. He took advantage of it. For me that is HUMILITY! We can’t just close our minds – we must seek to progress in the things of God. No matter the years we have used in ministry, we must be always learning, ever coming to the knowledge of the truth. I know many people in my days who will accuse Aquila and Pricilla of being envious of their results – balderdash!

The question is how many Apollos do we have? How many in this generation will listen when they are told their revelation is incomplete. I SEE MANY BOUNCE AND JUMP ON 2 INCHES DEEP REVELATION. They begin to see themselves as the best thing next to Christ. While it is not bad to declare what you know now, you must listen when taught, and seek to increase. This will be impossible if we are not teachable. TRUE LEADERS ARE TEACHABLE. And Proverbs 9:9 says, ‘GIVE INSTRUCTION TO A WISE MAN, AND HE WILL BE YET WISER: TEACH A JUST MAN, AND HE WILL INCREASE IN LEARNING’.

We should never let go of learning. You must be teachable. I know the grace and anointing of God is great on you. I also know your revelation is awesome – but Man of God, LEARN TO LEARN. I love the way Acts 17:11 spoke of the Berean Christians, ‘THESE WERE MORE NOBLE THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO’. Be sure to receive the word with all readiness of mind. AGAIN, READINESS OF MIND!

Learning is an art and science that we must learn. Focus on learning. Listen to people, listen to understand their viewpoint and interpretations. Don’t become picky and critical seeking for that one line, one word or one statement that seems wrong. We must dump the critical, I know it all, and our revelation is higher and greater spirit. Such will lead to a place – where you are right now! But God wants you to increase.

Learning in humility is the SURE way to progress.

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

 

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

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THE BOND BETWEEN GRACE AND FAITH

Dear Folks,

The other day, I and my wife went to an eatery, and as we entered the place, their menu list smiled at me. I always love it when chicken is in the deal. So on their menu list was Burger, Chicken and chips (The winner any day. Blushing!), fried rice etc. They were all available. Amen! Then it occurred to me that a man can actually have everything on the menu list. Yes, you can have it all. In fact, it is made available so that you can have as much as you want, in as much as you have the cash for it. You can go home with buckets of chicken and chips, and burgers unlimited. You pay for it, you have it.

Just then it struck me that the promises of God and the realities of redemption are also available. Though not cash dependent, for it is already Christ paid. Therefore, if you have faith for it, then you can have it. 

Dear folks, I have heard some people run wild, do jingoist dab, and throw a lot of religious meme shouting, ‘I don’t have to do anything, Christ did it all’. Brother and Sister ‘OYO is your case’. For starters, you have to do something – YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE! YOU NEED TO HAVE FAITH. ‘But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him’. Hebrews 11:6 (Emphasis mine).That should suffice!

As money (promissory note) is the currency spent at KFC and Chicken Republic (not faith), so in the things of the kingdom, faith is the currency spent, not money. Yes, the things of God are made available for the new creature by Grace, but to make it experiential you need faith. FOR WHAT GRACE MADE AVAILABLE, FAITH MAKES APPLICABLE.

Man has a part in appropriating what Grace has made available. For you to claim the promises of God and live in new spiritual realities you have to believe. Faith is the access to what Grace has offered. 

So let’s make an example of this. The Bible says God wants all men to be saved (1 TIM 2:4), and in Titus 2:11, Paul also said, ‘FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL MEN’. But despite the fact that grace is available, we know that all men are not saved. Why? Is it that this Grace is not sufficient for the whole world? A thousand times no! It is therefore the lack of appropriating faith in what God’s grace made available through the sacrifice of Calvary by unsaved men. 

This therefore shows that the problem is not with Grace, but with faith, for faith is the means of delving into the depth of grace. So don’t just seat, wine and dine! Get to walk – build your faith in ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD.

The next time your pastor preach on Grace, Grace, All Grace! Don’t just smile, laugh and dance, get into the Word. Kick-start and build your faith. Build your faith for healing,prosperity, success, power etc. Don’t just listen to messages on Grace, seek for messages on faith. 

Don’t be a one-legged Christian. In that way, there won’t be balance. Faith is the other leg. Don’t think God’s promises are shaky because you are standing on one Leg – Grace. Get the second leg – faith. So that having done all to stand, you will stand therefore in the realities of God’s promises.
 

So make your order from God’s word – Yes, His promises are made available by grace, but they are appropriated by Faith.

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

 

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

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WHO IS INCREASING? YOU OR JESUS?

Dear Folks,

I have been in ministry for a TINY BIT OF YEARS. Smiles! And in my years I have been dazed at the level of commitment, passion, knowledge driven zeal of many ministers and believers. I love it when I see a man given to God. For me, we are saved to serve, not as full time ministers – because how many pulpits can we really make from all the trees in the world? 

We are ultimately saved to give back to the kingdom. This is the ministry of every believer. This is what we are called to – to be the Light of the World, to be as salt influencing our world for Christ. By and by therefore our ministry is supposed to be all about the Lord.

But I have seen a serious ploy by the devil that we all must resist – it is the PURSUE OF FAME AND GLORIFICATION OF SELF. I have seen many people crave for platforms, to the end that people may know they have anointing – I hear folks say, ‘wan a gba’ (meaning dem go take, I will show them). Apologies to those who don’t understand Yoruba. Self-aggrandizement, Self-publicity is the order of the day. Men who drapes of the anointing with their different shades of glory – smh!  Men who are encumbered with the evil holy trinity of man – me, myself and I. 

BUT MAN OF GOD, ARE YOU PURSUING YOUR INCREASE – ‘YOUR NAME’ OR THAT OF JESUS CHRIST?

The outlook to ministry should be as John puts it when He was told concerning the increase in the ministry of Christ, John said in 3:30, ‘HE MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS’ (NIV). This should be the outlook of every minister of God. We seek the glory of Christ. He must be projected higher than us. We must consciously seek to get out of the scene and let Him have the preeminence. It should forever be about the increase of the kingdom and not the increase of your name. He died for all – we didn’t die for all. His blood saved, not ours. He wasn’t a martyr, He was the savior.

When Christ was walking and working on earth in the days of His flesh He also had this disposition – ‘I AM NOT SEEKING GLORY FOR MYSELF; BUT THERE IS ONE WHO SEEKS IT, AND HE IS THE JUDGE’ NIV John 8:50. Jesus wasn’t seeking His glory, and dear folks you must not seek your glory. Let God glorify you, as He wishes and pleases. Your task is to glorify Him – He, and not you must take the glory, because He doesn’t share His glory with any man.

Again Jesus said in John 7:18, words which I think will suffice here, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS ON HIS OWN DOES SO TO GAIN HONOR FOR HIMSELF, BUT HE WHO WORKS FOR THE HONOR OF THE ONE WHO SENT HIM IS A MAN OF TRUTH; THERE IS NOTHING FALSE ABOUT HIM’. This simple statement again proves to us that there are many people who do the work of ministry to gain honour for themselves. But we know men of truth because they work for the honour of the God that sent them.

Seek the honour of God. Glorify Christ in all that you do. For He must continually increase and we must decrease.

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

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Whatsapp: +234-909-0518-35

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